Going through the Internet, looking for interesting rugby titbits, I once again came accross Dewald Potgieter’s Blog, one which SuperSport publishes week by week in the active rugby season down south.
Dewald continues to surprise with his easy and well-written articles.
Interestingly, my wife was at the Christmas Function of the Blue Bulls end of last year, where Dewald Potgieter also acted as Master of Ceremonies… and the same sentiments eminated from her. Dewald is a very well-spoken and eloquent young man, take your time to read what he says.
Here’s his latest:
It’s 19 Feb – a relaxed Tuesday night in the Potgieter household, and this is no ordinary household either.
Okay, so we’re a man and his bulldog, a very ordinary household, but it looked a lot different on this fateful day last year.
Okay, Zsa Zsa didn’t look very different at all, but then again, she’s always looked like she has three stomachs, none of them working properly of course.
I, on the other hand, looked exactly like someone who had just awoken from a four-hour operation – the type you have after you accidentally almost sever your forearm.
Scary to think that a year has passed so quickly, and we’re facing a brand new season of Super Rugby.
Hell. Yeah.
Welcome to my weekly blog. My name is Dewald Potgieter, and I am NOT an alcoholic. Far worse, it seems. I only recently learned that I am a tone-deaf tappet waste of life. Jeez, just a couple of boys with a song in their hearts… and then BAM, we get promptly cyber-molested.
When that happens to be little nephew Kyle’s review, you know you’re in trouble. I’m too scared to go on to Youtube – 200 000 Simon Cowells are waiting patiently there. All your ex-girlfriends call you, and you can tell that, after watching the video, they feel like they’ve won the break-up. All they see is a puffy red face after the big hard sun had his way with you all day on the training grounds, and you look like you want to cry because you’re not sure if you sound as bad as the director’s face implies.
Good times.
Where was I? Oh yes, I’m Dewald… and I like to fiddle around with a pen every once in a while. My views are my own, and they do not represent the Bulls, SA Rugby or the United Nations. They’re also the only views you’ll find in here. I asked my girlfriend if she has an idea for a title for my first blog of the year – she did. Subsequently all her decision-making privileges have been removed.
Here’s the deal – I love what I do, and I’d like to share some of the experience with you fine people.
My experiences in 2013 thus far have been limited to filing my tax returns and buying a massively overpriced teddy bear for my girlfriend on Valentine’s day, same as all of you I guess, except for the tax evaders and the clever ones among you.
It’s not that it’s been an uneventful time – I just don’t want to bore you with details of our pre-season regime. That being said, it’s probably been one of the best pre-seasons we’ve had the past couple of years. We had a pretty decent warm-up game against the Cheetahs, but sadly those games aren’t worth any points. Still, it’s a good feeling to make it to the other side of a pre-season intact, something I haven’t done since 2010 no thanks to some untimely injuries.
I feel good. My good friend Wynand Olivier always teases that in my sixth year of Super Rugby I’m still up and coming. Here’s to hoping Has-been is right.
The first game of our campaign is a big one – the Soweto Derby… Bulls v Stormers… at Loftus.
And what makes this game even more significant is the fact that I also celebrate the fifth anniversary of my 21st birthday on Friday. I actually had a dream about the day.
I woke up, reached for my phone, fired a tweet to Francois Hougaard saying it’s my birthday, and asked for a retweet. He retweeted punctually.
Best dream ever.
An entertaining read and very well written….
right up until i got to the part about a Soweto derby… against the Stormers… at Loftus.
I’m still not sure if it is a joke or not
I’ve heard from a few people that knows him that he is one of the more likeable fellows in SA rugby
Mwhahahaha!!! Well said Dewald…. Just ignore these idiots! If the Bulls did not exist, then their team(s) would’ve been successful, and that’s why they hate us that/this much!! Lol, As a Bulls Rugby Player or Bull supporter you need to learn to “Smile and wave”… Hell, we can’t even brag about the 3 Super Rugby trophies without being labeled arrogant or that we “live” in the past…
I dont know if other Radio stations even exist(LOL) but at least the Bulls have Jakaranda Stereo standing right behind this sing along support. What do the Sharks offer? I know that a few years back a JS initiated drive had the right affect on some stupid radio station inKwa Natal, that brought them to life. But all great things come from Jakaranda city, we cook.
