Jannie best bet for Twickers
Jannie du Plessis must start at Twickenham if the Springboks are to have any hope of besting the English scrum.
Multiple front-row injuries have cut short the John Smit-tighthead experiment, and now there is talk of Brian Mujati having a sore shoulder. Du Plessis was recently called to London as his brother Bismarck and prop Gurthro Steenkamp were simultaneously released from the Bok camp. Du Plessis is likely to face one of the world’s premier looseheads in Andrew Sheridan this Saturday, and from the vibe gathered at Monday’s press conference, the Boks are feeling confident about the match up.
A World Cup winner in 2007, Du Plessis was deemed surplus to Bok requirements in 2008. He received a recall against Australia for the Ellis Park Test when CJ van der Linde was suspended and BJ Botha had left for Ireland, and did a solid job. This was on the back of a strong showing with his new Super 14 franchise, the Sharks. Many felt he was an unfortunate omission when the Boks’ UK touring squad was announced given the nature of the game up north and how Du Plessis’s strengths would be valuable.
If the Bok management pick Du Plessis to start this Saturday, it’s a sure acknowledgment of his value in northern conditions. Mujati has battled for the better part of the year, and does not boast the technical experience that comes with winning three Currie Cups and a World Cup winners medal. Mujati may be more mobile than Du Plessis, but it is the latter who will make the greater impact at the tight-phases. Up north, you need to favour set-phase proficiency over athleticism. Jake White applied this logic when playing Danie Rossouw at No 8 in last year’s World Cup, and look what came from that decision.
The question will be raised that if Mujati is fit enough to warm the bench this weekend, why isn’t he fit enough to start? The troubling answer may also point to another question as to whether he deserved a squad place ahead of seasoned specialists like Van der Linde, Botha and Du Plessis.
The same applies for Bulls hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle. If your first-choice hooker is injured, surely you’d back your second choice to slot in. It’s become accepted that Smit fulfills the hooking duties in the event of injury as he did last week, but if Smit is really supposed to concentrating on prop and Ralepelle is truly the understudy to Bismarck du Plessis, then why shouldn’t Ralepelle start this weekend? Smit’s covering for Du Plessis is only supposed to be in emergencies, as his own development at 3 was a priority on this tour.
Ralepelle has had little game time in the past two years and won his place on this tour ahead of more deserving players such as Adriaan Strauss. Strauss joined the Bok side when Smit was ruled him out of the Tri-Nations, and started for the Boks when Bismarck broke down. How Ralepelle has leapfrogged him in the hooking queue is anybody’s guess.
While calling up Jannie du Plessis is the right short-term solution, it speaks volumes for De Villiers’s lack of confidence in Mujati and Ralepelle. It may also say something about the move of Smit to tighthead, a move De Villiers promised was a long-term initiative with a view to the British & Irish Lions series and the 2011 World Cup. Either play Ralepelle at No 2 with Smit at 3, or call up Strauss to fill the hooking void. That would suggest continuity and a long-term plan.
But it’s become clear there is no plan, or at least there is little confidence in the fringe players already in the squad. Du Plessis is the best bet to scrum against Sheridan this weekend, and the Boks have a realistic chance of winning this battle. If one remembers that Mujati and Ralepelle are likely to remain in the set-up come the Lions series, then one has to ask why they aren’t being pushed through in what will be the ultimate acid Test at Twickenham. The Boks may win this Saturday, but they won’t learn anything new.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
First
November 17th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Second
November 17th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Strauss 10 times the player chilli is.
Mujati is no Beast.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
i dnt think jannie offers anything over mujati, both are too inexperienced.
CJ or BJ should have been called up.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
#4 cab: Yip. In an ideal world YES. Those 2 are AWESOME. Snor on other hand doesn’t see it that way.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
#4 cab:
Any player is better than Lard Arse. He has been a constant failure.
I don’t really rate Jannie but to compare Mujati with him is a joke.
Definately BJ or CJ, in that order, would have been better than Jannie. Let’s not even mention Mujati.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
#4 cab:
Agree.jannie isnt a dominating tighthead either.Who has he ever dominated?He holds at best.Watch him even since his FS days….
CJ&BJ knew they werent going to be selected if they played overseas but they went anyway.Live by it
Same with NZ with Hayman/Meeuws/Sommerville….
November 17th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
#5 SexyTime: not sure that was PdV’s decision
#6 OCO: not fair, he is simply too young and not served his apprenticeship as old Tight Head often points out.
#7 mshiniwami: yip and u also have a point on CJ and BJ, but if stick to that it becomes v difficult to win imo.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
#8 cab:
So why is he in the mix? Doesn’t seem like PdV is willing to wait to see if he can ‘cut the mustard’ and is giving him his pay day now rather than miss it altogether.
Jannie isn’t that good but better than Mujati – at least at this moment. What happens in future years remains to be seen but right now Mujati is at the bottom of the SA rung. He has not dominated any opposition player. Best he’s done is to keep up (with two rightful Boks to help).
Right now simply is not international standard. neither is he CC standard.
Maybe 2 to 3 years down the line.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Ladies and Gents, I contest that we do not have a TRULY world class tight head in SA at present.
Does anyone out there know whether there are any decent youngsters coming through the ranks either at schoolboy or age group (U/19 or U/21) level?
November 17th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
#9 OCO:
could be as backup, could be a recommendation from one of the other coaches.
potentially in a year or two we could see an all black front row in Beast, Rallapelle and Mujati, which will be really nice to see if Mujati progreses like Beast – but its way to green for england at twickenham next week. One game where u definitely need it, perhaps more than any other. Don’t see Jan Dup offering this either at this stage of his international career.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
#7 mshiniwami:
You seem to miss the logical reasoning in the overseas player situation.
They are professional players and are playing for clubs overseas as opposed to playing for franchises in SA.
They have not made any choice NOT to play for SA.
They are available to be called up for SA from their overseas clubs in just the same way they would be called up from their local franchises if they played here.
Any decision NOT to play them lies squarely with PDV and SARU, who can call them up whenever they choose to.
Why would PDV and SARU not call them up if they were the best players in their positions available for their country?
This has nothing to do with what NZ or anybody else decides to do with their rugby.
This is the age of professionalism.
Why should it matter where the player plays his rugby, if he is a South African and available for his country.
Please don’t tell me it is about loyalty to SA. because that sounds very old fashioned.
All professional players will go where they get the best deal.
That does not make them traitors.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
#11 cab:
Pity that an all white front row of CJ, Smit and BJ will scrum that front row of yours to pieces.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
#13 Tacitus:
at the moment yes, in a year or so with correct handling, not so sure at all.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
#11 cab:
As I’v said, I don’t really rate J Dup but he’s better than Mujati by a mile. BJ is better than J Dup by a mile also.
Would have had BJ with CJ on the bench – but yeh, that’s out of the question.
PdV has and continues to, chase players awy who should be Boks but rather give caps to players like Chavhanga/Brits/Mujati.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
#14 cab:
Logic tells me that if colour over rides merit in selection, how can we beat the best teams in the world?
November 17th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
#16 tight head:
you can’t, but if there’s not much too choose in terms of ability or experience, surely then its one situation where it seems transformation is valid?
November 17th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
#13 Tacitus:
Agreed, but as you know all “all-white” things are superior.
You are also superior.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
#13 Tacitus:
CJ has never been a hot scrummager. Good in loose but a bit “iffy” at scrum time.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
#18 Sheriff: Hey… not this kind of talk from you, my broeder van ‘n ander moeder !
Seblief man !
November 17th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
#19 Cool Beans:
Also prone to scrumming in and giving away penalties.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Every fool eventually is found out. The three stooges have really set themselves and the Boks up here.
As everyone with half a brain could see, and posted on this blog – no TH on tour is a gamble.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
#21 OCO:
Exactly…
Doing his head first dives. Penalty waiting to happen.
Great in the loose but weak at scrum time.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
#20 grootblousmile:
Unlike Sheriff I agree but not unexpected from Tacky.
Beast, Smit and BJ would outscrum any other combo – we’ve seen it often enough already.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
#23 Cool Beans:
Same goes for Mujati who’s probably better in the lose though. But mobility and raw power are at odds. Mujati might be better in the lose.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
#22 goyougoodthing2:
Danie Craven always said you choose you tighthead first…jou nommer drie…and then you choose your team. Facts. He had a sharp rugby head on his shoulders.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
#22 goyougoodthing2:
Howdy G2,
Yup most of us knew this but all we can do is hope that these idiots put the15 best together.
As badly as England played against Oz, they will be out for revenge this week. Not only for Saturday’s loss but also to revenge the RWC loss against SA.
Unless PdV suddenly gets 1/2 a brain I see us getting beaten come Saturday.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
#17 cab:
Cab here is the problem with Affirmative action:
Who decides that 2 players have equal ability?
My experience has taught me that it is almost impossible to find 2 who are equal.
We are all different and all bring different assets to the table.
Rather than play that game we should just be honest and say that one player is better than another irrespective of skin colour.
So if Jannie Dup is better than Mujati, why is Mujati playing?
If it is because we want to select black players let’s just say so and get on with it.
Affirmative action turns selection into a minefield of deceit.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
#28 tight head:
Wise words. Time to ‘get it out in the open’ – just like PdV did
November 17th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
I think Jannie Dup is growing each game. One day hopefully he will get “nommer drie wise”. His inclusion may be a blessing in disguise. Must watch his temper and giving penalties away. We shall see what happens.
Habs wouldn’t be in my Villagers club team at the moment. He needs a holiday to Disneyworld.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
#29 OCO:
Just “Spar”ring with my pals here!!
November 17th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
#28 tight head:
no problem with any of that, but who says jan dup is better than mujati?
put another way, do you think jan dup will hold sheridan better than mujati? i don’t.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
#26 Cool Beans: But he was racist! How dare he know better than Div?
#27 OCO: I see murder on the dance floor
November 17th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
As far as I see it, there is now 5 fit frontrowers. That implies that Chilliboy and Mujati have to be on the bench. Wish that Heinkie and Adriaan Strauss were there as well.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
#27 OCO: Yes we could be beaten this Sat. Think England want revenge for wc. But you never know we always seem to play to our best when we are down. Then again no gameplan it does not look very good. Players don’t look happy. Anyway England need to climb the rankings too. I think they want to avoid Wallabies, Boks, Ab’s in the 2011 wc. Thats if they are 4th on the rankings. Not sure how this ranking works. We only have one more game to play. We are sitting 88 something points Ab’s 92 somthing and Oz on 86. Now England still have us to play and the Ab’s so they have a extra game to gain points. We don’t our last game before Dec 1st is Sat. So Ab’s will land up with a much bigger ranking than most as they are playing the whole grand slam. We only will have played 3 games in this tour. We could land up 3rd in the rankings Oz are not far behind us. Don’t they still have Wales and Scotland to play too? They also have a extra game than us then. Just not sure about this rankings and the seeding.
#24 OCO: Agree there as they have scrummed a lot together at the Sharks. They know each others game well. If PdV just woke up he would have called for BJ and not JdP.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
#33 goyougoodthing2:
Rugby wise he was sharp-sharp. However, he did ****-up a few times with his politics.
I must say I like that line…”I see murder on the dance floor.” Nice ring to it.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
#32 cab:
Easy way to answer that.
Wirth respect how much experience and knowledge do you have of tight head propping?
So, all they need to do is ask a number of respected present and former tight head props and come to a decision.
This knowledge should be on tap to the coach.
It does not appear that it is.
Who is the specialist scrumming coach for this Bok team?
I believe the answer is nobody.
I deduce from this that the coach does not believe he needs one.
Perhaps his lack of understanding and vision about this number 3 situation is starting to hurt him.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
#34 dWeePer:
Have to agree.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
#28 tight head: If PdV still wants his job I think he had better play JdP now that he is in London. Mujati for the bench. Really though it should have been our best there. It should always be on merit. BJ should have been selected a long time back in the 3N. For goodness sake he is there in England. They just need to give him a call. He could have been training with the guys already. Also Chiliboy has not played enough rugby this year either. Just really hope that John does not get injured now we will be in big trouble then.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
I do find team selections rather odd for the most part, the disproportionate number of players selected by the coaches and bloggers from the team that got carrots in the CC and S14 and less picks from the top two teams who were far and away better teams. Far far far and away.
I just don’t understand the logic.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
#37 tight head:
none, you are far better placed to say, but think know enough to see when someone getting drukked or at least will give my opinion on it, if incorrect, feel free to correct it.
am slightly concerned we dont have a proper forwards oke coaching the pack, i may be wrong but thought gary gold was backs coach at Irish?
one thing tho the Beast has been a revelation, the scot game was hard to judge cos of disruption with Bismarck’s injury.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
#40 goyougoodthing2:
It’s that snor…too much minestrone soup in it.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Eng sat…a bridge too far for boks in my opinion…too many dead men walking….no rest and now we will cop it…
November 17th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
#39 Puma:
All of the major international teams that we face employ a specialist scrumming coach.
Most of them are former front row men.
We do not have one.
Gary Gold was a hooker, but is the overall forwards coach.
Based on what we have seen, it appears that he has no say on selection, or he has a poor technical understanding of front row scrumming.
Perhaps it is a combination of both.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
#42 Cool Beans: Soup? Autumn harvest crackling perhaps.
I have heard that the Open Air School Under 11 Girls Touch team is in Europe, competing at the Open Rugby challenge, perhaps we could slip a few of them into the team to better our chances…
November 17th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
#37 tight head: I believe if we only went on scrumming power in the N H our best front row would be Heinke…smit….bj ??
November 17th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
#44 tight head: Doesn’t Snor know about Hookers>?
November 17th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
#43 grant10:
Mentally dead more than physically dead.
Maybe Brian Habs needs to see Kylie Minogue to get rejuvenated.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
#44 tight head: I agree tight head. Who would you suggest that helps them with the scrumming. They could give Balie Swart a call up but don’t think PdV will do that as Balie worked with Jake.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
#44 tight head: Balie Swart should be there perhaps??
November 17th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
#41 cab:
Mate I was not meaning to be disrespectfull to you.
I was merely pointing out how easy it is to get the front row right.
The real problem is a lack of respect by the coach towards this important facet of play.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
#49 Puma: Leave Balie in Durban, actually he’s in Germany right now with the Sharks Academy guys… give him a call!
November 17th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
#48 Cool Beans: Physically the okes are shattered…the only ones who looked good were the replacements jaque and Frans Steyn…should have entrusted Sat game vs Scots to the so called 2 nd stringers….but no faith////now mountain to climb Saturday!
November 17th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
I doubt u Plessis is any stronger than Mujati, maybe a little better technique, though if it was Du Plessis propping up his brother and not captain Smit on Saturday maybe the scrum might not have collapsed on him,
alternatively if it were Du Plessis that ran on as the replacement I doubt our front row would have fared far better than it did either, seems to me the problem was on the other side of the scrum most of the time anyway.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Guys, the real poser here is, based on the last two weeks, would be be able to beat OZ, AB A team or dirt trackers? Answer is a resounding no.
That is more important than beating Scotland by 4 points.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
#44 tight head:
hooker, oh right, see am also wrong about backs coach, think he started as forwards at london irish and then overall coach. fair enough, foley was also a hooker and the oz pack looks to have come on leaps and bounds. our scrumming seems to have improved overall, just think the selections are dodgy, but what can be done if the policy is not to select overseas-based players.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
#43 grant10: They are very tired. Straight after the 3N went straight into the cc and after the final straight into training for this tour. The guys are tired and they really don’t look happy. Something is not right. I think this gameplan does not work well with them at all. They know what will bring more wins but PdV seems he has not clue. Now read in the papers that he will play Habs on Sat even if he is out of form. I just feel these guys are not coached well at all and not really looked after. Maybe they should have been rested during the cc.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
#49 Puma:
Jake did not pretend he knew everything.
He listened to other people.
He was astute enough to understand himself.
I have personl experience of this with him.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
#49 Puma:
November 17th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
#51 tight head:
no problem, no offence taken, i like to read from your scrumming posts very much.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
#57 Puma: the guys are knackered puma…long day sat!!
November 17th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
#53 tjokvol: It was I agree, I would say though, that judging by this season’s form, it’s more likely a case of Beast can’t hold up Smit and Mujati on his own. With Bis there they managed to scrape Smith along… but not like that. You have to give Beast the benefit based on this year!
Smit is the weakest, and fattest link, just fatter than English Breakfast Januarie.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
#55 cab:
That policy is called:
How to shoot yourself in the foot.
