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, 15:18 pm
#329 stodders: #329 stodders: you saw that? heard him say sorry?
27 Nov 2008, 15:18 pm
#345 Wallabie. – The English always have an excuse after a pomp!!: you don’t understand that not everyone has to be quick and that big forwards have skill. Aus had great forwards in 99, some big and slow but skilled too
27 Nov 2008, 15:19 pm
#346 grootblousmile:
I am well and you?
How is family?
27 Nov 2008, 15:20 pm
#349 Puma:
I saw BIG HIT on the blog today so I thought I would do some rubbing in.
Sorry BIG HIT.
I have to make the most of my opportunities! I could teach skrela a thing or two.
27 Nov 2008, 15:21 pm
#352 Wallabie. – The English always have an excuse after a pomp!!: Brother…. family’s all well…. and your Wife and little one ??
27 Nov 2008, 15:21 pm
#328 XhosaKid:
Yip, good move by Pres. Mbeki that.#338 Big Hit: I must admit, you are one of the gentlemen on this site, always backing your side without being disrespectful to the opposition.
Wish I could do that….good on you.
#343 Puma:
I am with you, that ‘pig post’ was really not on, disgraceful actually..
Imagine you going onto SilverFern (not that you would want to for any reason) and call the AB captain that.
27 Nov 2008, 15:22 pm
#347 BlackPanther: Yes when you call our Captain a pig. Just to think I was the one here all week saying that it should have been McCaw that should have been IRB player of the year and not that Welsh guy. Me supporting your captain and you call ours that is so respected a pig. Jeez. I take my words back then. Let that Welsh guy be IRB player of the year. Not going to support the Ab’s if their supporters come here and call our captain names. I have supported your team almost my whole life when they are not playing the Boks to hear a kiwi talk like that does not sound right. I have kiwi friends and they are so humble and really great guys. Anyway I will leave it no use getting angry any more. I never call people names here so maybe I just cant understand it.
27 Nov 2008, 15:24 pm
#330 Big Hit:
Everything is a ‘red herring’ to you, as long as it fits the bile.
Every result has a pre-made excuse, as long as it fits the bile.
Villepreux was personally the strongest advocate for thre ‘short-arm’ pens. He’s French. My cousin is a coach of a Div II French club. He has personally talked to Villepreux about it.
The rules were trialled for TWO YEARS in Stellenbosch.
Oh, I forget. 2 years ? red herring, it NEVER HAPPENED. A bit like the Yanks beating the Russians to the moon. “the flag was waving….theres no gravity in space !”
27 Nov 2008, 15:24 pm
#355 Pietman: Yes can you imagine. I wont let it go really I had a good go at this BlackPanther so did ranger the two of us told him what we thought. He can just go and blog on the SilverFern blog. He wont find it as good as this one. None are. Thats why they all come here.
27 Nov 2008, 15:25 pm
#354 grootblousmile:
They are good. Little one turned two a couple of weeks ago.
Time does not wait for anyone!!
27 Nov 2008, 15:26 pm
#348 rangerman: Cheers ranger enjoy.
27 Nov 2008, 15:27 pm
#339 hater: Thanks hater. A mature post if I ever saw one.
27 Nov 2008, 15:27 pm
#353 Wallabie. – The English always have an excuse after a pomp!!: poor skrela tho, he must have been gutted
#357 BlackPanther: come on, the most watched Rugby World Cup of all time with upsets galore and the rules get changed? who was complaining during the tournament about the rugby? Aus and NZ fans. You do the math.
The ELVs were supposed to come in after 2003 but since Aus made the final they were shelved.
27 Nov 2008, 15:28 pm
#356 Puma: You never call people names here on the blog, I however call too many people too many names here on the blog.
But I see you got out of your passive-resistive stance into a bloody good aggressive-assertive stance just now !
Go my Ingelse maat, bliksem hom !!
