MyPlayers Magazine December 2021 by MyPlayers Rugby

MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2021

QA THE RUGBY PLAYERS’ ORGANISATION

The

WE INTERVIEW:

MARVIN ORIE CHRIS VAN ZYL RICKY SCHROEDER RUAN PIENAAR

issue

WERNER KOK CATO LOUW PLUS OUR VERY OWN DAVID DE VILLIERS & ISMA-EEL DOLLIE www.myplayers.co.za

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CONTENTS Editor’s letter READ NOW

Never in a Pickle READ NOW

A new dawn for South African rugby READ NOW

Q&A with Werner Kok READ NOW

My fellow South Africans READ NOW

What it means to ‘Wake & Take’ READ NOW

Do you know this ou? READ NOW

TV interviews: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly READ NOW

Five things players should avoid when being interviewed on TV > READ NOW Five pearls of wisdom to keep in mind when being interviewed > READ NOW

EDITOR’S LETTER By Marco Botha

The thing about life stages and phases that has often surprised me in my 35 years on the blue planet, is how quickly they pass. One moment, you’re a boy watching a rugby match at Newlands or Outeniqua Park, and the next moment, you’re working with people who were once your heroes. When I was in primary school, I was a member of the Western Province Junior Rugby Supporters Club. Back then, players such as Breyton Paulse and Toks van der Linde would kindly sign my memorabilia after a coaching clinic at False Bay RFC. Today, we’re colleagues at SuperSport. In 2000, I was the Stormers mascot for their match against the Bulls at Newlands. In my office, I still have a framed photo of Corné Krige, Charl Marais and myself sitting outside the Stormers’ dressing room after the game. A very strong Cape Town side drew 19-all against an average Bulls side that day, and the Men in Black were deeply disappointed afterwards. Still, Robbie Kempson, the Stormers prop, approached my dad and me. He offered us sandwiches from the players’ tray, and took me into the dressing room, introducing me to each of his teammates. That was three weeks before my 14th birthday. Today, Robbie and I are colleagues, and I will forever have a high regard for him because of his gesture towards a boy and his father, even after recording a disappointing result. That Bulls side was coached by Heyneke Meyer, who was also the SWD Eagles coach at the time. My family moved to George in 1999, and I became an Eagles supporter. That year, they played in the 14-team Currie Cup competition’s quarter-final. I was 13

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years old. At the end of 2020, I wrote Heyneke Meyer’s book on his behalf. I could never have guessed, and neither could he. Time doesn’t stand still but the impressions we leave on people are lasting, and those impressions and relationships tend not to be captured in a time capsule. They follow us wherever we go, and they re-emerge in the most unlikely of places. I would never have thought that I would one day work with the guys I mentioned above. Likewise, Siya Kolisi might never have imagined that he would represent the Springboks alongside Schalk Burger when that famous picture of them was taken at Grey High School (or “The Grey,” as I’ve been told is the correct naming) while Siya was still coming to grips with his new reality. Ditto Johan Goosen when the then teenager was photographed with Jean de Villiers. The gaps between people are smaller than we think, and age and status barriers become insignificant as we get older. One moment, you might be signing an autograph, and within the blink of an eye, that very kid might put you into a gap for a championship-winning try. In the same way, you might be socialising with a sponsor representative at an official function just to be working with or for them a few years later. Every interaction we have in life matters. The impression you leave on someone, or the impression someone leaves on you, will remain long after the interaction has ended. You might never hear of or see that person again, or life might direct your journeys toward each other in a way that was impossible to foresee at that moment. We can’t control life. But we can control ourselves and how people remember us.

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QA &

MY FELLOW

SOUTH AFRICANS

Why did you decide to make yourself available for the position of SARPA president? Since the welfare of professional rugby players is something near to my heart, it was an easy decision to make when Chris announced his retirement from the game. It’s an honour to serve the game in this capacity as well. Did the disruptive effect of the Covid-19 pandemic figure into your decision to up your involvement in rugby? You and Chris will probably look back on

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Springbok and Stormers lock Marvin Orie has recently been elected as new president of the South African Rugby Players Association (SARPA), succeeding Chris van Zyl. The new prez spoke to us.

your terms one day as probably the most challenging time for players in the history of professional rugby. It had an undeniable influence on my decision. You become more aware of how quickly things you take for granted can be taken away from you, and in that sense, 2020 was an incredibly tough year for us rugby players. However, we need to maintain perspective – we weren’t the only people affected by the pandemic. What goals have you set yourself for your term as SARPA president? The Players’ Organisation is already doing a helluva lot for players; stuff that really excites me. I want to be part of the solution, and I want players to know and feel that they are being taken care of on a personal level.

