In this Article we look at the contenders for CENTRES at the Sharks 2013 Super Rugby group.
The Sharks for the first time in a long time have a solid midfield, and to top it they have more than one option, the secret though is going to be which combination would suit the team’s dynamics the best.
I would like to try and explain the two centre position as many seem to get confused between the two, for example,“ What kind of player would you want at inside centre or outside centre” contrary to many beliefs in my opinion the center combination should be 2 players with different skill sets.
The Rugby Union centre backs are player numbers 12 and 13. They play in midfield between the flyhalf and the wings and fullback. Number 12 is also known as the inside centre, with number 13 being the outside centre. The centres need to be powerful backs, they need to be fast runners with good acceleration; they need to be skilled ball handlers, able to pass and receive.
The Inside and outside centres have similar roles but by using players with differing skills and styles a team will most often create the most effective centre pairing.
Number 12. The Inside Centre.
The inside centre is sometimes known as the second five-eighth, so called because this position shares some of the responsibilities of the first five-eighth, the flyhalf. The inside centre can be thought of as a flyhalf in midfield. The inside centre is often the more powerful centre, able to take the ball up to the defensive line, to stand up in the tackle or break free and then pass the ball to the outside centre, wing or fullback. The inside centre is best placed to quickly switch to the flyhalf position and can also be useful as extra cover at fullback.
Number 13. The Outside Centre.
The outside centre will be the faster of the two centres and be skilled at evading the defense. If the inside centre has run the ball into contact, has drawn in the defense and given a good pass, then the outside centre will have more space and can then be most effective. Given the extra space afforded by the inside centres work, the outside centre can run the ball up field. As the defense closes in the outside centre must be ready to pass to the wing or fullback to release the team’s fastest runners. The outside centre is well placed to switch position to the wing should this be necessary.
The Kicking Option.
Centres must also be good footballers and be able to play a variety of kicks. The inside centre will often have space to kick for territory or to attempt a drop goal-hence the idea of the second-five eighth, also known as a “foot balling” or kicking 12. The outside centre can sometimes opt to play a grubber kick-a low kick along the ground, in an effort to place the ball behind the defense for the wingers or fullback to run onto and collect.
The Centre’s Role in Defense.
In defense the centres will be required to make many tackles and support the flyhalf’s defense. The centres must be strong in the tackle and bold enough to stop a charging opposition player or even to drive the attacker backwards. The centres will often be expected to tackle an opposition back-row forward.
Skill Summery.
The Rugby Union centre needs to be a powerful and versatile back. Quick off the mark with good top speed; powerful in contact and with the skill to evade a tackle; good handling skills, both passing and receiving and able to play a variety of kicks. This is one of the most demanding positions for a Rugby Union back.
Knowing all this, which combination would I suggest the Sharks start with? “Francois Steyn and Paul Jordaan”!
The Contenders:
Francois Steyn:
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Fransie was schooled Grey College, Bloemfontein and ever since was touted by most as South Africa’s “Wunderkind”. Loved by some and hated by others, but no matter which side of the fence you sit on regarding this enigmatic yet brilliant player, his rugby career details make for impressive reading.
From school he went straight into the Sharks Academy where he was a huge success from the start and is a player renowned for his long distance kicking ability and strong tackling. Add to that his ability as a very accurate distributer to players outside him as well as his offloading in the tackle.
Besides his time at the Academy, Frans also spent time at the Murray Mexted Academy in New Zealand where, whilst there many local teams tried hard to gain his services.
His career portfolio to date is as follows:
Test debut: 11 November 2006 vs Ireland in Dublin, aged 19
Last test: 15 September 2012 vs New Zealand in Dunedin, aged 25
Total tests: 53
Tour matches: 2
Total Springbok matches: 55
Win ratio: 38-14-1
Tours: Ireland & England, 2006; Ireland & Scotland, 2007; RWC in France, Wales & Scotland, 2007; Wales & England, 2007; British Isles, 2008; British Isles, 2010; RWC in New Zealand, 2011.
