White’s Bok woes

12 Nov 2007

Here is the full transcript of Jake White’s interview with Carte Blanche last night.

It was the match that millions gathered to watch, it was the match that every player in the Springbok squad had played their hearts out to be in, and it was the match [the final] that coach Jake White had dreamed about for 17 years.

Jake White (Springbok Coach): “We wanted to play on the Tuesday. We were so ready to play. That whole week dragged and dragged and then the 78 minutes flew by. I realised that is it. They can’t score twice. They had to score nine points and I realised that physically they couldn’t run the length of the field and back again in two minutes. I realised that we had won the World Cup. The amazing thing was that in those two minutes I thanked the coaches, I thanked the reserves, thanked the non-paying reserves, thanked the security guards, I had time to walk down the stands and get to the field. It was almost like that went in slow motion.”

Jake and the team came back with the most coveted trophy in rugby.

Euphoric South Africans hailed the sporting heroes. Eleven days later while everyone in country was still basking in the glory, Jake held a press conference to tell the world that he was quitting.

[Press Conference] Jake: “I walk away with no regrets but with plenty of sadness.”

A visibly upset Jake told the world that he had not been given the option of renewing his contract as Bok coach.

[Press Conference] Jake: “I’m not surprised because there is no history of loyalty and trust in South African Rugby.”

South African Rugby accused him of playing the victim, claiming he had missed the deadline. His job was advertised while Jake was at the World Cup. The deadline was the 19 October – the day before the Final.

Jake: “One of the things that I always realised in this job is that you are going to get fired, that’s inevitable.”

Jake has had a roller coaster ride as the Springbok Coach and now he has written a book about his rocky relationship with the SA Rugby Union.

Jake: “When I heard BA 643 to London and then to Paris, and I got on that plane and I was on my way to the World Cup, it was probably the first time I realised that I had survived. I never knew what to expect, Derek.”

He has faced accusations of racism, been threatened with dismissal a number of times, his coaching decisions questioned and he even faced attempted blackmail. It all started at the end of 2003 when Rudolph Straeuli was fired.

Derek Watts (Carte Blanche presenter): “The call asking Jake to apply for one of the most demanding and controversial coaching jobs in the world came out of the blue and strangely enough while he was at the Canberra home of a South African star who headed down under, Clyde Rathbone.”

Jake: “And it was quite ironic because I was literally on my way there to see what other opportunities there were abroad. I finished two years with the under-21s. I got the feeling that I probably wasn’t going to go any higher. So I was looking at going to get some knowledge in Australia and then maybe going to go coach in Europe.”

He had a tough task. The once mighty team was ranked sixth in the world. They had suffered a long string of defeats, been subjected to the humiliations of Kamp Staaldraad and had collapsed in the quarterfinals of 2003 World Cup. Jake had to reintroduce a culture of winning into the demoralised team.

Derek: “Jake, you couldn’t have asked for a better start, I mean, winning the Tri-Nations in 2004.”

Jake: “There’s no doubt winning the Tri-Nations and getting South Africa behind you again because we had come off the disaster of the 2003 campaign.”

Then they made a clean sweep at the International Rugby Awards, winning coach, player and team of the year. Jake was rewarded with an extension of his contract up until the 2007 World Cup.

But the honeymoon was soon over. Jake had constant rows over attempts to meddle in his team selections.

In June 2005, during the French Tour of South Africa he was ordered to substitute Schalk Burger with Solly Tyibilika. He refused.

Jake: “There was a bit of sentiment that Solly should play because he comes form that area. I said, ‘You can’t be making emotional decisions like that. We play for the South African public … you can’t leave out the player that has been voted the world’s best rugby player because you are playing in PE.’”

Derek: “So there was a crisis meeting with Bryan van Rooyen?”

Jake: “I didn’t go to that meeting. But I was told that on Sunday I was going to get fired. We played on Saturday, in fact, some of the guys got text messages from journos saying win or lose he’s gone.”

The Boks won the match and Jake stayed.

The confrontations and threats would set the tone for the next two years.

Derek: “2006, you call the year from hell?”

