Van Zyl getting used to change at Loftus

Springbok scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl may feel a bit like he shouldn’t get too attached to Vodacom Bulls coach Pote Human.

After all, in his third season of Super Rugby, Van Zyl is now playing under his third Bulls coach this year, and has gotten used to the topsy-turvy coaching merry-go-round at Loftus Versfeld.

After Nollis Marais elevated him to the Super Rugby group, he found his niche under John Mitchell and his performances earned him a Bok call-up, and now Van Zyl wants to take his career a step further than the exceptional 2018 year he had.

A year where he got married and became a Bok, started at Twickenham, Van Zyl now has his sights on the World Cup in September and knows he needs to be at his best to make the squad.

“You learn so much while you are there, getting to work with so many experienced players and coaches,” he said of his time in the national team.

“You definitely take a lot of confidence coming into Super Rugby here, just by being part of the mix and looking forward to a full Super Rugby season. It definitely gives me a lot of confidence, and it boosted me knowing it was something I achieved last year and it is some place I want to be this year, and that just motivates me to work harder.”

“We played well in that first half against England, we dominated against them and the kicking game worked pretty well for us in that game, where we had five or six lineout opportunities in their half and that is all because of the kicking game.

“I do whatever is our plan going into every single weekend and we just need to execute that. If it is playing a kicking game, or a running style, however we are going to do it, we look at it in the week, and we just need to make sure that plan is implemented. If we stick to that, most of the times we get the win.”

Van Zyl at least has worked with Human and is comfortable with the way he wants the game played, and is looking forward to a good season ahead.

“Yes of course, to have consistency is ideal. We've been working with coach Pote for a while and are excited at the prospect. We don’t have issues. The same goes for the people he brought in. Although he wasn’t head coach last year, we have dealt with him before and he has been part of the Bulls for a while now.

“It isn’t a big disruption, and there are so many senior players here, and we realise we have to take control and lead for ourselves, and not always place all the attention on the coach. As players we know what we need to do and how hard we need to work. We need to make it a team effort to take the union forward.”

Van Zyl believes his competition with Embrose Papier will bring out the best in both of them.

“It is never bad, always good when you have healthy competition. Embrose is a great player, we learn from each other and help each other out as well, wherever we can. At the end it will be what the coach wants, but we will just keep on doing what we can and doing it to the best of our ability and at the end it will be what will be the most beneficial for the team.”

And the off-season arrivals have instilled a new sense of belief in the side, with a buzz in the team at the moment.

“Exactly as you said we have a very good group of players this year to do well in Super Rugby. With Coach Pote in charge, we have a lot of respect for him and his decision-making.

“And all the players, we have a lot more depth this year where you go into your second, third Super Rugby season starts and it isn’t something new or a shock anymore. Players like RG and Jason, who made their Springbok debut last season, all these things come back in confidence and this will help the team develop. So yes, we are very excited about the year ahead.

“For me personally to help the new guys understand the system as quickly as possible. And how we want to go forward. Because at the end of the day if one guy is not on the same page, this where the trouble comes. And for me personally as a nine, I pride myself about the way I communicate and organise, and I take that responsibility rather seriously, especially in terms of the new players so that they get to know the new systems, so they know what is expected in what area of the field. For me personally I want everyone to understand what is expected of them so that we can build the team together.”

While there is the weight of expectation, Van Zyl reckons all he needs to do is focus on the oval ball and between the four lines and nothing will be able to distract him.

“At the end of the day if you can stick to rugby, and not be swallowed up by anything that is going on outside. Things are always said and there are always things that changed but if you as individual can stay focused on what you want to do and what it is that makes you good, and what you can bring to the team, then it is a positive influence. But if you start thinking about other people and their roles, that is where your attention is divided, and that is where the trouble comes.

“For me there is no extra pressure in that way, I want to be the best and I want to do well.

There my drive is personal. I love the Bulls, I want to see how this team takes a step forward and has an unbelievable year. For me I will do the best from my side and try and be a positive influence on the team and whoever comes in and whatever it means for this union.”The Bulls will play their opening game on 16 February at Loftus Versfeld against the DHL Stormers.