It has been almost eight years since Juan de Jongh played his one and only tournament on the World Sevens Series circuit.
The current Blitzbok coach Neil Powell captained that team in New Zealand in 2008 when De Jongh hit the scene with a hat-trick of tries against Fiji.
But instead of catapulting the Western Province star into Sevens heaven, De Jongh was called up to the Stormers to play Super Rugby and two years later, the boy from Wellington with the dangerous sidestep made his Springbok debut against Wales.
But now, De Jongh is back with the Blitzbokke and vying for a place in the squad that will feature in next year’s Rio Olympic Games.
After a tough 2015, with De Jongh having suffered World Cup heartache after he was overlooked by Bok coach Heyneke Meyer, while he was also sidelined with knee and ankle injuries as well as struck down with a bout of tonsillitis, the WP skipper seems to be relishing a different kind of challenge.
De Jongh and former Blue Bulls scrumhalf Francois Hougaard were yesterday included in the Blitzboks’ squad for the first two Sevens tournaments of the 2015-16 World Sevens Series in Dubai and Cape Town. They are the only high-profile 15-man Springbok recruits to make the 12-man squad for the first two events.
“It’s absolutely fantastic to be back in the Sevens team. I’m excited about the opportunity. I probably didn’t think I would be back after 2008, but I’m happy to be back and the whole atmosphere is great,” De Jongh told the media in Stellenbosch yesterday.
“It’s always great to put on the green and gold, it doesn’t matter if it’s in the 15-man game or in the Sevens. I was with the Sevens in 2008 under Paul Treu, and I played one tournament in Wellington. I would have been on my way to San Diego, but Corné Uys broke his leg and I was called into the Stormers.
“So my Sevens career was cut short, but to be back in the green and gold of the Sevens and to get a opportunity like this one is fantastic.”
De Jongh says he is back to full fitness after hurting his ankle in the Currie Cup final against the Golden Lions.
The 27-year-old couldn’t practice for up to three weeks and when just started putting on his running shoes, he suffered a bout of tonsillitis. He was then hospitalised for several days.
However, Powell said De Jongh looked really sharp during their recent warm-up/trial matches, and will add plenty of value when the South Africans look to defend the two titles they won last year at the start of the campaign.
“He is a talented player, and a guy who we wanted to get into our system for a long time,” Powell said.
“We have that opportunity now, and he showed his class after he was out injured for five to six weeks and played well in the trial game against Maties. He slotted in seamlessly into the structures and into the team.”
De Jongh will cover centre and wing, while Hougaard will play as sweeper (basically a scrumhalf) and also out wide. Powell is excited to see what the two Boks can bring to the Sevens game, especially against some of the stronger sides on the circuit.
“The thing that we are really happy about is the way they have slotted into the team, especially in the structure on the field and the culture off the field,” the coach said.
“Now, we will have to see what they can do against tougher opposition when we get on the circuit against the likes of New Zealand, Fiji and England. It’s key for them to learn as quickly as possible.
“There are certain position-specific roles that we do have, whether Hougie is at sweeper or wing, that is the two positions he will cover for us in Dubai. Juan will basically just be in the centres, but he will also have to play a little wing as well.”
Squad for Dubai and CApe Town
Chris Dry (44 tournaments), Philip Snyman (30), Francois Hougaard (0), Kwagga Smith (15), Werner Kok (18), Kyle Brown (48, captain), Cheslin Kolbe (8), Rayno Benjamin (29), Justin Geduld (18), Cecil Afrika (38), Seabelo Senatla (19), Juan de Jongh (1). - Cape Times