Juan, you’re back in the Springbok squad, that’s an amazing comeback. How does it feel for you?
JS: It’s been a long road back, I was out for 28 months, I had announced I was finished and I saw no light at the end of the tunnel. I had five operations and they were tough times, it was all very dark times. I felt I had no other choice but to call it a day.
But after announcing your retirement you are back on the rugby field. How did that come about?
JS: I had one operation in Bloemfontein and then three in Pretoria. After that I tried everything to fix the achilles but there was no way around it and I was forced to retire. But then a surgeon in Bloemfontein, Dr Johan Kruger, said he could give me a chance of playing again. But for me it wasn’t about playing again, I just wanted to walk without pain. For 25 months I would stand up and go to bed with pain.
I could immediately feel the difference after that operation, the next morning there was no pain, and I said to my wife that I’m going to try and play again.
Thanks to winning the Top 14and the Heineken Cup with Toulon, it’s already been a very successful comeback too, hasn’t it?
JS: It’s been great playing for Toulon and winning those two cups was an awesome feeling. What better way to celebrate a comeback than that and to then be picked for the Springboks again.
How important have Toulon been in your comeback?
JS: The important thing is the guys around you and Toulon have some of the best players in the world. I had the privilege of playing alongside Jonny Wilkinson, which was an awesome feeling. It was just amazing to make my comeback and the cherry on top was winning the Heineken Cup and Top 14. I look back a year and I had just played my first 80 minutes; I’ve been able to set new goals at Toulon and I always wanted to play in three World Cups. I missed out on 2011 because of the achilles injury, but I hope next year will make up for that.
Has your game improved or changed while you’ve been at Toulon?
JS: You know, for me, the biggest challenge has always been that I play for myself. For me it’s about work ethic and my own high standards. I feel that I’ve been able to reach that level again at Toulon. I knew that if I can get to that level again, then I can play good rugby and Toulon have allowed me to reach it.
How important is it having several fellow South Africans at Toulon?
JS: I always said I would never leave Bloemfontein or go play overseas. But having South Africans at Toulon made it much easier. We have Wednesdays off so then we can braai [barbecue] and speak Afrikaans together.
What has it been like being back with the Springbok squad?
JS: People say the coach is bringing back all these old guns, but I was only 29 when I played my last Test and I’m not that old now either. Just to be part of this environment again is awesome, I was a bit nervous coming back, but I can see the work ethic is fantastic.
When you look back to 2007 and our World Cup win, we had guys like Os du Randt and John Smit playing and you need those senior players, just their presence brings calm to the side. When you’re going through tough times, then the young guys look up to the older players to make the decisions. You need that balance and it’s a healthy balance in the Springbok team.
There’s a chance you will be up against your Toulon team-mate Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe. How will that be for you?
JS: You always want to prove a point when you play against your team-mates and if I get the chance I’ll try and put a big tackle in on him or do something else not so nice to him! But he’s a lovely guy and an unbelievable player and I look forward to getting together with him after the game.
Mpumalanga Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse has praised his team’s intensity in their surprise 28-21 victory over the Free State Cheetahs at the Mbombela Stadium after a long time out of the Currie Cup Premier Division.
The Pumas were playing their first game in the top flight since 2011, but they out-scored the Cheetahs by three tries to two and were worthy winners on the opening weekend of Currie Cup action.
“It was our first game up in the Premier Division and the players were obviously a bit tense, but the intensity was brilliant and the guys refused to lay down,” Stonehouse said.
“We were under pressure in the first 10 minutes and it was great to come back the way that we did.”
The Pumas coach is undaunted by the scale of the task ahead of them in the Premier Division and said he expects his team to win at home.
“Playing at home is a great advantage for us, but if we want to make the semi-finals then winning at home is a must, we have to win away from home too. It’s obviously good to start with a win like that at home, but at least getting bonus points away from home is what we’re aiming for,” Stonehouse said.
There has been an outpouring of angst in the Free State recently after the Cheetahs’ dismal SuperRugby performance and new coach Rory Duncan was fielding a largely new-look side in Nelspruit.