WHAT DOES SARPA DO? SARPA is the official registered trade union of all the professional rugby players in South Africa. It manages all your collective employment matters on your behalf on a provincial and national level. SARPA is a division of MyPlayers.

THE SARPA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Marvin Orie (President), Oupa Mohojé (Vice president), Mandisi Tshonti (General Secretary), Zenay Jordaan, Frans Steyn (new member), Lizo Gqoboka, Thomas du Toit, Siviwe Soyizwapi, Craig Barry (new member)

Are there any changes you’d like to see in the work SARPA does? I think the organisation has come a long way in recent years, and there’s a lot to build on. The people working for MyPlayers are doing tremendous work. They’re putting the players’ interest first, and that is the mail objective of the Players’ Organisation. That won’t change. From an employment point of view, the SARPA Exco wants to see to it that players continue to receive the best representation available. While your involvement as SARPA president will be focussed on looking after players’ collective employment conditions, you are still a member of the greater MyPlayers organisation. What are some of the outputs of MyPlayers that excite you? I think one of the most impactful programmes within MyPlayers is the annual bursary programme. It serves as a further incentive for players to pursue part-time studies through universities and several other tertiary institutions. It’s never too early to start preparing yourself for life after rugby. Can MyPlayers improve on its communication with players? I think the communications platforms we use are great – both on app and through email. The regular visits to

unions are also very effective. We get to discuss important issues face to face, and whether as a group or individual, players are receiving personal attention. How do you like to spend your time when you’re not busy with rugby? I try to spend as much time as possible with my wife and son. When I’m not busy with my university education, I also like playing golf. You can never play too much golf!

You and Eben Etzebeth played together at Hoërskool Tygerberg, and you recently debuted together as the Springbok lock pairing. How special was that occasion? It was a very special day for us, and especially for our alma mater. In 2009, Eben was in matric and I was in grade 11. Back then, I told him we’re going to play together for the Stormers one day. Being the lock pairing for the national team was never part of the discussion, but when that opportunity came about, it was an even bigger honour and privilege than we could ever have imagined. If patience is a virtue, it is definitely something you have honed during your professional career. Were there ever times when you considered leaving South African shores for good to earn a salary in a foreign currency? My career has worked out exactly as it should have. I firmly believe that. I’ve had tough times that I had to work through, but there have also been countless highlights. My dream has always been to play for the Springboks one day, and having had the opportunity to do that on a number of occasions is not something I take lightly or for granted. To now play for the Stormers, is just as special to me. What advice do you have for young players who aspire to play for the Springboks but for whom the opportunity might not come as early as they would’ve liked? Hard work is one of the most important things in life, as is patience. If you are meant to become a Springbok, no one will stand in your way. But it’s up to you to keep knocking on that door until it opens.

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Former SARPA president Chris ‘Pickle’ van Zyl retired from professional rugby in April this year. We caught up with him to discuss his transition from rugby to the corporate world.

You announced your retirement from professional rugby at the end of April this year. What have you been up to since then? I have been contemplating, plotting and then carefully planning my exit out of rugby for a number of months. With six months still left on my contract with Western Province, I made the conscious decision some time before that I wanted to walk away from the game on my own terms with some time left on my last contract. I announced my retirement during April and gave notice to the company that my last day in their employment would be the 30th of April, and that I planned to join Equites Property Fund on the 1st of May 2021. It has been an incredible journey up to now. The learning curve has been steep but I have really thrived in the new environment. At first, I was commuting up to Johannesburg on a weekly basis and now I am based here. Most importantly, the people are young, dynamic and very driven. Equites is a world-class, ambitious firm that I am grateful to be a part of. The rugby days honestly feel like a lifetime ago and I am grateful to have been able to hit the ground running.

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CHRIS VAN ZYL What was the toughest adjustment to your personal life you had to make since packing away your boots? Training time is now at 05:20 every weekday morning! But I have my weekends, and I am able to plan holidays in advance. Looking back on the plans you have set in place for a life after rugby while you were still playing, what were the most critical things you have done right to prepare for life after the game? Besides obtaining my CA(SA), it is clear that the most critical thing that I did was to start my own business back in 2016. The lessons learned have been extremely beneficial and I was comfortable to walk into my new role as Business Development Executive as I had been performing such a role in my own business. I can remember clearly on my Day 1 at Equites, how comfortable and ready I felt.

