I had a good laugh when I read this this morning! Springbok coach, Peter de Villiers has been responding to what Eddie Jones has been saying with regards to the suggestion that PdV should bring back Percy Montgomery for the Lions Series. It is said that Jones believes Percy is needed so that he can be the goal kicker for the Springboks but PdV has said that Ruan Pienaar is going to be kicking for goal during the Lions Series and he will not be bringing Percy out of retirement.
PdV then went on to say, “Ruan is a gifted rugby player. I view him as the Tiger Woods of rugby.” Gifted rugby player – Yes, Tiger Woods of rugby – No!! How can one even start to compare what Tiger Woods has done on the golf course to what Ruan has done on the Rugby field? Does PdV know what he is talking about? Tiger is the best player in the world when it comes to golf and I seriously doubt anyone, bar PdV, would say that Ruan is the best rugby player in the world!
For me Ruan is a talented player and he is really going to be tested come the Lions Series when he is up against O’Gara or Stephen Jones. The fact that Ruan has not really been tested at flyhalf bar the end of year tour and a few games he has played for the Sharks this season at number 10, leaves me to believe that Ruan could either shine or fade as a premier world class flyhalf. But please let’s not use Ruan and Tiger in the same sentence PdV!
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5 comments
Mozie says:
Apr 26, 2009
Eldrink Tont Woods, the best golf player in the world? YES! 14 majors, 66 PGA tour events winner and the youngers grand slam winner of all time. although tiger seems super natural it does not mean he cant be matched, related or used as a yard stick. he is what he is today because of talent, ruan has talent. he is what he today because of hard work, ruan needs to work hard. all pieter was doing was identifying talent which if looked after, and with hard work can be realised. the only difference is tiger is a complete product while ruan is still work in progress.
Manny says:
Apr 28, 2009
PDV must not use Tiger and Ruan in the same sentence unless he is stating (a) “Ruan will need Tiger balm to sooth his aching muscles after the Lions mauled him,” or (b) “Ruan was absolutely mauled by the Tiger..er I mean Lions…”
Ron says:
Apr 28, 2009
Well said Manny!!!
Guru says:
Apr 29, 2009
Well, I will agree that Tiger is a Sportsman in the same mould of the likes of Mike Jordan, Muhammed Ali, Pele…………no doubt, I do not think PDV intends on compaing him as per se. However, where i agree with Mozie is the fact that Ruan has bags of talent and he just needs to to selected consistently and have his coach showing faith in him. PDV is doing exactly what any decent coach should do, he is showing full confidence and faith in his own and will stop at nothing to show that.
Put quite simply, PDV knows he can afford to say so because the Lions are not half as good a team as any other Lions teams that we have seen in SA, certainly not half as good as the class of ’97. Despite how much Manny and Ron might talk up the Lions, they are not a threat to the Bok. Yes, there is not such thing as an easy Rugby game and a team still needs to sweat in a 70 point victory but the fact of the matter is simple, the Boks to win convincingly in the 2nd and 3rd tests. They may be rusty and play terrible Rugby in the 1st, but the 2nd and 3rd tests to be taken every so comfortably by the men in Green and Gold….KLAAAR!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mozie says:
Apr 30, 2009
the fact that people would question pieter’s statement puzzels me more than the statement itself. im even disapointed in myself to be trying to explain his intention. well ruan is a world champion after all. may be thats a reason good enough to make the comparison