“The majority of the side only came together two or three weeks ago, so mistakes were understandable. But we made too many simple mistakes, knocking-on four or five times in the Pumas’ 22. It’s early season though, there’s obviously still a lot of work to do and I wasn’t too disappointed by the effort,” Duncan said.
The Free State coach was heartened by his team’s ability to hang on to possession for long periods, but admitted his side had been dominated by the Pumas in the scrums.
“We battled in the scrums, but we still managed to hang on to possession through numerous phases, a few times we took the ball from our own 10m line to their 22. We had opportunities to win, but mistakes cost us.
“But you have to give credit as well to the Pumas and Jimmy for the way the guys came out, they were fired up. They’re a good side and if you don’t bring your A-game to Nelspruit, you will get caught out,” Duncan said.
“Our scrums obviously went well and we also set up our mauls brilliantly, but we made life difficult for ourselves by losing a couple of lineouts. We also need to play into space a bit more,” Stonehouse said.
The Mpumalanga Pumas made a triumphant return to top-class domestic rugby with a determined 28-21 (half-time 15-16) victory over the Free State Cheetahs in their Currie Cup Premier Division match at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.
It took a controversial 66th-minute try by outside centre JW Jonker to seal the Pumas’ victory, after eighthman Renaldo Bothma tapped a grubber from Stefan Watermeyer back infield even though his legs were on the touchline.
Even though Bothma, who was a rampaging ball-carrier throughout, was clearly in touch, the laws state that “a player in touch may kick or knock the ball, but not hold it, provided the ball has not crossed the plane of the touchline”.
The Cheetahs had only themselves to blame for their loss, however, as they failed to gain a platform up front and made a host of unforced errors.
The Pumas kept sustained pressure on the visitors through an excellent scrum and their abrasive defence.
The Free Staters opened the scoring in the fifth minute through a sustained attack started and ended by wing Rayno Benjamin, but the Pumas’ forwards quickly began to make their presence felt, dominating the scrums and harrying the Cheetahs at the breakdown.
Their first try came in the 20th minute as fullback JW Bell tapped a ruck penalty and darted through a gap left by lock Francois Uys, who was busy scuffling with another player.
Flyhalf Justin van Staden added the conversion to his earlier penalty and the Pumas were 10-7 up.
The Pumas scored their second try in the 32nd minute as flank Corne Steenkamp, the captain celebrating his 150th game, went over from a maul, but Free State flyhalf Willie du Plessis ensured the visitors were 16-15 up at the break with three penalties.
It could have been an even greater lead, were it not for the Pumas laying their bodies on the line in defence in the closing minutes of the first half.
The frustrated Cheetahs began to lose their discipline in the second half, with Van Staden punishing them for being offsides with a penalty and scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius joining the Pumas flyhalf, in the first half, in being yellow-carded for kicking the ball away after the whistle had blown.
A high tackle by lock Carl Wegner allowed Van Staden to kick another penalty and stretch the Pumas’ lead to 21-16 in the 62nd minute and the hard-working home side were then rewarded for their 100% effort with a third try four minutes later.
Jonker’s try was awarded with the confirmation of the TMO and the vagaries of the law were then further exposed shortly afterwards when Cheetahs wing Raymond Rhule had a try disallowed for his foot landing on the touchline while he was carrying the ball.
The Free Staters were awarded a scrum under the poles instead, from which Benjamin scored his second try, but the steeliness of the Pumas won out in the end as they ended the match by holding on to the ball for 15 phases.
The team promoted from the First Division were obviously worthy winners.
Scorers
Mpumalanga Pumas – Tries: JW Bell, Corne Steenkamp, JW Jonker. Conversions: Justin van Staden (2). Penalties: Van Staden (3).
Free State Cheetahs – Tries: Rayno Benjamin (2). Conversion: Willie du Plessis. Penalties: Du Plessis (3).
1) What position did you play at primary school? What made you change?
A: At first, I mostly switched between flyhalf and centre, but because of my kicking skills, or lack of it, I later made a permanent move to the midfield.
2) What was the most memorable part of your Springbok debut?
A: Without a doubt the singing of the national anthem. Sadly, seven minutes later it was all over as I seriously injured my knee and was out of rugby for nine months.
