Robbie rates Boks
26 Sep 2007
Crusaders coach Robbie Deans believes the Boks are the only team that can stop the All Blacks winning the World Cup.
Deans, writing in the French Rugby Hebdo paper, praised John Smit and Jake White and said the Boks and All Blacks were the only two realistic contenders.
“There are about eight or 10 contenders who are trying to convince themselves they can win the World Cup. But there are only two who know they really can win it: New Zealand and South Africa.”
Deans sees White’s Springboks as the squad most likely to crash the All Blacks World Cup party.
“I am sure they (New Zealand) have the potential to play at a higher degree of intensity no matter who their adversaries are, except perhaps for South Africa,” wrote Deans. “There are three reasons the Boks can win this World Cup. The first is historic. And it is not only because the core of the squad is from the Under-21 side, coached by a certain Jake White, that became [Under-21] world champions in 2002 by dominating the final against a New Zealand team that included five players who are here in France, including Daniel Carter.”
Carter actually did not play and the Boks beat NZ in a semi-final 19-18. Nevertheless, Deans continued.
“These Boks have since notched up some considerable success, like the Tri Nations victory in 2004 or that of the South African sides in this year’s Super 14.
“White has at his disposal a mature squad that prides itself on considerable confidence, which is based as much on their performances as the depth of their bench, which has been markedly superior to whatever his predecessors had.”
Deans also believes the Springboks will head into the quarter-finals realising that for a number of them, this could represent a fairytale end to their careers. “Victory could be the culmination of some of their careers, for players like John Smit or Victor Matfield … not to mention [coach] White,” Deans wrote.
He added that while the Springboks have maintained their physical prowess, White has introduced a broader mindset to the squad.
“South African teams always fall back on their physical prowess and a mentality that is unfailing, but White has added certain mental flexibility,” he said.
Deans also pointed to the pride South African players have in wearing the Springboks jersey and the leadership of Smit as being pivotal, as well as Smit’s calmness under pressure.
“Smit is not only a respected captain. He is also a man who can keep his emotions buried deep inside when faced with the pressure moments,” he said.
278 Comments
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26 Sep 2007, 09:59 am
98
No
you failed
Just use common sense…you will work it out!!!
26 Sep 2007, 09:59 am
Maar die bloubulle kan nog steeds nie verstaan hoekom Gary Botha nie in die span is nie ☺
26 Sep 2007, 10:00 am
Yeah, with that advise, I’m out: like Aus in the Semis. Chat to you guys later
26 Sep 2007, 10:00 am
theaardvark
That is quite possibly the worst news I have ever heard in my life.
26 Sep 2007, 10:01 am
great compliment from a great coach.
still i think both Oz and France also have very good squads who can quite easily cause an upset. Nz v Oz and Fr v SA are both semis that can quite easily go either way.
26 Sep 2007, 10:02 am
And its true as well
26 Sep 2007, 10:03 am
kerneels #100
I think they should get Tiaan Strauss to play the part.
26 Sep 2007, 10:05 am
matt damon will have to gain about a foot in height to play pienaar, he makes a convincing Jason Bourne, but Pienaar I am not sure.
26 Sep 2007, 10:06 am
104 – They interviewed Joel Stransky about it but failed to ask him, who he would like to play him.
26 Sep 2007, 10:10 am
Cab, Your forgetting that it very well might be the Argies we’re up against in the semi.
26 Sep 2007, 10:12 am
Anvil 79
We don’t need to win the world cup to see that we have the right coach and captain in place. Simply the fact that we have been playing the way we have been and that the opposition are rating us as the major threat in this world cup is enough to prove that. We are going to reach the final, of that there is no doubt, then on the day the team that wants it most will win it. There is nothing between the All Blacks and the boks at the moment and either team could win. Jake has already proven that he is the best coach in SA. Rugby coaches, writers and commentators around the globe agree on that. If he were to look for a job now he would be snapped up in seconds. Why should the team have to win the cup to prove that? Does that mean that the 95 all blacks had wrong coach and captain because they didn’t win the cup? If all of the ridiculous blatherings on this site had been made into reality over the last year our captain would be Luke Watson, hooker would be Schalk Brits, coach would be Rassie or Heyneke and we would probably be lucky to reach the quarters. I just find it sad that we can’t support our coach and captain until after they have won. This means that they will have had a couple of weeks full support from their country after four years on the job. The last three years have seen them slated on this site being called derogatory names such as Barney and Joke White and numerous calls for them to be replaced. Try and find a Kiwi who doesn’t think the sun shines out of Graham Henry or Richie poster boy. That is why they are so strong guys, they have a nation behind them. Can you imagine being John Smit and reading this site before going on for a game, would you feel like giving your all for a bunch of “fans” who behave like a group of adolescent girls at a tupperware party?
