Keil: 'Why I rate the Boks'
Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:13
Sharks stars: Rudi Keil, Jason White and Andrew Sheridan
Coach Peter de Villiers may have come under fire in the past month during the Springboks' three-match losing streak and even a record 53-8 win against Australia at the weekend have not won over all his detractors, but former South African Under-23 star Rudi Keil says he sees enough reason to be excited about the future of Bok rugby.
Keil, currently in the second of a two-year contract with English Premiership club Sale Sharks, has maintained a keen interest in South African rugby.
Having played for the Johannesburg-based Lions, the South Western Districts Eagles, Worcester, Boland Cavaliers, the Durban-based Sharks, Gloucester and now Sale, the 30-year-old midfielder has experienced a few "ups and downs" in a professional career spanning more than a decade.
Having just made a full recovery from minor back surgery - to rectify a bulging disk - he is hoping to help the Sharks (the English club) win some major silverware on the European stage this season.
But he is no less excited about developments in South African rugby than he is ahead of season in the Guinness Premiership and Heineken Cup competitions.
And he feels that South Africa's demanding rugby public may need to give the new Bok coach some "breathing space", because he can produce the required results.
"The Boks obviously got a bit of flak for their performances before this past weekend," Keil told rugby365.com.
However, he felt that even before the record 53-8 (eight tries to one) win over the Wallabies, the Boks showed they have a bright future ahead under the new coaching staff.
"People must remember that this is a team coming off a World Cup win and they had a fairly decent performance - winning in Dunedin for the first time," Keil said.
"I'm feeling quite confident about the way the boys are playing.
"You've got some great, great skills there [in the Bok team]," he said, adding that he felt the coaching staff is doing an admirable job during a transition period - after taking over from World Cup-winning Springbok coach Jake White.
"Peter de Villiers and Dick Muir seem to have a great rapport with the boys and the way they are trying to do things.
"It is just a matter of getting used to new vibes and new heads at the top of the team.
"You have to give them a bit of breathing space," he said.
Keil admitted that pleasing the demanding South African public is never easy.
"The flipside is that this is a job and I am aware that the South African public can get quite harsh on the coaching staff.
"But in the bigger picture, it is a building stage and to have played a game against Australia and annihilate them like that [53-8 at the weekend]. Then they also had a fantastic win over in New Zealand - winning for the first time in Dunedin.
"Those are two very strong positives for the start of a new build-up towards the next World Cup. Obviously you want to build towards the next World Cup, but also have strong performances year-in and year-out.
"However, I am very excited about Bok rugby, despite some senior players moving on and youngsters coming through.
"I think the balance between De Villiers and Muir will come and they will achieve," Keil added.
He has also been following the Currie Cup competition closely, often getting involved in doing some commentary work for television networks in England - with fellow commentators reminding him that he is "too much of a Shark", having player for the Durban-based Sharks and now a member of the Sale Sharks squad.
He still supports the Sharks in the Currie Cup, because he enjoyed a number of years as a member in Durban.
However, with his girlfriend and mother now living in Cape Town - which is also his home base outside of England - Keil admits to "some" divided loyalties.
"My blood runs deep with Natal [Sharks], but I do also support Province," he said.
Keil was speaking to rugby365.com, in a telephone interview, during a Land Rover sponsored event in Manchester. Land Rover is the official vehicle of England Rugby and Premier Rugby.
By Jan de Koning
