Juan de Jongh was possibly going to start in midfield for the Springboks in June, and lead the Stormers in the Super Rugby playoffs last weekend.
But now, on the eve of the Springbok Sevens’ departure to Rio for the Olympic Games, the 28-year-old says that being part of Team South Africa in Brazil is a unique experience and one that he has always wanted to identify with.
De Jongh gave up the Stormers captaincy and probably three Test caps at the start of Allister Coetzee’s reign as Bok coach to try and make the Blitzbok team for the Rio Games.
There were no guarantees that the fleet-footed centre was going to make the final cut of 12 – Francois Hougaard, Bryan Habana and Ryan Kankowski can bear testimony to that – and the strict fitness regime that must be completed to keep up with the pace in sevens would’ve made it even tougher.
But for De Jongh, it all worked out in the end. “I must say it was worth it at the end of the day. I feel that the time is here, now. I took a different road to some of the other guys, and I don’t want to say it was an easier road – it was still a tough but shorter road,” the former Currie Cup-winning WP captain told Independent Media at the Blitzboks’ Stellenbosch headquarters before they leave for Rio on Wednesday.
“Two months before we started the last series in Dubai, Neil (Powell) came to me and said he wants to give me a chance and see what I can still do, and if I still have it. And when he told me that, I told myself ‘Listen here, if coach Neil backs you, then you must back yourself’.
“That day, when I went back home, I told myself ‘Listen pal, many of the 15s guys are going to come here and tell themselves they have something to fall back on and go back to 15s or wherever.
“But the day I began here, I told myself I have no other option and no other way. I’ve got to make this work because this is my last chance. And all the hard work that I put in resulted in me being in the group of 12.
“Lots of people may say this and that, but I know how hard I worked to be here, and the job is not finished – the job is only finished on August 12, and when we can get a chain around our necks. So, that’s the whole process that we have, and we aren’t worried about all the other things. It’s just important that we are solid for those three days.”
De Jongh made his Springbok Test debut against Wales in 2010, and has earned 14 caps in total. But he hasn’t featured since late 2012, so it is understandable that he didn’t want to put all his eggs in one basket with the Boks this year – in case he doesn’t get any game time.
The Stormers’ 60-21 disaster against the Chiefs, though, did have an effect on De Jongh, but he is going to put it behind him for Rio. “The Olympics is one of the biggest sporting events in the world. And I have been blessed to have had a taste of many things – World Cup, international rugby, Super Rugby, finals and semi-finals, Barbarians. There are many things that I have already achieved, but this is something else – something that I really want to experience,” he said.
“You always see it on TV. It’s unique, and when I started my career at 19 years old and I told myself I am a professional rugby player, the Olympics wasn’t part of the thinking, not part of the dream.
“Even though it looks like we pulled out (of the Stormers side) right at the end, it wasn’t the case. It’s just a pity that all three things are taking place in a specific time period, and we made our bed and we have to sleep in it.
“I feel sorry for the (Stormers) boys, it was really heartbreaking. But the only thing we are focusing on now is Rio, and hopefully if I can still work hard, get the preparation and processes right, then I can be part of one of those two situations (Boks and Stormers).”
The Blitzboks leave for Rio early on Wednesday morning, but only begin their tournament on August 9, when they take on Spain (4.30pm SA time) and France (9.30pm), and Australia (4.30pm) the next day in Pool B.
The favourites for gold has to be World Series champions Fiji, but De Jongh is positive about the Blitzboks’ chances. “We do have a lot of things going for us – we have good experience, good culture, talent that doesn’t have to stand back for anyone,” he said.
“But that talent must work together and stand together, and have one vision. We must be 12 guys who work in one direction, and that will be the difference. A game like this is a once-off opportunity – it’s going to come down to one knock here, one yellow card there that can be the difference between gold and fifth or sixth place.”
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