March of the Super Subs

With the 2003 Rugby World Cup now just over 200 days away a striking trait of the Super 12 as been the advance of a number of young players who just a few weeks ago would not have been in the running to go to Australia.

Some of these youngsters started the year among the reserves but have already progressed to starting line-ups and could give the squads of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia a distinctly different look by the time the tournament starts.

Juan Smith of the Cats is typical of the tyros starting to put pressure on big-name players who at the start of the Super 12 would not have been too concerned about whether they could count on being part of the World Cup.

With a trio of Springbok loose forwards in Bob Skinstad, Joe van Niekerk and Hendro Scholtz ahead of him in the Cats, Smith (who reveals that his Christian name is, in fact, Juanne) has made a big impression coming off the bench.

He looks to be a born No7, or blindside, flank and may well be the player to fill the void left by André Venter. At 1,94m and 104 kilograms he is also an excellent lineout forward, a fine carrier of the ball and a devastating defender.

The fact that the under 21s were able to use him as a lock adds to what he has to offer and there can be no doubt that his name appears on the progressive list of possibles being kept by Rudolf Straeuli.

Enrico Januarie (or Riccie as he is known in the Cats), Pat Barnard, Jacques Cronje and Gary Botha are other members of last year’s under 21 crop who look to be enjoying life in the fast lane.

They’re young, they’re eager, they’re injury free, they’re skilful and they’re grabbing the chance offered by the Super 12.

Naturally the pressure, as opponents start to take note and study them on video, will now start to increase but if they keep making the steps up those on the rungs above them will start to feel distinctly insecure.

In addition a number of other players who were not in the Springbok squad late last year must now be in the “shadow” group.

Most obvious of this group must be the impressively bearded Bulls lock Geo Cronje, who at 2 metres and 120 kilograms is a wish come true for Straeuli, Cats hooker Hanyani Shimange as well as a whole herd of Bulls in Richard Bands, Riaan van der Berg, Dewey Swartbooi, Fourie du Preez and one whose appearance is eagerly awaited, Derick Hougaard.

The phenomenon is by no means confined to South Africa.

In Australia the like of Mark Gerrard, Matt Giteau, Lote Tiqiri (if he’s eligible), Shaun Berne, Rocky Elsom, Adam Freier, Nathan Blacklock and Gene Fairbanks have made us sit up and take notice and an already overflowing pool of talent in New Zealand has been augmented by new names (to us) such as Malili Muliana, Sam Tuitutou, Ali Williams, Regan King, Ma`a Nonu, Tim Fairbrother, Willie Walker, Ben Herring, Paul Williams, Daniel Carter and Corey Flynn.

One of the joys of the rest of the Super 12 is going to be watching their progress.