Stand Up Magazine - Issue 38 - Ulster Rugby Supporters' Club

How his family has settled in? It was easy convincing my wife to come as she is very good friends with Weihahn’s wife and Louis’ wife (Weihahn Herbst & Louis Ludik) from back home when we played at the Sharks. When I mentioned the chance to come to Ulster, the first thing she asked was, “is that were Denise and Chame are?” and she immediately said she was happy to come. Family is doing very well and really enjoying it, but my boy just can’t understand why he has to wear shoes all the time but he’ll quickly realise when the winter sets in. [That’s twice Jean!] His preferred position? I prefer to play 6 – that’s the position I’ve played the most back home (in S.A that’s a 7 – we’re the other way round there) but I’m comfortable at 7 as well. I have also played a bit at 8 so I’m comfortable at all three. Given the choice I’d rather play 6. I’m still pretty new to Ulster Rugby though so at the moment I just want to get on the park and play 6, 7 or 8. When I was first at Munster I didn’t think I would enjoy the Pro 12 (as it was) as much as I did, but now I just want more of it and if it’s going to be at 6, 7 or 8, I just can’t wait. His opinion, on Ulster’s squad and ability to win matches? I really do think we have a great mix of players – forwards and backs. From personal experience it’s not fun when you pull your head out of a scrum and you have to run backwards because the backs didn’t give you forward momentum. We do have great backs, so if they can give us forward momentum off set-piece, I’ll do my best off 2nd or 3rd phase. I’m very excited about this season. We do have a good mix and not just in loose forwards, but also in youth and experience in props and locks, so when you add in the experience and plans of Jono (Gibbes), I think Ulster will find it easier to attack this year. His aims and ambitions with Ulster? I have been giving this some thought, and being in my first season, I just want to find my feet in the team and get the respect of the guys. You respect each other as people, but where you get the respect as a player, is on the field. For me, for the first part of the season is to go out there and earn the respect of the guys, the fans and everybody at the club. I’m gonna take it a little bit at a time.

His experiences in Japan and Ireland I must say that the last 6 months for such a short space of time has been one of the highlights of my career. We’ve been to Japan (with Toyota Verbltz) but that was a very difficult period for me and my family, with the language barrier. You have to have a translator everywhere you go, but the last 6 months at Munster and Ulster has been so easy because everyone speaks English and it’s easy to be yourself, it’s easy to go to the shops, to order a coffee, and communicate with people. In a different culture with a different language, it’s harder to be yourself. It was difficult too for my wife and family – I got support but she couldn’t go to the shops because no one understood her. I’m looking forward to the next years of my life, my family is happy and I’m in a good space. Braai, Ulster Fry, or Sushi? Braai – definitely [we’ll ask again in a year or two, to see if you can learn the right answer by then] Most satisfaction from; a big carry, a bone-crunching tackle, a turn-over, scoring a try, or a team win? Definitely a team win. For me winning is everything. I can’t even lose a board game to my wife – that’s why we don’t even own one board game at home. Winning is everything to me and I’ll fight as hard as I can to win whether that’s a rugby game, a card game or whatever it is. I enjoy carrying the ball, I enjoy smashing into people. There aren’t a lot of jobs that you get to run into people and smash each other on the weekend and next day just go back to normal. I really enjoy that physical part of the game but winning is the goal. always said that some time before I’m done, I need to drop a goal, so let me find my feet here first, but possibly in the next year or two, I’ll maybe do a drop goal. Did you not do that at Sharks? [still laughing] I tried, but I missed! Jean I suspect that the respect you want is already earned. We look forward to seeing your physicality, week-in, week-out. We hope you get the wins that mean so much to you (and us), and we can’t wait to see you dropping a goal for Ulster. Thanks for your time in speaking to the supporters’ club through Stand Up. Most of all though, we wish you and your family well, for however long you are with us. Kicking aspirations? (Can he play 10?) [Jean laughs almost hysterically] I

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