Jake: “That was close to it Derek, let me tell you. We lost seven test matches. We lost disastrously in Brisbane. I had never experienced that Derek. Even as a school teacher I had never lost a game by 49 points to nil.”

Derek: “You were booed?”

Jake: “That was probably the least that happened to me, being booed.”

It was the worst ever defeat for the Boks against Australia.

Jakes relationship the board had deteriorated so badly that he was being publicly criticised.

Jake: “I remember reading an article saying that the coach is in a 49 metre hole and it was written by a South African Rugby employee.”

It was in November that things hit rock bottom. After losing seven tests in a row, The Blue Bulls Rugby Union declared a vote of no confidence in Jake.

In middle of the tour Jake had to fly back from England to defend himself. He was made to wait for five hours like a naughty schoolboy outside the headmaster’s office before he faced a grilling from the presidents’ council.

Jake: “I literally flew all the way back for a 45 minute meeting. I will never forget the one president said that he goes to a lot of bars and restaurants and he just knows that the people he speaks to there don’t think John is a good captain … what do I think? I thought it was incredible that I got asked that question.”

Derek: “Jake it is funny now but at the time you must have thought that this could be the end of the road?”

Jake: “I always knew that they wanted to. But I never thought they would fire. I was always fortunate to have the players’ backing and to have the sponsors’ backing. Those were the two groups of people I had to keep happy because those are the two groups that know if you are doing your job or not.”

Derek: “And your management team?”

Jake: “There is no doubt about that. I never had to look over my shoulder to see if there were people trying to take my job or sabotage something within us.”

Derek: “What do you say to critics who say that you made all the right noises about transformation but that you didn’t deliver?”

Jake: “Well, I would say that they are living in a dream world, Derek. I picked a player of colour for every position in my four years, except flyhalf. The reality is that I have done more than any other coach has ever done in terms of being representative at test level.”

Jake was ordered to use more black players but he never had a strong pool to draw on.

Jake: “It’s very difficult at national level to make it more representative if you are not going to get people in the provinces playing there.”

Jake suspected that President Mbeki’s name was often used to pressurise him into making certain decisions.

Jake: “The reality is if our government wanted to instil quota systems, and if they wanted to make sure there was x-amount of players, it would be law. People who say that the government interferes or this person interferes, you know it is nonsense. The reality is that there are certain people that are involved in the decision making in rugby and they use the powers that they have to put pressure. They continually say that the government says or they say but nobody knows who ‘they’ are.”

He got so fed up that he made an appointment to have tea with the President to discuss his problems. But Oregan Hoskins accused him of bringing the game into disrepute. Jake was forced to cancel.

Derek: “With all the niggles and the full blown confrontations of the selection of black players, it was ironic that one of the biggest dust ups, of his four year coaching career, was over a white boy.”

In May, team manager Zola Yeye and President Oregan Hoskins announced the 46 man World Cup training squad. The only problem was that Jake had selected only 45 players. Luke Watson had been added in just before the announcement.

Derek: “How did you feel?”

Jake: “I was flipping disgusted. I was livid to be honest with you. I thought it is unbelievable how this happens in this country you know.”

Derek: “What is the history between you and Luke?”

Jake: “It’s quite simple. I don’t think he is a good rugby player. I think he is the most overrated rugby player I have seen at this level and that’s it, full-stop.”

Derek: “Jake, who were the officials putting you under this pressure?”

Jake: “Pumelela Tshume, who is the chairman of the board. Oregan Hoskins, who is the president. Mike Stofile, who is the vice president. I think there is no doubt about it looking back there was an agenda on their side because of the connections they had with his father. They felt that they had to push him to get him into a team.”

Luke’s father, Cheeky Watson, was an anti-apartheid activist in the 70s who refused to play rugby for whites’ only teams. He joined a black team and played with Zola Yeye. Today Cheeky is a business consultant with friends in high places.

Derek: “And your own team manager Zola Yeye attacked you and the two other selectors.”

Jake: “Ja, I mean he did. Zola knows the family very well. I think there is a story that he actually held the little guy when he was born. So there is a deep rooted connection there as well.”