You cannot expect to progress if you do not first pick your best players.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
#52 goyougoodthing2: Yes maybe PdV should give Balie a call. I think Jake had all this worked out perfect. He had so many working with him. He even had that eye coach. No wonder we got so many intercept tries!! What happened to her? Jake also had Balie working with the scrumming. Now there is no one. Why not?
November 17th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
#56 Puma: Holy Moses where did he say he’s gonna play haBanana?
November 17th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
#61 goyougoodthing2:
A front row has to be built over time.
If you do not pick the best scrummagers in the beginning you put yourself at a disadvantage.
We have thrown Beast and Mujati in too soon, because the coach does not understand the front row.
Beast got a serious hiding last Saturday.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
#63 Puma: Egos mate. DM has a massive one, can’t comment about the rest. They just clueless.
Quite happy to have the brains trust of Balie, Scriba, Swys, etc etc in Durban thanks!
Not sure what this clown is doing, surely at some point, someone had to have had a chat with him, and he’s not listening. If no one has given him a call, then shame on all the rugby gods in SA, they need to say enough is enough, surely.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
#60 grant10: Not sure if the heart will take another close win like that. It was a bit of both on Sat. Bad ref again. Players not playing well. Nothing seemed to work. I hope we don’t have another 1974 coming up with this Lions tour. You see they someone at each game taking notes on us. Who do we have? No one at all. We really should have our best players playing at all times. All other countries do. Why not us? BJ should have been there first time during the 3N already. For me on Sat I would play our wc centre pair. Steyn and JF. Or put Jf on the wing. Adi been great but in the wet conditions over there we need the big guys there. Habs should be left on the bench too. Not playing well at all.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
#57 tight head:
so you saying this coach does not listen to anyone, you saying its not Gold that is calling the shots iro the front row but its PdV the ex scrum half.
So who decided about the front row when Smal was forwards coach, Os Smit and CJ were the front row that got annihilated in the 49-0 debacle, and that was against Australia, not even a scrumming powerhouse.
Ever since Kobus Visage and Richard Bands we have not had a front row to write home about, England, Ireland, France, Wales, NZ have done whatever they liked with our front row since 2002 or thereabouts, we have been on the back foot since time immemorial already, can’t even remember since when we dominated last,
although I would say the latest 3N games in Durban and Ellis Park were starting to look like we were coming out of the spiral, with Beast, Bismark and CJ up front.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
#65 tight head: I bow to you on this one for sure. It did look like it didn’t it.
He has a massive heart so I have hope, and he works like a cart horse so he won’t give up until he is up to scratch.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
#66 goyougoodthing2: If this was another coach he would have been gone already. Just pleased Muir is gone from the Sharks. He messed about with the rotation so much this year. Just look how much better the team played once he was gone.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
#68 tjokvol: To be fair, I’d rather ex scrum half Div working the forwards than the worst S14 coach in history, GGlitter. DM could coach the forwards, he’s not doing so hot with the backs, what could be worse.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
#68 tjokvol:
your last sentence, thats the front row that should have been selected.
CJ also brings tremendous physicality in the tightloose and in clearing out, something which has been sorely lacking in the exchanges on this tour so far.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
#68 tjokvol:
I am saying that whoever is making the selections in the front row has got it wrong.
I will assume that is the head coach as he has the final say.
As far as the past is concerned I simply don’t care what happened last season, last week or even yesterday.
I am not interested in comparisons.
I am interested in making the best rugby decisions for the games ahead of us.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
#70 Puma: Amen brother, I hear the team and staff at the Sharks didn’t shed too many tears when DM left either.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
#31 tight head:
Hehe,
Wonder if he was playing that old Beatles song “Why don’t we do it in the road”
November 17th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
People here are not giving Scotland the credit they are due, the Scottish forwards dominated the AB’s the week before, they were far more pumped for our game and had been targeting us as their chance to get out of the 3rd tier rankings.
Scotland were probably far better prepared this past week than England were, I’m willing to take a voucher that Scotland and Wales would have beaten France, Ireland, and England with the same level of commitment and energy they ploughed into trying to turn over the Boks.
In the last 10 years we have not come away from an EOYT without a loss, most times 2 losses out of 4 starts, last few years England and Ireland have wiped their asses on us, as well as France home and away.
Now all the cry baby’s on here are moaning cause we didn’t kill a very committed and fired up Scotland and Wales.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
End of the day, head coach is head coach. he has the final decision on all matters. That said, his first selections of assistants was probably his worst mistake.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Outa here now boys.
Happy blogging.
Remember it is all won and lost in the front row.
Eventually I will convert you all!!
November 17th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
#65 tight head: He did a shame that. As I think he really can play well. For me Majuti was even weaker. BJ, CJ anyone of those would have been 100’s better. Why cant we just have the best there. It should always be on merit. Now heard that Habs will play and he is so out of form. Maybe JF could play there or even Steyn. Though I would rather they both started this Saturday at 13 and 12. Adi has been really good this season but in the NH wet conditions I think we need the bigger boys there. JdV too sometimes a little selfish and does not pass. Cost us two certain tries on Sat so did Jantjes by not passing.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
#78 tight head: Nice chatting to you again tight head. You keep us well informed.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
#76 tjokvol: We played like *****, could you not see that?
November 17th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
#70 Puma:
Hallelujah that Muir has gone. Thought Putt would answer the call, then Muir. third time lucky
Hope for more golden years like under Mac.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
#79 Puma: JDV is a LITTLE too selfish… hell most times I think he thinks he’s the only one on the field.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
#82 OCO: Plumtree is the real deal.
Later folks enjoy.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
#74 goyougoodthing2: Yes just pleased we have Plum. He has his head on right. Knows his stuff well.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
#82 OCO: Plum is doing the business now I think. Just wait until the S14. I think we should do well with him there. I know he was there while Muir was but Muir must have had last say. Now its upto Plum and I think we have a very good coach in him.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
#79 Puma:
Ah so you saw that too! Thought it was only me.
JdV plays better on the wing (and he loves to be there, seldom in the centre of the pitch).
Not sure that Habs was not ‘miffed’ with JdV standing on his toes this last weekend. Can’t blame him for being ‘crowded out’ with no room to move. Habs needs space.
FS/JF at centre pair. Nothing wrong with that – ask the teams that played them in the RWC!
November 17th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
#84 goyougoodthing2: Later mate.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
#84 goyougoodthing2: #86 Puma:
Yeh I think Plum will go far. I’m even thinking we might keep to the top better than with (bless his sole) Mac. Love to see it if we do.
Plum has no ‘airs and graces’. Good guy even if he is ‘one of them’
November 17th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
South Africa will probably at some stage field an “All Black” front-row on Saturday. Mujati, Chilliboy and Beast! I’m sure Andrew Sheridan & Co is looking forward to this hors-de-ouvre!
November 17th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
#73 tight head:
You were insinuating that Jake White ‘listened’ to people, and that this coach does not have a clue, yet if I look at our front row shenanigans in recent times, I tend to agree with cab, Beast, Bismark and CJ is probably the best we have had in a very long time, better even than last year at the WC where Argentina and England hammered our boys up front.
Jannie du Plessis is soft, Heinke and Ross Geldenhuys are far stronger,
Beast, Chili and Mujati might yet surprise a whole lot of the quota bashing brigade yet, I’d say just give it a couple years to mature the youngsters.
With all the ‘listening’ that Jake White did he could get absolutely bugger all right until he started listening to his chum Eddy Jones, before that whoever he was listening to was spinning him a whole lot of bunkum.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
#87 OCO: Yes JdV cost us on Sat by not passing. We would have had two certain tries there also Jantjes not passing cost us. I would play JF and Steyn this Sat. Adi on the bench. As shame as Adi has really done the business this year but in those wet conditions we need the hard guys there. Thats what I would do play the wc pair there. Even put Spies on the one wing or JdV on wing and bring on Kanko to start. Leave Bekker out and put Danie on the bench.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
#61 goyougoodthing2:
Fat ? Fat ? with a body fat % of 12, you call him fat !!! hahahaha
November 17th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
#78 tight head:
You’re just looking for cannon fodder aren’t you!
Cheers TH, always good to see you here and read your oppinions.
Cheers too G2. Have a good evening.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
#89 OCO: Looking forward already to the S14. We have a very good team and also a good coach now. Cant see Plum just rotating the guys at will like Muir did. Thats why Barritt also has left. Muir had Steyn mostly on the bench for goodness sake. Plum played him all the time. I think Steyn on the bench is a waste Really excited for our team next year.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
#91 tjokvol:
Hienke may be stronger but then he is a loosehead and geldenhuis well…..beast nailed him in the CC and he gives away 4 -6 penalties a game, no disipline
November 17th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
#90 Hier kom groot k..: Beast is a damn fine player he will get better and better. He is young. Mujati maybe not so sure about him. Chiliboy was fantastic in the under 19’s remember seeing him there he has lots of talent. The only thing he has hardly played this year at all. Now will be sent in on Sat. He is also injury prone. But I see a great future for him if he stays injury free and gets lots of gametime next year with the Bulls which I think he will. Then next year this time he will be so much better. Right now not so sure as he has hardly played this year. So maybe someone else should have gone on tour. But Chiliboy when fit is a great player.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
#91 tjokvol:
This has nothing to do with colour ….again !!. If they are the best front row, choose them but as a unit they are not. Mujati has struggled in every test so far, not cos of his skin colour, but because he does not have enouf leg strenght for tighthead yet. This will come with time and he will then be awesome. compare his lower body to that of the beast, BJ, CJ and Jannie. He is probably the most mobile of the lot but his primary job is scrumming. Remember all those calling for gary botha to replace smit cos he was more mobile ? and when it happened, it was a distaster of note. No, scrum first run seccond. WQe have awesome loose forwards, let them run around the park like gazelles
November 17th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
#95 Puma:
Looks like exciting times but I find if the Sharks don’t get their head in front from the start they seem to lose interest. Not like teams (e.g. Liverpool) who can come from behind (sorry couldn’t think of a Rugga team that actually can do this in retrospect).
Habs is not in the best shape so would put JdV on the left and use FS/JF at centre. Adi has been really good and IMHO has performed better than JdV all season. However, FS/JF gives a more dynamic centre combo that are defensively better and give more ‘go forward’ to the team in an ‘honest’ sort of wat rather than trying to be spectacular. Honesty brings more rewards.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Without JdV at 12, this team would not have been in a position to say they have not lost on tour yet, Wales would have beaten us, JdV saved the game, this week Jacque Fourie saved the day, a couple times before that Adi Jacobs has done the honors, those not able to see JdV’s value at inside center are blinder than a whole family of bats.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
In fact, I’m dead keen to see Smit, chilli and beast in the front row this weekend with jannie and mujati on the bench
November 17th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
#97 Puma:
Agree about Chilli, he made an impact when he came on in the CC final. Haven’t seen much of him before but I was impressed.
Mujati though has never impressed me. Perhaps in a year or two but I would never have considered him at this stage in his carreer as a Bok.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
#100 tjokvol:
He is hugely valuable their but then we also won the WC witout him there. Makes you think…does’nt it
November 17th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
JC
I know you’re on line somewhere here. how has the front row been lining up at practise so far, although it’s only Monday
November 17th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
#102 OCO: Thats how I feel. Mujati should not have been on this tour. BJ or CJ one of those guys. Chiliboy is actually a great player when fit. Very strong guy. He has been injured for a long time though. Maybe if he stays injury free this year he may get back to where he was. Beast too I like the guy and think just leave him at 1 he has great heart and will get better all the time. Like tight head said we need a scrumming coach. No one on tour with the squad. Thats bad. We need to address that for next year for the Lions tour and agains the Ab’s and Oz.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
There are a lot of guys who know more than me about scrum talent & technique. Tighthead, Gerbs, Loosehead (imaginative nicks hose forwards), but here’s my observation.
The only front 3 that really did the business since RWC has been CJ, Bis, Beast. We dominated Australia and NZ in the last few 3N games.
I have never seen a Bok scrum with BJ dominate anyone.
It all starts – in this order – 3,2,1.
We need some miliepap youngsters back again in development. Brian Mujati could be it, but at 23 he’s a TH baby.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
All quite here on the western front
November 17th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
#100 tjokvol:
You obviosuly missed the trys that could have been other than JdV made mistakes. You also seem to miss that JdV gave away more trys in the 3N than any other player.
As Zulu says we won the RWC without him.
We have lost a greater percentage of games with JdV at centre than we’ve won when you consider the 100% record of FS/JF.
JdV is not as fgood as you think. Never heard any one or read anyone outside SA singing JdV’s praises.
the S14 stats show that FS outplayed JdV in all facets other than intercept tries – even head to head Sharks/Stormers)
there’s no contest, any other international team would play FS long before JdV or their homegrown players. Many have said so.
Strange that PdV will not play FS/JF he knows that he’ll be shown up if he does.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
#102 OCO: I would play Smit, Chili, Beast on Saturday with J dup on the bench.
I think Chili is going to be good. He’s big, strong and very quick.
Have Smit throw in to take pressure off.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
What I am finding worrying at this moment is that the SA Media obviously have been given rose tinted glasses. Come on, the performances in Wales and Scotland are placing us on a collision course for a hiding at Twickenham. England maybe rebuilding but they will not be as poor as in their finishing as our previous challenges. If the Boks don’t step up considerably we’ll leave this tour with a loss on a tour, that the Welsh and Scots are taking a lot of positives from. Edinburgh on Saturday night was quiet, normally the bok fans celebrate late into the night, by 11, there were more tourists than Bok fans.
Is it the players? Form is one thing, some of the selections could be argued for too. But it seems the team lack passion or self-belief. Or is it the tactics? Structures? Game plan? If you get the ball, kicking it back to your opposition in the hope they’ll make a mistake means that you’ll defend a lot, which we have done in the last 2 tests. Unless we retain possession, setup phase play and rule out the silly mistakes and penalties, I think we could be on the wrong end of an England team that retains it’s core.
PDV – back to basics!
November 17th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
#103 Zulushark: JdV is a great player most of the time but he can also be a selfish player and never passes. It cost us two tries on Sat him not passing. I saw it and all my mates did too. They showed you that again on All Out Rugby JdV just taking the ball up himself and he could easy have passed and it would have been a try. Jantjes done the same once. I would play Steyn and JF this Sat at 13 and 12. England will be expecting JdV and Adi. That would surprise them. They played well there in the world cup. Not taking anything away from Adi. He has played really fantastic this year but in the wet conditions I think I would have Steyn there. Especially against England.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Last post about the shambles upfront… then I really am gone…
Why did Bis get injured in the first place and why did beast then get beaten??? Because they were taking strain holding up Smit.
now, cheers!
November 17th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
#108 OCO: Ag Kak man bud. You’ve been breathing too many Kuwaiti oil fumes.
Steyn is a good player (at 15 would be downright scary) – but he is very 1 dimensional crash bang slow kick silly drop goal attempt player.
Jean is very intelligent, get’s the best out of his 10 and 13. Tackles extremely well.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
#110 Weepee:
It’s a bit of everything in my opinion. If I think of the team enviroments that I have played in in the past, team spirit is a key ingredient to successs. It dictates how far you will go for your team and your mates. Look at the sharks this year. I believe there is a fundemental problem within nthe bok team at the moment with various players and coaching staff not pulling together, but ratther in their own direction
November 17th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
#110 Weepee: I think its the gameplan. Also the guys are tired. Also the different refs view up there. We had no clue what he wanted from us. He blew us all the time then in the 2nd half blew the Scots all the time they too asked him what he wanted. We need to beat England well for me to think that this gameplan is working. Nothing so far has really worked. If we think we done well by beating Scotland by 4 then we are really on the road to going backwards very, very quick. Ab’s 2nd side beat them by 30.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
#108 OCO:
Hi Oco,
According to the local rugby journo’s it is just about a dead certainty that JdV will be crowned as the SA rugby player of the year. Adi was also quoted last week as saying that Jean is the best and must take a lot of the credit for his (success) this year.
Why can you not accept that he is very good?
November 17th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
#98 Zulushark:
Mujati is probably not technique wise yet, much like Lawrence Sephaka may have been strong enough at some stage but he lacked the technique to get the hit up front right
when Mujati fronted with Heinke and Wepener last year they were probably the most powerful front row in the country, he obviously needs a lot of technical training as does Beast who got taught a huge scrumming lesson against Murray of Scotland.
Props tend to mature late, this new giant of a 19 year old from Free State is probably our next loosehead coming through, though hard tough props usually take a good few years to mature, learn the tricks of the trade and develope the deep seated power that is required of a front row forward.
as to Garry Botha, I always knew he was a pipsqueak when it came to comparing him to any world renowned hooker, he would never had made my team ever, I’d have picked Brits before Botha,
However others like Bismark and Wepener and even Chilli Boy are another kettle of fish altogether and are probably all superior to John Smit in power play and mobility.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
#108 OCO: Jacques scored a lovely try on Saturday – I also liked how he started communicating across the field. I will say he is a great player.
