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, 15:41 pm
#386 Wallabie. – The English always have an excuse after a pomp!!: Cheers Walla….
Old Kwagga is still in Pretoria, he got a moosa promotion and a change of venue at his employers….. so he’s quite busy but everything is fine there !
27 Nov 2008, 15:41 pm
#394 Irish Devil:
Come on. Stop it now. You are not in Ireland.
27 Nov 2008, 15:42 pm
#387 grootblousmile:
Its his henchmen that are seeking safety and so are forcing Mugabe to take a hardline stand.
27 Nov 2008, 15:42 pm
One question-Who are behind the great wins against the Ozzies and the Poms? Peter de Villiers or John Smit???
27 Nov 2008, 15:42 pm
#392 Rum And Maple: Tell the franchises mate – this we all know. Here it is about money and bragging rights. We won the Heinekan Cup – that gives credibility to the club and who actually cares about the status quo of the national team. Sad but true.
27 Nov 2008, 15:42 pm
#395 stodders: That was true their coach and the captain said that. I never made it up. Stodders if you side with this BlackPanther you can go and blog on the silverfern too. You know they all complained about that the day before the wc was played it was on our radio here and after the wc cup it was complained about again by them. Were you here stodders in 1995? If not then you never heard what we did here.
27 Nov 2008, 15:43 pm
#397 Big Hit: Once again you cite a NH journalist to back your argument up. Do you have any opinions of your own?
27 Nov 2008, 15:43 pm
#395 Irish Devil: which province do you support in Ireland?
27 Nov 2008, 15:43 pm
# Dawn: And you are not in Cape Town.
27 Nov 2008, 15:44 pm
#399 stodders: there was a lot of unwarranted criticism and insults of john smit in the summer, cane was one of the worst. O’Driscoll also received a lot of abuse for being nothing other than a victim of off the ball assault, it was out of order.
27 Nov 2008, 15:44 pm
#390 asha1: Ek beginne sommer by jou te moerrrrr as jy my ‘n moffie noem !
Die ghoenne hang mooi, afwaarts, lekwar !
27 Nov 2008, 15:44 pm
#397 Big Hit: Do you also fear change? If it were up to people like you, we’d still be dying at 30 and wearing sack cloth.
Everything evolves. If it doesn’t, it dies.
27 Nov 2008, 15:44 pm
#367 Puma:
If you make your mind up on what makes a great player based on fans opinions of your beloved Captain, then thank God youre not voting.
Or perhaps you did – how on EARTH did they otherwise choose Shane Williams for the award ?!
Cmon, Ryan Jones in contention ?
Mike Blair better than du Preez, or Kelleher ?
Parisse is absolutely superb at no8.
But Williams no1 ? for one try against the Boks ???!!! Please dont say it was for the Grand Slam efforts of Wales. I think the last 4 weeks has put a little context in that.
Personally Id have Habana as the Worlds Best winger, with Delasau.
oooh, does that make you feel better, Puma ? As long as we’re patting you on the back its all OK huh.
(*oink oink*)
27 Nov 2008, 15:44 pm
#408 Irish Devil:
Oh yes I am.
27 Nov 2008, 15:44 pm
#407 Nils: The one and only – MUNSTERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
27 Nov 2008, 15:45 pm
#413 Dawn: No you not
27 Nov 2008, 15:46 pm
#399 stodders: He is a waste of space and time really. I think I have wasted my time on him today and you too are just siding with him all the time.
27 Nov 2008, 15:46 pm
#406 stodders: except its not an opinion, he was stating the progression of events since he is in the know as a prominent journalist. I believe it, because he doesn’t seem anti-ELV at all.
27 Nov 2008, 15:46 pm
#405 Puma: That isn’t v mature now, is it? If i disagree with you, that’s ok.
Or is it a “with me or against me” moment?
I remember Colin Meads and Laurie Mains saying things, but i never remember Fitzpatrick saying anything. I could be wrong of course. If you can find me some quotes attributed to Fitzpatrick, i’ll be happy to admit i’m wrong.
27 Nov 2008, 15:47 pm
#413 Dawn: Why you against me
27 Nov 2008, 15:48 pm
#415 Irish Devil:
Wanna fight?
27 Nov 2008, 15:48 pm
#413 Dawn: I don’t want you money honey, I just want your … never mind.