27 Nov 2008, 15:28 pm
#356 Puma:
Delicate wee soul. Perhaps if you read all my comments you might see how much respect I have for Smit. He’s an outstanding Captain. An excellent scrummager. A leader of men. A World Champion. Ive dined with him, he’s a true gentleman too.
He also squealed like a pig. Eek, sorry. He whinged. Did I say ‘he IS a pig’ ? I dont recall saying that anywhere. But he whinged, thats for sure. Did Fitzy ‘squeal like a pig’ after Johan chewed his ear ? damn right he did, he wanted the guy sent off because that would have helped win the game.
Oh no, I just called the AB Captain ‘a pig’.
er……no I didnt.
27 Nov 2008, 15:30 pm
#362 Big Hit:
Too true!
But if he is mentally strong he can write that performance off and learn from it and move on.
27 Nov 2008, 15:30 pm
I think the Southern Hemisphere have much better teams and players than the Northern Hemisphere. We often think, or should I say wish for a miracle every now and then. Miracles do happen, but not as quick as we want them to. I have to be honest and admit that SH is way ahead. Maybe next year!!!!
27 Nov 2008, 15:31 pm
#347 BlackPanther: Well the whole world say Richie is a cheat if you want to know. Everyone thinks he cheats and gets away with it. Then I supported him this week saying he should have been IRB player of the year and not that Welsh guy!!!! Never will I support Richie again ever if this kiwi supporters call our captain a pig. Go blog on your silverfern blog. It must be so much better there for you as you wont have to put us with us saffas. Off you go. It must be way, way past your bed time anyway.
27 Nov 2008, 15:31 pm
#359 Wallabie. – The English always have an excuse after a pomp!!: Jeeeez, kids get very busy at round about age 2…… the “terrible two’s” they call it !
Whassahappening with your plans for up Zim way you shared with us when we had the drinks together ??
27 Nov 2008, 15:32 pm
booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooring!!
can we change the subject now?
27 Nov 2008, 15:33 pm
#335 Dawn: bugger
27 Nov 2008, 15:34 pm
#369 asha1: I second that. Howdy Asha. Cold and miserable here. How’s the weather down south? This climate change thing is really having an effect on this world and hmmmm some people.
27 Nov 2008, 15:34 pm
#368 Puma: You are becoming like big hit. Completely deaf.
27 Nov 2008, 15:35 pm
#369 asha1:
no, i’m not booing!
the word that didnt come out is boring!!
jeez, wish i could go home right now
and
drink myself into a coma!
much better than having to read all this k@k!
27 Nov 2008, 15:35 pm
#368 grootblousmile:
I am waiting as the politics have gone worse and dont look like getting any better in the next 3-6 months. then if the politicians resolve their differences then there will be another 3-6 months for anything of substance will happen.
I am keeping my options open…miracles do happen!!
27 Nov 2008, 15:35 pm
#350 gunther: I saw him motion towards Smit. Smit afterwards said he did. I believe Smit.
27 Nov 2008, 15:35 pm
#372 Nils: Nils is your weather in Latvia just as bad as ours here in Cork?
27 Nov 2008, 15:35 pm
Time for a shower and the bed sheets.
27 Nov 2008, 15:36 pm
#362 Big Hit:
Utter ****. They were trialled in Stellenbosch from 2004-2006. Its an IRB directive. The IRB is controlled by Syd Millar (Irish) and Poms. Fact, not opinion.
The 3 coaches behind the rules were Villepreux (France), Richie Dixon (Scot) and Ian McIntosh (Sth African). Rod McQueen was a consultant.
1 Aussie, no Kiwis. But Nth Hem influences with their fingerprints everywhere.
Actually, I think the Boks will potentially be immense under the ELVs. Funny how the Poms are now saying its ‘Aus/NZ self-interests’. So no slef-interest on their behalf keeping the old rules then ?
27 Nov 2008, 15:36 pm
#371 Irish Devil:
nice weather today
couldve been a bit hotter though
the girls walking passed my window had shorter skirts on yesterday!
27 Nov 2008, 15:36 pm
Bliksemmmmmm mekaar…. ek haaaat vrede !!