This intervention was tame in comparison to an offer Jake apparently received a couple of months earlier from the Watson family themselves. He got called to a meeting with their lawyer.

Derek: “There were all sorts of conditions laid down. Luke will be selected for the squad. He will play in a test. He will go to the World Cup. And the bonus for you was that you would keep your job after 2007?”

Jake: “The bonus wasn’t that I would keep my job because there were no guarantees about that. The bonus was that I would go the World Cup. The bottom line was that if this doesn’t happen you might not go to the World Cup yourself. So it was a hell of a thing to hear. I thought, Where is this coming from now?’ Then as I walked away I thought, ‘What way do I go now, is it worth throwing away three-and-a-half years of work literally before a World Cup?’”

The lawyer also allegedly warned Jake that he was being watched, his phones tapped and that he was going to be linked to a ‘third force’ that supposedly ran SA Rugby.

Derek: “The biggest surprise for me was that you were prepared to accept it.”

Jake: “That was the tough thing. I went with my lawyer and afterwards at lunch I sat with him and I said, ‘Listen, what do we do now because this is big hey?’”

But the next day they withdrew the deal. Two months later Luke’s name was added to the list. He made his debut in a test against Samoa in Bloemfontein. Fifty minutes into the match Luke was injured and had to leave the field.

The matter of Luke Watson was never brought up again.

Derek: “How did the players treat him?”

Jake: “There’s one thing you can’t do and that is bullshit a rugby player. They know if they rate a guy or not. They also found it awkward because they knew under what circumstances he had come into the team. I remember Derek some of the senior players came into my room during the week and said they have got a problem because they are not going to initiate him. I said, ‘What do you mean?’ and they just said they don’t think he is worthy of getting initiated because he wasn’t picked and he got forced in and all that sort of thing.”

Derek: “What is the Springbok initiation?”

Jake: “It is not something we talk about obviously. It is an induction into the Springbok family.”

Derek: “You can’t tell us what they do?”

Jake: “No, I can’t tell you what they do. It is something that is unique to South Africa. It is basically a passing down of traditions from Doc Craven and his dog.”

Derek: “You don’t get smacked on the butt?”

Jake: “There is a little bit of that but it is nothing like playing a test match, so it’s okay.”

For once Jake’s selection of the World Cup squad in July was accepted without a murmur.

Jake: “I got the feeling that they sort of said, ‘Let him go to the World Cup and when he gets back it is finished. We are going to move. We don’t really need to be fighting with this guy too much more. We don’t really get on with him all that much. He doesn’t get on with us. So let him go to the World Cup and if he loses in the quarter-finals or the semi-finals then we are all happy. Then we move.’ They didn’t think that maybe South Africa could win the World Cup. I think that is what has happened … we came back winners. But I did say that I don’t have energy to continue on fighting with you guys for another four years.”

Rumours are flying about what Jakes next career move will be. Australia, England, Wales have all been mentioned.

Derek: “So where to now for Jake White?”

Jake: “I don’t want to go. I really would like to add to the brand over the next few years. There are some great times ahead for these players if they stick together. For the next coach I say stick to the same principle I did in my four years. You are going to get fired. If you get fired make sure you do because of the way you want to do and not the way everybody else wants you to do it. What happens is if you listen to all the other voices and it goes wrong they fire you anyway. So you might as well go to bed at night knowing you are going to get fired but it was because of what you wanted to do.”


408 Comments

Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 [8] 9 » Show All

  • 351.ruck: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 19:54 pm

    #347 – Tv Ad voorleggings en storyboards…….ook ‘n paar “foolish” kliente gaan sien. Hulle verstaan nog nie hoekom hulle Corporate Identities moet kry. En blah blah blah.
    Hopefully ‘n dag se krieket, Saterdag in Centurion inwerk…. (For the love of the game, I’ll venture to the dark side…)

  • 352.Weti: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 19:55 pm

    #349 Jy hou seker ook van Morris Gilbert?!

