Kockott’s moment of truth: is it Les Bleus or Les Boks?
In-form Rory will become eligible to play for France but still hankers for Springbok selection
RORY Kockott has much to ponder in the coming weeks.
He grew up dreaming in shades of green and gold but, such has been his impact in French rugby over the past three years, that a future in Les Bleus is now a distinct possibility.
Besides, the Springboks are dressed to the nines in their scrumhalf reserves.
Kockott has been a sensation at Castres since joining them in June 2011 and he will be eligible to represent France when his three-year residency period is completed in just over a month.
He is torn, however. He hasn’t shut the door on representing the team that helped shape his boyhood dreams, but he knows Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer can have only so many foreign flirtations in a particular position. Naturally, Kockott is coy. “That is what I’ve heard,” he said this week elusively when asked whether his qualification to play for France was imminent.
“To be honest, it’s something I’ve often been asked about and I have given it a lot of thought. I did speak about this the last time I was in SA. To be frank, I’ll
I just want to make an impact for whichever team I play for. That decision will come when I am confronted with it; for now I don’t know
have to wait and see. You don’t know what the future holds. I just want to make an impact for whichever team I play for. That decision will come when I am confronted with it, but for now I don’t know.”
He did blip fleetingly on to the Bok radar, but at the time injury prevented him from moving up the queue. Piet van Zyl cracked the nod.
Moving to France hasn’t just improved Kockott’s game — he has a higher estimation from about everybody who matters.
“You could call it riding the crest of the wave or you could call it eating the dirt,” he said, when asked about his impact that helped Castres to the Top14 title last year.
Kockott, though, was always going to find France a place where he could best express his game. It is, after all, a country where Jacques Fouroux, Pierre Berbizier and Fabien Galthie were empowered to rule the roost and the vertically challenged generals still call the shots behind the scrum.
“With the responsibility comes pressure, but the key is not to take too much. I definitely haven’t done that. With the coach’s help, I have played a better role in controlling the game and using the strong points of our team with tactical play. It’s the mental part of the game, the way you learn to win games instead of just going out and having a bash.”
Kockott’s game is more rounded, but the move has also accentuated some strengths.
“You leave your comfort zone
Culturally they look at the game differently here, at intricate small details that you don’t speak about but you feel when you’re playing
and you find out a lot more about yourself. You certainly have to look at how you apply yourself professionally. It does broaden your horizons, but in some ways it tends to mature you in areas where you probably weren’t mature before.
“It’s those areas that I now use to my advantage. They become strengths instead of weak points. My composure, for instance. Also, my kicking game has improved 500%. That is compulsory in a place like this.
“It’s that that helped me become a better player and to read matches and control it with the boot when you need to.
“There’s a massive difference. Culturally they look at the game differently here, at intricate small details that you don’t speak about but you feel when you’re playing. You’re a lot more rugby wise because you can be yourself. You can apply yourself in every area you need to.”
Kockott’s game has been liberated, but, agonisingly, he now needs to make the right call.