Jake won't put all his eggs in Goose's basket
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Vodacom Bulls boss Jake White stresses the importance of managing the return of key players such as Johan Goosen for Saturday's crucial clash in Bayonne.
Goosen, who has been sidelined since mid-January with a knee injury, is set to feature off the bench with fellow Springbok Cameron Hanekom at Parc des Sports in the round of 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup.
Speaking on Friday from the southwest of France, White acknowledged Goosen's influence on the Bulls game plan, but warned that the former Racing Metro and Montpellier playmaker would need time to get back to his best.
"I remember when he was playing, people were unconvinced he was the right guy, and there were a lot of articles about Goosen, the No 10 jersey and all that sort of stuff at the Bulls," White said.
"We've seen now since he hasn't been with us how our game shape has changed and how important he actually is to us — goal-kicking, getting the backs to attack the way we have in the past few years.
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"But I can't put all the pressure on his shoulders," the director of rugby added. "I can't expect him, after being out for so long, to come in and wave a wand in 30 or 40 minutes. It's going to take time, but I rate him highly."
White has also made six personnel changes and a positional switch to the starting XV. He explained that managing the likes of Goosen, Hanekom and Ruan Nortje was a key factor in his selections.
"It is a bit of a mix and match because some guys are coming back from injury," he said. "A guy like Ruan Nortje has only played 30 minutes, Cameron was injured for a couple of weeks, and Simphiwe [Matanzima] has been working hard on his fitness after a long lay-off.
"But it's a team I think is competitive. Sometimes it's through circumstances — Ruan hasn't played much rugby, he's helluva important for us, so he'll get more minutes this week. Cameron the same. Goosen will be the same.
"I can't just chuck all my eggs in one basket. I have to find the balance."
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While the Bulls have proven their ability to win on the road, with victories over Ospreys, Benetton, and Connacht this season, White is wary of the challenge posed by a Bayonne side sitting fourth in the Top 14 and that has yet to lose at home this season.
"Bayonne are a very good side. One of the things in South Africa we probably don't read enough about is how good the Top 14 is and how the teams are doing," he said. "Bayonne haven't lost at home this year, so they will finish strong. We have to be at our best for 80 minutes.
"They've got a good defence, the set piece is strong… I spoke to [former Bok and Sharks loose forward] Sean Sowerby yesterday, who was coaching at Bordeaux, and he said they'd be ranked as having probably the best centre combination in the competition.
"As good as their forwards are, their midfield is rated the best by the French public. I don't think it's just one area where they are strong."
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
The post Jake won’t put all his eggs in Goose's basket appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