3) What has been the biggest disappointment in your career?
A: Injuries are always disappointing and I’ve had quite a few, but I’ve also learnt that it’s part of the game – it all comes down to how you approach them, and I’ve learnt a lot from being out injured as well.
4) What has been the funniest moment with the Springboks?
A: There are too many to really mention, especially if you spend a lot of time with Jaque Fourie and Butch James. These two keep you entertained 24/7.
5) What’s the best book you’ve read and why?
A: Open by Andre Agassi – apart from being very, very inspiring, I also found it interesting to see how different things inspire different people. And it was brilliantly written – at times it felt like you were next to him on the court.
6) Where and what was the best meal you’ve ever had?
A: This is a tricky one, as we are fortunate to regularly eat at great restaurants across the world, but for me nothing beats a good old South African braai, back at home with family and friends, after a long and arduous tour.
7) What do you spend time doing outside of rugby?
A: My kids keep me very busy when I’m at home and I try to spend as much time as possible with my family, because we travel so much. Being away from home for long periods of time is probably one of the negatives of rugby, so I use my time at home as well as I can.
8) What’s the best concert you’ve been to?
A: Counting Crows in the Bellville Velodrome a couple of years ago. I knew all their songs and could happily sing along.
9) Which BMW do you drive and what do you love about it?
A: I drive the X6 4.0D. It’s not only a beautiful car, but also a great drive, safe, quick and just lekker.
10) What does being part of the BMW family mean to you?
A: BMW is all about performance and so are we at the Springboks. I think it makes for a fantastic partnership and both brands benefit a lot from being associated with one another. It’s really a great privilege to be associated with BMW.
1) What position did you play at primary school? What made you change?
A: I started out playing at No. 8 for my primary school, Pietersburg-Noord. But later in my career I became too big and slow for loose forward, so I moved to lock.
2) What was the most memorable part of your Springbok debut?
A: I was on the bench for my Bok debut, in 2001 against Italy in Port Elizabeth, and I will never forget that moment when I went on for Johan Ackermann in the 68th minute. But what will also stand out, was when we lined up and sang the National Anthem before the Test in front of a capacity crowd at the old Boet Erasmus Stadium.
3) What has been the biggest disappointment in your career?
A: It has to be not winning the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in 2011.
4) What has been the funniest moment with the Springboks?
A: There have been many over the years, but the most recent was probably that fluffed kick by Fourie du Preez against Wales in Nelspruit.
5) What’s the best book you’ve read and why?
A: I’ve really enjoyed reading all of Vince Lombardi’s books, as it gives you proper insight into what is needed for a team to be successful.
6) Where and what was the best meal you’ve ever had?
A: Hmmm, this is a tricky one as I’ve been fortunate to eat at the best restaurants, but one that will always stand out was having a superb paella with my wife on our honeymoon in the harbour in Barcelona.
7) What do you spend time doing outside of rugby?
A: I try and spend as much time as possible with my wife and our three daughters, but I also enjoy a round of golf or going for a ride on my bike.
8) What’s the best concert you’ve been to?
A: I’m not really a music person and have not been to any serious concerts.
9) Which BMW do you drive and what do you love about it?
A: I have the X6 and a 335i. The X6 is spacious and very comfortable, while I quite enjoy the 335i’s speed.
10) What does being part of the BMW family mean to you?
A: Who would not want to be associated with one of the top brands in the world? Every time I get into my BMW, it’s fantastic and a real pleasure to drive.
1) What position did you play at primary school?
A: I mostly played wing, centre and Number 8
2) What was the most memorable part of your Springbok debut?
A: It must have been when the team was announced and I found out I was going to start my first Test for South Africa.
3) What has been the biggest disappointment in your career?
A: Unfortunately I’ve had my fair share of serious injuries, especially in the last two seasons, and that is never nice, but it’s also part and parcel of the game we play.
4) What has been the funniest moment with the Springboks?
A: One day Jean de Villiers decided to show us his own version of the haka – it was hilarious.
5) What’s the best book you’ve read and why?
A: Principles & Power of Vision by Myles Munroe. It made me understand why I’ve been created and what I should do.
6) Where and what was the best meal you’ve ever had?
