World Cup curse of crashing Kiwis
Get used to it New Zealand. Come October there will be another heartache semi-final exit as yet another of New Zealand’s national teams implodes.
The Black Caps were smashed in their last three matches at the Cricket World Cup and the manner of defeat against Sri Lanka reminded me so much of the All Blacks last two rugby semi-final exits.
The Black Caps couldn’t cope with the pressure of the occasion. Their fielding was ordinary, their bowling indifferent and their batting exposed as brittle. The New Zealand batting, so powerful in the early part of the tournament, folded with the weight of expectation. It surely is a sign of things to come with the All Blacks.
Cape Town, in 2005, and Rustenburg, in 2006, were evidence enough to know that the All Blacks are more than capable of that one horror match a year. And to lose the World Cup all they need to do is be true to form and produce that shocking 80 minutes against the Springboks.
Already their management are talking up the brutality of the Springboks. Already there is doubt within the All Blacks camp. Influential members of the All Blacks keep on reminding the public that victory at this year’s World Cup is not a done deal and that South Africa, in particular, pose a real threat.
It is as if they are preparing their public for the worst and the Springboks in Jake White’s squad know the only team the All Blacks fear physically are the boys in green. There is a disregard in New Zealand for the challenge of England, Wales and even Ireland. The New Zealanders simply believe they can’t lose to those players. There is a respect for Australia and France, only because the two have done New Zealand in the World Cup at the last two semi-final appearances.
But there is genuine fear that the Springboks will be physically too potent in a one-off situation. And it is a fear the Boks can already smell.
It is interesting how many of the current Bok squad have privately noted how much respect the Boks are being given in New Zealand. As some have said, it is as if New Zealand are already talking themselves into defeat.
White has the squad to beat the All Blacks, but his job will be all that easier if the All Blacks have already beaten themselves before kick-off.
I loved watching the Black Caps getting smashed. A World Cup semi-final implosion. Get used to it New Zealanders. This one is minor to what’s coming in October in Paris.
April 25th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
I KNEW IT. CHCH wants us all to emigrate to NZ! So they can harness our rugby talents.
What? finished plundering the islands rugby talents?
So how good is your medical facilities
April 25th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
136 TigerShark: If you read what I said you would see that I agree with your statement, but if we talk about the economy growth, initially your statement would be correct, but integrate HIV/Aids, Gini coefficient (One of the highest in the world, and relate it back to growth and inflation and then tell me that all is good.
Back to Rugby, I would love to see SA win the CWC and RWC.
April 25th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
A KIRBY is a good vacuum cleaner
April 25th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Nothing sux like ElectroLux
April 25th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
151 Exactly Erfplaas. We breed they utilise the Rugby talents.
April 25th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
or my ex girlfriend LOL
April 25th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
#146.. You’de be suprised mate, I’m sooo not that way! I think you’ve gotten used to chatting to people that agree with this drivel in this blog. I love white people. I also have white friends , you !know
April 25th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Actually we had this girl at school with the nickname ElectroLux. good times
April 25th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
139 Saffa Guy… spot on.
Preventing transformation has to be the most stupid thing I have ever heard.
The rest of the world is looking for new markets to sell products and “grow their brands” and we in a rugby sense want to exclude new markets, make our brands smaller, earn less money and prevent ourselves from finding any potential superstars that might exist in the greater population.
Are we in fact saying that white players need to be protected from transformation as we are afraid that they wont be able to compete in an open market?
April 25th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
147 Carla,
What is a ‘white’ exactly? Pakeha is not a race
April 25th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Only SA and Aus can still make it a double this year.
I think for a while Aus were both cricket and WC holders, right?
France had a chance of doing the double after they won the SoccerWC, but then fluffed it against the Aussies in the final.
Has any other country ever held 2 of the Big Three?
April 25th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
CarlyJane,
My dear, I’m attacking, not defending.
April 25th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
#152 . Show me a place in the world where all is good? Lets not put unreasonably high expactations.
April 25th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Erfplaas because she was good at domestic chores ?
April 25th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
151 Erfplaas,
Please join the Tackler exchange program
April 25th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Some the glass as half full, some see it as half empty and others as half empty & leaking like a sieve
April 25th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
#160 C’Jane is still caught in her own racist past, she has these “freudian slips” all to frequently, that’s why she’s projecting her own racism on to me.
April 25th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Oops, missed the word “see the glass”
April 25th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
158 The brand doesn’t matter as long as it’s a “wet ‘n dry”
April 25th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Cheers people! Saffa Guy and Tigershark, RespeK! with a capital letter K. I like your level headedness! as for everyone Cheers and hope SA wins!
April 25th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
#164 She was the best or so Ive heard
#165 Mkay But i need my daily dosis of crime. Nothing gets the the adrenaline flowing like a bit of crime early in the morning. Ive saved lots and lots for not having to drink coffee.