Honors: SA Under-19 Player of the Year, 2006; Sasol Most Promising Player of the Year, 2007.
| OPPOSITION |
P |
W |
D |
L |
T |
C |
PE |
DG |
PTS |
| Argentina |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
| Australia |
10 |
4 |
0 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
2 |
29 |
| British Isles |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
| England |
10 |
9 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
16 |
| Fiji |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
11 |
| Ireland |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
| Italy |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
| Namibia |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
| New Zealand |
8 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
17 |
| Samoa |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
8 |
| Scotland |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Tonga |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
| USA |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
| Wales |
6 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
11 |
- 2012 – South Africa The Castle Rugby Championship – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – South Africa Castle Incoming Tours – Sharks Vodacom Super Rugby
- 2011 – South Africa IRB Rugby World Cup – South Africa Castle Tri-Nations
- 2010 – South Africa Outgoing Tours – South Africa Vodacom Tri-Nations
- 2009 – South Africa Vodacom Tri-Nations – South Africa British & Irish Lions Tour – The Sharks Vodacom Super 14
- 2008 – South Africa Vodacom Outgoing Tour – South Africa Vodacom Tri-Nations – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Div – South Africa Vodacom Incoming Tours – The Sharks Vodacom Super 14
- 2007 – South Africa IRB Rugby World Cup – South Africa Vodacom Outgoing Tour – Springboks XV Vodacom Outgoing Tour – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Div – South Africa Vodacom Tri-Nations – South Africa Vodacom Incoming Tours – Wildebeest Vodacom Cup – The Sharks Vodacom Super 14 – South Africa World Cup warm-up matches
- 2006 – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – South Africa IRB Under 19 World Championship – South Africa Vodacom Outgoing Tours – Springbok XV Vodacom Outgoing Tours
- 2005 – Free State SA Under 19 – Free State ABSA Under 21 Competition – South Africa IRB U19 World Championships
- 2004 – Free State U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week
What an illustrious career this man has had and when one looks at the statistics it does not even show his time at Racing Metro (France) in 2009 to 2012.
Paul Jordaan:
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Paul is another star rugby player schooled at Grey College in Bloemfontein and is one of the present players on most rugby supporter’s lips. He is also, like Francois Steyn, a very versatile backline player with one difference, he has blistering pace. This is one reason I feel these two players will and are going to make a tremendous combination in the midfield for the Sharks.
In my humble opinion I believe Paul could be the new Danie Gerber of SA Rugby. I know some will castigate me for even comparing Paul with Gerber, but I have no doubt that this young man is in that category.
Another factor that many supporters are not aware of is that Paul also played flyhalf at school and a few games for the Sharks XV at pivot and has a solid kicking game.
Paul’s career portfolio to date is as follows:
- The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – South Africa IRB Junior World Championship – Sharks XV Vodacom Cup – Sharks Vodacom Super Rugby
- 2011 – Sharks ABSA Under 19 Competition – Sharks ABSA Under 21 Competition – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Sharks XV Absa Currie Cup Compulsory friendlies – South Africa IRB Junior World Championships
- 2010 – South Africa SA U18 High Performance – Free State U18 Craven Week
- 2009 – Free State U18 Academy Week
- 2008 – Konica Minolta Free State U16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week – U16 Elite Squad Elite Squads
- 2005 – Eastern Province U13 Coca Cola Craven Week
Tim Whitehead:
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Tim was schooled at Grey High School in the Eastern Cape, he then moved to the Western Cape where he studied at UCT and started his senior rugby career.
Towards the end of 2011 he decided to change provinces as he felt his career was at a dead end whilst at Western Province and although hesitant at first he took up the offer to join the Sharks and ever since has been a stalwart at the Tank.
Sadly for him, is the fact the Francois Steyn has also decided to return to the Tank and hopefully this will not break his spirit as a player since joining the Sharks. Tim has been a solid and dependable inside centre for the Sharks so one can only hope he finds confidence at Steyn’s return, fact is Steyn is the Springboks first choice inside centre and thought of by many as one of the very best in world rugby.
Tim is a team player and again will cover 12 and 13 as he has the skills to do so. His one weakness is that he does not have that out and out pace of Paul Jordaan.
Tim’s career portfolio to date is as follows:
- 2012 – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Sharks Vodacom Super Rugby
- 2011 – DHL Western Province ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – DHL Western Province Absa Currie Cup Compulsory friendlies – DHL Stormers Vodacom Super Rugby – UCT FNB Varsity Cup Presented by Steinhoff International – DHL Western Province Vodacom Cup
- 2010 – Vodacom Western Province ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Western Province Absa Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies – Western Province Vodacom Cup – UCT FNB Varsity Cup – Vodacom Stormers Vodacom Super 14
- 2009 – SA Students SA Students – Western Province ABSA Under 21 Competition – Western Province Vodacom Cup
- 2008 – Vodacom WP u21 ABSA Under 21 Competition – UCT FNB Varsity Cup
Meyer Bosman:
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Meyer was schooled Oakdale Agricultural High. He started as a flyhalf but later in his career showed great ability in the inside centre position. He has played for the national team of South Africa, the Springboks.
