One of the highlights of South Africa’s passage through to the quarter finals of Rugby World Cup 2003 has been the emergence of young fly half Derick Hougaard, a player who arrived in Australia without any senior caps to his name.
Hougaard now has four caps, having made his international debut as a replacement for the final 20 minutes of the Springboks’ opening Pool C game against Uruguay at Perth’s Subiaco Oval on 11 October.
The 20 year old appeared for the final 20 minutes against England, made his first start against Tournament debutants Georgia and was then preferred to Louis Koen by coach Rudolf Straeuli for South Africa’s must win game with Samoa in Brisbane.
Hougaard, playing with maturity that belies his tender age, produced a performance that showed why he has been earmarked as the natural successor to previous Springbok fly half greats in Naas Botha and Joel Stransky back home.
'Full house' club
His tactical kicking repeatedly turned Samoa and his accuracy with the boot saw Hougaard become the third player at Rugby World Cup 2003 to score a ‘full house’ as South Africa convincingly beat the Pacific Islanders 60-10 yesterday in Brisbane.
In fact Hougaard, following the ‘full house’ footsteps of Andrew Miller of Japan and France’s Frédéric Michalak, had scored 21 points with a try, five conversions, a penalty and a drop goal by the time Koen replaced him with 10 minutes remaining.
The talented playmaker was only 19 when he inspired the Blue Bulls to Currie Cup success against the Lions in October 2002 with a record haul of 26 points in their 31-7 victory at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
Hougaard’s 26 point haul broke the previous Currie Cup final record of 24 points posted by both Botha and Braam van Straaten and resulted in the South African media naming him as a very good fly half for the Springboks in the near future.
This label was given further credence with Hougaard’s performances in the IRB U21 World Cup in England, where South Africa finished fourth, providing the springboard for the young fly half to take his place in the senior squad for Rugby World Cup 2003.
Future promise
However now comes the next challenge for Hougaard, who started alongside his Blue Bulls half back partner Joost van der Westhuizen against Samoa, with South Africa likely to face New Zealand in the quarter finals in Melbourne next Saturday.
For Hougaard will want to retain the fly half jersey and showcase his talents on the biggest stage, not to mention maintaining his position as the leading Springboks point scorer at this Tournament with 39 points, 19 more than Koen.
Only time will tell, but South Africa appear to have unearthed a player capable of wearing the Springbok jersey for many years to come and one who, as the old adage says, can surely only improve with age.