Novice Pretorius relishing clash with idol O’Driscoll
“I’ve always used Brian O’Driscoll as a role model; looked up to him in a way. To finally get the opportunity to play against him, even though not in direct opposition, is a huge honour and challenge.
“I’m playing this game on the wing, but I’m more naturally a centre, and he is simply awesome in the things he does on the pitch. He is such a balanced player in every single aspect of his play; he’s very fast, has unbelievable skill, he’s physical, he’s got a great step and can change pace and direction so easily. He’s just got the style and class that I would aspire to have.”
Pretorius also singled out Shane Horgan. “He’s a big guy, but he is very mobile, a great finisher and a guy who can be used in various roles around the field, not just on the wing.”
The innate Irish suspicion of praise will have Eddie O’Sullivan’s backline on their guard — but Jaco’s laurels don’t stop there.
“(Gordon) D’Arcy is a different type of player to O’Driscoll, but is still very effective. He has a low centre of gravity; is powerful and very fast, while O’Gara does so well doing what all fly halves aspire to – runs the game.”
Pretorius is conscious that rugby is not Ireland’s national game and that the numbers playing the game are small compared with other countries. That’s all the more reason why he is impressed with recent results. “For a small country, Ireland has done magnificently to be up there with the world’s best.”
But for now, his main focus in on himself and his beloved Springboks. “Rugby is in your blood in South Africa and anyone playing the game aims to one day pull on the Springboks jersey. It’s a huge day for me.
Pretorius, given his involvement over the years with the South African Sevens side, is a late starter in the 15 man game at this level. His honours to date include captaining the Springboks in the IRB Sevens’ circuit.
It was, in fact, only this season that he carried his success into the 15-man game when he starred in the centre for the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup.
Tomorrow, he faces a new challenge. “I haven’t played much rugby at all on the wing,” he said, hence the smile when he learned that his direct opponent, Andrew Trimble, is also a converted centre. “That sounds good to me,” he added, “maybe that will even up the battle a bit.”
On a more serious note, he highlighted the fact that more and more players in South Africa, and worldwide, were being asked to slot into different positions. He said: “Some people are able to do it, others prefer to play their specialist roles, but the utility role is no longer seen as being detrimental to winning a place in the team; if anything it enhances your prospects of selection.
“With so many talented players in our country, it’s seen as a bonus to be able to play in a couple of positions. You’ve got to broaden your perspective in this modern game,” he said.
Pretorius hopes that tomorrow’s game will be another step in South Africa’s rehabilitation after a disastrous opening sequence of games in last season’s Tri-Nations.
Things improved for them when they beat New Zealand and Australia at home, but that merely served to save coach Jake White from dismissal. Effectively, the coach is still on trial.
“There is quite a bit of pressure coming from home – there always is in relation to rugby, so it’s do or die in a sense. The bad results last year provoked a bad reaction.
“The pressure, I believe, was quite unbearable for the players and the coach. What we don’t want is to go down that road again; we need to keep the momentum going and manage to build-up successfully towards the World Cup. It’s what the public expects, but also what we expect of ourselves,” he said.
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