Adi deserves his spot. Defense and attack.
That’s the way sport is.
Oh yes – Steyn can tackle and also cleans up on the deck well. Have to be fair.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
#111 Puma: is steyn a wet conditions specialist?
November 17th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
#111 Puma:
Spot on but this raises the question, is he playing for himself or for the team. If it is the former then maybe that is the general problem within the team. A team player will pass the ball to his mate, even with a open try line in front of him purely cos his mate is closer to the poles
November 17th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
#116 Robzim: Adi is my player of the year. He had to put up with a lot of “quota” derision. Kept his mouth shut and did his talking on the field.
Saved our arses on Saturday too. Last minute certain try tackle and turn (Steyn did well cleaning up).
November 17th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
#119 Transformation:
I’d be quite happy to have steyn at 12 and to be honest, if jdv brings out the best around him, place him at 13 with steyn at 12
November 17th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
#117 tjokvol: Gary Botha the most overrated plump flank in SA. I agree.
But fok he was better than Brits – the most overrated plump center in SA.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
#105 Puma:
TH is a legend and knows what he’s talking about (from my humble perspective who knows nothing about raw power).
Mujati has done nothing at CC or S14 or Internatonal level to warrant his selection. In all games, with different coaches, he has failed in the scrum and, without a strong foundation, one can’t launch an attack. Mujati is good around the park but that doesn’t help if you fail at your prime objective.
Beast, well, everyone loves the guy. The sound of ‘BEAST’ still echoes in the highlands long after the Scotland game. He hasn’t performed well though in the NH tour thus far but at least he show that he does have what it takes to compete with teams like Oz and NZ so he can’t be that bad!
maybe the food/weather/climate/surroundings put him a little at awe and under pressure but I think he’ll play a blinder this weekend. I’m betting that the proximity of the home shores after the game will up his spirits.
I’m more worried that the Pom centres will demolish JdV/Adi. As once said ‘He who controls the centre of the pitch controls the game’ and we’ve been missing this since PdV took over. It’s all good your forwards dominating and laying the foundation but you still have to make use of the ball.
In the first two games (and in the 3N) we failed to do this. Then it was the ‘bash Butch’ brigade but we don’t have Butch now and we’re doing no better.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
#113 SodaJoe:
Hi Soda,
Steyn is not only a slow kicker but he also runs very slowly. I also doubt very much whether he is a fast thinker
I got someone from London to bring me some of the stuff you recommended. It is a struggle to find anything that is not mainstream in this place nowadays..
November 17th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
#124 OCO:
Our centre will be fine against the poms. their centres are not great shakes
November 17th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
#125 Robzim:
Thats a bit harsh on the youngster.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Does anyone want tickets to Twickenham?
£60-£71 per ticket
November 17th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
#125 Robzim:
you obviously missed him conning kaplan in nthe cc final that he just wanted to take the kick before going off for blood….hehehehehehe
November 17th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
#124 OCO: Bud I haven’t seen Adi & JdV dominated once at center, and that includeceveryone who shouted NONU from the treetops. The English centers are hardly in 3N class, and are just starting to play together (and got totally dominated by Mortlock & Giteau at flyhalf).
We have agood center pairing and I only worry that Adi’s knee holds up (and then we have Jaques).
Front row is a different story.
Shape of back 3 is a different story.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
#103 Zulushark:
You will never be able to convince me that that world cup we played in last year was anything more than a whole over inflated ring around the rose bush that was nice to win but never tested our metal in anyway whatsoever, apart from our close shaves against 12th and 13th seeded Fiji and Tonga, nothing much happened, except for Bryan Habana getting shown a clean pair of heels by an unknown Zimbo.
Other than that it was a dress rehearsal charade, nobody bothered coming to the party apart from a dead beat Argentina and a self inflicted undercooked England.
Steyn played very well, enough to make his place very valuable in the Bok setup, but JdV is still the incumbent first center in the team, Steyn will need to work on his distribution skills and overview a little while longer yet, soon enough one or two of the incumbents will get injured or make way for him to show his magic again.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
#120 Zulushark: Yes he never passed on Sat twice when certain tries were on. They reshowed you that on All Our Rugby where JdV never passed and it cost us. He is a great player but times like that he is a selfish player playing for himself. If he had passed we would have had those tries for sure. Jantjes too make one mistake by not passing. They showed you that too on All Out Rugby on the slow mo. So you could see it easy. They are both great players but have to play for the team. Also remember when JdV got injured last year at the WC I was watching Wrap Down Under the Aussie show and theys said it was a blessing that injury for the Boks as they said finally F. Steyn would get to play as the rated him very much more than JdV they said F. Steyn would play for them 1st up always. So there its not just some of us that see it, its others from overseas too.
#119 Transformation: Just think he is a big guy and made some big tackles on Sat. I would like to see him start on Sat. Then I know that will never happen.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
#116 Robzim: I call it WP bias. His team didn’t even make the playoffs and he’s the best player??? Absolute nonsense.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
#125 Robzim: Hello Rob.
Kak game on Saturday.
But we will win this week.
I am going to the game. Twickenham has not been a happy hunting ground for me.
Pity about music, especially bringing it in from UK will be expensive.
Tried mailing stuff a while ago – never arrived. More than once. Or I would have helped you out.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
#131 tjokvol: Does it matter, NZ and Aus won it without facing SA in 2 RWC’s
Who cares and history certain will not elaborate about it
November 17th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
#127 Zulushark:
Perhaps, but imo he has all the attributes to become a great fullback in the Latham mould. Big, strong, huge boot etc.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
#131 tjokvol: Play him at 15 and Jantjes at 11.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
#131 tjokvol:
No matter what, it was the WC and we won it. It was no fault of ours that other teams (France) lost games thay should have won. We never choose the route but we accepted it gladly and for the next 4 years we have the right to be know as the World Champs !!!
November 17th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
#125 Robzim: FS ran rings around JDV in competition this year, playing opposite each other. Sorry dude, be real.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
#133 goyougoodthing2: Goody don’t be boring.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
#116 Robzim:
Hi ROb,
Never rated JdV and never will until he puts in the yards. It’s not a JdV vs FS thing as this goes on before I ever heard of FS.
Just prefer an honest journeyman against a show boater that’s all.
if JdV gets the prize then good luck to him.
The International personna know who they would pick at #12 and it’s not jdV.
mind you, not the first time that a prize is donated to a losing side to keep their morals up.
You will have also read the stats from the link I posted you.
Anyhow, despite the wonderous form of JdV he still couldn’ captain his side to a meaningful win against the Lions on two occassions, nor could he break through their defense.
It’s a matter of record.
I’m sure Adi would like to ‘come home’, he’s said so himself. Also note another player (well many) had to join WP to prove they were ‘worthy’ to get into the Bok squad.
hate people who lavish praises for their own ends.
Also note that JdV said he wanted to play along side FS a few months back. He also said he wanted to play with JF recently. Seems he’s trying to cement his position in the squad come what may.
Don’t see why PdV won’t give the FS/JF combo a try. Certainly worth a try (pun intended) as we’re going nowhere and little else to blame any more. Could save his job.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
#137 SodaJoe: Get Jantjes off the field
November 17th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
#139 goyougoodthing2: Not true.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
#141 OCO: I support the Lions (for my sins).
November 17th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
#140 SodaJoe: I’m not being boring, I’m being biased like everyone else
November 17th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
#133 goyougoodthing2:
If I was one match away from losing a serious bet I will rather keep a low profile
I see the Sharks/Stormers are meeting early in the Super 14. Payback time!!
November 17th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
#134 SodaJoe: Same here I have been every year and still waiting for a Bok win
Will be hoping for one this weekend
November 17th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
#136 Robzim:
I like the idea of him at f/b but i still like him at centre. He gets across the gainline 9/10 times and he is deceptivly quick over the first 10 meters and thats what give the like of adi and kanko the room to move
November 17th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
#146 Robzim: That bet has a strong possibility of being won! Now if the Boks would only listen to the coach for 80 minutes I would have won already
November 17th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
#130 SodaJoe: Giteau was very good on Sat. He was spot on with those kicks. Got most of Aussies points. Ruan is hit and miss with the kicking at goals. It will cost us that we don’t have a real kicker in the team.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
#139 goyougoodthing2:
Let’s sweep that under the carpet and pretend it didn’t happen.
Let’s also forget that FS has a RWC medal at #12 and JdV doesn’t.
Let’s also forget that Williams ran around JdV/Adi/Chavhanga and Jantjies when the Boks played Wales in SA.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
#142 goyougoodthing2: Because of Saturday?
Very good S14, Very good 3N. Best player against Wales.
Brave under high ball. Kicks long and well.
Needs to back himself more and ask more questions of opposition and create some space for his team mates. Pretty much a confidence issue.
A little too risk averse with his continual up and unders – a little one dimensional. Again confidence.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
#145 goyougoodthing2: LOL
November 17th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
#147 JL1: It’s our fkn turn I tell you. ********.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
#128 JL1: Giving up hope tjomma?
November 17th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Naand fokkkerrrrrrrrrrssssssss
Het julle nie huise en vrouens, kinders & kuk & hare nie ??
Demmit julle BOERRRRRRRRRR hier !! Fokkoffff nou, my hel !!
Hehehe
Kom ek beginne weer mooi…. Goeie naand my geleerde rugbymaats !
November 17th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
#137 SodaJoe: Thats what I would do this Sat. If Steyn cant play at 12 I would play him at fullback and Jantjes at 11. Habs on the bench. But read in the papers that PdV will play Habs no matter what this Sat and Habs is so out of form.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
#151 OCO: Let’s forget too then that a number 8 ran down and tackled haBanana…
Or that Januarie can’t pass right
Or that Spies can’t catch
Or that Smit is fat
Otherwise all glory to the finger
November 17th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
#139 goyougoodthing2:
Pity the scribes nominating the players of the year fail to see it.
Mind you, I heard they are also going to nominate a “best player on the bench” from next year onwards. Maybe Frans can challenge for that award.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
#148 Zulushark: Getting 1 meter over the gain line is not all that helpful.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
#156 grootblousmile:
hulle’s amal in die bed !!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
#154 SodaJoe: It better be, I need this win maybe more than PDV
#155 scar: Never give up, never surrender
November 17th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
#152 SodaJoe: Because Stefan Terblance eats him for starters, not even mains.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
#144 SodaJoe:
never mind we can still be friends
I do think that you are level headed though and are not (provincialy – or otherwise) biased. I certainly try not to be but get ’spanked’ for my honest opinion.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
#150 Puma: When he dithers over the ball I think it’s 50:50. When he sets it, settles and kicks he’s a 90%.
I think he is going to be the best flyhalf we have ever had and he’s still very young. 2 more World Cups in him.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
#160 SodaJoe:
Come on man !! don’t be so lion biased. He get at least 2 meters every time and 15 against the lions..ehehehehehehe
November 17th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
#161 Zulushark: In wie se bed ??
November 17th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
#163 goyougoodthing2:
Last time they played saw ST trying to clean him off his studs…..
November 17th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
#162 JL1: Seriously I laughed my head off at that one. Fkn funny dude. I know what you mean.
But we will win.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
#167 grootblousmile:
die buurman, wie anders !!!!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
#151 OCO: OK.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Klip in die bos:
Saw Cobus Visagie playing for Saracens on Saturday. PdV could do himself a favour and rope him in for a bit of frontrow consultation.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
#159 Robzim: He won’t be benched at the Sharks. Maybe we can have ‘Best Pretend Springbok Player of the Year according to DIV and WP’ and then best ‘Not considered for Bok but S14 and CC Champ Awards”
November 17th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
If we would have dropped Butch earlier than we did we would most likely have won the 3N, I’m willing to take a wager on it though the damn deed is already don and that sad horse bolted when they chickened out from playing Grant and went like merry go round the f’ng mulberry bush with Steyn at 10, and Butch at 10 and then Pienaar at 10.
Pienaar is the best candidate out of the 3 Sharkey boys, and although Grant is also a born and bred Natalian, like Honiball was, he would have been the right choice at pivot this year.
That one dumb decision has cost us a hell of a lot more consternation this year than anyone in this country even remotely understands, it was the most stupid decision of the entire year and set us back a whole couple seasons of progress already. Idiots, and i’m willing to lay my bottom dollar that it was Muir and Smit that pushed for Butch and Pienaar, and Grant sucked hind ***.
In the end we have a talented and fluid young general when on the front foot, but he will always be suspect under pressure, Peter Grant would have insured we motivated our correct game plan forward, we would never have looked back, now we looking left right and center, and still don’t know where the hell vorentoe lies.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
#165 SodaJoe: Yes I think he is a fantastic player. I think that he will get the kicking perfect. It will take time. Just watch him play agains the Lions next year after playing flyhalf for a whole season with the Sharks. He is really going to be a great there.
Now out of here all. Enjoy the evening.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
#157 Puma: Habs should have stayed at home iwth his hammie and shoulder – no one could have blamed him.
Dof Dof Dof Dof Dof Dof Dof Dof Fkn DOF man management.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
#166 Zulushark: LOL
November 17th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
#174 tjokvol: Not sure what you smoke but it sounds mighty good. LOL
November 17th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
#170 Zulushark: Hehehe
My Handbriek het BOOOOOOOSSSSSSS by die huis aangekom…. sy het ‘n woeste BlouMaandag gehad….. eers het sy ‘n uur langer werk toe gery as gevolg van kragonderbrekings along the way…. toe die wildste dag van baklei gehad met dom forkerrrrssssssss wat onder haar werk….
So, ek het haar kamer toe gestuur om sepies te gaan kyk, ‘n laaaang bad te vat…. en haar reg te kry vir my undevided attention !!
Toe kom speel ek maar weer solank !
November 17th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
#172 scar: Do you want a ticket?
£60-£71 pounds
Lower east, around the 22m
November 17th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
#174 tjokvol:
So I take it you’re a grant supporter than ?
November 17th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
#174 tjokvol: Howzit Skops.
Although I agree on Butch – Grant & Pienaar (although he pushed for 9) would have been a lot better.
But stop whining about Muir & Gold.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
#179 grootblousmile: That’s the type of management we need in the Boks dressing room!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
#174 tjokvol: Skop, phone your friend PDV and tell him
November 17th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
#181 Zulushark: He just hates all thuings Jake White.
Cheers again all
November 17th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
#179 grootblousmile:
Trek uit die stad uit. It will kill you yet, i kid you not..
November 17th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
#159 Robzim:
Yeh remember a certain cricket match. WP vs EC at Newlands. Kallis on 73, from memory, and WP running away with the game. A certain read headed gentleman came back into the attack, removed Kallis, took a hat trick and 5 for the match. EC won and the man of the match was? Kallis.
So much for rationality.
FS is rated internationaly, not JdV. Would rather be rated by the international community than by a bunch of self congratulatory locals.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
#182 SodaJoe: Snap!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
#180 JL1: Cheez, ek het eers laat gisteraand van London teruggekom, family LHR toe gevat en toe Saracens gaan kyk. Sal jou asap laat weet!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
#179 grootblousmile: Is it not un- deee – vided attention?
Or is it Undies Divine Intervention?
November 17th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
#183 scar: Hehehe… what… the BOOOOOSSSSS part or my Organisational abilities to have her calm down ??
November 17th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
#191 grootblousmile: Both!!
#190 SodaJoe: Or Undies devided attention!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
#187 OCO: I am going to call you Skopocoskiet soon.
There is an empty bed in the Jake White ward at Sterkies since Puma stopped going on and on and on about Spies. It’s between Skops and Grant (who also goes on and on about Steyntjie).
November 17th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
#186 Zulushark: I’m rustig Zulu… I have offices at my house….. it’s the Handbriekie who has to brave the rush hour traffic to Auclandpark in Josi twice a day………. dammit I feel for her… it’s not nice at all !!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
#193 SodaJoe: hehehehe!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
#194 grootblousmile: I thought the Texis from the ‘Pan were ok?
Maybe she had a sore finger?
November 17th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Lots of Frans Steyn bashing going on here…..if he and jaque didnt come on we would have lost Sat…..
November 17th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
#190 SodaJoe: #190 SodaJoe: No Undies – legs devided ATTENTION !!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
#187 OCO:
We will never agree on Frans and Jean, nothing wrong with that. At this stage I am in the pound seat as Jean is in and Frans is on the bench. Maybe it will change later, who knows?