A: Wow, this is a tough one. Probably a very special dinner with my wife in a small coastal town in Italy, right on the beach.
7) What do you spend time doing outside of rugby?
A: At the moment, I’m trying my hand at studies, but I also try and spend as much time as possible with my wife and our two boys, while I also do a bit of corporate speaking. And there is always time to hit a couple of balls on the golf course…
8) What’s the best concert you’ve been to?
A: Unfortunately I missed out when U2 came to South Africa a few years ago, so I would have to say it was watching Johnny Clegg live – he is brilliant!
9) Which BMW do you drive and what do you love about it?
A: The 335i Active Hybrid – it has lots of power and speed and is also a bit more economical on fuel!
10) What does being part of the BMW family mean to you?
A: For me, it’s about being part of a brand that stands for excellence, but BMW is also a cool brand and they create seriously powerful machines. I just love their cars.
1) What position did you play at primary school? What made you change?
A: I started out as a flyhalf back in Port Elizabeth.
2) What was the most memorable part of your Springbok debut?
A: I started on the bench against Italy in Durban in 2013, and it was a big moment for me when we sang the National Anthem, but also when I went on to the field for Bryan Habana in the 72nd minute.
3) What has been the biggest disappointment in your career?
A: Any defeat in the Springbok jersey is tough and it was very disappointing that we lost twice against New Zealand last year.
4) What has been the funniest moment with the Springboks?
A: There have been a lot of funny moments, especially if you hang out with Morné Steyn or Willem Alberts – they are the two big jokers in the team.
5) What’s the best book you’ve read and why?
A: Destined to Reign by Joseph Prince. It changed my life because I learned about God’s grace.
6) Where and what was the best meal you’ve ever had?
A: Every time that we braai at my grandparents’ farm. I love meat and there’s always plenty to choose from.
7) What do you spend time doing outside of rugby?
A: I enjoy reading, playing golf and watching movies.
8) What’s the best concert you’ve been to?
A: Some people might think I’m a bit too young, but I saw Bryan Adams perform last year, which was very good.
9) Which BMW do you drive and what do you love about it?
A: I drive the 120d. I like the fact that it’s quite small and nippy for driving in town, and it’s also very light on fuel.
10) What does being part of the BMW family mean to you?
A: It’s a big privilege to be part of BMW. They are an awesome brand as they stand for peak performance and delivering premium products, which is basically the same for any top-level sportsman or woman. Their vehicles are also dynamic and the quality is superb.
1) What position did you play at primary school?
A: I played flyhalf at primary school and although I’m now mostly selected at fullback or on the wing, I still like to move to the flyhalf position on the field from third or fourth phase onwards.
2) What was the most memorable part of your Springbok debut?
A: I made my Bok debut against Italy in Durban last year and singing the National Anthem was amazing, but I’d have to say the entire day was special – from the pre-match team-talk by Coach Heyneke, driving to the stadium on the bus and eventually getting my hands on the ball.
3) What has been the biggest disappointment in your career?
A: This is a tough one as I’ve probably been blessed with not too many disappointments, but recently I’d have to say the fact that we could not follow up our brilliant season with the Cheetahs last year with a similar performance this year.
4) What has been the funniest moment with the Springboks?
A: A lot of funny things happen all the time – we have a few guys in the team who make great jokes and can provide a lot of laughter, but there are too many to mention.
5) What’s the best book you’ve read and why?
A: To be honest, I’m not really the reading type.
6) Where and what was the best meal you’ve ever had?
A: I really like sushi a lot and will look for a sushi bar anywhere we go – as long as it’s nice and fresh, it’s the ultimate meal for me.
7) What do you spend time doing outside of rugby?
A: I really like playing golf and in summer a game of touch rugby on the beach, but I also like to spend time with my family when there is a break in the season.
8) What’s the best concert you’ve been to?
A: I don’t really get time for things such as concerts and have not really been to any that stand out.
9) Which BMW do you drive and what do you love about it?
A: I drive the 335i Active Hybrid and love putting it in sport mode when the opportunity is there. It’s a very classy car.
10) What does being part of the BMW family mean to you?
