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Bolla harbours RWC ambitions
19/01/2007 06:59 - (SA)
Die Burger
Cape Town ? There's more to life than rugby, says Springbok scrumhalf Bolla Conradie ? for instance, the privilege of smiling.
Conradie, 28, has not played World Cup rugby and this year's tournament in France will be his last chance to do so.
"Of course, it is every player's ambition to wear the green and gold. You feel even stronger about it the day you are dropped," Conradie said earlier this week.
Conradie was the scrumhalf when South Africa beat Australia and New Zealand to win the Tri-Nations series in 2004.
Since then, Fourie du Preez and Ricky Januarie have been preferred behind the Springbok pack.
Du Preez, a contender for the International Rugby Board's Player of the Year award last year, is unquestionably the top SA scrumhalf.
Whether Januarie is a better proposition than Conradie is a matter of opinion.
Conradie last played for South Africa on the tour of Argentina in 2005. After that, he was a substitute against Wales and France.
However, for the moment his focus is in the Stormers. "My first goal is to have a good Super 14; to play 13 or even 15 matches," he said.
"We have the talent to do well this year. The guys are ready for a big improvement on last year."
The Stormers will try to move up a gear by playing traditional Western Province rugby after the flirtation with a conservative game in 2006.
"We've always been known for running rugby; we want to bring it back this year," Conradie said. "We want to attack from anywhere on the field."
The try that Gio Aplon scored against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld last weekend was a good example of what the Stormers will aim for. Conradie started the move that led to the try when he took a tap-kick near his own try-line.
Stormers coach Kobus van der Merwe will rely heavily on Conradie because Paul Delport is not available to provide depth at No 9.
However, Conradie still feels under pressure to perform. "My place in the team is certainly not guaranteed," he said. "Every pass and every kick will have to be accurate. The young guys keep us on our toes."
- Die Burger
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