Bok pivot Goosen out of the shadows
The forgotten ‘future of South African rugby’ turns up in France
JOHAN Goosen was the original Handre Pollard — a promising young flyhalf fresh from the elite schools rugby factory, shipped straight from puberty into international rugby.
That was in 2012 when Goosen, at just 20, made his Springbok debut against Australia in Perth with then coach Heyneke Meyer heralding him as the future of South African rugby.
He had sexy attacking skills, the acceleration of a startled hare and a kicking boot big enough to launch a Nasa spacecraft.
It could turn out that Meyer wasn’t wrong, but the timing then was terribly off. When Goosen’s career should have shot skyward it nosedived and in 2014 he packed his bags for Paris and, bar one start against Italy at fullback that year, his last, Goosen perished from memory.
That was until his current mesmerising season with European Champions Cup finalists Racing Metro, who face Saracens at the Grande Stade de Lyon on Saturday.
“I don’t think I had a good time with the Springboks the first time around,” said Goosen. “I was never really 100%. “In my first test against Australia in Perth I had just recovered from a shoulder injury and only played eight minutes.
“In the following test in Dunedin against the All Blacks I was fine and played well off the bench.
“After that I was always injured when I was with the Boks, which was really sad.
“In my last test against Italy I was all right but not that good. It was a solid game but it was difficult to play 15 at that stage and I was slow.
“At the moment, though, I’m in the best form and best shape of my life. Hopefully, if I’m lucky enough, I’ll get a chance to play for the Boks again and use the chance really well.”
Four years on and it’s like the restart button has been pressed. Pollard is out injured for the rest of the season and Goosen will be competing with Lions star Elton Jantjies, who's had a stellar season, and Patrick Lambie, when he’s fit, for the Ireland incoming tour.
Springbok coach Allister Coetzee was given licence to pick overseasbased players and he mentioned Goosen’s name when quizzed about a flyhalf shortage.
And although he moved overseas at the tender age of 21, Goosen’s never turned his back on South Africa.
“I’m available. I’ve always been,” he said.
“It’s still a big dream of mine to play for the Boks and I’m working hard towards that.
“I would love to play at flyhalf for my country again but there are a lot of good young flyhalfs in the country.
“Elton is playing really well at the moment and I’m happy for him — he’s had bad luck in the past. The Stormers alone have three really good young flyhalves, so it’s looking good for the future.
“And I’m happy Allister is the coach, I rate him as a really good coach.”
Playing in France has been a sabbatical from the pressures of being a South African rugby child star. Goosen struggled in his first season — moving from Bloemfontein to Paris can’t be easy for anyone — but this year he’s played almost every game for Racing Metro.
All Black great Dan Carter’s arrival meant the No 10 jumper was spoken for, which pushed Goosen to the unlikely outside-centre position.
“My first season was bad for me,” he admitted.
“I struggled with the language. But the second has been very good.
“Last year I didn't play a lot but at least I’ve been playing this year, even if it has meant switching from 15 to 10, wing and then 13.
“If Dan Carter is in the squad he’s always gonna be the 10 but outside centre has been nice on attack, although on defence it’s still quite difficult for me. I’m enjoying it, though, and the space it offers out wide on attack and I’m learning a lot from Dan every week.
“I find that my overall game has improved a lot. I understand more of the game now and when I play at flyhalf I’ll have insight into what the outside centre or the outside backs will do on defence and attack.”
At the moment I’m in the best form and best shape of my life. Hopefully, if I’m lucky enough, I’ll get a chance to play for the Boks again Elton is playing well at the moment and I’m happy for him — he’s had bad luck in the past. The Stormers have three really good young flyhalves