I do not know where you are getting the info that FS is rated internationally and not JdV. It sounds a bit dodgy
November 17th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Early weather indications for Saturday, sunny but cold.
Friday’s weather in Twickenham is 7 degrees high, -1 low with sunshine (no rain), and cold northernly wind.
Dress up warm!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
#193 SodaJoe: Janee daai gesanik kan mens mal maak
November 17th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
..and warm up those hamstrings farkit!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
#196 SodaJoe: Pssssst… don’t tell anybody but Handbriekie is an aggressive driver…. Jody Schecter se maaaaa se moerrrrrrrrr !!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
#198 grootblousmile: You should be so lucky. I suggest booze. Strong booze. And the “sepies”.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
#193 SodaJoe:
Don’t mind what you call me as long as it’s not early in the morning
From my perspective there’s FS, Ruaan and to some extent Kanko and Kocky that are the future of Sharks and SA rugby (OK I’m talking backs) and to see 3 of them languishing on the bench (or at home) is stupid.
To have FS and JF sitting on the bench is, well, immoral?
November 17th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
#184 JL1:
PdV’s problem is that he listens to too many people,
he listens first to Dickey boy Muir, then he listens to Johnny boy Smit, then he listens to Gary boy Goldilocks, then he listens to Vicky boy Matfield, now and again he listens to Jean and Juan and Bryan when they’re all throwing their toys out their cots, and then before he goes to bed at night he tries listening to God.
In the final analysis if he’d goddam start listening to himself and his own inner convictions Peter Grant would have been the Springbok fly half in June and we would have won the 3N and we would be riding as high as some Chinese kite filled with helium.
Otherwise he could always get on the blower and start listening to me instead, then all the problems would be solved.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
#197 grant10: I would have Steyn on at FB and kick drop goals all day against the English. or run at those poms and I would also play JF, size matters in my book
November 17th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
frans at 10 saturday and cipriani will wet himself!!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
#187 OCO:
I cannot remember that match. Who was the bowler from EC that took a hat trick? Maybe Brett Schultz?
November 17th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
#203 grootblousmile:
And who would put her in such a mood
November 17th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
#122 Zulushark: you’d be happy because steyn is a better player than adi or you just want steyn playing at whatever cost, chuck working combinations to the side?
November 17th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
#206 tjokvol: Skop, I think that if you want to advise PDV, you better get ready for a long wait in the queue
November 17th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
#199 Robzim: Kuwaiti Times that well known publication. Rugby is second only to Camel Racing in terms of priority.
Nah this discussion goes on – and now Grant is going to come in. I will say it again – Steyn at center – crash bang bif slow kick droppie attempt 1 m gain.
At 15 (banned from drop kicking) – scary. For the All Blacks.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
10 Ruan
11 JdV
12 FS
13 Adi
14 JPP
15 Jantjes
16 JF
November 17th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
#206 tjokvol: My issue is that as individuals the players are doing well, except at tight head, scrumhalf and fullback, and wing……………………but as a team we just not doing the job
who is responsible for that, surely the head coach
November 17th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
#204 SodaJoe: I am so lucky…. after the “sepies” I will light some candles for her to bath by…. and put on some mood music…. pour some aromatic oils in the bath water….. they melt for that type of treatment…….. I’m quite the romantic sort actually !
November 17th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
#208 JL1: JA boet…bloody hell i am sick and tired of the most talented backline player in SA languishing on the bench!!!! We play our guys into the ground…will haunt us Saturday…dead men walking!!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
#213 SodaJoe:
lol
November 17th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
#205 OCO: I think Ryan is a terific impact player but needs to put in more hard yards when it is tight. Spies is really grafting his bum of at the moment, and might just break through.
Rocket is very unlucky. If I was him I would pack for Perth.
Frans is a 15. Give him time to get his head up. Give him time to launch those bombers and touch finders. Attack space.
Nice problem to have – our bench.
If only we had a scary Tight Head
November 17th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
#217 grootblousmile: enjoy!!! After Sat nightmare we all need to unload…pardon the pun!!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
weather jannie starts or mujati starts the boks are looking at a massive hiding by england,they cant get going they look tired and PDV has now out stayed his welcome.we gonna lose to england on saturday and the british lions are gonna thump us 3-0 if PDV is still coache is taking springbok rugby backwards and this must stop now
November 17th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
#216 grootblousmile: Just don’t wear Homer Simpson undies, it kills the mood like a dry ****
November 17th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
#217 grant10: I am going to get the nurse to give the 3 of you (now including OCO) a fkn big injection.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
#220 SodaJoe: we have a great tighthead….BJ Botha!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
#221 shark bok: A think that you should go out and place a $10,000 bet, RIGHT NOW, no time to lose, come on. Great odds.
You won’t.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
#221 shark bok: They only people who are more depressed than Springbok supporters are the England supporters. I was at the Saracens match yesterday and the crowd was shouting “Cipriani” every time a flyhalf made a mistake!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
#220 grant10: Hahaha… yeah… she deserves to be spoilt and I deserve to get unloaded….. fair trade !
Hehehe
November 17th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
#224 SodaJoe: hi soda….as long as she is Blonde and gifted!!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
#224 grant10: Boet, Boet, Boet. I can’t take it any more.
You have the beach, porno blonde Swedes and Turks. A Beemer. But fok you like the wrong players. It’s a curse.
The ONLY front 3 since RWC that have dominated a game has been CJ, Bis and Beast.
BJ has never helped us dominate at scrum time. Before RWC too.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
#227 scar: imagine the heat he would feel with frans bearing down on him!!!.Peter Grant, Ruan….no chaps…the answer is under your noses….skops,soda and Robzim as blind as those bats skops mentioned in a previous post!!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
#228 grant10: She will also (if you’re very, very good) check out your prostrate.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
my team if there is any hope of beating england
15 steyn
14 jp
13 fourie
12 devilliers
11 hab
10 pienaar (steyn)
9 du preez (pienaar)
8 kanko
7 smith
6 burger
5 matfield
4 bakkies
3 jannie
2 smit
1 beast
16 mujati
17 rossouw
18 spies
19 januarie
20 conrad
21 jacobs
22 depends if dupreez injured
November 17th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
#219 SodaJoe:
I wish that kocky little kockety kock kockott would pack for Perth with Pickfords, I may even pay the fare.
Heinie Adams, Franscois Hougard maybe a couple others are way better and more humble about it too, he should f’off to Australia, his mentality suits them, and they suit him, he should do a Rhino waltz like that wing that thought he was next best thing to sliced bread, the one Jake was so devastated over, lucky for Jake he f’d off because then John Smit would never have been captain the Australian Wannabee Rhinoceros would have.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
#230 grant10: Forget she’s going to check out your prostrate and inspect your colon with a looooong camera.
Frans “bears” down on these guys week in week out – a 1m gain is not that helpful. Bif Bang Crash Ball Bif Bang. Droppie wide. Crash Bif. Slow intercepted kick Bif Hospital pass.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
#232 shark bok: It is a pity there are not more Sharks players, hey
November 17th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
#230 SodaJoe: go check 1 st test vs wales this season…bj….smit and beast….best ,most dominant front row performance of the year…by the way cj not shabby either! Rest of your points…yeah…i am quite lucky!! LOL
November 17th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
#209 Robzim:
hate to say this but can’t remeber his friggin name.
red hair (therfore wasn’t Brett), played for the Proteas and later the Dolphins then dissappeared. temperament matched his hair. Tall, sort of gangly.
Accuracy not his strong suit.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
soda joe i bet you wont go put a $10 000 bet on the boks winning on saturday????? i BET YOU WONT
November 17th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
#231 SodaJoe: Thats low
November 17th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
#208 grant10:
Cip does look a bit fragile compared to Frans!!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
#233 tjokvol: Too long for a T Shirt.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
#232 SodaJoe: now thats something i could do without!!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
#233 tjokvol: Take 2 blue ones and one red one, immediately and start to breath
November 17th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
#228 grant10: How many blondes does a man need?………………. ***** Bells!!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
232 JA BOET at least the sharkies are impressive even thogh they are tired
November 17th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Guys do not forget the reality that is facing PDE V, he has employers to report to and transformation is a huge part of his brief. It is not going to go away, he has numbers and he needs to fill them , bottom line !!!
The players of color he has in his side are all very good players in their own right, , Beast could go on and be a great player, Mujati good but perhaps not ready for test arena. JP as good as any other international wing , especially defensively. Habana already a great and will be again. Jantjes very good without being great, no better fullback in SA besides Stefan but his age counted against him and remeber numbers have to be filled so Jantjes the obvious choice.
Ricky is unique and brings to the game his own style and strengths, a great stand in for Fourie.
So while while these guys are not necessary the best in their posistions they are still very good, and what would we do if we had a brief from our employers to fill nummbers.
PDEV is also a work in progress, he will get it wrong but I geuss he is learning and I am happy if mistakes do not get repeated, the problem I believe lays with his back up team, also relatively inexperienced at test level, so collectively we have the entire coaching team on a learning curve, that fundamentally is the problem.
Oh yes and for people who are saying that Pienaar sufferd because fourie was not there to take the pressure off him , well then he should not be playing in a pressure posistion, if he has not got the temprament to handle it, best he get out and give the posistion to Steyn, he will thrive on the pressure
November 17th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
#237 OCO: David Terbrugge?
November 17th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
#236 grant10: We definitely did not dominate Wales B. That was the start of the early malaise that continued until CJ, Bizzie and Beast came in to their own.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
#241 SodaJoe: Hi Soda, my Skopie T shirt quote is ….”Goose Bumps or Sugar Lumps, I call a Spade a Spade”!!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
#235 SodaJoe: Soda,,,,what the hell you been drinking???
November 17th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
#242 grant10: So behave yourself.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
#237 OCO: Here’s a clue, when he made his debut against England, the commentators comment on his WAYWARD bowling was that he was “like a young puppy being let loose in a field full of rabbits” !!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Oco,u really seem to dislike jdv!steyn is a great player,but i think if he was playing in centre fourie would not have scored against scots because he probably would not have passed.i think his best games for boks has been at fullback and wing where he has space and time to make his gr8 runs and where he does not have to pass as he is not a good distributer.pls stop carrying on about rwc medal as jdv would also have one if he didn’t get injured.steyn played really well at rwc but jdv was always 1st choice centre.jdv is nominated for player of year for reason.i agree though that steyn should be in starting lineup as he will be a special player
November 17th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
#213 SodaJoe:
Nah, we don’t race Camels here, just Cayennes – biggest number per population in the world..
Betetr than a 312 who goes AWOL for most of the match whilst he has his hair permed on the side lines.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
#237 OCO:
It might be Nantie Hayward then?
November 17th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
#252 scar:
Thanks dude, was scratching my head. Thought I felt a hole appearings.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
#245 carol: LOL…Hi Princess…soda Frans bashing and threatening invasive medical treatment on me!! Too many blondes…is that possible?? LOL
November 17th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
#255 Robzim:
Yup, don’t have much hair to scratch away any more!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
#252 scar: Nantie Hayward, the only guy more attractive that Niel Jenkins
November 17th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
#216 grootblousmile: Talk like that and you publishing your e mail address here, you may be inundated with “special requests” form the female bloggers!! LOL Hehehe… (as you would say)!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
hi all, Im pretty new to the site so please have some patience with me, but I enjoy everyone’s comments.
i’m just sorry that John Smit isn’t playing tighthead against England this weekend, i would’ve liked it if big Andy Sheridan proved to PdV and everyone else that John Smit isn’t a tighthead.
He hardly managed against Wales.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
#259 JL1:
I swear I nearly made a similar comment in my previous post but then decided not to be rude!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
#247 JL1:
Had red hair but no Wayward Hayward – owe Scar a beer for that. Cheaper than having to buy a toupe.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
i made this 2 worder for a t shirt;may have mentioned this before ;;;; F/ck celibacy! cool ! Sorry Princess…
November 17th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
#257 grant10: How many could you cope with?
Have I missed anything here today? Good grief it was grumpy yesterday!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
#246 justrugby: Well written.
Disagree on Pienaar, but reality is when your scrum is getting murdered everything behind it goes to pot.
Visiting hours for Skop, Grant and Oco are over.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
#264 grant10: Tell me you didn’t wear it !!!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
#259 JL1: And Jannie de Beer!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
#260 carol: Hahaha…. I knew the moment you pitched you would read my post and it would GRAB your attention…. see I understand the female species…. as well as they can be understood…. hehehe
I don’t have many minutes here until the 2 soapies finish….
November 17th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
#249 SodaJoe: cj or bj cool with me…just not ,at this stage against eng, mujati or j smit!!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
#269 grootblousmile: Phase 2: Get some bubbles in the bath …
November 17th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
#262 Robzim: Hi Rob, I had to laugh at your comments about the Percy book!! I was a bit surprised to see he hunts. Hunting over here is chasing small furry critters with a pack of hounds!!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
#266 carol: just Robzim and soda dissing Frans…they should stick to music!!! LOL
November 17th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
#267 carol:
And Sherman?
November 17th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
#250 grant10: #238 shark bok: Nope.
But one-eyed dogma like this “weather jannie starts or mujati starts the boks are looking at a massive hiding by england,they cant get going they look tired and PDV has now out stayed his welcome.we gonna lose to england on saturday and the british lions are gonna thump us 3-0 if PDV is still coache is taking springbok rugby backwards and this must stop now” needs a man with real balls to stand behind it.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
#266 carol: 7 of the 9 fridges now with blondes….damn theres a lesson in there somewhere!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
#266 SodaJoe:
Soda, i think Ruan is a gifted rugby player, he will be a good flyhalf but never a great as some suggest.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
#269 grootblousmile: Amazing, you Saffa blokes do have some style……….I knew I was in the right place.
Can you teach the Europeans how to behave please!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
#275 SodaJoe: Grant I don’t know why your name is included. You had nothing to do with that.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
#272 carol:
I was actually shocked! I always though he was the sensitive kind.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
#274 Robzim: Sherman Robertson absolutley blew our socks off. He was brilliant value, the best blues act I have seen since Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges last year!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
#276 SodaJoe: i think it takes more than 1 person to bring the boks to there knees…Poor man management and a lack of confidence in the squad has left this team shattered physically….sat we will pay the price…i pray i am wrong…i usually am…said boks by 6 vs scots and 7 vs wales…this sat eng to win…but would like to see teams first!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
#276 grant10: Promise I won’t hassle you for a fridge! Any fridges with redheads?
November 17th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
#199 Robzim: The kiwis and ozzies rate FS and not JDV. They have been saying it for about 2 years on all their shows.
Sorry Rob, hate to be the bearer of bad news.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
#278 carol: Nope…we won’t teach the European blokes didly squat….. we are hungry fellas with a healthy appetite !
November 17th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
#272 carol:
Also known as “bullying” 20 odd against one fox hardly seems fair game…… LOL
November 17th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
#281 carol: Hows life in the North of the South West?
November 17th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
#278 justrugby: hey my man …1st loan reg today,,,,chq in the post …congrats!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
#277 justrugby: Like everything – we will have to wait and see.
I think he’s quick with very good hands. Takes a lovely gap, and ask questions of the opposition. Kicks like a mule. Tackles.
Where do you see him as weak?
Steyn – needs space to collect his thoughts. His talents give him many options. Maybe too many when in limited space.
Peter Grant. Good player. Better at 10 than Frans imo. Very unlucky not to tour.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I don’t rate Mujati at all, and Jannie is only slightly better but not world class.
we lost our only 2 decent tightheads in CJ and BJ
November 17th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
#280 Robzim: It was the zebra that really surprised me. I suppose they need culling like deer though. I know nothing of “big game” management, as you may have guessed!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
#215 JL1:
There is a feeling of despondency because they have been selling themselves short, they were a couple tries short in the 3N from finding their form, and when it did not materialize because they were not gelling to the levels that they were aiming at, they started to doubt themselves, the vision, the game plan and unravel and a whole coup looks like it started transpiring from within.
We have all heard how its the senior players now calling the shots and the game plans from the change rooms, that is not a good situation, PdV picked his assistants and his advisers, Muir, Gold, and Smit his captain, he also listens intently to what these people are telling him because he believes they all have the necessary experience and maturity to give him the right feed in and information.
If I must criticize him mostly it is for giving these people around him too much power and too much sway over his decision making, he possibly has chosen the wrong assistants, I cannot know that for sure, seems some of the things Muir is saying and Smit is saying is almost in direct contradiction, so there seems to be a pulling apart in relation to the ideology and philosophy of the playing style.