  • 353.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 19:56 pm

    Weti

    Die Burger ondersteun die WP.
    Die Natal Mercury seker die Sharks
    Die Volksblad vir die Cheetahs.
    Maar wie is nou eintlik die Beeld se span?
    Smaak my hulle leun maar Bulle se kant toe as jy die hoeveelheid berigte tel vir die Bulle en Lions onderskeidelik.

    Ek like die Beeld. Kwaliteit nuus en mense wat my taal praat.

  • 354.Durban Poison: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 19:56 pm

    Jacob Westerduin became Jake White – reminds me of those poor Afrikaaners that the Nats moved to Durban to work for the railways and vote for them; most of them also changed their names to English sounding ones, just to fit in.

  • 355.eth_ig_er: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 19:57 pm

    Jacob must just shut the hell-up and go to england where he always wanted to go.

  • 356.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 19:57 pm

    Weti

    Morris is Quintus se opvolger. Nog nie daar nie, maar ten minste is sy “subject matter” altyd korrek. Hehehe.

  • 357.ruck: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 19:58 pm

    #349 – Tacitus, gelukkig weet ek nie wie die hel Quintus van Rooyen is, so I won’t comment.

  • 358.Bagel: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 19:59 pm

    eth_ig_er? You still here? Hehe my day just got better time for some serious comedy!

  • 359.Weti: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 19:59 pm

    Well said Isi!

    Ruck, well done so jy’s ook in die advertensiebedryf!

  • 360.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:00 pm

    Hierdie Durban Poison lyk maar of hy ‘n redelike agressie probleem het.

    “Anger Management” klasse sal dalk help.

    Ek is deesdae so gelukkig soos ‘n vark in Palestina. Dinge lyk voor die wind in alle rugby opsigte wat my betref vir 2008!

  • 361.Weti: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:01 pm

    Tacitus

    Ek en ‘n pel spot altyd dat hy die PR van die boelle is. Hy kry twee saliristjeks aan die einde van die maand, een van Beeld en een van die boelle.

    Quintus was so erg hyt sommer die blou bul span gekies. he he

  • 362.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:01 pm

    Ek mis ou Quintus van Blouen se skryfstyl….. kyk daai ou was erg Blou bevooroordeeld (amper soos Tac) maar hy kon darem mooi rugby praat en sy privaat statistiek-argief was die mees omvattendste in SA……..

  • 363.Bagel: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:03 pm

    GBS what is remember in Afrikaans?

  • 364.ruck: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:04 pm

    DP – I also think Jake has lost a bit of class in the last 48 hours. He came across as quite “tacky” on the telly last night. He’s just as bitchy as those he criticises – they’re all a bunch of girls!!!
    BUT – he did bring the Cup home and survived against all odds – +5 points
    Common behaviour (really bitchy personal attack on Luke) – -3 points
    TOTAL: 2 (+1 for stamina…) = 3

  • 365.Weti: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:04 pm

    #353 Beeld se leserskap is baie sterk in PTA, die boelle is die wen span die afgelope paar jaar so….hulle kry die meeste publisiteit.

    Jy moet ook onthou dat Beeld ‘n paar bladsye kan verander in sy JHB uitgawe. So die koerant wat jy koop in JHB en die een wat jy in PTA koop kan verskil, ni baie nie maar dit kan.

    Beeld probeer maar vir albei “markte” caiter.

  • 366.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:04 pm

    Onthou Bagel…….. onthou…..

    You’ve disappointed me lately with your anti-Bulls drivel and anti Afrikaans muck……

  • 367.eth_ig_er: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:08 pm

    #358
    did you miss me?

  • 368.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:08 pm

    Weti

    Ek lees die Beeld maar op die website, siende dat ek nie die koerant in lewende lywe kan koop nie.

    Maar dis maar waar ek meeste van my nuutste Bul-nuus vandaan kry. Danksy Morris.

  • 369.ruck: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:08 pm

    #359 – Yes Weti, I f**k with peoples minds, (subliminal)of course….

    Tacitus – Horns out the *** now son….Not good for your colon – although bowel movements should return to normal once Super 14 starts – you’ll be kukking yourself every weekend. Blue Fridays, Saturdays, but as Pietman says, “You’ll happily support anything thats blue…….”

