[1] South Africa Springboks coach Peter de Villiers jokes with scrumhalf Fourie du Preez. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings The Wallabies have no doubt fading Springboks star Fourie du Preez will be a key dangerman in Sunday's Rugby World Cup quarter-final.
Regarded as the best halfback in the world in recent seasons, du Preez has struggled to hit form this year after returning from a serious shoulder injury which wiped out his 2010 campaign.
He has also come into the World Cup underdone after suffering a knee problem that curtailed his Super Rugby seasonwith the Bulls.
The crafty 29-year-old hasn't let South Africa down in their unbeaten pool campaign but his spot has come under some pressure as young gun Francois Hougaard impressed with each chance he's had.
The speedy and powerful Hougaard, who is also used off the bench to play on the wing, was man of the match in the Boks' 87-0 rout of Namibia.
Respected rugby commentator Peter Bills believes South Africa have a selection dilemma at No.9 as du Preez has "looked a shadow of his old self" and Hougaard's searing pace makes him a bigger threat.
"He (du Preez) breaks so rarely now that marking him has become straight forward," Bills wrote in his New Zealand Herald column.
But the Wallabies still fear du Preez, with back-up halfback Luke Burgess rating him over teammate Will Genia as the best No.9 in the game.
"His reading of the game is superb, his game's brilliant; always spot on, so he creates a lot of threats around the park with his plays," Burgess said.
"He's the world's best, I think, so you've got to respect him."
A loss to Australia would mean the likely end to du Preez's glittering 61-Test career as he's signed to play in Japan next year.
France-bound Burgess, who would love to have received the same amount of game time as Hougaard in the pool stages, would also be packing his bags for overseas with a loss.
The NSW Waratah also knows the Wallabies must be on their toes when Hougaard enters the fray in the Wellington quarter-final.
"He's a dangerous player: Lightning, great feet, really physical guy so again there's another threat for them."
No comments:
Post a Comment