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Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer
Cape Town – Considering that he has already boasted an edge over one or two highly-touted, existing Springboks this season, might Rynhardt Elstadt force Peter de Villiers to swell his broad 51-man provisional squad even further in the coming weeks?
It is a question worth contemplating ever more seriously as the 21-year-old “mauler from Montagu” continues to dominate opponents in tandem with towering second-row partner Andries Bekker: they have almost certainly been the most routinely effective South African pairing in Super Rugby 2011 thus far.
Stormers head coach Allister Coetzee, while keen to emphasize a one-step-at-a-time approach in the youngster’s development, believes Elstadt can force Bok hands.
“Definitely. If he keeps progressing, keeps playing consistently well, he’ll knock on the door there – especially if for sake of his career at this point he looks after himself properly and stays disciplined and industrious.
“He’s got the potential to become best in the country (as a No 4 lock) down the line.”
The Stormers have not been shy to throw customers from their thriving “youth” ranks into the Super Rugby starting fray this year, even sometimes at short notice – just the latest is utility back Johann Sadie to tackle the might of the Crusaders on Saturday.
Elstadt, of course, found himself in the run-on XV as the franchise kicked off their 2011 campaign, raising some eyebrows among fearful Newlands fans as he vaulted people like 2010 stalwart Adriaan Fondse into the boiler room.
Clearly, Coetzee and the rest of his brains trust have been vindicated over the course of the last couple of months, including last Saturday when Elstadt was very much among those who tore into the highly-rated Sharks pack with consistent, murderous intent.
“We just felt quite strongly (at the start of the season) that the way he plays suits that No 4 lock position,” Coetzee told Sport24 in reference to the remodelled blindside flanker.
“He’s a very abrasive character, loves the confrontation and the collision area. Where you need your (No 7) flanker to look a bit more toward the periphery, he’s a guy tailor-made for the heart of things, for the engine room. He’s taken to it like a fish to water.”
Elstadt can place another notch on his developmental post if he excels against the Crusaders on Saturday: for all the talk of the visitors having to field their second-choice lock duo for this one, he will probably have been reminded that seasoned, seemingly revitalised All Black Chris Jack and emerging Luke Romano will be no walkovers.
“This is another great challenge for him this week,” says Coetzee. “He’s being measured against a known quality side, and judged once again on how much hard work the front lock is able to get through under (those circumstances).
“He’s already done well against some top South African sides; his challenge as a youngster is to stay grounded, not to read too much into the press hype and what people are picking up on him.
“As a 21-year-old, he will still be targeted; the hits are going to come. I would not like to see his rapid development halted - we’ve seen so many promising players’ progress fall a bit flat in their so-called second season, once credentials are better known.
“But he’s got the personality not to get pig-headed or distracted; if he manages that he will really have passed his apprenticeship.”
Elstadt, viewed by an increasing set of critics as an eventual successor to a Bakkies Botha type of second-rower, has managed to stay within the boundaries of the law in Super Rugby thus far – something Botha has notably not always managed to do.
“Focussed aggression is definitely what we encourage from him, not reacting fatally to opponents who try to get under his skin,” says Coetzee.
“At some stages of his more junior career he has fallen foul on that front and has learnt from that (Elstadt got a straight red card in a IRB Junior World Championship semi-final against England in Tokyo when South Africa bowed out).
“We’re harsh even on yellow cards at the Stormers – you get a R5 000 fine if you earn one, to hurt the pocket, as you’re letting the others down.
“But Rynhardt’s certainly trying really hard to keep on the right side (of referees). He’s abrasive, as I said, but off the field he’s quite a likeable chap in the team environment.
“He has a soft spot for little kids, and things like that. He’s a well-balanced person.”
Elstadt’s physical development has been sound enough, considering that he is intended to settle now as a lock and had to “beef up” to match those requirements – he is listed as tipping the scales at 115kg after apparently being nearer 109kg whilst more of a “utility” forward last season.
“We’ll be working again in the off-season; there’s probably room for him to bulk up a bit further for lock. He’s done well so far,” adds Coetzee.
