Fourie backs Goosen for Springboks

by Thomas Rooney | Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie has spoken of his belief that highly-rated fly-half Johan Goosen should be included in the South Africa squad at some point in 2012.

Those who like to bet in play note how most teams in the year following the World Cup go through a transitional phase and this appears to be the case with South Africa too as they build for the future.

Goosen is the latest player to be mentioned, with Fourie saying that a good Super Rugby season should be more than enough to convince the selectors to take a chance on the 19-year-old.

The back-line coach said: “Johan’s performance in Super Rugby will determine whether he will play for the Boks this year. He definitely has the talent to do it.”

“But he has competition from a number of good young flyhalves. Elton Jantjies (Lions) had a good Currie Cup last year and Patrick Lambie (Sharks) could also play in this position.”

“And don’t forget about Sias Ebersohn (Goosen’s expected understudy at the Cheetahs). He had a good Super Rugby tournament in 2011 and he and Johan will push each other for the Cheetahs’ flyhalf jersey.”

“Johan’s long pre-season will definitely help him. Niel (du Plessis, the Cheetahs’ fitness coach) does good work and our pre-season preparation has changed a lot.”

“The goal is now to make the players better athletes, rather than make them bigger and stronger. It fits Johan like a glove because he is by nature a good athlete. It will get the best out of him.”

Elsewhere, Brendan Venter has warned South Africa that they need to secure Rassie Erasmus’ long-term future or risk losing his coaching services to England.

Expressing his concern, Venter said: “It is essential that Rassie gets involved with a national team in some way or form. Rassie is very bright, he is committed and puts good systems in place. The alternative is he is going to coach England with Nick Mallett and I just think we can’t allow that.”

“He has already worked with the guys in this World Cup and they were very good in the World Cup, we didn’t win the World Cup because we were not good, we just had the weirdest, unluckiest day in history.”

“So there’s been a massive improvement in our Springbok team. I don’t even think it should be an issue. I think SA Rugby should just sit down and make sure Rassie Erasmus stays in the system.”

Whether the South African Rugby officials take this advice remains to be seen, but as with every single international Rugby Union team, it is an interesting time at the moment with plenty of decisions to be made about the future.

Watch this space for more South Africa news!