Muller still chasing 'green dream'
Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:42
Sharks captain Johann Muller, with his hunger for Springbok selection a bigger driving force than ever, will lean on "all the leaders in his team" when they face the Lions in a Currie Cup semifinal in Durban on Saturday.
Muller, speaking to rugby365.com on the eve of the play-offs in South Africa's premier domestic competition, said team leadership in rugby is not a one-man show.
"That is one of the reasons why the Springboks won the World Cup last year, because there were so many quality leaders in the group of 30," Muller said in reference to South Africa's triumph in France.
"We have four guys who captained the Boks in that team, along with a number of provincial captains who were really good leaders," he added.
The Bok captains in France were of course first-choice national captain and Muller's Sharks teammate John Smit, Victor Matfield, the Blue Bulls captain who lead the Boks in the absence of Smit last year and again this year, Bobby Skinstad, now retired, and of course Muller himself.
On Saturday he will have Smit in support when they face the Lions in Durban in the first of the two Currie Cup semifinals and Muller is very happy to have such a seasoned campaigner as support.
"For me, the more leaders I have around me, the easier my task gets," he told rugby365.com.
"For me to have John back is fantastic, it is great to have such a guy with so much experience back. He certainly helps me a lot with the captaincy, but there are others as well - a Jacques Botes, a Brad Barrett and then there are the younger guys like Francois Steyn and Ruan Pienaar who are putting their hands up as leaders.
"That makes you job as a captain so much easier, I am really grateful to all those guys in our team."
The 28-year-old Muller, who has been unable to make the Bok team since Peter de Villiers took over from Jake White as coach this year, makes no secret of the fact that he still desires to be included in the Green and Gold club.
However, he is not about to embark on a personal crusade and as always, will put the team first.
"At this stage it is certainly more about the team," he said about Saturday's semifinal, adding: "If the team does well, the individuals do well.
"For me it is just great to play in a team where there are so many good players who play quality rugby.
"Obviously I would dearly love to wear the Bok jersey again," he said, adding that you only realise what it means for you once you are no longer part of the Bok setup.
"That flame [to play for the Boks] burns brighter than it has ever burnt before, and obviously I would love to get into the Boks side.
"However, this week it is vital that I play good rugby in the team context to ensure we get into the Final, and that is where we want to be.
"The best way to show you deserve a shot for the Bok team is to show you can play as a team man, because no individual is bigger than the team and it will always be the case.
"If you do well in the team context and contribute to your teammates' success, then it makes a difference.
"I have played 60-odd Currie Cup games, but I haven't scored a Currie Cup try.
"However, that doesn't bother me, because I know the work I do up front helps that the guys with more pace and skill go score the tries.
"It is all about combinations and about what you can do for the guy next to you," he concluded.
By Jan de Koning
