Spies not willing to just 'hang back'

Pierre Spies still has  a "burning desire" to play for the Springboks, that is why is also why he has 'evolved' his own game.

The Bulls captain, speaking to rugby365 ahead of his team's trip to Newlands on Saturday, said he is just happy to be playing again - after more than 18 months on the sideline with successive bicep injuries.

And on Saturday he will come face-to-face with the man who now has a strong hold on the Bok No.8 jersey Spies once wore so proudly.

Spies readily admits that Stormers captain Duane Vermeulen deserves to be the holder of that jersey, but also makes it clear he feels he can make a contribution to the Bok cause.

"I have plenty of Springbok ambitions and I feel I can make a big contribution to the Bok team," the Bulls No.8 said.

"No doubt Duane [Vermeulen] has done very well the last couple of years and used his opportunity very well," Spies said, adding: "It doesn't matter where I play, but I do believe I can contribute and make a difference to the Boks.

"The most important is to have that passion to play at international level and I do have  that desire."

Spies said that while a large group of players had a get-together earlier this year, he has not spoken to the Bok coach, Heyneke Meyer, about his own position.

The No.8 will be working hard on his own game and expects to have clarity on his possible involvement in the national team closer to the World Cup tournament - which takes place in England in September and October.

Spies, who missed the 2007 World Cup winning campaign because of blood clots on his lungs, said he is happy to be over the most recent of his injury setbacks - he suffered major bicep injuries in 2013 (out for six months) ad 2014 (out for the entire year).

"It is great just to play and enjoy my rugby again," Spies told rugby365, adding: "To be sidelined for so long is a challenge on its own."

He admitted he is playing a much tighter game than the free-roaming approach he had two years ago.

"The game has changed and you have to adjust," he said, adding: "Defence has become so tight that the opportunities from broken play and space in broken play have become less.

"I am working hard on those aspects of my game, focusing on being involved more at the breakdown. I want to play a better all-round game."

He said the big challenge is to improve consistently.

The biggest improvement has been Spies' high tackle count - he has been averaging 14 tackles a game in recent weeks.

He puts that down to "the shape of the game" the Bulls play.

"However, it is important to have a high work ethic.

"The days of a No.8 hanging back all the time and waiting for kicks is over."

Asked about the setbacks of the last two years, Spies said when you sit on the sidelines for a year-and-a-half then you see things from a different perspective.

"You appreciate the game more and my priorities have changed.

"I appreciate the privilege to just be able to play. You go through tough times sitting on the sidelines.

"I enjoy the challenge of trying to improve myself every week."

By Jan de Koning

@rugby365com