Juan De Jongh hasn’t given up on his dream of representing South Africa at this year’s World Cup and the Western Province centre is aiming to use the Currie Cup as a launchpad into the Springbok squad.
“There’s no player in the country that doesn’t want to be in the World Cup squad,” the WP skipper said yesterday. “My heart is burning to be there.”
De Jongh made the last of his 14 Test appearances in 2012 with Bok coach Heyneke Meyer using the three ensuing seasons to conduct a search, fruitless so far, for a successor to Jaque Fourie at outside centre.
Including this week’s clash with Australia in Brisbane, the Boks have just four Tests to go before they square up against Japan in their World Cup opener on September 19. Meyer must announce a 31-man squad for duty at the showpiece event by August 31, and De Jongh is determined to make the most of Province’s four Currie Cup matches between now and then to catch the national coach’s attention.
“The only thing that’s going to get me there is playing some good rugby now,” said the 27-year-old. “But whatever the situation is, and whatever the decision is, it’s up to the man upstairs.
“I’ve got to put in a lot of hard work, for me and for the team, because it takes a team effort to move forward. My focus is on the blue-and-white hoops and whatever happens will only happen because of the work I put in.
“I have been in the Bok set-up for the last few weeks, in the training camps, and I kind of do know where I stand with Heyneke Meyer. But there are quite a few things I need to find out for myself, on my own drawing board, to make sure I tick the boxes and make myself count for that position.”
De Jongh is excited about the presence of Dawie Snyman – nephew of the former Currie Cup-winning WP coach of the same name – as the attack coach in John Dobson’s management team.
“Dawie coached me in 2006 when I was at the Stellenbosch rugby academy, he spotted me there and gave me opportunities to go through to the WP Institute,” said the hot-stepping midfielder. “Part of the reason I’m here today is because of him. We’ve come a long way and I’m just excited to work with him again.”
Whether it’s Snyman’s talent assessment or World Cup aspirations, the decision to shift De Jongh to inside centre now appears to be up in the air.
“It’s a process we’re discussing,” Snyman said. “Looking at the depth of our squad, we’ve got a few exciting backs, and Juan brings a lot of experience so the opportunity is maybe to get Juan closer to the ball and get the ball in his hands.
“But he’s also very effective in the wide channels, so it’s just about how we want to use him to get the best out of our attack.
“I’ve played outside centre most of my career, but when I started my senior career it was at No 12,” said De Jongh.
“It’s a different position, but for me it’s all about where the team needs me. Dawie is a great coach and he would know where I would fit in perfectly. I’m excited to take up the challenge wherever I play.” - Cape Argus