Jakes style for me was a recipe for stagnation and lack of progress, PdV had very high ambitions for where he saw these players evolve to as a winning team, somewhere along the way some poor decisions were taken, and they were not many, only one or two wrong turns, like Fly half for one, Tight head for another, and the lack of a true fetcher and a competent No.8 the 3rd.
Overall we have not played badly in any game this year but let ourselves down in critical moments on the field. Schalks going off his feet about 6 times in the last two games almost disrupted our entire momentum in both games, had we scored from the momentum then, or when we were challenging NZ or OZ in Wellington, Perth, Durban, it would all have turned out very differently.
This is where some faith and commitment is required, by players and coaches alike. Somebody has to take the stand that they are persevering with a specific standard and strategy come hell or high water and not flip flop around trying this way and that, Stick to their guns and pull it through.
If any player or coaches assistant cannot but into the philosophy 100% and carry it through, then they should climb off the bus.
I’d rather have less talented players 100% committed that a whole lot of super stars that are only giving 60-70% or only playing out of pride but not from inner conviction.
It makes a huge difference the psychology and mentality a player or a team takes to the field. If they are under emotional strain already, so much more is the physical strain going to manifest itself onto them also.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
#280 SodaJoe: no stress my man
November 17th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
#284 carol: i black haired italian…and a brunette!!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
#281 carol:
You mean you never got to see SA’s Bles Bridges………ask GBS for a copy of his cd …LOL I know GBS will take it with a smile…
November 17th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
#282 grant10: I think we will win. It’s a Test match. 1 point will be enough for me.
Both teams under pressure to perform. A lot of pressure. Proud guys. Going to be good. Especially if the ground is dry.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
#285 grootblousmile: A means to an end………….LOL
Low cunning to, like our fox!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
#288 grant10: Nice.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
#291 carol: Cheers…. Romeo signing off !!
Heeee haaaaaa….. handbriekie here I come….. well I mean… I’ll be there now !!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
A frontrow of Heinke, Wepener and BJ will murder anything that the bokke can put on the park this weekend!!!!! Finish en klaar!!!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
#291 rooijan: agree with you…we will miss them sat and against the lions in 2009!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
#221 shark bok: PdeV said on tonight’s SABC news that Jannie duP is still fresh and wants to play – maybe he provides the x-factor. The other guys want to go home according to PdeV. By saying that he wants Jannie to play in stead of Mujati. He could at least see that Mujati wasn’t up to standard.Mujati needs a couple more seasons to develop into a class tight head. I’m, not saying Jannie is the real thing, but he is the best we have ( excluding BJ, CJ, Cobus Visagie ). Chilliboy should have stayed at home. He is talented but needs a decent run in the Super 14, after which he could be selected. It surely doesn’t help his confidence if he is there but isn’t selected. By the way, Bismarck had to do a lot of srumming ( helping Smit against Jenkins and was therefore not too visible in the loose as usual). If Adriaan Strauss was in England, he could have played with JS at 3, with Jannie to fall back on in case it didn’t work. Jaque Fourie has to play – even if it is at 11. Habana so out of form
November 17th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
#292 tjokvol:
I’d rather have less talented players 100% committed that a whole lot of super stars that are only giving 60-70% or only playing out of pride but not from inner conviction.
Ever consider supporting Scotland?
Do agree with most of your sentiments though
November 17th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
#286 justrugby: Usually 30-35 hounds!!
Are you saving to come over to watch rugby at Twickenham, Milennium Stadium and footie at Man U as well? You, Grant, Angelina and blonde can come and stay at the farm!!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
#300 K9_BaasPatrolliehond: thats a decent front row! they can take on and beat any front row in the world today.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
#288 grant10:
Now that’s good news !!!! Well done to all involved !!!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
#287 scar: North of the south west is just fine thanks, how is the wet old west country today?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
#297 SodaJoe: Happy with that too…we need to be more bold and trusting though…we are killingour players…no trust and faith…
November 17th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
#299 grootblousmile: Hot cheeks go for it and 10 out of 10 for effort……………X
November 17th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Cheers all,
have Aus vs Eng and NZ vs Ireland recorded and ready to be watch over some cold Macaroni & Cheese and Tangle Foot ale!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
#307 carol: misrable, hence my plan as outlined in #310
November 17th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
#304 carol:
For sure, have had the pleasure of going to Old Trafford, did the tour brilliant…., Grant 10 just said there’s a cheque in the post so yeah, will start saving !!!!!!!
Love to see the farm
November 17th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
#253 ruggalover:
I don’t dislike JdV. Think he seems like a nice guy. However, nice guys don’t always make good sportsmen.
the point of JdV being ‘preffered’ is a moot one. JW was going nowhere with his squad. Come Jones and he makes some changes (the RWC team was not JW’s preffered bunch based on his previous selections). I think Jones would have had FS in the starting line up before JdV and that JdV’s injury removed the problem anyway.
there is no evidence that the Boks would have won without Steyn or vice versa. The reality is that the FS/JF combo was the ‘incumbent’ one.
PdV changed the team and we have been losing or scrapping by since. that’s fact. there was no reason to leave FS out. That’s another fact.
In all the years that JdV has played for the Boks they have not done well – another fact. FS had much better stats than JdV in the S14. Another fact. Head to head FS was miles better than JdV – another fact. JdV was less than ordinary against his last two International opponents, another fact. JdV is not rated highly internationally but FS is – another fact. JdV with all his captaincy and line breaking ability could not beat the Lions to get into the last 4 in either the S14 or CC – another fact.
The list goes on. JdV is not as good as some would like to think. I’ve watched him from the day of international debut and have not been impressed. he had a good S14 this year but his success there has not been realised in internationals.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
# K9_BaasPatrolliehond: for sure…no doubts on that one!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
#222 scar: Have just seen “comedy underpants”….you are right, NEVER a good idea!!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
#293 grant10: All your reply numbers don’t relate to mine by the way. The Atlantic Ocean & North American continent are ******** things up.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
#300 K9_BaasPatrolliehond:
Now you cooking with gas, but Beast is not a bad option off bench when Heinke runs out of steam. I’m not so sold on BJ, but Heinke and Wepener are best 1 and 2 for an arm wrestle against England. Better than Smit at 2 or 3.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
JC….”How Ralepelle has leapfrogged him [Strauss] in the hooking queue is anybody’s guess.” Hmmmm… I don’t have a PhD in astro-physics, but maybe it has something to do with the fact that Snor schemes that quota frogs push much harder than white frogs???
COME NOW WHO HAS THE B*LLS TO OBJECTIVELY DENY THIS?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
#313 OCO: What are you implying?? :0
November 17th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
#302 CharlesM:
Are you saying PdV said that he is banking on the Doc to inject some life into them.
That is also a bit frightening to hear that the others want to go home. It could be another long Saturday then.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
#294 grant10: Italian and brunette your list goes on. Any poms yet?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
#313 OCO: Skopocoskiet. Do you think that it might be a WP conspiracy?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
#317 SodaJoe: same my side my man!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
#310 scar: Put it in the aga/microwave it’s not difficult! Nice to catch up.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
#317 tjokvol: That Wepener is a big boy that’s for sure. If he liked sheep enough the Kiwi’s might take him.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
#318 Trafulha: Ralepelle came from no where after not playing for about 2 years, straight into the CC final, single handedly costing the bulls the game and from there on almost into the bok squad.
makes no sense at all!!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
#312 justrugby: That would be great. Grant has some pictures of the farm. I told him how to Google earth us, but that was a bit too complicated for him!! You know what he is like with computers!! LOL
November 17th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
#318 Trafulha: Me.
Chili is bigger, faster and stronger than Strauss. Who had his chance and proved that he was the Morne Steyn of hookers. Good but not good enough.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
#322 carol: i dated , believe it or not, the daughter of an ex Manchester City Centre Forward…..wonderful blonde…hilarious time…justrugby involved for a while with her best friend!! Loved her name ZOE….loved the accent…mmm
November 17th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
#326 rooijan: Rubbish. Looked strong and dynamic.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
#323 grant10: So do you?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
#324 carol: same here!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
#319 scar:
I’m not implying anything. Just stating truths. I leave it to the jury to decide.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
#329 SodaJoe: morne steyn almost as pedestrian as peter Grant!!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
#317 tjokvol: Wished we had the following on tour: Beast, Heinke, JS, Wepener, Cobus Visagie and BJ.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
#329 grant10: I don’t know whether to be amused or astonished by your prievious love life!!! Never dull though!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
#292 tjokvol: Yes I agree, but PDV is the owner of his own destiny, he made all of the calls
SA do not have quality coaches, the Kiwis have many and they are coaching all over the world, we need to get coaches out best was Christie/Mallet and I would say PDV and JW will be on par at the end of the day-hardly something to write home about
The players are also to blame to a ceratin degree, but the biggest load of blame has to be on PDV and his selections
No tighthead, and many other strange selections
November 17th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
#326 rooijan:
Chilli Boy’s 10 minutes in the CC was head and shoulders superior than anything Kuun produced the entire 70 minutes before, in fact the entire season before, Chilliboy was on fire, and Smit or Bismark could not keep up with him for that 10 minutes he was on the field, I reckon you white boys should perhaps change your spectacles.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
#317 tjokvol: Skop, I can’t keep up with you! You ok today?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
#270 grant10: Before I retire to my book, evening girls. If I were the coach for saturday’s game against the Poms I’d do the following, first thing tomorrow morning :
1. Call Sarasens and tell them to put Visagie in a taxi with instructions to head to the Bok training camp with learning aid to reaquaint himself with the national anthem.
2. Tell Schalk to take measurements for the No7 and Juan the No8.
3. Cap a new Springbok and chuck the No6 in his direction.
4. Capt John is told to stay put in No1 and continue to mentor his benchman, Chilli. Chilli to get 10 at the end for the experience.
5. The rest of the pack pretty much picks itself but Danie will warm my bench with the intention of using him for fresh legs.
6. FdP first but if unavailable, Januarie, after he’s done 5 circuits of Hyde Park with a recording of “I must learn to execute a decent pass to Ruan or he’s going to donner me into losing another 10kg’s” in repeat form, on his ipod.
7. JdV at 12. If you want to lose this one, pick FS for F’sS.
8. AD @ 13. Not Jacques, because he’s needed at 14.
9. Jantjes at 15 to be repaced by Steyn if a spark in half 2 is required.
10. JP at 11 goes without saying.
11. Spies on the bench as wing cover.
Then girls, I would feel better about placing my hard earned moolah on a small bet on the Boks bashing the Poms come saturday. But that wont happen so my moolah is going to stay in my piggy bank for this one, out of harms way.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
#334 grant10:
Hi Mr Grant,
Are you related to Peter? There are also some people in my family that I detest (and vice versa to be fair) so I was just wondering?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
sorry No1 = No2. Biiiig difference.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
#336 K9_BaasPatrolliehond: absolutely!!! Thats true sa front row forwards!!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
313 oco: i am almost 100% certain that fourie and jdv would have continued the centre pairing in the rwc if jdv wasn’t injured.they really were a great combination.you can’t really judge the few games fourie and steyn combo played in the tight rwc games which mostly revolved around defense against all the games that jdv and fourie played together.steyn has proven to not be a great distributor and you can’t argue that fact..that could change if he is given chance at 12 because he is good enough to learn.its ridiculous to say that the team has lost because steyn and fourie have not been centre pairing and why jdv stats might be poorer than steyn in s14.steyn was playing behind sharks pack and jdv was playing behind stormers pack..jdv played really well considering that alone.steyn also did not play at 12 for the majority of s14.you are entitled to your opinion just as i am.no use stating facts that are not relevant.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
#322 SodaJoe:
Just call me ‘backfire’ as an antithisis.
Nah, no Wp conspiracy. How would anyone believe that? A WP coach, 2 WP assistants and hand all the WP players Bok jerseys? Take only 6 WP players on tour and have them all in the match 22 every time.
or otherwise one couldn’t say that history repeats itself (Carel 2+3 had exactly the same mind-set).
Never blame a WP player for not performing or one’s own inadequacies, rather blame the RWC winners.
It’s just called coincidence
Nah, not conspiracy, just good old fashioned Provincialism.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
#338 tjokvol: Skops why bring race in to it? Completely decimates a (almost) rational position, which I agree with.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Strauss is another Gary Botha, will never amount to all that much, Chilli Boy can fire if he can stay uninjured.
Wepener is a 1000 times better hooker than Strauss, and probably at this stage better than Chilli Boy too.
#335 K9_BaasPatrolliehond:
That is a whole lot of fire power up front,
Cobus was hooked in by Jake at the death and then did his elbow in, I reckon he’s cooked his long term goose though he’s been doing it since late 90’s week in and week out, strong bugger that one.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
#337 carol: will write a book…justrugby will have to help me type though….technically challenged!!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
#340 TASSIES: Agree 100%. Would perhaps play JF at 13, Adi on the bench and Nokwe at wing. Looseforwards…agree. Brussouw, Schalla and Juan at no8.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
#338 tjokvol: that he is better than Kuun i cannot argue, but theres better hookers playing CC than him that deserves to be in front of the queue when it comes to springbok colours.
nothing to do with race mate.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
#339 carol:
XX ma’am, just fine thanks, and you?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
#347 tjokvol: Never rated Straus. All arms and legs but going nowhere.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
#340 TASSIES: I would put a tenner on with you too my friend. Don’t agree with everything, but would be happy with placing a wee wager on a win.
Cobus would be awesome. Just awesome. Better than BJ.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
#341 TASSIES: hi tassies…you are at least bold!!!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
#340 TASSIES: Hi Tasies, are you reading the”Monty” book as well? LOL
November 17th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
#342 Robzim: hi rob…no….he is slow and kicks like a ….sorry proincess…a girl!!! I watch him all the time for wp and the stormers…as i am sure you do…he is pedestrian…i dont get the hype…no x factor…
November 17th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
#345 OCO: That injection is going to fkn HURT!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
#348 grant10:
The book will be banned !!!!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
#351 tjokvol: I’m on top form thank you, and was looking forward to going to Wales on Saturday to watch the Welsh v the A.B’s. I hope the AB’s don’t just walk over them on Saturday like they did the Irish though!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
#350 rooijan:
how can you say he single handedly cost the Bulls the game, the ones that cost the Bulls the game were FdP, Habana, Matfield, M.Steyn, Chilli Boy came on the lst 10 minutes when they were already dead and buried, that shows to me its a racial deduction you are making because it is so far removed from fact it is absolute fiction.
Besides Wepener I doubt there is a better candidate to blood for Boks hooker behind Bismark than Chilli Boy, he was captain and U19 WC winner, same as John Smit.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
#356 carol: is the book a good read…waiting for justrugby to buy it so i can borrow he s copy!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
#359 carol: Ms Cheltenham. It’s the All Blacks. Not going to be pretty.
My wife & son went to Coldplay on Friday night. They said it was incredible. Chris Martin a major performer. Big stadium too. Really raved about it. Neitehr are huge Coldplay fans either.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
#348 grant10: Do I get a “walk on” scene in this epic! I don’t qualify for a “speaking” part!
You didn’t answer my question before….. Do you?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
#356 grant10:
Peter Grant played his best rugby at inside centre, has the ability to read the game and create things from midfield a lot better than he does as a FH, to slow and a bit one dimensional as a FH
November 17th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
#355 carol: Nah. The Mbeki book. Trying to understand this man if this is possible.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
#320 Robzim: It sure sounded like that. He said that the last match was like a “seer toon” ( a sore toe ). Everybody feels tired etc. Doesn’t sound good, does it ?#338 tjokvol: I agree that Chilliboy is better than Kuun, but he needs game time!!! You can’t simply start a test match, having played no 80 minutes in one match. When last did Chilliboy start and completed a match ? Two years ago?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
#360 carol: wonderful Carol….Wales have to believe it…or they will lose again…must not be intimidated…i will be shouting for the Welsh big time…irish didnt believe…plonkers!!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Anyone in England can tune into Radio 2 right now and hear Sherman Robertson on the Paul Jones Show! Cool blues..
November 17th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
#360 tjokvol: Now you’re talking kak like him.
Nothing to do with a better Sharks team was it? Who took their chances. Made their tackles. Scored their points?
Come on blaming individuals in a team sport is the reason you’re still in the Jake White ward.
Be a mensch dude.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
#346 SodaJoe:
You should check to see where the snide little racial attitudes creep into the discussion and then evaluate where the response comes from, if the thought is not a racial one to begin with then what is it? pretty blatant from where I’m sitting even if most around here prefer to turn blind eyes.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
#358 justrugby: You will get a major part in it. Probably egging him on…………!! LOL
November 17th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
#364 carol: Yes!!! Of course a part is up for grabs…rehearsal in June 2009…LOL
November 17th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
#361 grant10: My copy is signed!! Just think Percy “touched” my book!!! WRS says it is printed not hand written, (the spoil sport)!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
#363 carol: Beware any movie that Grant proposes making.
