A Springbok's lucky break in a life of pain

By WYNNE GRAY in WELLINGTON

An English pronunciation of his surname describes a large part of Werner Greeff's life.

In his 25 years he has suffered almost unbearable tragedy, the pendulum just moving his way this season as he made his Springbok debut.

But it is a small counterpoint to the heartbreaks that have dogged him since his childhood.

When Greeff was young, his father deserted him, his mother and his sister.

Then the grandparents who helped to raise the children died.

An incurable disease claimed the life of Greeff's teenage sister, and his girlfriend was killed in an accident.

Last year, his best friend, former Stormers fullback Robert Markram, was killed in a car crash.

Somehow through these ordeals Greeff has made it to the top. He is almost anaesthetised by the struggles, as he explained this week.

"You learn how to deal with your misfortunes, which is why I am not that emotional. It's not how many times you get knocked down, it's how many times you get up.

"I've learned that it's no use feeling sorry for yourself and there's no point in looking for other people to pick you up - you've got to do it for yourself."

In three seasons with Western Province and the Stormers, Greeff has made his point with form which persuaded new Bok coach Rudolf Straeuli to use him when Percy Montgomery flew the fullback coop.

For once, Greeff got some assistance. Injuries and fate worked in his favour when Stormers first five- eighths Chris Rossouw was ruled out of the Super 12 with injury and Greeff did the business.

He earned a national trial, at which he did not distinguish himself.

But when Ricardo Loubscher was hurt, Greeff made the Springbok bench, and when Brent Russell strained a hamstring, Greeff was picked as fullback against Argentina. He delivered, was retained for the test against Samoa and repeated his impressive style.

"He is a great talent, perhaps the find of the season," Springbok captain Corne Krige said.

"He is just a very good ball player - he is great at table tennis, pool and plays off scratch at golf. He has a very strong mind, he has had a tough life and does not get fazed by pressure."

Those elements convinced Straeuli to retain him for today's test against the All Blacks in Wellington.

It is a big leap for a young man who has carried the tag of utility back, a description underpinned by his time at Western Province, where he has played every backline position except halfback.

"I played flyhalf at school, but I don't have a favourite position and I don't see myself as a jack of all trades. I see myself as a specialist in all positions," he said.

"It means I know what each position requires and how to help the players around me, and I really don't mind if I move around the backline."

Tonight, he will face a serious inquisition from the All Blacks, especially from Andrew Mehrtens, who knows better than most how to manouevre raw fullbacks round the field with his probing kicking game.

Straeuli has no problem picking all his new backs such as Greeff, Andre Pretorius and Johannes Conradie for this test.

"All have come on well in the Super 12," he said. "They are all youngsters, but they have plenty of experience and I believe in them."

Endorsement for Straeuli's confidence in Greeff came from All Blacks coach John Mitchell, who noted that he had good length on his kick, was not afraid to counter-attack and fitted the modern criteria for a fullback.

He could also come into the line as first receiver or on defence, and looked to be a player of international quality.