What advice do you have for young players in terms of preparing themselves for a life beyond the game – during and after their playing years? I used to think obtaining a tertiary education was paramount, but I have since adjusted my opinion. Find something that you may have a passion for or something that stimulates you outside the game of rugby, spend time developing your skills relating to that stimulation and try to obtain experience within that industry.

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Are/were you concerned about the number of older players in South African professional rugby who were not prepared for a life after rugby should their careers have been ended due to a catastrophic injury or something similar? It has always been a massive concern for me, but I do believe that MyPlayers is playing a pivotal role in mitigating these major risks. My hope is that more and more players will leverage the services of MyPlayers as much as possible to make plans for post rugby. What advice do you have for senior players who have between two or three years left in their playing careers but who haven’t adequately prepared themselves for a life after rugby? Is it too late? I think financially it is never too late to make suitable plans to try and set yourself up with a buffer. Obtaining financial advice is a worthwhile exercise. Leverage the rugby network at every opportunity. You never know who you could meet at the next networking opportunity. Be open and engaging to the people you meet. How has professional rugby prepared you for a life after rugby? I have built up a number of skills which I can apply in my new role. Being able to operate in a dynamic and diverse team environment is a daily reality that a professional rugby player is exposed to. I believe that through my many leadership roles as a professional rugby player, I got the opportunity to manage and lead many individuals from different backgrounds which will be very useful going forward.

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Some say he’s the personality behind the MyPlayers Instagram account. They may be right. All we know is that Ricky Schroeder has remained a familiar face on your TV sets long after he had retired from rugby (because he wanted to). Rickster, you have become a familiar face and voice on a variety of platforms – SuperSport, Kfm, KykNET, etc. What have you been up to since you had retired from professional rugby? It’s been quite a journey of note. I started off as ground-crew presenter for Kfm 94.5 after I had to submit a very cringey audition video of myself to YouTube (still can’t watch it!). But things happened very quickly in the radio space. I started doing Weekend Breakfast with Ryan O’Connnor and the rest is history. I’ve also been fortunate to be a part of a very successful talk show called Tussen Ons on KykNET, working as a presenter and floor manager. In my personal capacity, I’ve also started my own company called RDS Entertainment (Pty) Ltd, which focusses on events, especially corporate team building, to encourage companies to “Cultivate A Good Corporate Culture”. Your current career trajectory in the entertainment industry didn’t come about by chance. You already started preparing yourself for life after rugby while you were still playing. Tell us about that transition and what strategic moves/decisions you had made as a player that have enabled you to transition into this new chapter(s) of your life. Well, I’ve always known after my rugby career, I would love to be in the broadcasting/media/entertainment space. So, while I was still at the Lions in Joburg, I called up Matthew Pierce and asked him how I should go about this. He set up a meeting with the then CEO of SuperSport, and I went for broadcasting training on my Wednesday ‘off-days’. I was trying to equip myself as best as possible so that when that dreaded retirement day came, I would be as ready as I could be. What has been the toughest aspect of the transition from professional sports to your life after playing rugby?

It’s plain and simple. It was me trying to find my identity outside of “Rick The Rugby Player”, and wondering whether people would see my worth as “Rick The Person”. So yes, one grapples with a whole lot of emotions post career. Also, coffee catch-ups with guys like Breyton Paulse (who had walked the path before) played a massive role in bringing clarity on the journey ahead. He has become a good friend and mentor to me. You play as much golf as your days allow, and it’s not just because it’s an addictive game. You’ve taken a leaf out of Michael Jordan’s book when it comes to playing golf. Tell us about that, and why is it important to engage in something like this after retiring from rugby? I think as a professional sportsman or sportswoman, that competitive nature within you will never die. Playing golf keeps that alive within me, because I’m not only competing with the rest of my 4-ball, but I’m competing with myself as well. And one always wants to perfect the perfect shot/ swing. I also usually tell people the golf course is my boardroom, one can tell a lot from someone’s temperament on a golf course (it can be quite frustrating), so it can indicate to me if I would want to go into business with the person or not. Your motto is Wake & Take. What does that mean, and why is it important? When I started my new journey after rugby, I did not have much experience. I then challenged myself to WAKE UP as early as possible, to be the first person at work (be that at the radio studio or on the TV set). I then TAKE in as much information as possible on how everything functions, trying to understand every facet of this new journey I’m embarking on. So, when I rock up at work the next day, I’m a little bit more experienced than the previous day. And that’s my WAKE & TAKE philosophy.