26 Sep 2007, 10:20 am
cab, do you think irelend are going to beat argentina,
26 Sep 2007, 10:22 am
if john smit has the time to read this before any game we are in trouble
26 Sep 2007, 10:24 am
109 – Probably Ben Stiller.
26 Sep 2007, 10:24 am
Anvil,
yip true.
surreyshark,
tough one, i’d say yes, but ireland have been poor and the argies are looking good, if their defense holds they could get the bonus point which ensure they go through even if they lose.
what u reckon?
26 Sep 2007, 10:26 am
Realistically we all know we can beat NZ – but the fact we havent achieved parity is, well, a fact. It will be a remarkable achievement indeed, if we were to suddenly beat them when it counts.
History would again be repeating itself. But we all know we cannot rely on history – has a way of deceiving you when you least expect it. If anyone out there is relying on NZ to choke, you are on very thin ice. It will be far more satisfying, to me at leat, if NZ played the game of their lives, as did SA. Under such a mindset the game itself takes rightful ascendency over who wins it. The fact your or my team must win is an extra bonus, not, IMHO, the whole point.
26 Sep 2007, 10:32 am
For all the Bok fans getting all carried away again could I suggest that the French victory against a settled and cohesive Irish side was a bigger achievement than the Boks win against a unsettled, in-experienced, average Currie Cup side outfit posing as England
You might need to carefully consider this fact before getting carried away about reaching the finals as if its some sort of right
26 Sep 2007, 10:35 am
117 – Just because you’ve had to deal with the reality of not seeing the finals, doesn’t mean we have to. We’re still in with a bloody good shout, remember.
26 Sep 2007, 10:39 am
117 you should be worried about the Australians , me thinks.
26 Sep 2007, 10:41 am
117
The English were poor, but we made them look worse. Disregarding their quality, what really matters is that the Boks played a clinical and technically correct game. Any team watching that display would feel nervous about facing the Boks playing the way they did when they beat England.
Reaching the finals will take more of the same sort of rugby, but at least we know that we have it in us. Wales shouldn’t pose any real threat to us, but France/Argentina playing at their best will stretch us hard. Experience in our Bok team is what will help us to overcome that threat.
Should we compete in the final, which is likely, that experience will prove crucial. We really can win this world cup. It is the most realistic chance we have of taking it and our odds should be better than 95, where homeground advantage and passion carried the day.
26 Sep 2007, 10:41 am
let hope the Pumas end no.1 in their pool. then the french will take out all blacks. if AB’s beat frogs then they’ll face the aussies. aussies the most intelligent team.
26 Sep 2007, 10:43 am
mako, spot on, except i think we will need our best XV to stand a chance of upsetting the ABs, i.e no more injuries and no more citings, which seems unlikely.
26 Sep 2007, 10:43 am
it’s one thing knowing you can beat the AB’s. it’s another to actually do it! french wont lose a game again in this WC!
26 Sep 2007, 10:44 am
France have no chance against the ABs. some sides are easier for certain sides and the ABs well and truly have ground France into the dirt recently.
26 Sep 2007, 10:44 am
The Bok’ss seem to be the only top team that is not relying on imported players in their squad. Montgomery is the only one and I am sure he or his parents did not come to SA for him to play rugby. The Argentinians are also a home team with one borne outside. All the rest have lots of imports.
And there are several SA borne players in that lot.
Just an interesting fact I found looking at the squads
26 Sep 2007, 10:51 am
Mako,
If NZ dare go back homw without the Cup,then I would fear for Poster boy’s and Headmasters life.