And that’s all I’ll say about that.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
#338 tjokvol:
Yup Chilli was good against tired legs But you also rated Brits highly too didn’t you?
So much for objectivity.
Wp/Colour or better still, a combo of the two.
Same old, same old broken record.
BTW, PdV threw his toys out of the cot until he got absolute control. Now you try to say he has to rely on his advisors and doesn’t have control.
Once again a major deviation from rationality.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
#364 justrugby: you right. But who then do we play at 10. Locker’s empty for now.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
#371 carol:
yip, and I want royalties …lol
November 17th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
#370 tjokvol: When you swim in dirty ditch water you often have to drink it too.
So jump over the ditch.
My very own Skopticism.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
#362 SodaJoe: We tend to be a bit cautious about Coldplay. Seen as being a bit “middle class” and safe, however I do have a CD and rather like it!!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
#365 justrugby: great defensively and brave…but a giteau or carter he will nebver be…just dont get the hype my man!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
#375 OCO: Speaking about broken records Skopocoskiet.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
#372 grant10: Dangerous suggestion……I might take you up on it!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
#365 TASSIES:
Hi Tassies,
According to his mother he is often misunderstood because he is too clever to communicate with mere mortals. Apparantly he also does not understand normal people because he cannot go down to that level.
She was dead serious when she said it. I do not know whether she is right or wrong but what I do know is that I also do not understand Thabo.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
#379 carol: Keep that to yourself. But we are all “yellow”.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
#359 carol:
I’ll be shouting for Wales with all my heart and lungs, and you know what they might even pull a little surprise, Warren Gatland would be over the moon if they could, and Cardiff is not such a happy hunting ground for the mighty AB’s
November 17th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
#360 tjokvol: the crucial last ten minutes he conceded a tight head and lost possesion when he carried the ball on the try line.
wepener, bismarck, skipper, tiaan liebenberg (before injury) all had great seasons and i rate them all above chilliboy on their performances.
but its apparent that you can’t accept when your player aren’t performing and have to turn it into a race thing.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
#357 SodaJoe:
Spinal?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
#376 TASSIES:
For sure, it’s the single biggest problem in Sa rugby. I would play Steyn there !!!! primarily because he has the desire to want to play there. He has shortcomings but nothing that cannot be sorted out. Give him the game time ,let him evolve into the posistion. I believe he is a better optiion than Pienaar, and I state this because pienaar was asked to play 10, he did not have the desire for it .
November 17th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
#384 SodaJoe:
Then must be a spinal tap for sure.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
#374 SodaJoe: Oh good grief….., the friends that serve champagne in the bath up in millionaires row in Clifton. I have just remembered. Soda, you may have saved my reputation! (If there is anything left) LOL
November 17th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
#380 grant10: Ruan. Our very own Giteau and Carter. But bigger.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
#365 TASSIES: Have you passed chapter one yet?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
#370 tjokvol: Skop it seems to me you are often correct in this observation but sometimes I think you’re reading lines that aren’t there. I wouldn’t play Chilli either, in my ron-on for reasons of experience and game time like the uncle says. But talent he certainly has. Boy needs time. Same as Mujati although I’m not so sure about the latter.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
#384 SodaJoe: “Yellow”, sorry is that S.A for middle class?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
#387 OCO: You’re not that bad. I’ll put in a good word. I will tell them that you are kind to camels.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
#375 SodaJoe: strictly a book…#377 TASSIES: ruan will be fine…Frans will be better…but these blind bats [ skoppies chirp] dont get it…prefer mediocrity!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
#388 justrugby: The Jake White ward at Sterkies has a few more empty beds.
RUAN.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
#375 SodaJoe: lol
November 17th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
#383 carol: i dare you!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
#379 carol:
When you have time go to you tube and type in the words “Tex Perkins”, “bourbon” and “sorrow”. You will then be able to check the video of a “dangerous” man doing a stripped down version of a “save” song. You must watch the whole song.
I would like to know what you think of it.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
#392 carol:
Yes just. If you know the book, it’s the sort you take on a 2 month holiday to St Helena, to get through all 866 pages of it. But we’re learning a lot more about our ex-chief.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
#338 tjokvol: Yes, it was great in fact I had to eat humble pie that day
I hope that he can replicate that performance in all his games, but I have to say, between him and I thnk Spies, they cost the Buls the game due to the accidental offside
November 17th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
#390 carol: I can see the screenplay:
Handsome blonde stud in Mark Spitz speedo strolls on to balcony.
Winsome semi-naked blonde waves from beach, asks to come visit.
Turk says why not?
Swedish blonde says the more the merrier.
Our hero still in mark Spitz speeddo says how about a bubbly bath – he he.
Demure English lass with a riding crop, skinny jeans and riding boots – says “is this a private party or can anyone join in”
…….
TBC
November 17th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
#392 SodaJoe: frans…even bigger and wants the job…watch this space…ruan wants 9…
November 17th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
#394 carol: There first big hit is called? That’s the clue.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
#399 grant10: Game on!!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
#397 SodaJoe: #398 grant10:
Ruan will be good but never great as a FH a great FH takes control and dominates even when under pressure. Pienaaar great when we are on the front foot but dissappears when the pressure is on.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
#395 SodaJoe:
Ja I like Camels as long as someone can hold them still .
A camel with one hump is called a Dromedary.
A camel with two humps a Bactrian.
What do you call a camel with 3 humps?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Big ups to the SA Referees at the moment. In my humble kiwi opinion SA Refs marc lawrence and Kaplan are the best in the world by a country mile.
The standard of refs in the NH is still poor. They cannot handle the pace of the SH game. They also are extremely pedantic and seem unable to let games flow unlike Lawrence and co.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
#403 SodaJoe: I’ll buy a ticket to see that …lol
November 17th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
#404 SodaJoe: LOL…i told you …threes a crowd…you been watching movies i see??
November 17th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
#400 Robzim: He is the lead singer for an Australian band (from Perth) called The Cruel Sea which I told you about before. Bloody great band.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
#400 Robzim: Rob I will get WRS to see it with me, he is the one with the “understanding” of music. I just like it or not! He is listening to blues as I type?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
#401 TASSIES: Can we take some Klein Constantia soeties like Napoleon?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
#383 Robzim: Hi Rob. Strange complicated fellow is our Thabs. Prefers to talk in riddles to keep one guessing about exactly what he’s trying to say. Thinks he’s being clever. I have a long way to go (page 200 odd) but Mark Gevisser does his homework well and helps to connect the dots on this extremely complex man. One thing’s for sure, his history would dictate that he’d have no time for Zuma.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
# TASSIES: Can I have the version with pictures, sounds heavy going!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
#408 justrugby: I heard as well he is not embracing 10 passionately either…matter of time and our problem will be solved…plumtree also quoted saying he wanted frans at 10 next super 14…time will tell..
November 17th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
#407 justrugby: Conjecture.
Judge him this time next year?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
#411 justrugby: you the blonde oke in the speedo!!LOL
November 17th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
#408 OCO: You’re so romantic. Why do you need someone to hold the camel still?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
#403 SodaJoe: LOL, funniest thing all day that Soda. Actually Grant10 is tall, dark and handsome. Glad I am properly dressed, sounds just like me, spooky…………!!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
#403 SodaJoe: not bad Soda. When will your package reach Bollywood?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
#418 SodaJoe:
I will be happy to be proved wrong……but do not think so !!!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
#417 grant10: Rumour.
Judge him this time next year.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
#420 SodaJoe:
Footing is soft underneath ex se.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
#405 SodaJoe: Yellow, so it was!
What happens next?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
#421 carol: I did say TBC
November 17th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
#375 OCO:
Tell you what, when it comes to provincialism you take the cake, you and goodytwoshoespart2 and the rest of the sharkey boy gangland can only see these black and white jerseys parading about, I actually see a whole lot more objectively than you do, I was rooting for Brits when he was a lions boy, same for Grant as a Natalian, not a WP player, when it comes to provincialism I don’t see colors, only players,
In the country right now I agree whole heartedly with K9 the best front row forwards are Heinke and Wepener next to Bismark at 2,
Chilliboy I rate he’s a Bull,
out of your lot I like Jacobs, Terblanche, Steyn, Pienaar and Deysel, thats about it, the rest of them are show boaters including Flash Gordon Kankowski,
From the Free State, Brussouw and Vermeulen and Smith are the boys with the youngsters Wilton Pietersen, the blond fly half Potgieter, and the center Eberhson and wing Nokwe
Bulls have some nice players, Botha, Matfield, Van Heerden, Heini Adams, Potgieter at 8, Stegmann at 6, Habana, Mametsa, full back or wing Kirchner
WP have Koster, JdV, Louw, Bekker, Grant, Jabtjes (when he’s not so self conscious of himself)
If you trying to lay provincialism on me, sorry feller you are so far from the canning factory its not even funny.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
#426 carol: You know the saying about someone holding the “whiphand”.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
#428 tjokvol: Colonoscopy tomorrow morning for you.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
#419 SodaJoe: i agree ruan should be given more time…he definitley felt the heat vs scots!!! So far a pass mark….just!!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Stuart Abbott has fancied England to do the business..
November 17th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
#430 SodaJoe: Because there was no Lion.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
#431 grant10: Behind pack under pressure. We need a tighthead prop and then we can talk.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
#429 SodaJoe: I do like to be “in control”!! Horses, men you name it!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
#414 SodaJoe: haha Soda. Yup. And they still make the stuff will you know. One just needs to mortgage the hut to purchase a few cases we’ll need while grinding through Mr Gevisser’s doorstopper.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
#416 carol: little Thab’s tribe aren’t very photogenic afraid. Snoop (don’t know the english equivalent) with the piccies.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
#435 SodaJoe: that will help soda…our pack has been mauled 2 weeks in a row…again…we should have taken a team of hungry youngsters….we will pay for this shocking man management…sat and then against lions….cruel the way our players treated…..we are so not bold !!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
#436 carol: now who is teasing??
November 17th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
#431 grant10:
I don’t think a pass mark is warranted, the mere fact that people are saying that because Fourie was not there to take the pressure off him, he struggled, means that he is not equipped to do the job.
So far a good first half against wales and not much else.
i am not bashing Pienaar, he is as I have said many times a very good rugby player, but as a scrummie he can truly be world class. as a FH half decent and for the Boks I want more than half decent.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
those scots were something to behold!! Men possessed….thank you frans and jaque for saving the boks…
November 17th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
#437 TASSIES: Your version of War and Peace!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
#439 grant10: Oh, you noticed!! LOL Just you wait!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Puma, where are you tonight?
November 17th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
#441 grant10:
And to the Scots kickers !!!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
#432 Tbozknows: He would.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
#435 carol: Movie Title sorted then. Stars recruited. All we need is the dosh.
Better go to Vegas.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
#441 justrugby: I really am concerned as well, the appetite not there…impressed at times with his composure and has handled pole kicking well….but he relishes getting back to 9!! Against eng we need to be bold and get some fizz into the team…for me frans and jaque must be accomodated…some players so in need of a break…we will not get out of jail again!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
#438 grant10: Dude I know that the property market is a little bit pap. But don’t be so despondent. We will win on Saturday. You will get to make your movie. Summer’s there or almost there.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
#446 justrugby: yes!! Good heavens that was shocking!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
#428 tjokvol:
OK, so you can ‘off the cuff’ come up with some names that you apparently ‘like’. Could I please speak to Skoppie then?
In your ramblings of the past years you pay scant respect to them but go on your little crusade about your favourites whom don’t necessarily include those that you mention. Continued hatred for JW and what he achieved is the basis of all your arguments which are under-written by your abject horor your little pets are not chosen.
Your condemn JW but your continued love afair with PdV, no matter what he does or the results he achieves, just shows how far you are from rationality in the face of reality.
I’m glad I’m far from the canning factory as otherwise I’d end up in can can like you and smell and sound decidedly fishy. But then again you are quite used to being ‘canned’ are you not?
I’m sure there are some good (non-white) shrinks you can go to. Give it a try. I’m sure they can do something about the split personality and paranoia you suffer from and maybe they can remove the green shade in your skin that comes from jealousy which I think might well be the root cause of your maladjustment.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
#441 grant10: Adi’s tackle saved the Boks. Last minutes. Terrific tackle & turn, Frans cleaned up. Adi made the tackle.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
#448 grant10:
And then the players still want to play for the Ba Baas
November 17th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
#447 SodaJoe: Do we play ourselves or shall we get the stars in?
I have great faith in your money making abilities BTW! Could be an interesting diversion.
The first Keo movie, will he want to write the screenplay?
November 17th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
#450 SodaJoe: well soda i hope so…problem is both previous games last 15 minutes we run on empty…somehow lift it and get through…is there enough gas in the tank??? Perhaps…if we select correctly!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
#452 SodaJoe:
Adi did great defensive work the whole game…..in fact since he has been brought back, i have seen him miss very few tackles !!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
#440 justrugby: but who then? Whenever these discussions arise, my simple mind always returns to the Steven Larkham story. I respect your judgement but I’d give it time to develop and then we can judge. On saturday he was placed under huge pressure behind a beaten pack and, most importantly, on only his second outing in a 10 jersey. I’d kak myself in similiar circumstances, no matter how good I thought I was or could be. Carter has had similair experiences against us, one down here a Newlands a few years back.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
#453 justrugby: Percy confesses he hasn’t been training for 2 months! Hope he can last the full 80mins of the Babarians match or I will be VERY UPSET!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
#451 OCO: Also too long for a good T Shirt. But approaching Skopticism for long winded never ever changing meandering rambling muse.
Skopticism brought us good fortune in the RWC I hope yours does for Saturday.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
#453 SodaJoe: Adi has been a revelation this year…brilliant player…would not drop him on current form
November 17th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
#454 carol: The movies Grant makes are all starrring roles.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
#456 justrugby: Clearly you don’t watch properly. Adi Jacobs makes tackles but falls off them. He is great on attack but he needs to learn to hold onto his tackles. Watch the game again !
November 17th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
#454 justrugby: crazy but such an honour….difficult one that boet!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
#455 grant10: Enough there to win. More than 1 less than 7.
Or …….
Remember Australia.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
#455 grant10:
I got a good feeling that the boys will lift themselves for the England game, this is the one they all want !!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
#458 TASSIES: lol…i used to k k myself at 10 even when my pack was going forward…LOL
November 17th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
#456 justrugby: #460 grant10: Agreed.
#462 Nemesis: Rubbish.
Actually at the moment I wish the whole bloody team would tackle like Jacobs. First time tackles big weakness in both games.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
#467 SodaJoe: I believe the stats show Jacobs missed 5 of the 20 odd tackles missed by the Boks – as I said I suggest you watch the game again
November 17th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
#462 SodaJoe: i dont even have a photo of an ex ….left them in the fridges!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
#462 Nemesis:
I have and I stand by my earlier statement, he has pulled off some great tackles, if we look to knit pick I am sure we can find tackles that he slipped….but then again I can do the same for just about everybody.
He came into the side with the critics stating he would be a defensive weakness, I do not believe this to be the case.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
#466 justrugby: we will be in the trenches again together my man…mike just called to confirm 15h30 at his place,,,,bring and braai thingy…pool, etc…maybe make a movie…LOL
November 17th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
#451 OCO:
Jake White is a fool, and on the face of it I’m not quite sure who is a bigger one, you or him, from the looks of it from this last post of yours, like I said already you certainly appear to take the cake.
You are actually dumb, I thought you were somewhat educated, but now I’m beginning to have serious doubts.
In fact discussing anything with you is becoming a severe waste of time, so rather hob nob with your black and white shaded mates, you all talk **** anyway.
And whats worse you all suffer from this similar malady called superiority fixation based on dermatological pigmentation, you people are quite sadly putrefied solid in your indoctrinations, so from where I sit, rather you talk to someone else, unless its some real education you are seeking.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
#470 justrugby: I never said he didn’t pull off some good tackles….I said he falls off too many tackles. If you fall off tackles in midfield you can be in big trouble.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
#456 justrugby: to my mind Adi stays put. JF can play wing and, as we witnessed for the umpteenth time, he’s a matchwinner of note. Habs is ***** right now. A complete liability so I’d play Jacques there where he can score the tries Habs used to be able to do. FdP is the missing link and were he there, I’d rate our backline for sat bigtime. But he’s not, so we’re in trouble.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
#458 carol:
For your sake I hope so to …lol
November 17th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
#466 grant10: that’s why I didn’t play there. No, perhaps skill or lack thereof played a small role.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
#471 justrugby: 100%..anyone slating Adi either knows a helleva lot about the game or very little…my limited knowledge says the man has been fantastic…slipped tackles…mmmm i can point out a few boks long before Adi!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
#477 grant10: I’ll accept the compliment…thanks !