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A FOR SOUTH AFRICAN Ruan Pienaar reflects on his experience of playing rugby in both the Southern and the Northern Hemisphere, and he tells us what to expect in Europe.

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SUPER RUGBY For many years, Super Rugby was the best club competition in the world. For those of us who had the privilege of playing in the tournament, we got to test ourselves against the best teams and players, week in and week out. This had a tremendous benefit for the development of our individual players and South African rugby as a whole. During the Super Rugby years, New Zealand and South Africa were consistently being seen as two of the world’s rugby power houses, and you cannot deny the beneficial effect playing against each other had for both nations’ rugby. Of course, there were drawbacks. Different time zones and jetlag were high hurdles to overcome. Also, South African teams used to be on tour a bit longer than the Kiwi and Aussie sides, and this was always a contentious issue. A four- to five-week tour takes its toll, and it can feel like an eternity when the results aren’t going your way.

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AFTER THE RECENT URC match between the Sharks and Bulls in Durban (3 December), a photo of Bismarck du Plessis, Morné Steyn and myself got circulated on social media. Between the three of us, we have more than 50 years’ experience playing professional rugby. Ou manne! But we’ve seen a lot, and we’ve played a fair share of our careers in both the Southern and the Northern Hemisphere. Younger players might wonder how these two worlds compare and differ. In this article, I hope to answer some of your questions.

EUROPEAN COMPETITIONS From a South African player’s perspective, I believe the move to play in European competitions is something we should all be excited about. The rumours of this northward migration have been circulating for a number of years, and now that it has become a reality, it makes a lot of sense. For one, the time zones aren’t that different, and that removes jetlag from the equation. Your travel time to Europe is also much less than travelling to Australasia. It’s also something new and fresh. Yes, it will take getting used to but experiencing something different to what we’ve grown up with, is a lekker prospect. For 25 years, we had this impression that Super Rugby will give you a weekly dose of the best players in the world, and for some time, that was true. But from my experience, Europe also offers high-calibre rugby. The main differences are the climates in which we’ll have to play at times. That’s completely different to what we’ve become accustomed to in the Southern Hemisphere. It gets cold, wet and windy, and we will need time to adjust to this new reality. I have no doubt, however, that we’ll figure out how to play in these conditions. It might take a season or two, but we’ll get there. So, let’s not be too hard on ourselves.

OLIVER MCVEIGH/GETTY IMAGES

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS I will never underplay how wonderful it was to play Super Rugby. The tournament had a rich history, and can you imagine how great it must have been to spend your weekend playing against the likes of Jonah Lomu, Christian Cullen, Jeff Wilson, Joe Roff, George Gregan, Stephen Larkham, and George Smith? Those players will have legendary status that goes beyond just their generations, and if you ask some of them why they valued playing Super Rugby, they’ll also mention quite a few South African names. As competitive sports people, we always want to measure ourselves against the best players in the world, and Super Rugby gave us that for more than two decades. Now that we’re playing in Europe, we might miss that, and many young players won’t have the opportunity to include Super Rugby on their CVs. But – and this is a big but – there has for a long time been this perception that rugby in the Northern Hemisphere is of a lower quality than the rugby we South Africans grew up with. Having spent a decade of my career playing in Ireland and France, I can categorically state that that perception is wrong. When I went to Ulster in 2010, many South African coaches told me that the tempo of Northern-hemisphere rugby is slower and that the players aren’t as skilled. That’s not true either. I learned a tremendous amount about rugby while playing there, and I also had to learn a thing or two about myself. You’re playing and living outside of

When I went to Ulster in 2010, many South African coaches told me that the tempo of Northern-hemisphere rugby is slower and that the players aren’t as skilled. That’s not true either. RUAN PIENAAR your comfort zone. Also, we’ve seen and experienced the level of rugby that teams such as Leinster, Munster, Exeter and Saracens have been playing for quite some time. They play really good rugby in England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and France. Ireland and France didn’t recently beat the All Blacks because they were lucky. They have players of the highest calibre. Since we’ll now be playing outside of our comfort zone, we’ll have to learn to play the conditions. We’ll have to get used to a different style of play and officiating. It is different, but I think this experience will develop our players as sportsmen and as people. This will be a great experience, and I’m grateful for having had the opportunity to play in both hemispheres. And because I have done that, I’m truly optimistic about what lies ahead for us South African players and teams. It’s a new dawn and something we should be excited about.