April 25th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
So South African rugby has the following issues..
- transformation
- money
- coaching
- emmigration
- AIDs
- deforestation
April 25th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
16,
Cheers! Enjoy
April 25th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Never took Tac for a racist just thought he was pro Bulls but today I change my mind.
April 25th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
chch
A character defining statement there mate. You sound like an ex pat.
April 25th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
chch wished he had some brute saffa expat blood in him
April 25th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
And I thought this was a cricket thread….
April 25th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Hello wpf!
April 25th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
176 Erfplaas,
i thought i listed AIDS
April 25th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
SA won the toss and elected to bat….. Dis nou of nooit!!
April 25th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
I have to go now. Always interesting to read the great South African debates. I can not really contribute (as you can tell)
Erfplaas, I am an expat … just not a saffa expat
Good luck to you all in the Cricket (happy Vitamins?) …. beat those Aussies
April 25th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Cheers chch
Catch you later.
April 25th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
LOL! In that case the world would be a better place if you had some
April 25th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
HOYAAAAAAAAA keo wit a pyp!!!!!spot on mate
April 25th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
161. Big Three? Doing the double? Don’t fool yourself. Every sporting event these days claim they are the biggest. Sure, the CWC and the RWC is the pinnacle of their respective sports, but let’s be honest, 95% in South or North America or Asia don’t know that the Cricket World cup is in progress. These two events have so many meaningless qualifying games, its only the semis and finals that makes any real sense. Big deal.
The Americans believe the Super bowl is the biggest event (100 million people watch it), but its boring and totally uninspiring due to the constant commercial breaks. In Europe some believe nothing is bigger than the Tour de France. There are only two big events: FIFA Soccer world cup and the Olympics Track and field.
Tennis may be the 3rd biggest event. I bet you more people in the world can tell you who the current Wimbledom mens champion is than tell you who the Cricket or the rugby world champions are.
April 25th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Lol, surely you Saffas dont believe this bullshit?
April 25th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
186. You have to agree anything is possible. There is a lot of sunshine in SA, but so little brightness. So anything that shines, like the Webb Ellis trophy, is a big hope and dreams are free.
April 25th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Well, Cricket is not rugby.
April 25th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Soccer world cup is the best tournament of all because one of 16 teams could win it.
Not like the RWC where it is australia and the other competitors such as england, NZ and SA.
April 25th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
We are fucked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 25th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
That could be an understatement.
April 25th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Does anyone hear that sound….
it’s the sound of South African cricketers choking at the sight of Australia in a cricket semi final…
If you make 100 at this rate you’ll be doing well!
Keo, if yesterdays performance by the Black Caps is a pre-cursor to what is to befall the All Blacks in October, what does today’s performance tell us about te Boks chances?
You wade in a tad bit early, no?
April 25th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Well done Keo. You succsessfully perpetuate the impression that South Africans are arrogant and generally shoot their mouths off – all by yourself. Keep going mate…South Africa would do well to get to 75 at this rate.
April 25th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
I’m not really revelling in the fact that Australia are ripping the Protea’s a new one. I would have liked to have seen a competitive game and the Australians beaten if i’m honest.
They have proven themselves to be the standout team in world cricket, just like the All Blacks have done in the game of rugby. Both have suffered the odd loss (with Oz cricket losing more than the ABs in the last 3 years), but both are consistently the best, and on their day the best teams in the world.
To espouse the rubbish in this article and to give it credence is not only petty, but insulting to the pre-eminent rugby team of the moment. Keo’s article sounds more like someone trying to find scraps of proof that the ABs are beatable somehow rather than the reasoned analysis of someone knowing where and why they can be beaten. Who exactly is showing the fear here?
The Boks can beat the ABs. Fact.
For the Boks to beat the ABs, they will have to beat several other leading nations in the RWC beforehand, something they have consistently failed to do in the last few years under Jake White. Fact.
The ABs may well be wary of the Boks above all others, but the likelihood of the two meeting is pretty low due to the previous point above.
When journalists like Keo write **** like what is in this article, karma always finds a way to restore balance.
Keo, lay off the hyperbole will you and call it the way it is, rather than the way you dreamed last night.
April 25th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Stodders as per usual, Keo is a tad early!
April 25th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
SA lei aan terminale Malinga koors.
So, die patete het besluit om eerder ‘n week vroeer huis toe te kom as om die onvermydelike vir nog ‘n week uit te stel. Fnokken pateties.
April 25th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Seems to me that both Keo and G Smith are suffering from a serious case of “foot in mouth” disease!
April 25th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
lol Keo, a humdinger of note…fine effort.
April 25th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
I fear it is time to leave the office and torture myself at the pub as I watch the Proteas struggle to 215 all out!
Cheers all. Have a gr8 evening / morning depending on where you are.
April 25th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
200 Dragons!