Ja,Jake has done a good job despite the circus has to work in.Getting Eddie Moans was also a masterstroke.Hope it will all payoff when it matters.
But in reallity JW’s stint will end after the WC and only a win will keep him in the hunt for another term.
B
26 Sep 2007, 10:53 am
ESEA
Ever heard of the “global village” or the do you live in SA where news travels a little slower – either that or the comprehension, understanding of news is slower in SA
26 Sep 2007, 10:58 am
127 – Yes, I have. You’re its idiot, aren’t you?
26 Sep 2007, 11:04 am
am still praying the frogs **** the ABs in the quarters.
getting sick of hearing every day about the Abs that and the Abs that. Media is saturated with AB crappy stories.
no ones even considering the scenario if the french win.
“four more years Byron suck on that”
26 Sep 2007, 11:04 am
128 # Katman – very funny!
26 Sep 2007, 11:08 am
Well, if Deans says so, who am I to argue?
The man won like what? 6 Super14 titles?
Compare that with my glowing reputation as fanatical fanaticly fanatic fan and you have New Zealand vs Portugal all over again.
26 Sep 2007, 11:11 am
128 thanks katman 127 seems to talk before he far..s (Oops type O) speaks.
I for one are very much part of the “global village†borne in the UK and moved to SA at 11 months, started traveling the world at 20 years (that was some time back)and have settled in France. I am none the less a avid BOK supporter
26 Sep 2007, 11:12 am
I don’t buy into this whole Global Village thing…
If the world is a global village, then each country must be a suburb or a district….
I’m just worried that the US is Sandton, Europe is Hyde park and Africa is somewhere between Brakpan and Alexandra.
26 Sep 2007, 11:13 am
#132
I are too.
26 Sep 2007, 11:19 am
125.
seems like the Aussies are one of very few teams not relying on imported coaches
seems that we are exporting the quality to improve the lots of nations who are unable to do reach a higher standard with their own resources
26 Sep 2007, 11:25 am
cab. the all blacks nailed the froggs in 1999 before the WC by 40 aswell & we all know [except you] that games before the WC have no bearings on the WC.
26 Sep 2007, 11:26 am
“hey guys…..a weird question…but what religion is schalk and bakkies?”
I know Bakkies is a devout Christian, always see him praying on the field. I wonder what he prays for? Perhaps for the power to beat the **** out of any opposition member that comes near him?
26 Sep 2007, 11:28 am
fair enough long drop, yip suppose it might happen, guess you’d be putting a bet down on the frogs then?
26 Sep 2007, 11:29 am
I’m sure he prays for calmness and self-controll.
26 Sep 2007, 11:29 am
I already have $30 on the french at 13-1
26 Sep 2007, 11:31 am
Just a question, how many members of the Wallabie squad were not born in Aus?
26 Sep 2007, 11:31 am
right, cant argue with that, put your money where your mouth is, nice one.
PS: why you stopped advertising your website, used to do it every 2nd post or so?
26 Sep 2007, 11:31 am
Everyone get post 135 – you understand it ?
comprehendo ??
now shut up until you are capable of doing it on your own, without imported help from Australia
Louden, Campo, Jones – u ladies get it yet ?
26 Sep 2007, 11:31 am
#137 Bakkies a christian, you right. go and listen to Bakkies interview. click on my username[below] and follow link to interviews. don’t know about Schalk but knows he only drinks Castle!
26 Sep 2007, 11:32 am
133 – To be honest, I’d rather be the East Rand than Parklands, which is Australia in this analogy.
26 Sep 2007, 11:34 am
cab just click on my username. also have $20 on the Boks at 6-1. need the money!
26 Sep 2007, 11:35 am
lol…it sounds like it.
26 Sep 2007, 11:35 am
141.
who cares – only some inbred, inward looking, lager mentality, Bok supporters
26 Sep 2007, 11:37 am
I’ve got $100 NZ on the frogs..should be a nice return
cannot imagine what NZ will be like if the ABs
lose..
26 Sep 2007, 11:37 am
#141 tiquiri and Paulo born in Fiji? Vickerman -SA.
Gregan-Zambia
not sure of any more in WC squad
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