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Do you know this ou? In life, it helps to deal with people who really understand where you’re coming from. At MyPlayers, we think so too. Did you know David de Villiers and Isma-eel Dollie had illustrious careers as professional rugby players as well? Get to know the ou.

DAVID DE VILLIERS (General Manager: MyPlayers Financial Services)

Where were you born and where did you grow up? David: Born in Randburg. Grew up in Zululand, Empangeni. Isma-eel: Born in Cape Town. Grew up in the Cape Malay quarters of Bo-Kaap. What schools did you attend? David: Laerskool Heuwelland, and Empangeni High School. Isma-eel: St. Paul’s Primary, and SACS High. UCT after school.

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What is your earliest rugby memory? David: Losing my teeth in my very first rugby game as a seven-year-old. Isma-eel: Running out for Schotschekloof RFC on Rag Day against Collegians Under-8s in the early 1990s at the Green Point Track. Did you play club rugby after school, or did you make immediate inroads in the professional game? David: I never even thought about playing professional rugby. I played for Maties during

ISMA-EEL DOLLIE (National Player Relationship Manager)

my studies. Isma-eel: I didn’t make Craven Week in matric. Post school, I got invited to SA Junior trials and made the SA Under-19 and Under-21 sides. What professional teams did you play for? David: Boland Cavaliers, Cheetahs, and Lions. Isma-eel: Boland, WP, Stormers, Mitshubishi Dynaboars (Japan), Brumbies Academy (Aus), and SA Emerging XV.

Biggest disappointment or setback as a professional rugby player? David: Injuries. Isma-eel: It’s difficult to say. I never had major injuries, which I’m grateful for. Fondest memory as a professional rugby player? David: Travelling and competing in the Super Rugby competition. Isma-eel: The friendships created that still exist today. Having the opportunity to see the world as a result of rugby.

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HAWIES FOURIE

Which coach(es) made the biggest impression on you? David: Hawies Fourie. He coaches rugby as he lives his life - with 100% effort and commitment to his team. Isma-eel: John Mulvihill, Eugene “Loffie” Eloff and Peter de Villiers. They tapped into the human side of the player, which got the best out of me.

How easy or difficult was your transition from playing professionally to entering life after rugby? David: I tried to plan for the day and antic-

VION WIUM

Biggest joker you ever played with? David: Piet van Zyl. What a legend! Isma-eel: Morgan Newman (never a dull moment on and off the field).

Teammate you were most scared of? David: Vion Wium (before I got to know him) Isma-eel: Troy Flavell (NZ lock) who I played with in Japan. His reputation and size as a player were very imposing. Glad he was on my side!

If you had the opportunity to change one thing in your rugby career, what would it be? David: To experience and be able to play rugby in the overseas market. Isma-eel: Save more, earlier in my career, and less reckless spending!

MORGAN NEWMAN

IMAGES: GALLO IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES

Best player you ever played with? David: Juan Smith. Isma-eel: Zhahier Rylands (aka Kakkerlakkie). WP wing with the best feet and sidestep at the time. He was so explosive off the mark.

JOHN MULVIHILL

Did you retire from professional rugby on your own terms, and if not, how did you deal with the disappointment of having to retire prematurely? David: An injury made the decision on my behalf. But I tried not to overthink it too much (I was already 31 years old). I started working at PwC, and I dealt with the disappointment by getting back to doing my articles and grinded to get work experience. Isma-eel: I called it a day when my contract wasn’t renewed. Had to make a decision to continue my rugby career or to pursue a career outside of rugby. I chose the latter.

ipated it to happen. Looking back, however, it was still a life stage of dramatic change, adjustments and “unknowns”. Having friends and family support around me, helped me manage it better. Isma-eel: Emotionally, it was very difficult. Having to adapt to your own schedule was a challenge. However, having studied at university, I could get a job and not worry about employment. When not involved in rugby, how do you like to spend your time? David: I like to spend time with my family at home, or taking a run in the mountain / Jonkershoek with my two Jack Russells, Vossie and Jakkals. Isma-eel: Currently, I’m coaching community rugby at Unimil RFC. I have done so for the past 10 years post my rugby career. I’m enjoying it, and through this, I’m giving back to the game, which gives me satisfaction. Three kids at home also keep me on my toes. What do you value most in life, and why? David: Health, relationships, and knowing my Creator. Isma-eel: Time! With all that is happening these days, we have to make the most of our time and enjoy it before it’s up.

