Boks under achieve in 2008
27 Nov 2008
The Springboks are a better team than the current All Blacks – and Saturday’s Test against the Poms at Twickenham will prove it.
One thing New Zealanders love to do is talk up their All Blacks. It is something those in the northern hemisphere also take great delight in – that is talking up the men in black.
It could be that it makes defeat against them seem honourable and bearable. It could also be that New Zealand, as a nation, has never done anything to offend anyone, whereas white South Africans will always live with the baggage of apartheid.
The rugby world, post 1994, has come to accept and tolerate us, but – with the possible exception of the French – they don’t like us.
It is why the Springboks will simply have to settle for winning World Cups while the All Blacks continue to win over fans and the northern hemisphere rugby media every November.
New Zealand once again have the mantle of best team in the world in a non-World Cup year. This New Zealand team will be even better in 2009 and in 2010 they will be unbeatable. In 2011 they will implode and the cycle will continue and we’ll be told by New Zealanders that the World Cup has killed international rugby and that the yellow cup really means nothing because a team has to be judged over a four-year period and not a three week play-off period.
Which brings me back to the weekend’s Test matches. I must confess to cheating this weekend, as I never watched the Springboks or All Blacks matches live. I viewed both games knowing the result and without the additional pressure of having to file on the final whistle – hence the lateness of the column.
What it confirmed to me, and it is something I have been saying for a couple of years, is that the Springboks possess the better individual talent, with the exception of Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, who are two of the finest to play the game. This current generation of South African player is among the most special ever produced in this country, and that is why the expectation must be high and performances like the one against Scotland two Saturdays ago can’t be justified or tolerated.
It is the dismantling of England at Twickenham that sets a standard, much like the Boks did in Paris when they humiliated England 36-0 in a World Cup play-off match.
You can tell me England are poor and in a shambles, but only two weeks ago we were being told this is a new generation of English player, good enough to beat Australia, South Africa and New Zealand on successive weekends. The wise scribes in the United Kingdom also told us that the Boks were the weakest of the Tri nations teams. It was based on the statistical evidence of the Boks finishing third in the Tri Nations – a result that was as unacceptable as the performance against Scotland.
In assessing the year, nine Bok wins in 13 starts statistically is a very good return, but it is the two Tri Nations wins in six matches that will define the season because this was the year in which the World Cup holders should have been superior to New Zealand and Australia in belief and results.
New Zealand, this year, lost 13 of their World Cup All Blacks to Europe. Many of them will return to New Zealand in 2011 and be good enough to challenge for a World Cup squad, while Australia also entered a rebuilding phase. With the Springboks, there was no rebuilding because there was no need for a makeover of a World Cup winning squad with an average age of 25. It is why 2008 will always be the season of missed opportunity. The brilliant win against England only emphasized how much was missed in the Tri Nations.
A settled Bok team, with so much natural talent, should have whipped the All Blacks and Wallabies, home and away, and then there would have been a supporting argument to my theory that South Africa’s players are better than New Zealand’s. Instead I’ll continue to get the 19-0 defeat at Newlands thrown at me and the names of Carter and McCaw. On the latter I concede, but overall the only thing the All Blacks should be beating the Boks at is the ridiculously overhyped pre-match haka.
Take it from me, New Zealand, if they play to their potential, won’t beat England by 36 points this weekend because they are not as good a side as a Bok side in full throttle, and that is why 2008 was the year in which the Boks stumbled when they should have soared.
731 Comments
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27 Nov 2008, 14:22 pm
#185 BlackPanther: i am just pulling your chain mate, thanks for the support!
27 Nov 2008, 14:22 pm
#177 Big Hit:
The other side to that theory is that DESPITE the Sth Hem teams – collectively – playing under the ELVs this season, they have come to the UK/France, who have HOME advantage and RULES advantage and still cant buy a win.
The Springboks win at HQ last Saturday is a direct benefit of playing under the high-tempo rules if the S14 ELVs. I havent seen the Boks playing so freely in years, it was great to watch too.
