Keo.co.za tour diary – Week 6
Lions fans in tutus, player protests and press conference chaos. One can only hope this Lions tour isn’t remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Congratulations to the Springboks for winning the Lions series against significant odds. Twelve years from now, we’ll revisit exactly how this series transpired, but until then, South Africans need only remember the result. Cheers to that. Here’s to 12 years of British and Irish whingeing.
Between black and white mechanics, gouging of lions in the bushveld and losing his marbles in exchange for a top, it’s been difficult to keep up with Peter de Villiers’s ramblings. Bok captain John Smit has been the exact opposite when dealing with topics both mundane and controversial, providing eloquent answers to every media question.
When asked why De Villiers isn’t as articulate as he is, Smit responded, ‘Because I answer in my first language and because I’ve been doing this for five years’. Whether this was a not so subtle request for De Villiers to explore elaborate metaphors in his mother tongue is still unclear.
There are those who are for De Villiers and there are those who are against him, but there is also a third group who have taken what he says to hilarious levels. After the Lions’ deserved win at Ellis Park, a travelling fan wearing a Lions jersey and a pink tutu – in response to De Villiers’s famous ‘Go to the ballet and grab your tutu if you think rugby is too tough’ comment – breached the security barrier and raced across the field. You have to give it to the travelling supporters, they aren’t short on a sense of humour.
Some of you bloggers have appreciated the criticism of a coach out of his depth while a fair number of you feel keo.co.za has made too much of his inarticulate mutterings. By now, there’s not a publication or rugby website on the planet that hasn’t climbed into the Bok coach, so you won’t find us apologising for being the first. In building a positive environment you need to remove the detracting influences, and hopefully Saru realises this before the Boks suffer a defeat of consequence.
Aside from the 2-1 series defeat, the tourists have had a blast both on and off the pitch. From two-day safaris to wild nights in clubs and bars, the Lions’ players have certainly maximised their stay.
People say these tours are endangered, but from a commercial standpoint, they don’t seem to be doing too bad. Kicking coach Neil Jenkins was spotted in a clothing store picking up a few extra jerseys. ‘What’s the matter Neil, they won’t give you one of your own,’ an Englishman heckled. Jenkins explained there is such a demand for the strip that people back home are asking him to buy as many as he can. And why not, they’re much cheaper with the exchange rate.
We’re just three weeks away from the Boks’ opening Tri-Nations clash against the All Blacks in Bloemfontein. I don’t understand why Saru stage big games at venues like Vodacom Park. It’s a stadium that’s devoid of the atmosphere and aura offered by arenas like Ellis Park. Why the majority of big games aren’t staged at the Johannesburg stronghold remains a mystery.
At the time of writing, it remains to be seen what will come of the recent Bok protest against Bakkies Botha’s suspension. The players and management wore white bands on Saturday with ‘Justice for Bakkies’ inscribed, even though Smit went hard at the ruling in Friday’s captain’s press conference. Asked if the IRB would discipline the Boks for such action, Smit could only say they’ll have to wait and see.
By Jon Cardinelli, in Johannesburg
July 5th, 2009 at 5:27 am
Jon, Ellis Park is a great stadium, agreed.
But highly inaccessible to the ordinary supporter (parking is a major problem in that area).
And I thought the Lions’ supporters on tour were a great bunch.
July 5th, 2009 at 5:54 am
Interesting piece, Jon. The manner in which the IRB has dealt with player citings on this tour will be debated for years to come. Some bloggers on keo have said they want people with legal training to be involved. Well, there were two legal counsel (actually QCs) on the panel that dismissed the appeal by Bakkies Botha and yesterday we had the Boks making a fairly blunt statement for the world to see. Perhaps the time has come for the IRB to bring in some former great players to sit on these discplinary panels. In the Tri Nations, for instance, the home country could provide one member of a three-man panel. So SA could have a person like Morne du Plessis or Francois Pienaar for Bok Tests at home; Australia could be represented by a Nick Farr-Jones or John Eales for Tests in Oz; and in NZ, a Michael Jones or Zinzan Brooke could be on the panel. The IRB would have to pay them for their services but at least then we would have some rugby people with Test-match experience judging players. At present we have a system of players being judged by IRB devotees whose actual playing experience may not have risen to a level above their university hostel team.