Bosman started his professional rugby career at the Free State Cheetahs, who competes in the Currie Cup. His most famous moment during his first season was the winning try he scored in the dying moments of the game against a full strength Blue Bulls team in 2005. The score earned the Free State Cheetahs their second Currie Cup championship (the first being more than 30 years prior). Bosman was part of the team that successfully defended the title for the following two years, by ending in a draw in 2006 against Blue Bulls and defeating the Golden Lions in 2007’s final.
At the young age of 20, he made his debut for the Springboks in late 2005, against Wales in Cardiff. The Springboks won the game 33–16, with Bosman having contributed two conversions on his debut. He played the next week against France in Paris, again starting at flyhalf. He kicked one penalty goal in the 20–26 loss.
At the end of the 2010 Currie Cup season, Bosman signed with The Sharks, the 2010 Currie Cup Champions. He made his debut for them against his former team, the Cheetahs, in the Super Rugby competition on 19 February 2011, playing at inside centre. Ironically the former Sharks inside centre, Andries Strauss, played in that match for the Cheetahs, the two players literally swapping the number 12 jerseys for the two teams respectively.
His career portfolio is as follows:
- 2012 – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Sharks Vodacom Super Rugby
- 2011 – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Sharks Vodacom Super Rugby
- 2010 – Vodacom Free State Cheetahs ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Vodacom Free State Cheetahs Absa Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies – Vodacom Cheetahs Vodacom Super 14
- 2009 – South Africa Vodacom Outgoing Tours – Vodacom Free State Cheetahs ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Vodacom Free State Cheetahs Absa Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies – Vodacom Free State Cheetahs British & Irish Lions Tour – Vodacom Cheetahs Vodacom Super 14
- 2008 – Vodacom FS Cheetahs ABSA Currie Cup Premier Div – Vodacom Cheetahs Vodacom Super 14
- 2007 – Vodacom Free State Cheetahs ABSA Currie Cup Premier Div – Vodacom Cheetahs Vodacom Super 14
- 2006 – Vodacom Free State Cheetahs ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Vodacom Cheetahs Vodacom Super 14 – Springbok XV Vodacom Outgoing Tours
- 2005 – Vodacom Cheetahs ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Free State ABSA Under 21 Competition – Vodacom Cheetahs Vodacom Cup – South Africa Vodacom Outgoing Tours
- 2004 – Free State ABSA U20 Competition Section A
Heimar Williams:
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Heimar was schooled in Pretoria at Afrikaans Hoër Seunsskool, he then joined the Sharks Academy to further his studies and rugby career. He is a versatile centre that plays either 12 or 13 and has, like Jordaan, some pace to boot, just not as explosive.
His young career to date as follows:
- 2012 – Sharks ABSA Under 21 Competition – Sharks XV Vodacom Cup
- 2011 – Sharks ABSA Under 21 Competition – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Sharks XV Absa Currie Cup Compulsory friendlies – Sharks XV Vodacom Cup
- 2010 – Sharks ABSA Under 19 Competition
- 2009 – SA Academy U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week
Starters:
John Plumtree will start with Francois Steyn and Paul Jordaan, this of course will depend on the injury Frans picked up during 2012’s Springbok games, but injuries apart no doubt that would be the best combination in my opinion. If Francois Steyn is still injured at the start of the 2013 season, Tim Whitehead will start at inside centre.
4 excellent options here for the Sharks.
See, there I did it.
I managed not to troll you guys.
For all the babbling about the Cheetahs importing players, almost the entire Sharks centre stocks are ex Free State Schools??
And no Sharks schooled players at all?? OMW
1 @ Loosehead,
Commendable effort indeed. Fransie, just needs to learn to pass again. Jordaan had a great season last year. Going to be an interesting season for sure. All to the benefit of SA Rugby
@ Cheetah4eva:
Center is another position in South Africa that Like Flyhalf has suddenly started producing big time, if one looks at the center depth at all the provinces, LIke the new kids on the block at the Bulls, WP, Cheetahs, Sharks
C4N just so you know? watch the kid from Durban in the Bok U20 squad this year, He was the top try scorer last year in the U19 tournament, Tyler Fisher, big strong fast no13
@ Sharks_forever:
Then again wait??????????????????????????????/ he did not come from the Free State so he must be useless 😆
@ Loosehead:
Well done Loskoppie, lol you can have a dop for being a good lad 😆
5 @ Sharky,
.
Not useless, just needs a bit of Grey refinement
The Junior Bok squad, has serious firepower in the midfield. Jan Serfontein has already shown his class in last years tourney, but his Grey College team mate Dries Swanepoel, has not featured much due to injuries. They were dynamite together for Free State Schools.
