Geech: There’s no bad blood
2 Jul 2009
Despite recent controversies and alleged unsportsmanlike conduct Ian McGeechan maintains there’s no bad blood between the Springboks and the Lions.
Schalk Burger was banned for eight weeks for an eye gouge in the second Test while Bakkies Botha copped a two-week suspension for illegally clearing a player from a ruck. Both the Lions and Boks have complained about off-the-ball scuffles, and although the series is already decided, a lot of people are expecting a royal rumble this Saturday.
It has also surfaced that Bok utility back Jaque Fourie complained about being gouged prior to scoring that game-shifting try at Loftus Versfeld. McGeechan said this was the first he has heard of the incident, and didn’t believe it to be true.
‘We want to move on from what happened last week,’ he told keo.co.za. ‘We want to be positive and play the best rugby we can and win this Test.’
Botha was unlucky to receive his ban and McGeechan, in a diplomatic manner, said players need to be very careful not to be cited these days.
‘It just showed that a player has to be careful when entering from the ruck, he has to ensure his driving force is forward and not down. There is always a lot of contest and a lot of pressure in this area and coaches need to be clear on what’s expected from the players. I’m not a citing officer, so I can’t say whether he deserved it or not.’
A big stink has been made about McGeechan allegedly refusing to shake Peter de Villiers’s hand after the match. The Lions coach laughed at this accusation as he said this wasn’t the case.
‘I did say well done for winning the series and shook his hand twice. Maybe he had a lot to think about and didn’t remember afterward.
‘Both the Lions’ and the Springbok coaches have been meeting with the referee every week and it’s always been very amicable and open. We’ve had a good relationship with them,’ said McGeechan, who later added he has no link to any South African Super 14 teams despite reports.
Lions team manager Gerald Davies also denied the two camps were on bad terms.
‘We’ve had a wonderful arrangement with the Bok management and there is a great spirit,’ said Davies. ‘Once the whistle blows, we can be people again. There has been controversy and I believe what happened last Saturday [Burger's eye gouge] has no place in the game. But we need to move on.’
By Jon Cardinelli, in Johannesburg
121 Comments
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2 Jul 2009, 17:08 pm
#98 RugbyRulz:
What’s it to you Ozzies, what our couch says, huh madam?
2 Jul 2009, 17:14 pm
Said my bit boys.
Outa here now.
Hope you all have a good evening, wherever you may be.
Cheers!!
2 Jul 2009, 17:21 pm
#102 tight head: I get your point now BH. But bliksem, I wasn’t agreeing with you earlier. Bad sportsmanship doesn’t exactly get me turned on, if you catch my drift. But we should not stoop to their level. And yes, Schalk was wrong and let himself/us down. But I’m willing to wager that that ‘gouge’ was not done intentionally. His hand was ‘miles’ from his line of sight and there were bodies all over the park. But I digress. Enjoy you evening chap.
2 Jul 2009, 17:25 pm
#101 Pietman: Naand Piet. A whitey would be something to cherish. If we took some flack for winning the series, you don’t have to be Nostradamus to predict what’s to follow if we do them again this saturday. I’ve already dug my old staaldak out of my trommel.
2 Jul 2009, 17:25 pm
#99 Sheriff:
#101 Pietman:
I watched a program on TV today which crossed live to SA and an ex-bok now commentator was asked about the 3rd test, his predictions and the PDV coverage in SA. He thought that the Boks would win the series 3-0. He also said that PDV had copped plenty from SA media, overseas media and had to be pulled into gear over all his past comments. The commentator (think his name is Brosnhan) said that PDV’ wire from his brain to his mouth is not connected.
You may not care (or give a damn just like PDV) but the rest of the world is amazed at the monologue of gobbledegook he comes out with.
We all think PDV is funny but certainly would not want our national coach plying his trade as a wannabe stand-up comedian.
2 Jul 2009, 17:30 pm
#102 tight head: Cheers TH.