Cape Town – Considering that he has already boasted an edge over one or two highly-touted, existing Springboks this season, might Rynhardt Elstadt force Peter de Villiers to swell his broad 51-man provisional squad even further in the coming weeks?
It is a question worth contemplating ever more seriously as the 21-year-old “mauler from Montagu” continues to dominate opponents in tandem with towering second-row partner Andries Bekker: they have almost certainly been the most routinely effective South African pairing in Super Rugby 2011 thus far.
Stormers head coach Allister Coetzee, while keen to emphasize a one-step-at-a-time approach in the youngster’s development, believes Elstadt can force Bok hands.
“Definitely. If he keeps progressing, keeps playing consistently well, he’ll knock on the door there – especially if for sake of his career at this point he looks after himself properly and stays disciplined and industrious.
“He’s got the potential to become best in the country (as a No 4 lock) down the line.”
The Stormers have not been shy to throw customers from their thriving “youth” ranks into the Super Rugby starting fray this year, even sometimes at short notice – just the latest is utility back Johann Sadie to tackle the might of the Crusaders on Saturday.
Elstadt, of course, found himself in the run-on XV as the franchise kicked off their 2011 campaign, raising some eyebrows among fearful Newlands fans as he vaulted people like 2010 stalwart Adriaan Fondse into the boiler room.
Clearly, Coetzee and the rest of his brains trust have been vindicated over the course of the last couple of months, including last Saturday when Elstadt was very much among those who tore into the highly-rated Sharks pack with consistent, murderous intent.
“We just felt quite strongly (at the start of the season) that the way he plays suits that No 4 lock position,” Coetzee told Sport24 in reference to the remodelled blindside flanker.
“He’s a very abrasive character, loves the confrontation and the collision area. Where you need your (No 7) flanker to look a bit more toward the periphery, he’s a guy tailor-made for the heart of things, for the engine room. He’s taken to it like a fish to water.”
Elstadt can place another notch on his developmental post if he excels against the Crusaders on Saturday: for all the talk of the visitors having to field their second-choice lock duo for this one, he will probably have been reminded that seasoned, seemingly revitalised All Black Chris Jack and emerging Luke Romano will be no walkovers.
“This is another great challenge for him this week,” says Coetzee. “He’s being measured against a known quality side, and judged once again on how much hard work the front lock is able to get through under (those circumstances).
“He’s already done well against some top South African sides; his challenge as a youngster is to stay grounded, not to read too much into the press hype and what people are picking up on him.
“As a 21-year-old, he will still be targeted; the hits are going to come. I would not like to see his rapid development halted - we’ve seen so many promising players’ progress fall a bit flat in their so-called second season, once credentials are better known.
“But he’s got the personality not to get pig-headed or distracted; if he manages that he will really have passed his apprenticeship.”
Elstadt, viewed by an increasing set of critics as an eventual successor to a Bakkies Botha type of second-rower, has managed to stay within the boundaries of the law in Super Rugby thus far – something Botha has notably not always managed to do.
“Focussed aggression is definitely what we encourage from him, not reacting fatally to opponents who try to get under his skin,” says Coetzee.
“At some stages of his more junior career he has fallen foul on that front and has learnt from that (Elstadt got a straight red card in a IRB Junior World Championship semi-final against England in Tokyo when South Africa bowed out).
“We’re harsh even on yellow cards at the Stormers – you get a R5 000 fine if you earn one, to hurt the pocket, as you’re letting the others down.
“But Rynhardt’s certainly trying really hard to keep on the right side (of referees). He’s abrasive, as I said, but off the field he’s quite a likeable chap in the team environment.
“He has a soft spot for little kids, and things like that. He’s a well-balanced person.”
Elstadt’s physical development has been sound enough, considering that he is intended to settle now as a lock and had to “beef up” to match those requirements – he is listed as tipping the scales at 115kg after apparently being nearer 109kg whilst more of a “utility” forward last season.
“We’ll be working again in the off-season; there’s probably room for him to bulk up a bit further for lock. He’s done well so far,” adds Coetzee.