Agreed a lot of exciting talent coming through. Frans Steyn back, Jordaan and Whitehead were playing well. Ebersohn and Sadie at the Cheetahs. Francois Venter, Serfontein and Engelbrecht at the Bools, Brache, JP Du Plessis, and de Jongh at WP, and of course even though a tad long in the tooth Ronnie Cooke and Wayne Stevens at EP.
@ Cheetah4eva:
For sure mate, center is starting to get very healthy, And not sure Nel can get refined in any way lol, he does bring experience though?
Jan Serfontein is a serious talent
Must say when reading the article the one thing that comes to mind when thinking about the Sharks midfield play – EXITEMENT
Interesting to note that Bosman could well rack up hia 100th SR cap this year.
As good as the Sharks center pairing looks?? my one concern is this,12 is well covered with genuine 12’s Steyn, Whitehead and Bosman, Jordaan is the only genuine 13, that being one with real pace.
After reading the centres from Sharks, Stormers, Bulls and Cheetahs we now have as much depth there for Boks as we do at flyhalf and loose forward. Jeez it is has been a long time to see this type of depth in South Africa at centre. Will be good for Boks too for each player to be pushing each other for a Bok position. Competition is always good.
@ Puma:
GD Sir Knees, lol how you doing bro??
careful not to sing praise to our players, it causes others in here to have wet Panties
Sharks are well covered at centre this year. Frans Steyn is only 25 feels like he has been around for 20 years or so. So young has so much still to offer. Going to be brilliant to see Jordaan and Fransie playing together this year. Though saying that Jordaan and Whitehead were a brilliant centre pairing towards the end of S15 last year. Well think it will be Fransie and Jordaan to start for Sharks. Having a player like Whitehead covering is just damn awesome. Whitehead was brilliant last year for Sharks. Also let us not forget Bosman is a damn fine player too he will also cover inside centre and think Whitehead will cover both outside and inside centre.
12 @ Sharks_forever: I think Whitehead will cover outside centre well. Though he played superb at inside centre for Sharks last year. Whitehead sure does not have Jordaans pace but he is still top class at outside centre if he has to play
there.
Really excited to see how our centres go this year.
14 @ Sharks_forever:
I am well and you bro? Been waiting for the article for a days now………… 🙂 Really excited about our centres this year, can’t wait to see how Fransie gels with Jordaan and of course Lambie.
1 @ Loosehead:
Nice one Loosie, now keep it up! hehehehehe.
@ Puma:
😆 Pooms good to hear bro, As for whitehead, do not get me wrong as he has been very good since moving to the Sharks, but we lack real pace in our backline as it is, Jordaan offers that and if he got injured we in a bit of trouble.
Remember Whitehead in the Super 15 last year?? Spies running him in from behind?? and Whitehead had a start, Williams might be able to lift his game to fill the 13 gap,as can Mjekevu, but the latter is not great on defense and has weak hands.
18 @ Sharks_forever:
Not sure if Williams will play in S15 unless if Whitehead is injured. My feeling Whitehead will cover 13 and 12. Whiteheads distribution is very good though. Really hope we don’t lose Jordaan to injury like last year. Watched us playing the Reds again just the other day, that try Jordaan started and finished eventually was outstanding. Do you remember that try? Jordaan makes a break then off loads to JPP who off loads to Keegan who off loads to Jordaan who steps inside and is away like a lightening. For me that was the best try I saw last year, not a individual try but more so a team working together and finally getting it. Out of the top draw it was. You can see there just how much pace Jordaan has, as he accelerated he left the Red players for dust. He is a magnificent talent.
@ Puma:
For sure I remember that try, was brilliant, and of course Whitehead will cover 13, I am just saying I don’t think it will be the right more in all games, 13 must have some pace
20 @ Sharks_forever:
Agree that 13 must have more pace so hoping Jordaan don’t pick up a injury. Just think Whitehead not a bad replacement to have as we don’t have anyone else in Jordaans class, Whitehead is right up there but without the pace of Jordaan.
Who knows JPP might cover 13 as well, never thought of that. He was superb for Sharks against Stormers in the semi. Imagine JPP with Fransie? We may see a bit of that combo this year.
JPP and Fransie two massive centres. We just could see them together who knows. Though I think Jordaan will play most games there. If JPP has to cover 13 then will we see Ludik on at wing like we done against Stormers with Viljoen at the back? We have plenty options if we just look about I feel.
Can’t wait for S15 now, only a month and a half. Felt like a damn year without rugby this festive season……….. 🙂
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