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After specialising in sevens rugby for a decade, Werner Kok made a successful cross-over to fifteens rugby. How has playing for the Blitzboks prepared him for his utility role at the Sharks?

ASHLEY VLOTMAN/GALLO IMAGES

Werries, suppose a 16-year-old rugby player approaches you for advice, why would you recommend they choose sevens rugby as a career? Sevens represents an incredibly important phase of my career. From the onset, I was taught what it means to be a professional rugby player. It keeps you humble, and it doesn’t matter where you’re from, you’ll immediately become part of a family. Hard work gets rewarded, and with sevens, you also get to travel the world, much more so than with fifteens. Why would you recommend someone pursue fifteens rugby as a career? Fifteens is a completely different game to sevens. You develop a different skill set, and you might also get career opportunities overseas. Both codes are lekker in their own way, and I suppose a major benefit of opting to play fifteens is that it is more sustainable – your body lasts longer and your finances are better. Also, you get to spend more time with your family.

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WERNER KOK

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How did sevens rugby improve your abilities as a fifteens player? Sevens makes you incredibly fit, and you will never be scared to work really, really hard. It is a great way to develop your defensive capabilities, as well as your ability to identify space. It also teaches you to always be hungry for success; you know – that unrelenting pursuit of success and the willingness to fight for victory until almost after the final whistle. Since the Blitzboks also have such a close-knit environment, you get to learn a lot from others, and your also learn to adapt. It sharpens your ability to operate as a thinking player and not just as an executor of predetermined plans.

Do you think you would have had the same fifteens career if it hadn’t been for your sevens experience? Definitely not. I would never have been able to work this hard if it wasn’t for sevens. There is no place to hide or rest on a sevens field, and the work ethic that was instilled in me at the Blitzboks gave me the desire to not stop fighting when I’m on the training or playing field in fifteens.

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CHRISTIAAN KOTZE/GALLO IMAGES

While contracted to the Blitzboks, you sommer went ahead and won the Currie Cup with Western Province in 2017. How did fifteens improve your game as a sevens player? It made me more physical. I also learned to manage my own game better, because there is a massive difference between playing for 80 minutes as opposed to 14. There is also much more structure in fifteens rugby than in sevens.

What is your most treasured memory as a sevens player? Winning World Sevens Player of the Year in 2014/2015. The bronze medal at the Olympics, and the opportunity to travel across the globe with a group of players who will always be brothers to me. Your highlight as a fifteens player? To represent the Sharks in two fixtures against the British & Irish Lions. It’s something I will treasure forever.

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TV interviews: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly If you’ve captained a side or earned a Man of the Match award, the chances are good that you’ve been interviewed by Cato Louw from SuperSport. But did you pass the interviewer’s test? Most memorable post-match interview you’ve ever conducted? My most memorable interview is memorable for a good reason. This year, the Women’s Interprovincial League was televised and played over a double round for the first time. So, there was a lot to be opgewonde about. After Border Ladies beat the highly favoured Western Province in the final at Newlands, I had the privilege of interviewing Lusanda Dumke shortly before she went to receive the trophy. Firstly, the joy of playing at Newlands and winning the final was evident when she stepped in behind the mic. She was switching between English and isiXhosa, and since I’m from the Eastern Cape, I could pick up on what she was saying. And as she was speaking, her team started gathering around the trophy just to the side of us. Lusanda saw that, and her answers

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became faster and faster; her smile grew wider and wider. When viewers experience that sort of excitement, it makes for a fantastic interview. I had to let her go, and as I asked her to go to her teammates, she did a little dance of excitement on the spot. It was such a wonderful, pure moment of joy, and it came across on TV as a visualisation of the power of sport. Especially considering what had been going on (or not going on!) in the world in the previous 18 months. It was just a beautiful moment, and I’ll remember Lusanda’s joy and spontaneity for as long as I live. That said, I’ve had some less pleasurable interviewing experiences. I was about to interview Eli Snyman from the Blue Bulls after a SuperSport Rugby Challenge match. I called him “Ellie”. He smiled and did a really nice interview. Afterward, someone came to me and told me it’s “E-laai” and not Ellie. I felt like a chop. But we live and learn!