MalJan tries to rally support by venturing into Lion territory and asking them to sing a few lines from a song he wrote
This Friday the Bulls host the Stomers at Loftus and so should be a tough game. We sent MalJan into Lion territory to gather some support, by asking them to sing a few lines from a song he wrote
http://www.jacarandafm.com/kagiso/content/en/jacaranda/jacaranda-blogs-the-complimentary-breakfast?oid=1837995&sn=Detail&pid=1496988&MalJan-gathers-support-for-the-Bulls
GARETH DUNCAN chats to Munster flank CJ Stander about braaing with the locals, creating a Saffa table after matches and his desire to play for Ireland.
How’s life in Ireland?
I’m really enjoying it. The lads have taken me in and the Irish are very friendly people. It was tough settling in at first because my English wasn’t really good. So there was that language barrier. But my English has improved a lot since then. I also had to adapt to the weather. The sun would shine in the morning, and I’d expect a warm day and dress accordingly. But when I got to the club, it was raining and I was the only player without a jacket. Now I travel with my jacket everywhere I go.
Which players do you spend most of your time with?
When I first arrived, my fiancé stayed with me for a while before going back to South Africa to study. So we got to tour Ireland and see what the country was all about. After she left, I spent a lot of time with my South African team-mates Wian du Preez and BJ Botha. I’m lucky they are here, because they helped me a lot. They assisted me when I got my car and house, and taught me all about the Irish culture from a South African perspective. We also braai whenever we can, and our Irish team-mates love it. They’re always looking forward to the next ‘barbeque’!
Describe the game plan you play at Munster.
We have a New Zealand coach in Rob Penney, so the players get a lot of freedom to express themselves and play according to what’s happening in front of them. That’s very different to the game plan I was used to playing at the Bulls, which is more physical and structured. It took me some time to get used to it, but I found myself adapting after a couple of weeks.
You recently recovered from a broken finger. What happened?
During my first start for Munster against the Glasgow Warriors, I hurt my hand at a breakdown during the opening minutes. But I played through the pain, and still scored two tries as we won the game. At first, the doctors didn’t think it was serious and I was expected to play in the next match. But after visiting the specialist, he told me that I broke a finger and I needed to treat it. So I was out for about five weeks. It was hard because it was the first major injury of my senior career. But I’m fully recovered now and back in the Munster starting line-up.
Are you suprised to see so many South Africans in the Pro12?
I found it really funny. On my Munster debut, I played against the Scarlets and they had three South Africans in their squad. So after the game, we all sat together and created a Saffa table. I also played against Josh Strauss when we faced Glasgow, and we got to chat.
Munster are sitting in sixth place on the Pro12 log. What’s gone wrong this season?
We have a new coach and a very young team, so we need time to gel. We’re already starting to do so. While we’ll need to improve our domestic form, we’ve qualified for the European Cup quarter-finals. We face Harlequins on 6 April.
What are the main differences between Super Rugby and the European Cup?
I haven’t had the chance to play in the European Cup because of my injury. But I’m looking forward to making my tournament debut in our next game. From what I see, Super Rugby is played with more speed, while the European Cup is very physical. I can’t wait to experience my first game.
Before you left for South Africa, you said you’d be open to representing Ireland. Is that still the case?
I’ve watched the Six Nations recently, and it looks like a very competitive and exciting competition. If the chance to play for Ireland came my way, I’d definitely take it. I first have to go through the three-year residency policy before I can qualify. I’m currently on contract with Munster until 2015, so we see how things go.
What if Heyneke Meyer gave you a Springbok call-up?
That’s obviously something I’d look into. I know I was in a Springbok training squad last year and captained the Baby Boks. But South Africa is blessed with plenty of quality loose forwards, so I doubt I’ll be considered.
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