2 Jul 2009, 17:35 pm
#105 RugbyRulz: `
Sorry for the inconvenience, but I’m gonna refer you to post 99
Case closed.
2 Jul 2009, 18:48 pm
#105 RugbyRulz: Brosnihan also Told everybody that the Sharks will be S14 Champs this year.He was an average player and it seems like his Brain is Wired to his Arse because he talks ****.Just like You,Same affliction.
2 Jul 2009, 19:51 pm
#19 tight head: Some sanity at last, well said tight head, but I would expect nothing less from a fellow prop
2 Jul 2009, 20:09 pm
#100 tight head: Speaking as an outside observer I’ve been on this forum for almost two years. In the past week I’ve been a little shocked by some of the posts. I’m sure not every Saffa thinks like that but it does give one pause for thought. Perceptions do count as do words expressed. C’mon guys you won both matches. Be gracious & thankful about that. The Lions did give you a good game IMO & you should express some degree of appreciation for that.
2 Jul 2009, 20:12 pm
The only bad blood I can see is that circulating in Graham’s head – (no, it’s not my site) http://bigredbench.blogspot.com/2009/07/graham-rowntrees-ears.html
On that note, someone should tap him on the shoulder to get that drained, surely u dont have to look like a prison bars escape artist to get respect from the forwards?
2 Jul 2009, 20:26 pm
#111 Grape White: Hell, my eyes have been assaulted!!
2 Jul 2009, 23:05 pm
#11 ufo: Well sad- geech’s name is tarnished in my book. Where is the video evidence? That would make an interesting front page ne?
3 Jul 2009, 00:54 am
The moral highground is for losers. So, no surprises that the B&I contingent and media are screaming from their high horses. They knew exactly what Div was getting at, in defending Schalk as well the lack of congratulations from the Lions camp but chose to miscontrue it into yet another one of Div eccentracies. And as far as not stooping to their level, that is exactly what the Bok management did (imo a mistake) in not citing Sheridan for that punch in Bekker’s balls and the blatant ‘no-hands’ tackle from an off-side position by BOD. It would’ve helped if ‘our’ media gave this some coverage, thereby portraying the Lions as just another black kettle but, get the feeling it’s more ‘by design’ than anything else as it would support their hidden agenda. “Div, the man they all love to hate”
3 Jul 2009, 01:42 am
#8 superbok: are you fookin joking me!this was huge news!!!every paper, every blog, radio and sports channel had this round the clock and quinlan got absolutely pilloried- I mean his reputation was completely destroyed and that was despite the video coverage showing that it looked unintentional, the “victim” leo Cullen saying it was unintentional and the “victims” coach Michael Cheikah saying it was unintentional, so stop talking **** you moaning, whinning, childish moonpig
3 Jul 2009, 03:43 am
When I read posts number 8 and 14 in this thread I understand exactly why people have the opinions about South African that I’m afraid they do, i.e. the “laager mentality”. Idiots.
3 Jul 2009, 04:19 am
#116 Uitlander: You should read on. Post 8? Nothing wrong, post 14, just a local mamparra. You will get his type everywhere.
3 Jul 2009, 04:19 am
So geech can call PdV and Fourie a liar and get away with it, but PdV gets shot at for defending the character of his player. Sad.
If there is no bad blood yet, wait until this weekend, when the Boks put 50 points on you.
3 Jul 2009, 04:32 am
#105 RugbyRulz: ell its a great thing that he is not your coach then! And you keep that in mind next time our gobledegook coach whips your white suburaban have a nice day boring ciched coach’es ***.
3 Jul 2009, 04:42 am
#117 AGTEROSKOMOOKINNIEKRAAL: #116 Uitlander:
Right, just scroll on and ignore whenever you Skopskiet, hater aka Primus, Langenhoven or Namakwaland.
#105 RugbyRulz:
Warren Brosnihan….’ovaaaaaaaaaaah’!,
trying his best to sound like a dumb Ozzie commentator.
3 Jul 2009, 07:19 am
i wonder if we will ever know what happened
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