A: I love being part of such a wonderful and world-class brand – their cars are magnificent and a pleasure to drive, but also very comfortable and fun.
1) What position did you play at primary school?
A: At school I played centre, but I moved to wing when I played at Western Province as a junior, and then last year at the Bulls I moved back to the midfield.
2) What was the most memorable part of your Springbok debut?
A: I made my debut off the bench against Argentina in Cape Town in 2012 and while it was a big moment and very special for me, I think my first start, in 2013 against Italy in Durban, will always stand out as I played the entire match and also got my first Test try.
3) What has been the biggest disappointment in your career?
A: I had a few injuries at a young age, which I thought at the time was very bad, but with hindsight I realised it wasn’t too bad. These days I’d say it’s pretty disappointing missing out on selection for any team you play for.
4) What has been the funniest moment with the Springboks?
A: With guys such as Willem Alberts and Morné Steyn in the mix, there are many funny moments, but they mostly happen away from public eyes so I would prefer not to divulge any details.
5) What’s the best book you’ve read and why?
A: Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden. It’s about a man’s escape from a labour camp in North Korea and it opened my eyes – we have so much to be thankful for.
6) Where and what was the best meal you’ve ever had?
A: Without a doubt the Chicken Jean with Avo at Man’ouche Restaurant in Stellenbosch.
7) What do you spend time doing outside of rugby?
A: I like playing golf and travelling – I recently embarked on a short golf trip to the Southern Cape with a couple of my friends – as well as going out for dinner and playing PlayStation when I’ve got time to kill at home.
8) What’s the best concert you’ve been to?
A: I haven’t been to too many really, but I quite enjoyed Coldplay at Cape Town Stadium a couple of years ago.
9) Which BMW do you drive and what do you love about it?
A: I drive the 335 active hybrid – it’s a brilliant car, the ride is very smooth, it’s nice to look at and has more than enough power under the hood.
10) What does being part of the BMW family mean to you?
A: To me it’s just a massive privilege to be part of the BMW family. I recently saw first-hand how they treat their clients and it made me realise how great this brand is. It’s really special to be part of such a world-famous brand.
1) What position did you play at primary school? What made you change?
Flank, but I think I then started to kick for the team and they moved me.
2) What was the most memorable part of your Springbok debut?
The best part was that I scored a try, but we lost badly so there wasn’t too much to cheer about. [the 15-32 loss to Ireland at Lansdowne Road in 2006]
3) What has been the biggest disappointment in your career?
Losing the 2007 SuperRugby final.
4) What has been the funniest moment with the Springboks?
Playing alongside Jacques Fourie was always very funny.
5) What’s the best book you’ve read and why?
The Landbouweekblad is about as far as my reading interest stretches.
6) Where and what was the best meal you’ve ever had?
Venice, I’ve had some amazing pasta there.
7) What do you spend time doing outside of rugby?
A: I like to go to the farm, hunting and golf.
8) What’s the best concert you’ve been to?
Coldplay, live in Paris
9) Which BMW do you drive and what do you love about it?
The hybrid 3 series, it’s fast, and spacious, and it’s a great looking car!
10) What does being part of the BMW family mean to you?
It’s a great privilege to be part of the best car brand in SA, it’s such an iconic brand that anyone would be proud to represent it.
Heyneke Meyer
1) What position were you during your playing days and what made you go into coaching?
A: I used to play loose forward but even during my playing days, I knew I wanted to be a coach. The main reason has always been to make a difference in people’s lives – while winning trophies is nice, the greatest reward is when a player comes to me and thanks me for doing something for him and making a difference in his life. So when the opportunity arose at the University of Pretoria to coach the U20s at my koshuis, Mopanie, I grabbed it with both hands. Even my choices of subjects at university – human movement science, psychology and education – were done with coaching in mind
2) What was the most memorable part of your Springbok debut?
A: From the day of my appointment until that first Test against England in Durban, everything was so humbling and overwhelming. But I’ll never forget that bus ride into the stadium and seeing South Africans from all walks of life getting up from whatever they were doing to wave at us and wish us well. It was also immensely special to stand on the pitch and sing the anthem. I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve and I’m sure everyone could see that.