  • 370.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:09 pm

    Beeld het ‘n hele paar verskillende uitgawes om presies te wees……. JHB en omgewing, Pretoorsdorp en omgewing, Platteland

    So sal Weti vir jou vertel, Tswane Beeld (vir wie hy werk kom net in die Pretoria en omgewing uit, Oos-Rand Beeld net in die Oos-Rand (Wroensdae), Wes-Rand Beeld net in die Wes-Rand…..

    Die advertensies in die verskillende uitgawes verskil ook wesenlik, na gelang van die roetes van die koerant…..

  • 371.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:11 pm

    Ruck

    Om Vix aan te haal: “Jy praat net!”

  • 372.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:13 pm

    Ruck, are you connected to 1 of the Cape Ad-Agencies?

  • 373.Weti: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:16 pm

    Goeie werk GBS jy luister as handbriekie praat! he he

  • 374.Isigidi: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:17 pm

    Ruck

    You think the timing of JW’s book will bare any influence on SA rugby at all?

    You think the PC is taking note of the book and its contents?……..
    Maybe decide on different approaches in future…….
    measuring maybe their mistakes by its contents……..
    maybe do a little self investigation because someone actually stood up and told them that they made mistakes……
    and proofed it too?

  • 375.eth_ig_er: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:17 pm

    where is dat old fool?t e r r o

  • 376.Weti: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:18 pm

    Ok maters eks gone. Ruck geniet dit in Piraks aka Pretoorsdarop aka Pretoria, net nie die T woord nie.

  • 377.ruck: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:18 pm

    TACITUS – Sheez, I got so into your bowel movements I forgot to tell you the snippet of info I heard during a meeting this afternoon.
    No **** – true. Ask Staal if you think I’m kidding….My client has an inside into the goings on down here at WPRU headquarters. Now the reason the Stormers senior contracted players haven’t been announced yet, is wait for it – Because there is some hold up from the Bulls side….players up there waiting for a sign from God or something. SO: start crapping yourself..and get hold of Staal. Whilst your beloveds might not be coming to Cape Town (some might), there seems to be signs of some of them going somewhere…….Why else would ALL final squad announcements be delayed cos of the Bulls??

    Makes you think – doesn’t it??

  • 378.Durban Poison: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:19 pm

    All the plaudits to JW for coaching the Boks to the RWC title. But I’m still not gonna believe everything in his book i.e. his version of events, just cos he’s the RWC winning coach.

    PS. Is there a good reason why there is no afrikaans word for ‘Anger Management’?!

  • 379.ruck: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:22 pm

    #372 – No no no – would never align myself with an agency. I steer my own ship. Got my clients – use production companies I trust down here, graphic designers up north, web designers in Stellies etc etc. Nee wat, ek hou daarvan om my eie baas te wees.

  • 380.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:22 pm

    Yeah Durban Poison…….. because we don’t need to manage it…… we vent it when the need arises……… hehehe

  • 381.ruck: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:26 pm

    #374 – I did read exactly what The Head honcho of ABSA told the PC – he said they better get their house in order, and fast…All the sponsors are applying pressure.

    BUT: Jake ain’t an innocent bystander – for all the good he has done. He’s also got an “agenda”, in fact has always had one….

    Th whole shebang SUX..but at least the sponsors are clamping down on ‘em all – the money will see some sanity prevail.

  • 382.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:27 pm

    ruck,

    Have you ever been exposed to the new Afrikaans Sunday paper…… with the Afrikaans name for Sunday?

  • 383.ruck: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:30 pm

    #382 – Oh hell yeah – My hubby reads it along with the Rapport (Kaapse Rapport) every Sunday..I read the Rapport for the sport section…
    I also read the Sunday Argus and the Sunday Times.
    Ons lees baie Sondae…..

  • 384.eth_ig_er: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:31 pm

    i wonder where the rest of the terrorist are with only one left or are they reading in block in white by joke.