November 17th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
#475 TASSIES: is FDP out??
November 17th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
#477 grant10: Actually … am not really slating him….just suggesting he needs to hold onto his tackles better.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
#474 TASSIES:
I heard that Fourie was doing cycling and came through ok, they will make a call later in the week.
Have you got confirmation that he is out because I agree that will be a massive blow.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
#477 TASSIES: always some loosie wanting to take your head off!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
#461 SodaJoe: Casting would be difficult if he has lost all the photos anyway! Imagine the fights on set between all the fridge takers!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Duncan fletcher has been appointed as a consultant to the Proteas….good news !!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
#479 Nemesis: #481 Nemesis: All good my man…i only call what i see…not an expert at the defending thing…preferred kicking the leather off the ball…
November 17th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
#483 carol:
I can assure you…. it will be ugly !!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
#472 tjokvol: woah Skop. Temper temper. Down boy.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
#465 justrugby: Me too. Last game of the season. End on a high note. Go mal afterwards. Head home for the beach and a few weeks hols.
More than 1 Less than 7. To us.
Bud someone told me that you were a Leeds fan?
November 17th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
#440 justrugby:
He’s a far better FH than a scrumhalf, I may know somewhat from what I see, I played both, he is not a great scrum half, he can become a very good FH.
Steyn I doubt will ever be a great FH, his position is 12, he’s a Nonu with a boot.
Grant is a very good flyhalf in the Honiball model and if used for those purposes of crashing it up and closing down the inside channel we would have had a damn sight more go forward than we’ve had this year with Butch or Pienaar or Steyn at 10
The people looking for a kicking 10 are barking up the wrong tree, play a kicking 12 if you have to ala Mauger and Catt, but bring the action closer to the pivot point and bust those defenses, suck in the loosies and the oppo lines and then probe the spaces.
Butch couldn’t do it, he tried once in Wellington it nearly came off with Habana breaking off him and they fumbled it, otherwise they have all reverted back to the big boot first, and it has cost us a whole year of regression because of that single conservative fear, big f’ng boot the ball to kingdom come and lose possession and the game.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
#472 tjokvol: Whooa boet. Slowly does it. Breathe deeply.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
#484 carol: i went to my old mans funeral …4 exs there….justrugby was with me….talk about 4 weddings and a funeral…the old man would have loved it!!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Mujati sucks. Period!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
#485 justrugby: great news,,,,must sort out those Aussies!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
#475 justrugby: Well he can hang his white boots up after that match. Do you think if I asked nicely I could get to keep them after the match?
November 17th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
#481 justrugby: You’re more up to date than I then. Happily as it turns out. Up north, Ricky doesn’t do it for me. If Fourie plays, I believe we’ll see a lot more of those breaks, a small sample of which we witnessed against the Taffs. Hell it’s beautiful to watch. Does it so well. The man glides like an ice-scater, past groping hands.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
#490 tjokvol: Grant does the flat on the advantage line and offload thing very well…but he has a peashooter boot skop…and slow my man!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
#468 Nemesis: If you can show me anyon who hasn’t missed tackles in the alst 2 games I will let you give Skoppies his injection.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
472 tjokvol: hey,jake white is hardly a fool..very bold statement mate..don’t think a fool has ever been asked to coach baba’s! Are there any other lions players that you rate besides heinkie or wepener..its the team you left out!what about alberts and ludick etc
November 17th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
#495 TASSIES: One word: DUNEDIN.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
#500 SodaJoe: greatest last 3 minutes ever! Frans you beauty!!…dont forget the conversion soda!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
#495 TASSIES: Personally I like Ricky as an impact player. Hassling Hustling Hurrying and Bustling.
He will be fine, but I would like his service to improve.
FdP is better.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
#489 tjokvol:
You make good points but I still think Pienaar lacks the ability to handle pressure, not just from a kicking perspective but also from a decision making perspective.
Look I am happy to be wrong on this, but when a guy does not passionately want to play in a posistion, I doubt he embraces it fully and that in itself is a problem. Will be happy to eat humble pie if I am wrong.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Cheetaahsss
November 17th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
#472 tjokvol: Personality not colour. That’s what counts.
Only you have to have to get the chance to get to know that person and that can be the first hurdle in our society.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
#487 TASSIES:
sorry I don’t suffer twat assed idiots lightly, especially bigoted indoctrinated ones, they can take one serious flying leap to Timbuktu or Gondwanaland
They have no value to me whatsoever, so better they just steer a wide berth for their sakes as well as mine. They’re a curse to any sane equilibrium in my estimation and as far as I’m concerned, their insignificant thought patterns are a waste of any decent energy, if they looking for something substantial, let them seek it where they think they might find it, if they looking for some reaction, then let them keep prodding for it, they may just find it, and it could be something they weren’t bargaining for to begin with.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Guys and Princesses…an awesome plwasure…as always…blind bats…Frans will make all the problems go away…right now i have a choice…go to bed or lose another fridge!!! Off to movies…Princess ***
November 17th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
#491 grant10: You have just given Soda Joe an amazing scene in the film….Very four weddings…
November 17th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
#506 tjokvol: Cheers skop…keep fighting the good fight!! You very special…would love to meet you some day!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
#484 justrugby: that is bloody good news. Hopefully he’ll assist JK out of his minor slump. They go back a bit.
And what’s Gary feeding those Injuns. Faak but they’ve giving the Poms a serious klapping in the short stuff. Anticipate more Gary magic in the tests from his mushrooms.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
#506 grant10: Some fantasy!! Sleep well gorgeous XXXXXXXXXXXX Don’t forget those numbers!! XX
November 17th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Cheers all …..also out of here, been great chatting,, let’s leave all the racial issues behind and get together and support the Boks together !!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
#505 tjokvol: take one serious flying leap to Timbuktu or Gondwanaland
This could maybe be a Tshirt.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
#505 tjokvol: This may be an oxymoron when it comes to you late at night bud “sane equilibrium “.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
#507 carol: I just do the screenplays. You lot have to “perform”.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
#508 grant10: He’s just around the corner, and I hear a good guy to have a few beers with. And that from some who have had the usual barnies with him.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
#511 justrugby: Night, and I am hoping to meet you as well in June. Get Grant to show you the farm, you may like it here, we have loads of room for guests!! Perfect base for a rugby tour!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
#498 ruggalover:
Alberts very high in my estimation, I’d like to bring him up to speed asap to 1st class level I reckon he’s one of the best ball carriers we have,
Brussouw, Deysel, Alberts could be an amazing trio. Ludicks OK but not world class imo, good hard grafter as is Grobbelaar, But Wepener, Heinke, Alberts could and should all be Boks.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
#514 SodaJoe: I don’t think any of us are shy!! Camera, lights…., ACTION!! ………… Perhaps not on reflection
November 17th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
#517 tjokvol: Aye
November 17th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
#505 tjokvol: ja Skop but we want you around here still in a few years from now. At our age, when you work yourself into a lather like you do sometimes, its ticker trouble time. Alliteration always intended. Cheers Skop, G10, Soda, JR. Off to visit Thabo. Sweet dreams Carol.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
#518 carol: Carol. Someone may have cut and pasted all of this – be careful.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
#518 carol: Night. Sleep well.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
#520 TASSIES: Night bud.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
See you boys, I’m off too.
Tassies I will try to have sweet dreams!!
Soda, what do you mean? Do I sound a bit strange? Oh no….
Skop, who will you be tomorrow?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
November 17th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Robzim, you are back, see you too.
Off to watch your man on You Tube!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
517 tjokvol: thats probably the best way to describe ludick and baywatch as hard grafters..sometimes i would choose grafters over talent though!think we need a real grafter for breakdowns at moment.what do you make of walter venter.haven’t seen much at high level but when he plays if makes breaks,tackles well,offloads well.suppose venter can also fall into grafters category
November 17th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
#526 ruggalover: I also like grafters, but Baywatch is only OK.
Good but not good enough. The Morne Steyn, Adriaan Strauss of fetchers.
And I support the Lions.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
#526 ruggalover:
Haven’t seen enough of Venter, but he looks very promising, see what next year brings, I also used to like La Grange and Jaco Pretorius a lot but they somehow got poorly managed or directed and stopped running those good lines they were doing in the beginning.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
527 sodajoe: aussie’s and kiwi’s seem to rate baywatch though.i think he is a lot like wikus,only when wikus left and played in more consistent team could he show a lot more of himself other than run himself ragged game after game.but the talented brussouw deserves his spot and hopefully he will get a run.i’m also a lions supporter by the way
November 17th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
528 tjokvol: yip,with the lions i always look forward to next year! Don’t know why loffie hasn’t bought good flyhalf,lock instead of wing and flank
November 17th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
#529 ruggalover: You and Skops have a lot in common – he LURVES Wikus. Good player.
I would play Brussouw, Schalk and Juan at 8 on Saturday.
Terrible cross to bear, the curse of Ponte Towers. At least (perhaps) you don’t have to bear the cross of Leeds United as well.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
#530 ruggalover: By the way the little arrow thingies next to the posters name lets you reply without typing it in.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
532 sodajoe: shot for the arrow advice.i’m using my cell and it doesn’t seem to work to my utter frustration! Juan has played great games for cheetahs at 8 so that would work well.either that or need to bench juan or schalk..great problem to have though
November 17th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
#531 SodaJoe:
I have been distracted for a while. Standard 7 maths is also quite difficult nowadays!
I would also give Brussouw a chance but I doubt very much whether that will happen. Don’t you think Schalk needs to spend some time on the bench as well. I am really getting fed up with all the penalties he concedes. It appears as if he is unable to either control himself or to understand the rules. Maybe it is a combination of both.
I would start with Brussouw, Juan and Spies with Schalk on the bench and Kanko in the stand.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
#533 ruggalover: I Think Juan would be an incredible 8, and imo Schalk’s bloody feet let him down at 8, he never seems in control.
Aagh – Cell – hate that. My fingers are too fat.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
#534 Robzim: I think Schalk is getting a bad rap. He does more work and in % terms is probably average. I also think that NH refs are pretty kak.
So still like the Brussouw, Schalk, Juan at 8 combo. Spies or Kanko on bench.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
I am out of here guys.
See you through the window.
Rob – Tex Perkins is also lead singer for The Cruel Sea if you didn’t see that earlier post.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
535 sodajoe: ya cell isn’t ideal..at least i can’t forget who i’m talking to as have to type in name all the time. Agree that schalk is not an 8..he’s just a machine like kaino and elsom..difference is that oz and nz play good fetchers which helps
November 17th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
One of the things that really concerns me about the situation in Springbok rugby is how we keep on hearing about the form of individual players but forget about the collective and let me explain. When you play in a team with certain structures (i.e. roles and responsibilities) and these get changed because of player changes or simply coaching approaches there is an element of confidence that is lost. Pissant was saying on the other thread how that JDV and AD were performing within the current team environment but essentially this I believe has been at the expense of the teams effectiveness. Very seldom do you see for example the ball travelling beyond the first centre from a scrum or lineout and this has got to do with the confidence of individuals in each other. Both JDV and Adi have the ability to put others into space but they were always looking for the space for themselves on Saturday.No wonder Brian is suffering, he hardly receives the ball in any space.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
537: cheers sodajoe
November 17th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
#537 SodaJoe:
Cheers,
The Cruel Sea is great. Perkins seemed to have done lead vocals for many bands (I can understand why).
November 17th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
539 bananaboy: nobody seems to agree with me but thats why i think jdv and fourie have always been the perfect combo.fourie used to run great lines of jdv and was able to break few tackles.teams therefore often had to double up on jdv and fourie which gave the wings some space.tries were often scored from set play cause of all the options boks backs had and cause defense was unsure
November 17th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
#542 ruggalover: Fully agree ruggalover. JDV and Adi have similar attitudes to playing. I know people will shout me down for saying but whilst I think Adi has played well it is not the right combination for the boks and is evidenced by the confidence the players show in each other. Also the only game where the Boks really turned it on was against the Aussies and there were very few breaks made by JDV and Adi, most of the telling gains being made by the loosies.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:02 am
543 bananaboy: yip you make some good points.adi has played really well and compliments to him for a great return to test rugby,but fourie is a more complete player.for some reason adi seems to play better off the bench.defensively fourie also tackles better by preventing the offload
November 18th, 2008 at 12:27 am
Ag, goeie vok, Pieter. Kom nou.
London. – Springbok coach Peter de Villiers on Monday dismissed media criticism as an attempt to sell newspapers
Any chance the Bok mentor had of keeping a low profile in the English media were probably dashed by his comments. And he even brought the late Princess Diana into the argument presented at a press conference at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, London.
“Criticism appears in newspapers everywhere. People don’t just want to hear that the world is good. They don’t like progress. People prefer to write about things that will sell newspapers,” said De Villiers.
“Some years ago Di died tragically. People made a big deal out of the rumours and never said ‘shame’.
“Everybody is worried about the weekend’s game. As a team we aren’t over the moon about our performance, but currently it’s two wins from two games on tour.”
De Villiers was quizzed a few times how important Saturday’s test is against the background of his first year as Bok coach. He tried to evade the questions.
There were questions he interpreted incorrectly and he also gave answers that could be interpreted in different ways.
“I would never be able to deliver results. That is something you can write about,” he said.
“I am only here for the players. I will manage and lead then, analyse opponents and work out strategies, but if we don’t work together as a team …
“We experience the pressure and that’s great. To have that pressure, play for your country and do your best. It’s very important to have that kind of pressure.”
British journalists quizzed De Villiers about how he would motivate the world champions for Saturday’s game.
“It’s your biggest challenge to get them motivated. If you look at where we started last November. They took a month off, then played in the Super14 and after that Currie Cup rugby.
“They know they have five days left and then it’s the end of the year and they can return to their families. I know it will be difficult and that’s the challenge.”
November 18th, 2008 at 12:33 am
545 wooden spoon: pdv can only keep a low profile if he appoints a spokesperson.did he really have to bring princess di into this..is this article real?
November 18th, 2008 at 12:33 am
#546 ruggalover: From News24 and written by Liam del Carme.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:34 am
Johannesburg – The Cheetahs, and to a lesser extent the Stormers, have the draws from hell in the 2009 Vodacom Super 14 rugby tournament.
The tournament ominously starts on Friday the 13th (of February) for the Cheetahs but the central union will not appear at home in Bloemfontein until April 4 – Week 8 of the tournament.
The Cheetahs have six straight away games, and then their bye, before they will have home-ground advantage.
Naka Drotske’s men will be involved in South Africa’s first game of the year against the Lions in Johannesburg on February 13 but will then leave on a tough five-match assignment overseas in which they will play the Force, the Reds, the Hurricanes, the Blues and the Highlanders.
And if that’s not bad enough the Cheetahs, who face the prospect of starting off in Australia before ending up in Dunedin in the South Island of New Zealand, have also been farmed off to minor grounds to play the Hurricanes and the Blues in New Plymouth and North Harbour respectively.
The “one year home, the next away” nature of the draw has also thrown up a tough tour for the Stormers in which they’ll take on three of last year’s semi-finalists, the Crusaders, the Waratahs and the Hurricanes (plus the Brumbies and the Chiefs!) while criss-crossing the Tasman between Australia and New Zealand.
The Bulls have the same away assignment as the Stormers but they at least will start in New Zealand and return home via Australia for two games.
The Sharks, semifinalists last year (and now also the Currie Cup champions) have pulled a favourable draw – if there is such a thing in the Super 14!
John Plumtree’s charges will start off away to the Stormers in Cape Town and then have one game at home against the Lions before heading off on a four-match tour that does not include fixtures against last year’s top teams.
The Sharks will thus be away from the Absa Stadium for five of their first six fixtures but will then be able to look forward to a run at home including top sides the Hurricanes, the Crusaders, the Waratahs and the Bulls.