3) What has been the biggest disappointment in your career?
A: Results can be disappointing, but it hurts even more when you feel you’ve let your family and loved ones down, and that transcends any result on the rugby field. I want people to be proud of the Boks and for us to give hope to South Africans – when we don’t achieve that, I’m disappointed.
4) What has been the funniest moment with the Springboks?
A: There were many very funny moments over the course of the last two-and-a-half years. Many of them I can’t really talk about because it happened at team meetings, but it’s great for team spirit to have a few real characters in the squad. I feel it’s very important to enjoy what you’re doing – then it doesn’t feel like a job. We try to create a nice and relaxed culture at the Springboks, because I feel that too plays a role in success.
5) What’s the best book you’ve read and why?
A: There are probably too many to mention, but I really like Vince Lombardi’s books as I believe in the same principles as he did when it comes to success. These include sacrifice for the common goal, work ethic, a willingness to pay the price for success, creating a tough environment and self-discipline. I also like books written by John Maxwell and Anthony Robbins, but Dale Carnegie’s “How to win friends and influence people” will always stand out, as it was probably the first motivational book I read, at a very young age. The bottom line from that book is that everything revolves around building and maintaining good relationships with people and it goes hand-in-hand with something Andrew Carnegie said years ago – he was in mining and likened people to mining. He basically said that if you strip away the layers in people, as you do in mining with layers of earth, you will hit gold. So it’s all about getting the best out of people and building relationships to do that. You will be successful if you can get the best out of people.
6) Where and what was the best meal you’ve ever had?
A: I spend a lot of time away from home, so nothing beats my wife’s leg of lamb on a Sunday afternoon, with my family around. I cherish my time with my family and those occasions are the best. I also love any good braai with a great red wine with special friends.
7) What do you spend time doing outside of rugby?
A: I try to spend as much time as possible with my family, preferably on our farm close to Memel. I love nature and the outdoors, wildlife and fly-fishing. I also enjoy travelling, preferably anywhere in Africa with the Okavango Delta and Lake Kariba probably two of my favourite destinations. At places such as these, I can be completely isolated.
8) What’s the best concert you’ve been to?
A: My three sons provide all the entertainment I need. When they were younger, it used to be their plays at school, but these days they provide a lot of great moments at home with their shenanigans.
9) Which BMW do you drive and what do you love about it?
A: I drive the X6 and the 3-series Active Hybrid – both are brilliant cars and very user-friendly, while the on-board GPS helps a lot as I’m not the best when it comes to direction. On a more serious note though, I can’t speak highly enough of the service you receive at BMW, which to me is one of the aspects that makes them market leaders. Their roadside assistance is the best in the business and I’m a BMW convert for life.
10) What does being part of the BMW family mean to you?
A: I have very simple tastes in life – I believe in working with the best and therefore it’s a great privilege to be part of the BMW family. The Springboks and BMW actually share a lot of values and it’s wonderful to be associated with them on many levels. For me, it’s mainly about relations with people and the people from BMW really feel like family, as they’ve been nothing but very good for us. Other shared values include excellence, leadership, performance, pleasure and perseverance, and I’m very thankful and proud to be part of the BMW family.
Beast Mtawarira
1) What position did you play at primary school? What made you change?
A: In my very young days as a rugby player, I would have to say I was a bit of a utility forward, but later on I moved to loose forward and played a lot of rugby at number 8. It was only after my U21 days that I moved to prop after Dick Muir suggested I look at making the switch.
2) What was the most memorable part of your Springbok debut?
A: It was in 2008 against Wales in Pretoria – I’ll never forget holding the jersey for the first time and realising that I’ve become a Springbok. Obviously it was very special that we won the game and it was also a great moment when I got capped afterwards.
3) What has been the biggest disappointment in your career?
A: Probably the way in which the Rugby World Cup panned out for us in 2011, but also the fact that I missed out on selection for the quarter-final. I definitely want to make up for it next year.
4) What has been the funniest moment with the Springboks?
A: I’ll never forget the bus trip we had last year, when we went from Cardiff to Edinburgh but stopped in Manchester to see Man Utd play Arsenal at Old Trafford. It was a great trip, the boys were in a good mood and a lot of jokes flew around, with Jean de Villiers and Willem Alberts leading the way.
