Head-to-head: Potgieter v Steyn
Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:38
Jacques-Louis Potgieter getting to grips with the Bulls
Next year they will be teammates, vying for the same light blue No.10 jersey. In fact they may even be Springbok teammates on the year-end tour to Europe and Ireland. But on Saturday Jacques-Louis Potgieter and Morné Steyn will play pivotal roles when the Free State Cheetahs and Blue Bulls clash in the Currie Cup Final in Pretoria.
While Steyn produced a series of match-winning performances on the international stage - helping the Boks beat the British and Irish Lions, as well as winning the Tri-Nations and whitewashing the All Blacks - Potgieter produced his own heroics on the Currie Cup stages.
So much so that he has already been listed as a possible bolter for the Boks' five-match tour next month - which will see them play France, Italy and Ireland in Tests, as well as tackle Leicester and Saracens in non-capped tour matches.
Potgieter, who is said to have a very good chance of earning his Bok colours by playing against the two English clubs, will get the perfect opportunity to show his international credentials when he faces Steyn at Loftus Versfeld in a Currie Cup Final pressure-cooker.
One person who feels that Potgieter deserves a call-up to the national team, but will also be sad to see him rejoin the Bulls next year, is Cheetahs backline coach Hawies Fourie - who has been instrumental in helping the 25-year-old flyhalf mature and develop into the quality player he is.
Potgieter joined the Cheetahs, from the Bulls, on a two-year contract in 2008 and have now signed to return to Pretoria in 2010.
"It is such a pity that he is leaving," Fourie told rugby365, discussing the Cheetahs flyhalf's qualities ahead of Saturday's Currie Cup Final at Loftus.
"I have put in a lot of work with him in the past two seasons," Fourie said, adding: "There are a lot of aspects to his game which he has really improved on.
"His decision making has come on in leaps and bounds - that is something that comes with time and experience.
"What also helped is that he was assured of his place for the entire Currie Cup.
"Last year Chris Rossouw [the now retired Bok flyhalf who returned from a stint in Europe] joined us at the start of the season and he [Potgieter] went to go play at the Griffons for a while.
"Then when Chris Rossouw got injured [and was forced into retirement] he returned.
"The previous year in the Super 14 it was between him [Potgieter] and Conrad Barnard.
"It certainly helps when the player knows he is the guy in the hot seat and he must produce.
"That also had a big influence in his improved form," Fourie told rugby365.
No doubt that Potgieter would like to reward the Cheetahs for the opportunities by helping them secure the Currie Cup - which would be their fourth title in the past five years.
* To read Jacques-Louis Potgieter's BIO, CLICK HERE!
By Jan de Koning
Contact Us | Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Advertising