27 Nov 2008, 15:49 pm
#405 Puma:
yeah so what let them complain, who walked off with the spoils in 95 and 07?
our lot have been crying and whinging about fitzy, kronfeld, meads, cowboy, mccaw since time immemorial. if u lose, thats it i’m afraid.
am just happy Norling is no longer around (that truly was daylight robbery) and the big question on everyone lips is will Suzy be able to get entry into NZ come 2011?
27 Nov 2008, 15:49 pm
#417 Big Hit: it was subjective, because it was the progression of events according to him. He deduced his conclusion. Someone else with the same information but with a different agenda could have deduced something completely different.
27 Nov 2008, 15:49 pm
#420 Dawn: I’m a lover Dawn not a fighter
27 Nov 2008, 15:50 pm
#411 stodders: I don’t agree with change for the sake of change. I also subscribe to utilitarianism on this, and believe in the greater good for the greater number. The ELVs are putting the desires of the few (or rather two) over the rest of the rugby world.
catch u later
27 Nov 2008, 15:50 pm
#410 grootblousmile:
ok
ok
ko o’s sê dan maar “sensitief”!!
jeez!
27 Nov 2008, 15:50 pm
#416 Puma: Let go my tjommie…. los die twee broekjag bosbeertjies om in mekaar se holle in te kruip….. dis vir hulle lekwar…. nie ons kerk se mense, die 2 nie !
27 Nov 2008, 15:51 pm
#424 Irish Devil:
Why are you always quoting bad songs.
Don’t you know any good music?
27 Nov 2008, 15:51 pm
#418 stodders: I cant find you quotes I was on our radio station at the time. How old were you at the 1995 world cup stodders? Just so I know how much you listened about it at the time.
27 Nov 2008, 15:52 pm
#429 Puma: I = it.#429 Puma:
27 Nov 2008, 15:52 pm
#423 stodders: It’s always been the case. Changes are introduced to try to improve the game. Go back through the years and check out the reaction to previous changes, and the uproar from the NH over them. We are always the whingers and followers, never the pioneers!
The ELVs are championed by Bernard Lapasset, the new IRB chairman. If one man is behind their introduction, it is him.
27 Nov 2008, 15:52 pm
#423 stodders:
Now. You aren’t gonna let #427 go unpunished, are you?
27 Nov 2008, 15:53 pm
#428 Dawn:
Do you like Boys of the county Cork Dawn?
27 Nov 2008, 15:53 pm
#425 Big Hit:
and here i thought your “save the islanders” campaign is keeping you very busy!
what happened?
had a change of heart?
27 Nov 2008, 15:54 pm
#326 gunther: watch this and put on your reading glasses.
youtube.com/watch?v=GZchPz1xQII
I wonder if Smit really have his head where we usually have lower part of the back or just arse. If it’s a head, then it’s not our fault.
Definitely it was utterly stupid what Thorn did and unacceptable, he should have been banned for a longer time. But cmon, Mealamu&Umaga did spear tackle against O’Driscoll, Tuquiri did spear tackle against McCaw – this one clearly was not. More like dumb judo. Anyway, it was stupid act. But then – did not Smit push Torn’s head right before that? What did he expected in return – in the heat of the moment – gentle kiss?
#417 Puma: About Smit’s complaining.
Here is a quote: “I was suspended for six weeks after a Test match in France for running into someone with my elbow held in front of me. It was not nearly as nasty as what happened to me last Saturday.”
“Nearly as nasty” was when Smit hit with his elbow into the Jerome Thion’s throat when he was about to tackle him. Thion could not eat for 5 days and speak for 2 weeks after otherwise honourable Bok captain “nearly as nasty” hit.
Funny, you require respect from others, in the meantime insulting others (BP or Stodders did insult personally YOU?) and keeping blind eye and deaf ears just like Big Hit. Childlish behaviour.
27 Nov 2008, 15:54 pm
#428 Dawn: Let me see if I can get the words for you.
27 Nov 2008, 15:54 pm
#429 Puma: I listened plenty Puma. The Boks won, the Kiwis did whinge about it for a while. That is clear.
27 Nov 2008, 15:54 pm
#432 Dawn:
You’ve read in history pages the heroes of great fame
the deeds they done and battles won And how they made their name.
