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Pretoria - Springbok and Vodacom Bulls scrumhalf Fourie du Preez says that he is relieved to be playing in his final season of the expanded Vodacom Super Rugby tournament.
Du Preez, who earlier this year announced that he will be continuing his career in Japan after the Rugby World Cup, joined the ever-growing list of Super Rugby casualties when he suffered a grade 2 medial ligament tear during last month’s 32-23 win over the Sharks in Durban.
The Super Rugby centurion says that due to the continuous lingering of the tournament and the escalating physical toll it takes on a player, he’s glad to be ending this chapter of his career shortly.
“I’m happy that it’s my last year in Super Rugby,” said Du Preez during an exclusive interview with SARugby.com.
“There’s been so much talk of too much rugby being played and every couple of years the decision is made to prolong the season.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have played several seasons of Super Rugby, but I can’t see any player playing six, seven, eight years of the expanded tournament,” said Du Preez.
The injury to Du Preez has given Francois Hougaard an opportunity at scrumhalf with the Bulls fighting to retain their Super Rugby title.
The versatile youngster is a contrasting player to Du Preez in that he likes to play a more attack-orientated game, which doesn’t necessarily fit into the current game plans implemented by the Bulls and the Boks, who rely heavily on Du Preez’s unrivalled tactical nous.
The 2007 World Cup winner, however, doesn’t perceive this as a negative to either team and urged Hougaard to continue to play to his strengths.
“Francois does bring something different to the table. He’s a very good all-round player with great speed as he’s shown on the wing.
“As a scrumhalf, I don’t think he should get stuck on the tactical side of things, he should just play his natural game, and I’m sure the coaches will back him to do that as well,” said Du Preez.
The 55-Test veteran has made rapid progress in his rehabilitation and could bolster the Bulls for their blockbuster north/south derby against the DHL Stormers at a sold out DHL Newlands on Saturday.
*This interview was made possible by BMW South Africa, the official vehicle sponsor of the Springboks.
Pretoria - Springbok and Vodacom Bulls scrumhalf Fourie du Preez says that he is relieved to be playing in his final season of the expanded Vodacom Super Rugby tournament.
Du Preez, who earlier this year announced that he will be continuing his career in Japan after the Rugby World Cup, joined the ever-growing list of Super Rugby casualties when he suffered a grade 2 medial ligament tear during last month’s 32-23 win over the Sharks in Durban.
The Super Rugby centurion says that due to the continuous lingering of the tournament and the escalating physical toll it takes on a player, he’s glad to be ending this chapter of his career shortly.
“I’m happy that it’s my last year in Super Rugby,” said Du Preez during an exclusive interview with SARugby.com.
“There’s been so much talk of too much rugby being played and every couple of years the decision is made to prolong the season.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have played several seasons of Super Rugby, but I can’t see any player playing six, seven, eight years of the expanded tournament,” said Du Preez.
The injury to Du Preez has given Francois Hougaard an opportunity at scrumhalf with the Bulls fighting to retain their Super Rugby title.
The versatile youngster is a contrasting player to Du Preez in that he likes to play a more attack-orientated game, which doesn’t necessarily fit into the current game plans implemented by the Bulls and the Boks, who rely heavily on Du Preez’s unrivalled tactical nous.
The 2007 World Cup winner, however, doesn’t perceive this as a negative to either team and urged Hougaard to continue to play to his strengths.
“Francois does bring something different to the table. He’s a very good all-round player with great speed as he’s shown on the wing.
“As a scrumhalf, I don’t think he should get stuck on the tactical side of things, he should just play his natural game, and I’m sure the coaches will back him to do that as well,” said Du Preez.
The 55-Test veteran has made rapid progress in his rehabilitation and could bolster the Bulls for their blockbuster north/south derby against the DHL Stormers at a sold out DHL Newlands on Saturday.
*This interview was made possible by BMW South Africa, the official vehicle sponsor of the Springboks.