27 Nov 2008, 14:22 pm
#198 Puma:
I met BG Williams in Upington!
27 Nov 2008, 14:22 pm
Ziyaad,
Only one way to compliment those three posts: Mashallah
Fantastic post.
You’re the Slamse Pissant
27 Nov 2008, 14:22 pm
#193 canafunk:
Yes, he is safe. Too safe for my liking.
His box kicks are so frequent they ruin any momentum his team may gain. And often he has kicked out on the full. Good player, no doubt. But not outstanding.
27 Nov 2008, 14:23 pm
#190 BlackPanther: you should respect all opposition put in front of you, that way you’re not caught being complacent. What a team has done 5 years ago or 100 years does not dictate how a team will do today or tomorrow.
#189 stodders: the IRB directive on refereeing is part of the ELV package designed to create a fast game (like the one NZ and Aus play). It absolutely killed the Boks on tour, and England against Australia and its killing the GP as a rugby spectacle. We all know who pushed for the ELVs because they caught the plane home together from France last year. If you can’t beat em, change the rules seems to be the mantra.
27 Nov 2008, 14:23 pm
#204 saffa_guy:
Shukran.
27 Nov 2008, 14:24 pm
#190 BlackPanther: Lets hope its the dream final in 2011 Boks against the All Blacks nothing in world rugby can get better than that for a South African. By the way I always support your team if the Boks are not playing them. I have all my years and still do.
27 Nov 2008, 14:24 pm
#44 rangerman: I have just done that, its a brilliant article
27 Nov 2008, 14:24 pm
#202 BlackPanther: how do we have a rules advantage? we like the old rules, its you guys who want the new ones and this new ridiculous refereeing.
27 Nov 2008, 14:26 pm
England are going to be in the doldrums for the next 10 years.
They blame ELVs when the reality is they have plodders and their lack of skills have shown them up.
England are still riding on their gravy train since after 2003…its dipping very fast.
27 Nov 2008, 14:27 pm
#204 saffa_guy:
Yes it was a very well put argument.
To the point, no frills, great use of external examples and quite simplistic in nature.
One of the better points I have read in a while
27 Nov 2008, 14:27 pm
#206 Big Hit:
Your team is ****…live up to it mate. You are making poor excuses.
27 Nov 2008, 14:27 pm
#197 Dumb Supporter:
15. Lee Byrne – Wales / Rory Lamont – Scotland
14. Sean Lamont – Scotland / Paul Sackey – England
13. Brian O’Driscoll – Ireland / Tom Shanklin – Wales / Dan Hipkiss – England
12. Luke Fitzgerald – Ireland / Gavin Henson – Wales
11. Shane Williams – Wales / Rob Kearny – Ireland
10. Stephen Jones – Wales / ?
9. Mike Phillips – Wales / Mike Blair – Scotland
8. Andy Powell – Wales / Luke Narraway – England
7. David Wallace – Ireland / John Barclay – Scotland
6. James Haskell – England / Ryan Jones
5. Paul O’ Connell – Ireland / ?
4. Donncha O’Callaghan – Ireland / Alun Wyn-Jones – wales
3. Euan Murray – Scotland / ?
2. Huw Bennett – Wales / Ross Ford – Scotland
1. Andrew Sheridan – England / Gethin Jenkins – Wales
27 Nov 2008, 14:28 pm
#210 Big Hit:
November has arrived…where is England??
27 Nov 2008, 14:28 pm
#206 Big Hit: No its not. I suggest you do your homework. D- for effort.
27 Nov 2008, 14:29 pm
#197 Dumb Supporter: lol. I know for sure the 8 will be Powell and if Sheridan is not injured 3. I would have to think about the rest. Maybe Big Hit and Stodders have ideas. I think a lot of the players will come from the Welsh side a few from Scotland and Ireland. Not so sure about England but you never know they may have a great game this Sat and in the 6 Nations and that will change. But its a Scottish and Kiwi coach thats coaching Wales.
