This 'Oupa' is the real deal
Naka Drotské does not regard any of his nine Cheetahs in the extended Springbok training squad as surprises.
While it van be argued that no coach will ever regard a national call-up as a surprises, given they have backed those players on a domestic level, there are a few bolters that will start training with Heyneke Meyer's national team next week – in Durban from May 25 to 28 May.
While Trevor Nyakane, Coenie Oosthuizen, Adriaan Strauss, Heinrich Brüssow, Johan Goosen and Willie le Roux have already appeared in the Green and Gold, the biggest celebrations in Bloemfontein were about the call-ups of Lodewyk de Jager, Teboho Mohoje and Cornal Hendricks.
"To have nine players in a group of 36 is a great achievement for us," Drotské told rugby365 in an interview ahead of his team's Round 15 Super Rugby trip to Newlands on Saturday.
While they are hard at worked for another tough encounter with a much-improved Stormers team, the Cheetahs briefly paused to celebrate the trio who will get their first taste of what it is like to be part of a Bok squad – even if it is just an extended training squad and doesn't guarantee them a Test cap.
"It is particularly pleasing to see new guys come through," Drotské told this website, adding: "It is pleasing to see players like Lood [Lodewyk de Jager], Oupa [Teboho Mohoje] and Cornal Hendricks."
With Hendricks having already showed his potential on the IRB Sevens circuit, his call-up to a national 15-man squad is regarded as a natural progression.
"He is a very gifted player and showed this year he can cut the mustard at Super Rugby level," the Cheetahs coach said.
"He has the makings to successfully convert his Sevens form into the 15-man code."
Drotské was adamant that none of the three newcomers to the Boks squad are 'surprises'.
"I always knew a player like Oupa [Mohoje] has the talent and the physical attributes to become a Springbok – it was only a matter of time," he told rugby365 – when asked about a 23-year-old player whose Afrikaans nickname means grandfather.
"He got his chances [in Super Rugby] this year and has performed outstandingly. Given the way Oupa played the last five six weeks – since getting his chance – he fully deserves to be there."
There is an argument to be made for another of the Cheetahs' former Sevens stars, Johannes Prinsloo – who has formed a great combination with Brüssow this season, but missed the Bok cut.
Like Hendricks he has seamlessly moved from the Sevens code to the 15-man game.
"Boom [Prinsloo] is playing outstanding rugby and this past weekend he was outstanding again," Drotské said, adding: "Not only is he a quality player, but his workrate is world class and he gives 100 percent every week that he plays."
The Cheetahs coach also felt that fielding two great ball-players – like Prinsloo and Brüssow – in the same side is beginning to pay dividends.
It allows them to rotate continuously throughout the game – with both playing at flank and No.8.
"It [the rotation during the game] works because they both play towards the breakdown," the coach said.
"On our ball Heinrich plays No.8 because he has a great feeling for the game and has great skills, those little pop passes around the scrums."
By Jan de Koning