The draw for South Africa’s five teams on a home-and-away basis is as follows:
BULLS
February 14 HOME vs Reds in Pretoria
February 21 HOME vs Blues in Pretoria
February 28 AWAY vs Lions in Johannesburg
March 07 HOME vs Stormers in Pretoria
March 14 BYE
March 20 AWAY vs Hurricanes in Wellington
March 28 AWAY vs Highlanders in Dunedin
April 03 AWAY vs Crusaders in Christchurch
April 11 AWAY vs Waratahs in Sydney
April 17 AWAY vs Brumbies in Canberra
April 25 HOME vs Chiefs in Pretoria
May 02 HOME vs Force in Pretoria
May 09 HOME vs Cheetahs in Pretoria
May 16 AWAY vs Sharks in Durban
CHEETAHS
February 13 AWAY vs Lions in Johannesburg
February 20 AWAY vs Force in Perth
March 01 AWAY vs Reds in Brisbane
March 07 AWAY vs Hurricanes in New Plymouth
March 13 AWAY vs Blues in North Harbour
March 21 AWAY vs Highlanders in Dunedin
March 28 BYE
April 04 HOME vs Brumbies in Bloemfontein
April 11 HOME vs Sharks in Bloemfontein
April 18 HOME vs Chiefs in Kimberley
April 25 HOME vs Crusaders in Bloemfontein
May 01 HOME vs Waratahs in Bloemfontein
May 09 AWAY vs Bulls in Pretoria
May 16 HOME vs Stormers in Bloemfontein
LIONS
February 13 HOME vs Cheetahs in Johannesburg
Februay 21 AWAY vs Sharks in Durban
February 28 HOME vs Bulls in Johannesburg
March 07 BYE
March 14 AWAY vs Stormers in Cape Town
March 21 HOME vs Brumbies in Johannesburg
March 28 HOME vs Hurricanes in Johannesburg
April 04 AWAY vs Chiefs in Hamilton
April 10 AWAY vs Blues in Auckland
April 18 AWAY vs Reds in Brisbane
April 24 AWAY vs Force in Perth
May 01 HOME vs Crusaders in Johannesburg
May 08 HOME vs Highlanders in Johannesburg
May 15 HOME vs Waratahs in Johannesburg
SHARKS
February 14 AWAY vs Stormers in Cape Town
February 21 HOME vs Lions in Durban
February 28 AWAY vs Chiefs in Hamilton
March 07 AWAY vs Blues in Auckland
March 14 AWAY vs Reds in Brisbane
March 21 AWAY vs Force in Perth
March 28 HOME vs Brumbies in Durban
April 03 HOME vs Hurricanes in Durban
April 11 AWAY vs Cheetahs in Bloemfontein
April 18 HOME vs Crusaders in Durban
April 25 BYE
May 02 HOME vs Highlanders in Durban
May 09 HOME vs Waratahs in Durban
May 16 HOME vs Bulls in Durban
STORMERS
February 14 HOME vs Sharks in Cape Town
February 20 HOME vs Reds in Cape Town
February 28 HOME vs Blues in Cape Town
March 07 AWAY vs Bulls in Pretoria
March 14 HOME vs Lions in Cape Town
March 21 BYE
March 28 AWAY vs Crusaders in Christchurch
April 04 AWAY vs Waratahs in Sydney
April 11 AWAY vs Brumbies in Canberra
April 18 AWAY vs Hurricanes in Wellington
April 24 AWAY vs Highlanders in Dunedin
May 02 HOME vs Chiefs in Cape Town
May 09 HOME vs Force in Cape Town
May 16 AWAY vs Cheetahs in Bloemfontein
November 18th, 2008 at 12:36 am
I would say the Sharks have the best draw for next year. Yesssssssssss, step 1 to the Cup dealt with without getting on the field.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:39 am
547 wooden spoon: for me a recent springbok match is like a pdv press conference..makes sense in parts,can’t believe some parts,but mostly just don’t understand
November 18th, 2008 at 12:41 am
#550 ruggalover: Lol true, this regime is characterised by headless chickens on the field, led by a headless chicken off the field.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:43 am
551 wooden spoon: lol,ok your comparison wins and is better descriptive
November 18th, 2008 at 12:47 am
548 wooden spoon: sharks and lions have same overseas away games.pls let petoors be fit
November 18th, 2008 at 12:48 am
#551 wooden spoon: Cheers, outta here now. Let’s hope we have enough to beat England this weekend.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:50 am
Cheers,i’m also outta here
November 18th, 2008 at 1:27 am
Go the Boks, World Champs!! gona demolish england. Chokers going to choke against wales. CHOKERS CHOKERS CHOKERS!! HAHA
November 18th, 2008 at 2:45 am
#556 WindhoekBokkeFan:The Poms are playing the Saffa’s you stupid dutch tosser!!!
November 18th, 2008 at 3:14 am
#61 goyougoodthing2: you’re really supportive of your team aren’t you?! You seem to forget that Smit played a massive part in the Boks winning the World Cup – when the SH chokers aka NZ and Aus lost their quarter finals and it looked like the Boks were next on the list when their game against Fiji was falling apart it was Smit who held the team together. And Januarie who engineered our 1st win against NZ in 10 years with a stroke of genius!
I don’t purport to be happy about PdV’s lack of game plan or our last performances, I’m mad as hell in fact but personally attacking the players is plain pathetic! Actually did you see the Welsh front row when they toured SA this year?! They make Smit look like Spies!
So given your dislike for Smit and Januarie who would you like to see in place of them? Matfield as captain?! LOL!
November 18th, 2008 at 3:15 am
#557 CHAZ: Anyone smell puke!
November 18th, 2008 at 3:18 am
#548 wooden spoon: That’s a pretty good draw for the Sharks! Really looking forward to seeing how well Plummers go – he seems to have made a world of difference since taking over but the Super 14 will be the acid test!
November 18th, 2008 at 3:40 am
#557 CHAZ: Playing in cardiff i see. dont choke, the RWC champs rule world rugby
November 18th, 2008 at 4:10 am
Breier kap blasers
Nov 17 2008 09:18:23:197PM – (SA)
Druk artikel
E-pos storie aan ‘n vriend
“Die grootste probleem wat ek het, is hoe dinge by die afbreekpunte deur skeidsregters geïnterpreteer word. Ek verstaan nie die afbreekpunte nie.” Peter de Villiers, afrigter van die Springbokke, gister op ‘n perskonferensie in Londen. Foto: Duif du Toit, Gallo Images
Liam Del Carme
Londen. – Die tyd vir doekies omdraai oor skeidsregters se besluite, is duidelik vir die Springbok-afrigter, Peter de Villiers, iets van die verlede, want hy het gister behoorlik teen hulle uitgevaar.
Dit is veral die blasers se gebrek aan bestendigheid by die afbreekpunte wat De Villiers die meeste grief.
“Die grootste probleem wat ek het, is hoe dinge by die afbreekpunte deur skeidsregters geïnterpreteer word. Ek verstaan nie die afbreekpunte nie,” het die Bokke se afrigter gesê.
Die Springbokke en Skotland het in die toets op Murrayfield gesamentlik 21 strafskoppe afgestaan en was dit ná die wedstryd eens dat die blaser Dave Pearson se interpretasies van tyd tot tyd verskil het.
“Daar was drie geleenthede waar ons die spel beheer het naby die doellyn en ons gestraf is omdat ons spelers nie op hul voete gebly het nie.
“Die feit dat hulle nie op hul voete gebly het nie, het ook nie enige invloed op die spel gehad nie.”
De Villiers sê die Springbokke word benadeel omdat aanvallende spelers nie toegelaat word om by losgemale “skoon te maak nie”.
“Hulle neem al ons skerpheid en krag weg. Rolmaalbewegings is weggevat en harde spel by afbreekpunte word nie meer toegelaat nie.
“Ons kan nie ons kragspel gebruik nie. Dit het ’n direkte invloed op die uitslae van ons wedstryde,” het De Villiers gesê.
Ian McIntosh, die Bok-keurder en voormalige afrigter, sê egter dat spanne, selfs al wil dit voorkom of die reëls hulle beperk, dit steeds tot hul voordeel kan gebruik.
“Spanne voel dat hulle nie die rolmaalbeweging kan uitvoer nie. Sê wie? Jy kan dit nog steeds doen. As jy die bal deeglik beskerm en jou liggaamsposisie reg is, dan kan jy aanhou dryf selfs al word die voorste spelers grond toe getrek.
“Die agterste spelers neem die beweging vorentoe en wanneer hulle grond toe gaan, moet die bal vinnig na agter gestuur word. Dit is bruikbare besit vir agterspelers,” het McIntosh gesê.
De Villiers voel dat daar nie na afrigters geluister word nie.
“Jy stuur vir hulle (die IRR) verslae oor die wedstryde, maar dan kry jy verslae wat sê dat dit die beste vertoning nog van ’n skeidsregter was.
“Dit is baie frustrerend. As hulle eerlik kan wees en sê dat daar fasette is waarin hulle sukkel maar dat ons begrip daarvoor moet hê, kan jy ten minste met die skeidsregters werk.”
Daar bestaan ook by afrigters die gevoel dat selfs wanneer hulle vooraf met skeidsregters oor sekere interpretasies gepraat het, dit geen waarborg is dat hulle nie later deur beslissings uit die veld geslaan sal word nie.
“Wanneer jy op die veld draf, is daar nog ’n interpretasie. Dit maak dit baie moeilik vir ons.
“Die dae toe jy geweet het daar gaan op jou getrap word en dat die bloed gaan spat as jy aan die verkeerde kant van die losgemaal lê, is verby.
“Nou lê almal waar hulle wil.”
Selfs al probeer hy om hardlooprugby onder sy spelers te laat posvat, gee De Villiers toe dat dit met die nuwe reëls moeilik is.
“My grootste bekommernis is dat die nuwe reëls die verdedigende span meer bevoordeel. Jy werk hard om te kom waar jy op die veld is en dit is nie regverdig nie.
“Dit sal die opwinding wegvat. Mense kom na wedstryde om drieë te sien en hoe spelers met die bal hardloop.
“Van ons sterkpunte is weggeneem en ons moet dus aanpas. Dit is egter moeilik.”
November 18th, 2008 at 4:12 am
#562 superBul: I agree with some of the above points. Rules are not clearcutt enough
November 18th, 2008 at 5:55 am
Div, the media and Princess Di
2008-11-17 22:10
De Villiers was quizzed a few times how important Saturday’s test is against the background of his first year as Bok coach. He tried to evade the questions.
There were questions he interpreted incorrectly and he also gave answers that could be interpreted in different ways.
“I would never be able to deliver results. That is something you can write about,” he said.
“I am only here for the players. I will manage and lead then, analyse opponents and work out strategies, but if we don’t work together as a team …
~ The team is clearly lost with this buffoon in charge. And the last paragraph suggests serious discontent between Div and the players. The poison of transformation is slowly killing its prey.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:05 am
#564 kwas: we have the opportunity to reread his comments many times and still we cant really understand what he tries to say. I feel for the players, last night in the 7 o clock news on SABC2 they showed i clip of the Boks training it was a priceless moment when he demonstrated a move with the ball in hand , the face of Bekker , he didnt have a clue where the coach went , wish i could show it to the guys , the players certainly didnt understand that move or at least Bekker didnt have a clue what was going on.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:24 am
#565 superBul: superBul, you should post that clip on YouT*be and give us folks here in North America a chuckle.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:32 am
#565 superBul: #566 kwas:
I see Pdev also referred to the late Lady Di in some interview.
What’s the connection there?
I wonder how THAT one went down with the British.
Diplomacy obviously not PdeV’s forte.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:38 am
#566 kwas: sorry i cant find it again if so i will post the link.I didnt understand the move either, looked like a lineout and it seemed like he ran between the 2 lineout lineups. But the face of Bekker was priceless, he was looking for the coach and whalah he was gone right trough the two packs.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:41 am
#567 Pietman: Liam Del Carme
London. – Springbok coach Peter de Villiers on Monday dismissed media criticism as an attempt to sell newspapers
Any chance the Bok mentor had of keeping a low profile in the English media were probably dashed by his comments. And he even brought the late Princess Diana into the argument presented at a press conference at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, London.
“Criticism appears in newspapers everywhere. People don’t just want to hear that the world is good. They don’t like progress. People prefer to write about things that will sell newspapers,” said De Villiers.
“Some years ago Di died tragically. People made a big deal out of the rumours and never said ‘shame’.
“Everybody is worried about the weekend’s game. As a team we aren’t over the moon about our performance, but currently it’s two wins from two games on tour.”
November 18th, 2008 at 6:50 am
#569 superBul:
Wtf!
Lady Diana?
November 18th, 2008 at 7:02 am
#568 superBul: #569 superBul: LOL, PDV is a legend
November 18th, 2008 at 7:13 am
#571 Big Hit:
Morning Big Hit.
What do you think?
Will Johnson pick a pack that has a full crack at the Bok forwards?
Seems that way to me.
He must see some weaknesses there.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:26 am
#572 tight head: Morning tighthead,
Johnson is worried about his own pack’s weaknesses after the Aussie game and has stated there will be ‘no holds barred’ in this area so I think he will target the scrums heavily. I think he may make a couple of changes to the pack too to make them more powerful.
It may sound strange given the Boks current situation but I think they have the upper hand all over the field.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:27 am
#573 Big Hit: the Boks have the upper hand, that is.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:32 am
#573 Big Hit:
Yes, I agree.
However as you say, he will expect nothing less than domination at scrum time from the tight forwards.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:40 am
#575 tight head: Sheridan may well be injured however and that would be a real negative.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:47 am
#576 Big Hit: SA may get a good going over on Sat.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:56 am
Tighthead,
Surely your namesake is over-emphasised. Fewer scrums, limited opportunity to attack in the scrums due to diabolical refereeing and more emphasis on loose play for the front row. So, like Oz, can’t you just select a “competent” front row, on your ball; quick feed, hook so the ball rockets 10m out of the scrum and don’t contest opposition scrums, just hold and wait to defend. If under threat, collapse, re set, moan about oppositon not binding, ********, boring, slipping, not taking the pressure etc etc.
With the front row guys available, and those being selected, SA might have to learn a few Oz tricks.
Oh, and tjokvol out of skopshite Grant isn’t a 1000% better than Butch (maybe 10%? on a good day), Goyousillything, JS is hardly fat; I supect you couldn’t even outrun him. On second thoughts if you called him fat maybe you could, fear of death is a great incentive.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:02 am
#578 husky: How close have you been to JS lately? I’ve had a conversation with him in the past 3 weeks…
November 18th, 2008 at 8:05 am
#578 husky:
Basically you are saying take the contest out of the scrum.
Next step after that is take the scrum out of rugby.
Perhaps we should take the contest out of the line out as well?
Did you see what the Aussie scrum did to the English on Saturday?
The complete opposite of what you have said about them.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:10 am
#577 goyougoodthing2: I wouldn’t be too sure. I don’t know how to call this one.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:30 am
tight head,
Not at all (I can hear you snorting at your monitor). I am saying that if some part of your game isn’t that strong, develop techniques to minimise or negate that weakness.
But maybe you’ve answered the question. The oz scrum was considered weak. Then along came this cheeky Kiwi who said that it needn’t be. Pretty much the same players, better techniques, maybe a few schemes and hey, the Oz scrum starts shoving the highly rated Poms around.
Can’t SA do this?
November 18th, 2008 at 8:36 am
#582 husky:
The point is that you cannot go into a contest on the basis of just holding your own.
What happens when the opposition decide to murder you?
As you say, we need to turn our weakness into strength.
Of course we can do this.
Without wanting to sound arrogant, you also need to understand the technical nature of scrumming.
This does not allow for the kind of negative scrumming you first suggested.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:59 am
#581 Big Hit: Well isn’t that a sign that something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Do think the Wally’s went into many test matches thinking they were going to dominate the scrums? Unlikely. Look at the replays and stats of collapsed scrums, then look at the RWC when SA had scrum after scrum on the 5m line collapsed without serious sanction by the ref – domination for no reward.
Then you have to really be optimistic to think you are going to dominate all round so you must develop tactics to cope. If the AB’s thought they were going to be dominated by SA in the lineouts a few years ago they didn’t kick the ball out or took quick throw ins, Hardly negative.
But seriously, I take your point about technique. My hardy annual is that SA players lack super coaching, the front row is just another place where this is becoming glaringly obvious. I have very little criticism to make about the players – its the way they have been trained, drilled and used that is lacking. Oz makes this point year in and year out.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:23 am
#585 husky:
I agree entirely with your last paragraph.
You have hit the point spot on.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Whats the obsession with CJ ? He is not a scrumming prop ! he is no more powerful than Mujati , he can run well yes but he aint no tighthead! show me once when he dominated his opponent ? all I remember is him giving away penalties
November 18th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Doc Jannie is craap, Brian b oy is ****..
BJ BOtha
Faan Ratenbachh
best around