One step at a time for Adriaanse
FNB Maties prop Lourens Adriaanse is not your average front row forward. But that is not to say he does not do – on the field – what all front rowers should! Off the field, however, it is a different story.
Okay, so he is softly-spoken – aren’t all props? – and he tips the scales at 115kg (pretty hefty!), but that is where the regularities end; given his academic prowess (he is studying accountancy at Stellenbosch) and his superb leadership qualities.
In the absence of new Maties skipper Cameron Peverett, Adriaanse has captained the Men in Maroon in the 2010 Varsity Cup – leading them to two bonus-point victories in the space of two weeks.
“I know that I’m just standing in (for Cameron),” he told varsitycup.co.za.
“But it really is easy to captain this Maties team,” Adriaanse added.
“Every guy does his bit… the locks call the lineouts, the backs the backline moves – so I don’t see myself as having too much on my plate.”
The recently turned 22-year-old is certainly under-selling himself.
Having been part of the Maties Varsity Cup mix for two years now, he is one of the pillars of this side and looks certain to follow in the footsteps of older brother Jacobie (also a prop!) who played for Stellenbosch in the 2008 Varsity Cup, before moving on to play for Boland and, now, finds himself at Griquas.
“It’s every person’s goal… to play at the highest level possible,” admitted Lourens when asked about his rugby aspirations.
“The thing is, if it wasn’t for the Varsity Cup guys like myself, or any of the ex-Maties players at Griquas, wouldn’t even be spoken of as possible provincial players, so we need to perform here first and then the rest will take care of itself.”
Looking at the rest “taking care of itself”, Adriaanse (pictured above – left) has not thought beyond the current year – rugby and studies included – and he will take things “step by step” on all fronts; in the Varsity Cup and afterwards.
“It (my future) all depends on what opportunities present themselves and, of course, if I can get past the year,” he admitted. “If I pass – and I am working very hard! – I could do my articles next year… but then I need to have a look at my rugby options too before making a decision.
“The nice thing about being a prop is that you can play until you’re old and I’m just 22, so I certainly don’t have to make any quick decisions right now. The key, however, is finishing my studies – then I can look at whatever options happen to come my way.”
Looking ahead to Monday’s Varsity Cup action, Adriaanse and his charges will traipse off to Johannesburg at some point during the weekend – ahead of Monday’s Round Three clash with FNB UJ.
“We have worked on a few things at training this week, after the TUT game [a match they won 62-0],” he revealed.
“We were obviously happy with the scoreline, but we all felt we could’ve played better. We capitalised on their mistakes a lot and are aware that UJ will be a different proposition – especially at home… after all, we’ve never played them there before.”
