He hasn’t touched a rugby ball since the Japan Top League concluded in early February and no one knows how he is keeping sharp but Fourie du Preez will be expected to take the field for the Springboks when the international season reopens in two months.
Du Preez was not named in either of the 44-man training camps – the one that concluded in Johannesburg yesterday and the May 31 one in Cape Town – and didn’t make any surprise visits.
The Suntory Sungoliath scrumhalf has not been training with his former union, the Bulls, either and has not been seen around the University of Pretoria’s High Performance Centre. The good news is that Du Preez isn’t injured, Bok team doctor Craig Roberts confirmed on Monday.
“My understanding is that we’ve been working quite hard with him regarding his conditioning but I haven’t personally been involved with him,” said Roberts.
Du Preez last played when Sungoliath lost the All-Japan Championship final to Yamaha Jubilo 15-3 – Schalk Burger was on the bench for Sungoliath in that game.
But he remains Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer’s first-choice scrumhalf even though he last played for the national team against Scotland at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last June.
He missed the entire Rugby Championship last year and the end-of-year-tour to Europe through injury. And, to get over the off-season downtime, Du Preez was spotted caddying for Branden Grace at the Masters at Augusta National in the US last month.
The question is: will he be ready in time to face the World XV in a friendly in Cape Town on July 11 and Australia in Brisbane a week later?
Former Springbok and Stormers scrumhalf Bolla Conradie had no doubt that Du Preez, 33, will be as sharp as ever when the international season resumes.
The proof, he said, was in Burger’s stellar performances for the Stormers this season.
“Schalk showed that the Japanese league can prepare you well for Super Rugby,” said Conradie.
“He’s been performing well for the Stormers and I think Fourie du Preez could still come back and play well.
“With the experience Du Preez has, I have no doubt that he’ll do well.
“He’s an old head but he will still have the quickness about him on the field and he’ll know the shortest distances between rucks.
“He has a feeling or a sense of where the next ruck is going to happen and then you’ll find him there, ready to get the next phase going.
“A scrumhalf must be quick to the base and clear the ruck quickly, as Highlanders scrumhalf Aaron Smith shows every week.
“He and Heyneke have a good understanding, so I think Heyneke will be relaxed and not worry at all that he hasn’t played in months.”
Conradie said there was adequate back-up at half-back in the event Du Preez didn’t hit the ground running this winter.
With just over three months before Meyer names his 31-man World Cup squad, a number of scrumhalves have performed well this season, which could make Meyer have a rethink about which three he’ll take to the UK.
Conradie said: “Rudy Paige and Faf de Klerk have had very good seasons and I’d include Nic Groom in that category as well.
“My feeling is that Heyneke will play Francois Hougaard on the wing, which will open up that space for a third scrumhalf.
“Hougaard will be the utility back, even though I’ve always rated him as a great scrumhalf.
“I’d love it if those two young guys played some Test rugby but it will depend on Heyneke and his selectors.”
Du Preez in Meyer’s plans
Du Preez was not named in either of the 44-man training camps – the one that concluded in Johannesburg yesterday and the May 31 one in Cape Town – and didn’t make any surprise visits.
The Suntory Sungoliath scrumhalf has not been training with his former union, the Bulls, either and has not been seen around the University of Pretoria’s High Performance Centre. The good news is that Du Preez isn’t injured, Bok team doctor Craig Roberts confirmed on Monday.
“My understanding is that we’ve been working quite hard with him regarding his conditioning but I haven’t personally been involved with him,” said Roberts.
Du Preez last played when Sungoliath lost the All-Japan Championship final to Yamaha Jubilo 15-3 – Schalk Burger was on the bench for Sungoliath in that game.
But he remains Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer’s first-choice scrumhalf even though he last played for the national team against Scotland at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last June.
He missed the entire Rugby Championship last year and the end-of-year-tour to Europe through injury. And, to get over the off-season downtime, Du Preez was spotted caddying for Branden Grace at the Masters at Augusta National in the US last month.
The question is: will he be ready in time to face the World XV in a friendly in Cape Town on July 11 and Australia in Brisbane a week later?
Former Springbok and Stormers scrumhalf Bolla Conradie had no doubt that Du Preez, 33, will be as sharp as ever when the international season resumes.
The proof, he said, was in Burger’s stellar performances for the Stormers this season.
“Schalk showed that the Japanese league can prepare you well for Super Rugby,” said Conradie.
“He’s been performing well for the Stormers and I think Fourie du Preez could still come back and play well.
“With the experience Du Preez has, I have no doubt that he’ll do well.
“He’s an old head but he will still have the quickness about him on the field and he’ll know the shortest distances between rucks.
“He has a feeling or a sense of where the next ruck is going to happen and then you’ll find him there, ready to get the next phase going.
“A scrumhalf must be quick to the base and clear the ruck quickly, as Highlanders scrumhalf Aaron Smith shows every week.
“He and Heyneke have a good understanding, so I think Heyneke will be relaxed and not worry at all that he hasn’t played in months.”
Conradie said there was adequate back-up at half-back in the event Du Preez didn’t hit the ground running this winter.
With just over three months before Meyer names his 31-man World Cup squad, a number of scrumhalves have performed well this season, which could make Meyer have a rethink about which three he’ll take to the UK.
Conradie said: “Rudy Paige and Faf de Klerk have had very good seasons and I’d include Nic Groom in that category as well.
“My feeling is that Heyneke will play Francois Hougaard on the wing, which will open up that space for a third scrumhalf.
“Hougaard will be the utility back, even though I’ve always rated him as a great scrumhalf.
“I’d love it if those two young guys played some Test rugby but it will depend on Heyneke and his selectors.”
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