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CATO LOUW

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What makes for a tough one-on-one interview? This isn’t a one-off occurrence. It happens often, and I’ve experienced it in full force again this year. I don’t always feel players understand the significance or importance of a TV interview. It’s not a given that you’ll get this sort of individual exposure, and rugby gives players more exposure than many other sports. Being interviewed is a privilege. Anyhow, this happened in the Varsity Cup. The player was named Man of the Match, and unfortunately, in TV, it’s often a case of hurry up and wait. While you’re coming off the field, there are TV commercials being played, and at the field, we’re waiting for the call from the director to go live before conducting post-match interviews. I’m wearing an earpiece, and the wait could be either 30 seconds or 2 minutes. It’s just the nature of the beast. As this player (the Man of the Match!) came up, he said at the top of his voice: “Can you make this quick. I’m tired!” We – the camera man, floor manager, and myself – were quite shocked by the comment and especially the way it was conveyed. It was blatant and rude. I turned to him, and said, “Excuse me?” His response was that he had just played a full match and that he was tired (as if he was the first Man of the Match being interviewed in the history of sport). But we still had to wait, and this caused an awkward

silence, during which time he started to regret his little tantrum while still trying to explain himself. We know you guys get tired. We know you’re playing a contact sport that can take its toll after even just five minutes, never mind the full 80 he had just played. We get that. But it’s just not lekker to interview someone who has just received an accolade and a monetary reward, but who thinks he deserves to be treated differently to the countless thousands of people who have been in a similar position to his before. I struggle with that. Sometimes players think TV is out to punish them by handing them the opportunity to be interviewed. It’s not. It’s a privilege. We’re there to celebrate you, to highlight you, and to make you relatable to the viewer at home who has just spend two hours watching your match on live TV. This is potentially a powerful and pure moment, but you just don’t feel like doing it. Jy’s net nie lus nie, and now you spoil the experience for everyone who’s paying money to watch you play but couldn’t come to the stadium. Honesty is to be commended, and it comes across well in interviews, but the way in which you direct that energy and emotion can make or break an interview (and the perception people have of you). Respect goes a long way.

I don’t always feel players understand the significance or importance of a TV interview. It’s not a given that you’ll get this sort of individual exposure, and rugby gives players more exposure than many other sports. Being interviewed is a privilege. CATO LOUW

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CATO LOUW

Avoid touching your face or other nervous gestures. It’s fine to wipe away some sweat, but fidgeting is very distracting on TV. Los jou ore en jou neus uit.

Swearing! It seems obvious, but in the heat of the moment, those words can easily slip out, and in the day and age of social media, you don’t want the wrong people to get the wrong impression of you. If you make a habit of swearing on TV, it could come back to bite you once you enter the world outside of rugby. The Internet doesn’t forget, and you are a brand.

You don’t have to talk forever. If you listen to the question, try to answer the question once, and avoid repeating yourself. Sometimes the short answers are gems.

Five pearls of wisdom to keep in mind when being interviewed

Five things players should avoid when being interviewed for TV?

One-word answers. Avoid them! Asseblief! The presenter or commentator shouldn’t be asking you questions that could be answered with a yes or no. If they ask you, for example, where you can improve, don’t just say, “Yes, we can improve.” It doesn’t translate well into good TV, and it doesn’t reflect well on you. You either look dof or uninterested. After all, you’re representing yourself and your team.

Really listen to the question. And then answer the question. If you waffle on about something completely unrelated to the question, it raises question marks about you, the player. If you need to think about the answer, take a moment to collect your thoughts, and then go for it, but also don’t wait for an eternity. That doesn’t come across well either. An interview isn’t a comprehension test. It’s a reflection on something you have already experienced, and in this scenario, you are the expert.

1. Be yourself – whoever that is. Even shy people can give great interviews. 2. Mundane, everyday things that happen in training/on tour/were said between hookers on the field are the things the interviewer (and viewers!) love to hear. You then make them feel part of the inner circle, and it makes you much more interesting than just being the guy who just jolled for 80 minutes. 3. Have fun! If something funny happened during the match, share it during the interview. Not everything needs to be serious.

4. If you want to improve, review your interview when you get home. Get feedback from family, friends, or your media manager.

5. Acknowledge the TV crew. A handshake and hello go a long way. You’ll be surprised at how good they can make you look if they think you’re cool.

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