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De Jongh learning from Bok teachers

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:12

At age 21, Juan de Jongh has played 16 games for Western Province and in two midweek games for South Africa on their November tour.

But his Super 14 debut didn't come until last Saturday against the Lions in Johannesburg and this week he plays his first Super 14 game at Newlands.

Young talented players don't come keener or more enthusiastic than De Jongh. He sets clear goals for himself and is intent on learning as much as he possibly can from the battle-hardened wisdom of the experienced players around him.

Speaking after Stormers' training at their High Performance Centre in Bellville on Thursday, De Jongh said: "The last four weeks, from the tri-series through to my first game, have been awesome."

He was looking forward to playing against his immediate opponents Berrick Barnes and Kurtly Beale this weekend, saying: "I can't wait for Saturday. I'm learning so much and it [Saturday's game] is a big opportunity for me."

"It's always special to play in front of the Newlands-Stormers crowd. It's going to be a big game. I'm really looking forward to it," he said.

De Jongh is clearly excited to be in his first Super 14 campaign. The former Hugenot High School pupil developed from a club player in the first half of last year into a Western Province and Springbok centre and is now playing in what was for years Jean de Villiers's inside centre spot in the Stormers team.

"It's big shoes I'm filling because of the high standards set by Jean de Villiers in the number 12 jersey, and it's important to me to uphold those standards. I hope I'm making the most of every opportunity. I'm trying to build from week to week," De Jongh said.

He was not concerned about the possibility of De Villiers returning to Cape Town from Munster.

Describing De Villiers as "classy", De Jongh said: "Jean must be one of the best 12s, one of the best centres in every way the country has ever had."

"It doesn't put pressure on me. I'm just focusing on playing the best rugby I can for the Stormers.

"I work hard. I like challenges. I've been given opportunities and I hope I've made the most of them."

He has no problem with playing at inside centre.

"I'm actually an outside centre but I'll take any chance I can to play for the Stormers and I'll make the most of it because I want to play for the Stormers - that's my big goal.

"I've got used to 12 and have learnt a lot. There's still a lot of little things to learn but I've grown a lot more comfortable there [at 12]. I'll play wherever the Stormers want me to play!"

He said the experience which Peter Grant, Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana offer is enormously helpful to him.

"I'm only 21 and have so much to learn."

Playing alongside the experienced Fourie had been of great benefit to him.

"He's played over 50 Test matches and I believe the more I can work with him, the more he can help me, the better I will be for it in future.

He described practising and playing with Fourie and Habana as "awesome".

"From the day they arrived I've learnt so much from Jaque and Bryan. Not just what they tell you but also all the little things they do. I absorb everything I see them do, how they go about doing things."

De Jongh said he was working hard from day to day on improving his skills, especially passing and kicking, and was focussed on defence too, which he believed was based around defensive skills but also "attitude and guts".

Commenting on his Super 14 debut game against the Lions, he said the team had started well and had a good first half but in the second half "we went into a bit of a defensive mode".

The team had given attention to this in their preparation during the week and hoped to play well for the full 80 minutes on Saturday.

One thing is certain. There won't be any player in either team more grateful for the opportunity to be playing in the game or trying harder to make a positive impression.

By Len Kaplan

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