Great to be back – Deysel
AFTER a brief stint in Japan, Jean Deysel completed his comeback to the Sharks with an impressive 30-minute cameo against the Cheetahs this past weekend, and yesterday the influential flanker summed up just how much it meant to be back in the black and white.
“I can’t remember when I’ve been more nervous before a game,” he said. “Maybe eight years ago when I played my first game, but I think I was even more nervous this time around. I must take my hat off to the guys and the coaching staff, they made it so much easier to fit in and get into the game plan.”
When the 29-year-old left for Japan after last year’s Super Rugby season, having signed a two-year contract with Toyota Verblitz, it looked as if that could mark the end of his Sharks career.
However, Deysel explained that the opportunity to return to the Durban side proved to be an offer that was too good to refuse.
“I’m very happy to be back, when (director of rugby) Gary (Gold) spoke to me about three weeks ago, it was an easy decision to make. It’s always good coming back to Durban and to see the players again; it’s a great union to play for… when I initially decided to head to Japan, I didn’t think I’d be coming back, so it feels great to be here now.”
Deysel said he had enjoyed the experience of playing in Japan, although he acknowledged that there was no place like home.
“I missed the braais to be honest,” he laughed. “Being in Japan was a great experience and a real learning curve. Toyota is a great club and they are so eager to learn and develop their rugby, not just in general, but as a culture. For me to go there and see that was awesome, but this is home.”
It goes without saying that one of the fundamental differences between the rugby in Japan and Super Rugby is the fierce physicality, which is an aspect of the game in which Deysel revels.
“I played just 30 minutes on Saturday, and I battled to get out of the car on Sunday, whereas when I played in Japan, I felt alright on a Sunday,” he chuckled. “It’s a lot more physical in Super Rugby; you do miss that and the heavy competitiveness of it all. It actually feels good to get up on a Sunday and really feel like it was a tough game the day before.”
Deysel will once again have an important role to play in this Saturday’s crucial encounter against the Lions at King’s Park.
“The Lions have a very good loose-trio and they’ve been playing together for a while now. So we will need to match them, not just physically, but skills-wise as well. We’ll prepare well this week, though, and hopefully get one over them this Saturday.”
And with fellow blockbusting blindside flank Willem Alberts still unavailable due to injury this week, what sort of role had been outlined for Deysel?
“The way Gary structures the game, it’s about sharing the (ballcarrying) load,” he explained. “For me, being involved on Saturday, it was just good to be back, and I just wanted to have the ball in my hands. You still have to stay in the structures that have been set out though.”