How 'Slaptjips' made Paige a Bok

Pieter Rossouw, known as one of the most intuitive Springboks during his playing days, is now showing an equally uncanny ability to turn rough diamonds into shining gems.

Rudy Paige, who joined up with the South African team in Cardiff on Sunday ahead of their match with Wales this coming Saturday, praised Rossouw for the "hard work done behind the scenes" to get the scrumhalf up to international standards.

Rossouw, known as ‘Slaptjips' because of his gangling running style, has often been underrated as a backline mentor since having joined the Bulls coaching staff in 2008.

However, Paige said it was Rossouw who helped him with improving the weaknesses in his game.

The "very excited" 25-year-old former SA Schools and SA Under-20 player said that while he has "some hope" of game time at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, there were no guarantees.

"I just want to join up with the group and see how things are done," he told rugby365 in an interview ahead of his departure.

He added that he will probably have a word with Bok coach Heyneke Meyer on Monday.

He previously worked with Meyer at the Boks' pre-tour training camp in Stellenbosch, but his call-up was still unexpected.

"It has been a tough year for us at the Bulls, but it is nice to get a reward like this at the end of the year," he said.

Asked what aspects of his game most improved this year, he said the "basics" and "particularly my kicking game, improved a lot".

Then he also reduced his error rate.

"Coach 'Slaptjips' [Rossouw] helped me, with the work we put in behind the scenes - through video sessions and extra work at training.

"[We worked on] the basics of what a scrumhalf needs to do."

He also felt that while some people may see it as "boring", the structured game of the Bulls will help him slot in with the Boks.

"I feel I'm in the right place and with the way we play at the Bulls," adding that the speed of his service at the breakdown will help add tempo to the game.

Paige played for the SWD Eagles at various youth tournaments, but moved to the Golden Lions in 2007. He was included in a senior squad for the first time when he was named in the 2010 Lions Vodacom Cup squad. After just 12 appearances for the Golden Lions, he joined the Blue Bulls at the start of the 2012 Currie Cup season.

He captained the SA Schools side in 2007 and took part in the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship for the South Africa Under-20 team. He also played Varsity Cup for the University of Johannesburg in 2011 and 2012.

By Jan de Koning

@King365ed

@rugby365com