5) What’s the best book you’ve read and why?
A: The Shack by William P Young. It’s a Christian book and it opened my eyes and changed the way I think about life in general, giving me a new outlook and perspective on things.
6) Where and what was the best meal you’ve ever had?
A: Without a doubt the pork ribs at Tasha’s in Durban.
7) What do you spend time doing outside of rugby?
A: I love travelling and it’s even better when we can do it as a family, with my wife and our daughter and son in tow. My wife and I recently visited New York and it was truly awesome.
8) What’s the best concert you’ve been to?
A: The Chris Brown concert at Grand West in Cape Town in 2012 as part of his Carpe Diem tour.
9) Which BMW do you drive and what do you love about it?
A: At the moment I drive the 330d – it’s a brilliant car, nice and fast, and luckily quite economical on diesel as well.
10) What does being part of the BMW family mean to you?
A: It’s an amazing privilege and honour for me to drive their cars and to be associated with a top brand such as BMW. There are lots of similarities between BMW and the Springboks and that makes it even more special to be part of their family.
Jannie du Plessis
1) What position did you play at primary school? What made you change?
A: Unfortunately, playing in the front row has been part of my DNA since I was still very young and during my primary school days in Bethlehem I was, as I still am, a tighthead prop.
2) What was the most memorable part of your Springbok debut?
A: I made my debut against Australia in Sydney on 7 July 2007, or the 7th of the 7th in 07, which made it feel even more real. It was an immensely proud moment in my life and everything about that day, except the result, stands out.
3) What has been the biggest disappointment in your career?
A: : The year 2012 had two massive disappointments – first when the Boks lost against New Zealand in Dunedin on a day where we really played very well, and a few weeks later when the Sharks lost in the Currie Cup final in Durban against Western Province.
4) What has been the funniest moment with the Springboks?
A: It happened just the other day. A couple of us went down to Paul Jordaan’s family farm near Somerset East and when Marcell Coetzee decided it was time to shoot his first buck, his rapid-fire technique made all of us jump for cover.
5) What’s the best book you’ve read and why?
A: The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand changed my view on life, but the most important book is The Bible, where all of life’s wisdom is basically summarized.
6) Where and what was the best meal you’ve ever had?
A: After a good win, nothing beats the seared tuna at the Fish Factory in Ballito, and when I’m back in Bloemfontein and time allows, I’ll always make a plan to go to Oudekraal Restaurant, on the outskirts of the city , for their famous eight-course meal which is very special.
7) What do you spend time doing outside of rugby?
A: In the days before we had a child, I used to work full-time for the military, but since Ronel and I had our daughter, Rosalie, I had to reprioritise so now my family comes first when I have time away from the game, while I will always try and make time to go the farm in the Eastern Free State as well, preferably with Ronel and Rosalie.
8) What’s the best concert you’ve been to?
A: Ronel joined us on tour in London at the end of 2012 and we went to see The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre. In 2010, I also really enjoyed Billy Elliot, also in London, which exceeded all my expectations.
9) Which BMW do you drive and what do you love about it?
A: I drive the 335 Active Hybrid. At first it was quite strange to get used to driving a car that is completely silent, but I can truly say that it’s an incredible car. The acceleration and power stand out and although it sounds like a golf cart, it’s not like that at all. I’ll drive to the moon and back in my BMW.
10) What does being part of the BMW family mean to you?
A: It’s an incredible privilege to be associated with BMW, a world-renowned brand known not only for their excellent cars, but also because it’s almost a lifestyle that has stood the test of time. As professional sportsmen, we strive to perform at our peak over a long period of time and that is something BMW has already achieved. It’s really wonderful to be able to drive a car that I dreamt of when I was still young, but coming from the farm I never thought I would drive one. Every day I get into my car, I have to pinch myself.
Matthew 5:14,16 – “You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
The peace of mind that comes from continuous fellowship with the Lord will enable you to handle all that life brings. True spirituality loves Christ so much that his glory is reflected in holy lives, there for everyone to see. Love Christ with all your heart and mind and allow his love to flow through you.