27 Nov 2008, 14:29 pm
#217 Puma: Sheridan 1 not 3
27 Nov 2008, 14:29 pm
#209 XhosaKid: ja, old ziyaad is being coy though.
methinks he is a journo. in fact i seem to remember him saying as much once here on keo. could be wrong.
anyhoo, i will look out for his work in future.
maybe a ziyaad.com could do well? keo and ziyaad could have debates like the one between zuma and shilowa in the sunday papers. not debates but “opinion pieces”
27 Nov 2008, 14:29 pm
#205 ziyaad: Let me also add my respect for your posts. Easy to read and well argued.
27 Nov 2008, 14:29 pm
#210 Big Hit:
England got SCREWED!!
27 Nov 2008, 14:30 pm
#192 rangerman:
He squealed, whinged, complained. Whatever word best suits your delicate self best, Im happy with too. But he provoked for the exact reaction that he received. Why on Earth do you think Smit targetted Thorn – for exactly that reason !
27 Nov 2008, 14:30 pm
#214 stodders: Sackey was very poor on Sat cant see him making the squad.
27 Nov 2008, 14:30 pm
Out of the last 4 Games I am happy with 2 so it’s not all that bad
27 Nov 2008, 14:31 pm
#214 stodders: Not many Englishmen, but is that a surprise?
27 Nov 2008, 14:31 pm
#206 Big Hit:
England way of showing respect is to roll over and pull their shorts down.
27 Nov 2008, 14:32 pm
sa 156/5
..
hey,
i thought we’re only playing the aussies next month!
27 Nov 2008, 14:32 pm
#214 stodders: we love paul sackey, LOVE HIM!!!! please please please bring him over.
i think the beast has something to show him on hard fields
27 Nov 2008, 14:32 pm
i dont agree i think the abs will whip england by at least 40 points
27 Nov 2008, 14:32 pm
#223 Puma: What do you think of the team? I have put first choice and back up in there. I think it is a fair reflection of the form of players right now. However, it will all change by next year i imagine, with loss of form and injuries taking their toll.
27 Nov 2008, 14:32 pm
#203 Pietman: That must have been great Piet.
27 Nov 2008, 14:33 pm
#213 Wallabie. – The English always have an excuse after a pomp!!: your team isn’t much better, you got out of jail the other night bigtime
#216 stodders: yes it is, Kaplan even said himself.
#222 BlackPanther: Smit didn’t target Thorn, Thorn took Conrad Jantjes around the head so Smit gave him a nudge for it and Thorn went overboard and spear tackled him. But as Smit pointed out, its not the first time the IRB have been lenient on NZ, remember 2005.
27 Nov 2008, 14:34 pm
#226 Wallabie. – The English always have an excuse after a pomp!!: the big game was in Marseille last year, you guys went home in tears just like 2003 and 1995
27 Nov 2008, 14:34 pm
#194 Big Hit:
Why on Earth I would ask a twat who marks his every comment with a childish smiley-face, is quite beyond me. Youre a fraud and by no means a true rugby fan. Objectivity is what marks out the fan who loves rugby against one who uses it as an opportunity to spout bile. You are clearly in the latter category.
27 Nov 2008, 14:34 pm
“It is why 2008 will always be the season of missed opportunity. The brilliant win against England only emphasized how much was missed in the Tri Nations.”
Keo, you definitely missed England in 3 Nations.
New Zealand would never let you run riot, guys. Australia, usually, too. Yes, SA won brilliantly in Joburg, hats off, but still they lost series 1-2, including game at home.
You (and many like you) seem to think when South Africa are progressing (and they are indeed) others don’t. If you have not noticed Australia have improved massively under Deans and SA will have to try very very hard to beat them next time. The same Deans, by the way, whose Crusaders have won twice as much S12/S14 titles than all Aussie/SA teams combined. It’s not a shambolic England down there. The same applies to New Zealand – they have lost many fist choice players but still many young guys coming in and,considering, what they have done to the Boks already, except no respite.