  • 385.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:32 pm

    Anger Management in Afrikaans = Kwaaitjie Kabouter Klasse……… hehehe

  • 386.Chips: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:32 pm

    The boy Watson’s Wikipedia entry says it all:

    “Watson did not appear in the 2007 Rugby World Cup squad, and due to the magnificent performance of the Springbok loose forwards Juan Smith and Schalk Burger, who were both in the running for Player of the Tournament, he was not missed”

    Bravo Jake for making a really tough decision, sticking to your guns and then watching it pay off

  • 387.ruck: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:34 pm

    #384 – Tacitus is now fervently phoning EVERYONE he knows to follow up on the snippet of info I gave him RE: the Bulls players……Bless his heart, I was only pulling his leg – but I betya he’s in a state of absolute meltdown……..

  • 388.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:35 pm

    Etterkoppie, waaroor gaan jy nou weer aan……. modderotter-donsdoos-windbal-honjol ??

  • 389.ruck: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:37 pm

    Derek: “You don’t get smacked on the butt?”

    Jake: “There is a little bit of that but it is nothing like playing a test match, so it’s okay.”

    Just thinking – How many times do you boys think Wynand Olivier BEGGED to be RE-initiated???

    (No offence meant to Wynand his family or his Blue supporters)

  • 390.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:37 pm

    Ruck

    The holdup at the Bulls is that if Heyneke is appointed Bok coach, Matfield will be part of the Bulls S14 squad. The Bok Coaching announcement is holding everything up.

  • 391.ruck: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:39 pm

    #390 – LOL LOL – Had you phoning didn’t I??

    The Bok coaching announcement is only due 2nd week December…….Pote must be anxious.

  • 392.TheTackler: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:44 pm

    Fluke Wotsup just isn’t good enough. Over-rated. Big-headed. Windgat. Chock-full of “entitlement”.

    You tell ‘em, Jake!

  • 393.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:49 pm

    Hello Ruck, let me give you some of my attention, seeing as you have so clearly been craving it throughout this thread.

    Some advice – friendly, believe it or not – Don’t be so excitable. Or so anxious to see imaginary problems in the Bulls camp. The issue of the Bok coaching announcement is like a molehill compared to the mountain of “challenges” faced at Newlands at the moment.

    I don’t blame Rassie for wanting to pull out his hair and pack up back to Bloemfontein.

    Here’s a thought. Why don’t WP just appoint a coloured coach and then everyone will be happy. All the Afrikaans guys from Stellenbosch – the real strength of WP rugby – seem to be heading up north these days in any case. You don’t need them, do you?

  • 394.ruck: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 20:58 pm

    #393 – LOL. In some sick and tortured way – I really really “enjoy” you. (And no, I can’t explain this freaky phenomenon – next thesis possibly??)
    Thank you for the attention – (was it as good for you as it was for me??)

    Now, I can continue with the task at hand – work, delighted in the knowledge they YOU REALLY CARE….LOL.
    Have to work now.
    Ciao – Hou by die Blou!!!

  • 395.Boogeyman: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 22:07 pm

    #37 lolpantoff :)

  • 396.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 22:17 pm

    Has there ever been an Afrikaans coach in the NH?

  • 397.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 22:22 pm

    Brendan Venter?

  • 398.Clanerk: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 22:26 pm

    #396 Wasn’t Brendan Venter a caretaker-coach somewhere at one stage? Also Rudolph Streuli had a stint with a second division club before he came back to coach the Sharks. The memories a bit fuzzy so please don’t take my word for it.

  • 399.Tomsta: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 22:27 pm

    cant believe there is still but smacking going on and that carry on at bok initiations. hasnt kamp staaldraad shown how useless it is to humiliate someone?

  • 400.Clanerk: Reply to this comment
    12 Nov 2007, 22:29 pm

    Big Hit. I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the Heineken Cup games this weekend. They get a bad rap in SA but they’re not nearly as one-dimensional as I had expected, especially so when the French clubs are involved.

    For the record, I’ll be supporting Edinburgh so wish me luck. :)

Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 [8] 9 » Show All

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

Have your say

You must be logged in to post a comment.