But the boys who made the history for the Orange, White and Green,
were the boys who died in Dublin town in 1916.
Chorus:
Meet the boys from Kerry, take the boys from Clare
From Dublin Wicklow Donegal and the boys from old Kildare
Some came from a and across the sea, from Boston and New York
But the boys who beat the Black and Tans Were the boys from County Cork
In Ireland’s rebel county our heros fought and died
Tom Barry and his gallant crew filled Irish hearts with pride
From Skibereen to Bandon, to Bantry by the sea
Our brave young Michale Collins fought for Ireland’s libery
Well Cork came us McSweeney, A martyr for to die
And Wicklow gave us Dwyer in those days now long gone by
And Dublin gave us Padraic Pearse, McBride and Cathal Brugha.
And America gaveus De Valera to lead auld Ireland through.
We seem to be divided but I really don’t know why.
We had brave men and heroes, and for Ireland they did die.
Now why not get together and join in unity,
The North, the South, the East and West Will set old Ireland free.
27 Nov 2008, 15:55 pm
#382 Puma:
Fitzy is ON RECORD as saying that the ABs were NOT ‘poisoned’.
(squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeal)
27 Nov 2008, 15:55 pm
#433 Irish Devil:
I like Rob Kearney.
Is he from County Cork?
27 Nov 2008, 15:55 pm
My lift is here. Outa here. Bye Dawn
27 Nov 2008, 15:56 pm
#432 Dawn: Mail for you. Please read
27 Nov 2008, 15:56 pm
Ziyaad….nice analysis….godd to see someone putting aside national passion and talking about the facts….jake white was a very good coach for SA he put structures in place and selected good combinations and allowed them to get experience and improve as a TEAM…however Jake is a man who believes in the winning of rugby matches by inches..and he is right hard won inches do win matches…but I think maby he is too focused on percentages and not so much on flair….PDV seems to me to be the opposite…I think now though that the ballance between structure and flair is about right…especially in the case of the last two big wins Aus/England….I think this group of players can really develop their flair and confidence in decision making…ie knowing when to open up and when to revert to a structure….the ABs do this better than anyone…that is why i believe they consistanly beat us….our players will learn this under PDV and Co…jake laid a solid foundation of conservative play and the squad can do the basics as well if not better than anyone….now the new era will seeing the boks scoring tries…just my humble thoughts
27 Nov 2008, 15:56 pm
#427 grootblousmile</ die twee van hulle maak my so angry weet nie die word in afrikaans boet. What a day gbs. I have spent it on daar twee.
27 Nov 2008, 15:57 pm
#422 cab:
Don’t talk about Norling!
How he jumped with delight as he blew the final whistle after Heson’s kick 8 minutes into injury time!
Fitzpatrick taking a dive, clutching his ear, as if Joost hit him with an elbow in the WC final ’95, the ref just ran past him shaking his head.
Talking about cheats….
Hayden was it, against Wales, who hit the deck against Wales as if pushed out of the line-out, giving the AB’s the winning penalty.
No, they know every trick in the book, those AB’s.
But the Suzy story took the cake, and as Puma says, Fitz sang in the front choir on that one, his moaning was all over the newspapers….
27 Nov 2008, 15:58 pm
#444 Puma: Best you go grab yourself a beer and chill out.
As for you GBS, cowardice of the highest order.
27 Nov 2008, 15:59 pm
#418 stodders:
Absolutely 100% spot on accurate.
(*oink*)
27 Nov 2008, 16:00 pm
#445 Pietman:
LOL. yip never seen anything like it and they complain about bezuidenhout.
f’ck me, how they convinced the rest of the world Norling was Welsh is beyond me.
fitzy made me lag, he’d surface from the bottom of a ruck and u knew every player in the bok pack wanted to klap him cos his hands were all over it or something dodgy as hell, yet he’d come up with that innocent look. if not such a great hooker, he could have won numerous academy awards that one.
27 Nov 2008, 16:01 pm
#427 grootblousmile: #444 Puma:
Ok, on that positive note I am going out into the rain and head for home and a hot kitchen for some grub and dop, freezing over here, tjaila time….
long day.
Will maybe read Zhihaad’s posts later and see what the buzz was all about.
Cheers
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