Yes, that sounds a lot like Honiball

THE search for the next Henry Honiball has been a persistent one for rugby scouts. Honiball revolutionised flyhalf play in South Africa and the way the Springboks started playing off No 10 in the late 1990s.

He was a guy who took the ball up really flat and attacked the advantage line with pace and venom. And because of that, he brought speedsters like André Snyman and Percy Montgomery into the game.

That famous try Pieter Rossouw scored in Wellington in 1998, when Honiball brought him in on the inside to glide through the gap, was a testament of his ability to keep opposition defenders busy.

The Boks of that era with Honiball at No 10 is still considered the one of best South African sides ever.

But “Lem” was also a strong defender, and set the tone for the Boks’ defensive effort by knocking the opposition’s big ball carriers backwards. And, in an era where shoulder pads made guys look like bodybuilders, the Free State farmer didn’t wear any protection.

Fast-forward to 2015, and the closest No 10 to the legendary Honiball is Handré Pollard, who is actually a better kicker than the former Natal flyhalf.

But there is a guy lurking at Western Province who can also be the next “Lem”. But the difference is that his father was actually Honiball’s scrumhalf.

Robert du Preez junior, son of the former Springbok No 9 with the same name, was in the stands on his mother’s lap when his dad and Honiball were playing together in the twilight of his father’s career.

Young Robert, though, definitely took notice, as he possesses the same traits as his father’s halfback partner.

“The best thing about him is that he can attack the line and still make a 30 yard pass to his left,” Western Province coach John Dobson told the Cape Times. “And what is really amazing is that when you get in the opposition 22 he can score himself. He is so big, and he shows the ball well, so when you move off him he is gone.”

Yes, that sounds a lot like Honiball.

But Du Preez definitely inherited his father’s steely determination and calm demeanour on a rugby field. And Former Springbok flyhalf Vlok Cilliers says: He has got the right temperament and the right personality that a flyhalf need to succeed. Mentally he is really strong. He is strong of mind, and has the ability to handle the pressure. He has got a great work ethic, and he puts in a lot of hours in his game. He is a big boy and he has an attacking mind set. He can read the game and the ability to know where the game is going. That's why he scored that try against Griquas. I saw him when he played South African Under-20s, and what caught my eye was the way he took control of the game. His goal-kicking is satisfactory. He is in the high 70s kicking to poles, and anything above 75% is quite good. But there is still has a lot of room for improvement. it could be why, when he played for the Junior Springboks in New Zealand last year, Pollard was moved to inside centre to accommodate his talents.

Du Preez was at the Sharks when Jake White arrived there, and because they already had a plethora of young flyhalves, he offered him to WP.

Du Preez then shone for the Maties in the Varsity Cup and played a big role in the WP Under-21 side. And now he is fighting it out with Kurt Coleman for a starting berth in the WP senior team after making a lovely cameo off the bench against Griquas last weekend.

Du Preez finished off a great WP counter-attack, which was started in their 22-metre area when replacement wing Dillyn Leyds took a quick tap.

However, Dobson says he can still do a lot of work on his placekicking, because, while he has a booming boot, he is still too inconsistent in front of the poles.

Off the field, though, Du Preez is a totally different beast and is something of a fashion icon in the WP side. He likes to be daring when it comes to a visit to the hairdresser.

So much so that Dobson thought he was “a bit of knob” when he first arrived at Province. “I thought he was a bit of knob because of the hair, the tight jeans and worn tshirts!” Dobson joked. “But he is a really nice kid, an enthusiastic kid. He is still a youngster, but he does have the potential to be a great player. But I still don’t know about the haircuts!”