Let’s see how SA teams will do in coming S14. At least there won’t be Crusaders steamrolling all before them so easily without Deans and Carter.
Your theory about SA talent superiority over Aus/Nz will have any kind of credibility only if SA team wins this tournament. Or, at the very least, they manage to get more than just meagre one team in the semis. Not to mention winning 3 Nations over “overrated” ABs.
Before that it’s just chestbeating after kicking the *** of currently absolutely woeful team up north.
27 Nov 2008, 14:34 pm
#222 BlackPanther: ag, maybe thorne targetted the best captain on the planet?
but you see it your way, i will see it mine.
i am not delicate. we can play name-calling if you want.
shall we start with drunk or wife beater?
27 Nov 2008, 14:34 pm
#214 stodders: #217 Puma: On paper, it looks like a very, very competitive team – except maybe for flyhalf.
Like I said, the biggest issue is whether the coaching team can get the guys to play for each other – like the Boks surely will.
27 Nov 2008, 14:35 pm
#232 Big Hit:
We were poor but who won?
We have a very young side…who won?
we have a new coach….who won?
We have no front row…who won?
‘See you in november thats where the true test is’…where is your englsh team?
27 Nov 2008, 14:35 pm
#234 BlackPanther: and you are objective? if objective means one-eyed, pro-NZ and anti-everyone else, then I’m happy not to be objective by your standards.
27 Nov 2008, 14:36 pm
#228 rangerman:
As long as little Shano lines up against big JPP, I’m happy.
As you said a few weeks ago: Step, step, step, BANG!
27 Nov 2008, 14:36 pm
#233 Big Hit:
Sorry…did england win anything last year. Tell me what trophies do you have in your cabinet?
27 Nov 2008, 14:37 pm
#238 Wallabie. – The English always have an excuse after a pomp!!: We won and went on to the World Cup final. Your boys met the ABs in the airport and watched the final on an aeroplane whilst crying into your fosters
27 Nov 2008, 14:37 pm
#219 rangerman:
I’m not a journalist. Just really love the game.
#220 stodders:
Thanks.
27 Nov 2008, 14:37 pm
#237 Dumb Supporter: I am not too familiar with many of the backs, but the forwars look impressive – capable of matching the boks man for man.
27 Nov 2008, 14:37 pm
#232 Big Hit: It wouldn’t be the first time Kaplan was wrong.
I’ll write this so you can be clear:
At the start of the northern hemisphere season the IRB came out and told referees to be stricter with attacking players going off their feet at the breakdown.
It was not part of the new ELVs. There are no breakdown laws introduced as part of the ELVs being trialled in the NH.
I suggest you go and read up about it, as it is clear that you have little idea of what you are talking about.
27 Nov 2008, 14:38 pm
#241 Wallabie. – The English always have an excuse after a pomp!!: What did Australia win last year? (besides the ELV campaign)
27 Nov 2008, 14:38 pm
#210 Big Hit:
The Sth Hem have been playing under Nthern Hem rules the whole tour. Oh go on, tell me black is white and never the twain shall meet.
Its called credibility. Your credibility rating is ZERO
27 Nov 2008, 14:38 pm
#232 Big Hit:
By the way…we let the french into the game.
Burgess pass caused flutters in many wallaby supporters hearts….not the french.
27 Nov 2008, 14:39 pm
#234 BlackPanther: If you use the word twat, you let him know he has got to you.
27 Nov 2008, 14:39 pm
#192 rangerman: Yes they got to the final to see their team get beat by the Boks.
Tell that BP kiwi for calling John a pig yesterday to Big Hit. How would he have felt if he was spear tackled and had to have op after it. Never knew kiwis to be so nasty. Maybe I wont support their team anymore if thats how they are.
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