27 Nov 2008, 15:37 pm
#367 Puma: Jeez Puma, give it a rest.
BP has clearly stated what he actually said and that he does respect Smith.
Its becoming embarrissing
27 Nov 2008, 15:37 pm
#364 BlackPanther: Don’t tell me about Fitzy. He also said his team had something put in their food and all got sick because your team lost to us in the 1995 world cup. No respect to him for talking nonsense like that.
Now wont speak back to a child anymore because thats what you are you sersious need a lot of growing up to do. Learn manners and respect and maybe you will get it back. I was brought up like that. It must be way past your bed time too.
27 Nov 2008, 15:37 pm
#375 stodders: fair enough….
27 Nov 2008, 15:37 pm
#355 Pietman: Come on Piet. Squealed like a pig, is not the same as calling Smit a pig. It was describing his reaction, not him as a person. This is getting out of hand. There was no slight on the character of Smit.
27 Nov 2008, 15:38 pm
#377 Irish Devil: cheers, mate. I do not know about Cork but here is a snow. Wet, although, that means terrible streets. How you are doing? Hopefully no gales? We had one recently.
27 Nov 2008, 15:38 pm
night night all..speak to you later.
GBS if I am not on later we can chat by email.
Where is Kwagga these days?
27 Nov 2008, 15:38 pm
#377 Wallabie. – The English always have an excuse after a pomp!!: Yeah….. hope they sort their “****” out up there….. old Bob still feverishly clings to every grain of power he has !
27 Nov 2008, 15:38 pm
#381 Dumb Supporter: He feels like a idiot now because everyone could go and read what he had said now says something else to sound credible. He is a waste of space and time wont every bother speaking to him again. He should be asleep now anyway. That is if he lives in NZ.
27 Nov 2008, 15:38 pm
#379 asha1: Wow you are one lucky chap. Looking out of my window and can’t see through the rain. It is pelting, so I am gonna pack and go home – to bed.
27 Nov 2008, 15:39 pm
#380 grootblousmile:
en met daai einste woorde het die anglo boere oorlog begin!
yes, jou blou moffie
hoe hang hulle?
27 Nov 2008, 15:39 pm
#374 Wallabie. – The English always have an excuse after a pomp!!:
Don’t tell me you are coming to live in Zim.
27 Nov 2008, 15:39 pm
#366 Irish Devil: Player development in the NH is your problem. Too many SH players in your club teams in crucial positions = result in depth problems.
27 Nov 2008, 15:39 pm
#386 Wallabie. – The English always have an excuse after a pomp!!: Cheers walla. Good to see you hear again. Enjoy your little one they grow so quick.
27 Nov 2008, 15:40 pm
#385 Nils: It’s good mate. Storming, no snow yet. Any minute now though.
27 Nov 2008, 15:40 pm
#382 Puma: Actually, I don’t think Fitzy ever said that. You made that up didn’t you?
27 Nov 2008, 15:40 pm
#393 Puma: hear = here
27 Nov 2008, 15:40 pm
#378 BlackPanther: you’ve backed up what I’ve said, why were they trialled in stellenbosch in 2004 rather than what we see today in a global trial. They were due to have a worldwide trial but the Aussies didn’t want them because their rugby was on a high again. This was written by Eddie Butler (welshman) in the Guardian.
Its in the interest of rugby to keep the old rules. They WERE rugby as we know it, why change them? especially by replacing them with something which provides a worse spectacle.
27 Nov 2008, 15:41 pm
#366 Irish Devil:
dunno some close games, wales and scotland v close to boks, wales also took AB pretty close, excpet for last 20min, italy took wallabies close, ireland been a bit of a let-down at RWC and this tour, since thought they probably had the strongest side of the lot what with the European cup and munster doing so well.
27 Nov 2008, 15:41 pm
#388 Puma: He doesn’t. He lives in the UK. I think you’re being silly i’m afraid. You’ve blown this up out of all proportion.
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