July 5th, 2009 at 6:28 am
This from the BBC Sports Page:
Final flourish leaves Lions lamenting what might have been
No doubt it will continue to gnaw away at the proud Irishman (O’Connell) long after the dust has settled on one of the greatest, if not successful, Lions series ever.
O’Connell: “After we have got over enjoying this, we might be filled with regret,” he said. “But that is sport. It can be so cruel…We could be looking at ‘what ifs?’ for a long time.”
Ok, help me if I am missing something, but the Lions totally lost the series 2-1 and call this one of the greatest, if not successful, Lions series ever???????
Sure they did play good rugby, but this exposes their inferiority complex completely. No true pride, just puffed up arrogance. They did not get it done, the Boks somehow did, by scoring when it mattered the most. They are true champions and won the series for this – end of the story. None of the Tri-Nations teams would EVER, and I mean EVER, come up with such bullSh!t. I guess when you know you cannot win, you have to celebrate coming second. The biggest losers I have ever seen. Maybe this is a good indication why Northern Hemisphere teams get their arses handed to them year in year out by the Southern Hemisphere teams – glorifying being mediocre and living in denial.
And then the “what ifs” that O’Connell and his freaky looking coach have already started when talking to the media without acknowledging the guts and composure of the Springboks. Being in denial about your shortcomings and poor performance in the big moments is a game that any team can play, win or lose; pity it does not change the result.
To join them and show them we can talk about the “what ifs” let’s start with the “what ifs” from the Boks perspective to show them they are not so unlucky after all:
- What if Piet Snor was doing his proper job assisting a provincial team to learn more about rugby for 5 more years and Nick Mallet/Heyneke Meyer or someone with professional coaching credentials was coaching the Boks in the mean time?
- What if the Boks had some time to play warm up games to work on their combinations/bench players getting game time, BEFORE the first test?
- What if Jacques Fourie played from the start with Jean de Villiers for all 3 tests?
- What if Adi Jacobs was never selected from day one so he can get over his injury and the best Bok centre pair could play together?
- What if Piet Snor did not send the subs on too early in Durban?
- What if there were no quotas in SA Rugby?
- What if Ruan Pienaar kicked better in the second test (hit the crossbar basically right in front and missed another easy kick as well)
- What if Bakkies Botha did not get that ridiculous 2 week ban?
- What if Schalk Burger did not have a brain explosion and did not act like an idiot in the first 30 seconds of the second test?
- What if the Boks did not make 10 changes for the last test?
- What if the Dickenson penalized the Lions rush defense for being offside several times? (now I am sounding like a Kiwi or an Aussie in when Jake was Bok Coach).
- What if Dickenson penalized the Lions for obstruction at least for one of their early tries in the third test?
- What if Monye did not intercept and the Boks scored in the most critical moment of the game?
- What if Kirchner did not drop the ball over the tryline?
- What if Kirchner passed the ball in the second minute instead of kicking it?
- What if Ndungane was not cheated out of his try?
We can play this what if game as well, bunch of wankers. You lost, and should have congratulated the Boks FIRST and foremost for beating you. THEN when you get home, you can start this **** when you cry on mom’s shoulder.
July 5th, 2009 at 6:32 am
The what ifs sound so strange and useless when a team has won, don’t they. Well, in reality the same goes for losing, excuses cannot make up for what happened on the field.
July 5th, 2009 at 6:47 am
#3 savethespringbok:
“What if” is ****.
The British Isles murdered the Boks B team and i want my money back.Who the hell pays R1140 for a ticket to watch a bunch of amateurs play in the green and gold? To hell with Peter de villiers he is a CLOWN.
The Boks were bloody lucky to win the first 2 tests despite that moron. On the new zeland sports show ‘reunion’ they all agreed
that peter is a CLOWN. Their words not mine.
July 5th, 2009 at 7:05 am
John smit should have opted for the kick at posts just before monyes try.
Also tmo should be cited for that call on ndunganes try. Can’t believe everytime we score a valid try in the corner they refer to the wc final 2007, for the first time I heard one of the sky commentators properly acknowledge that the dickinsons tmo call was right for wc final and for jaque fouries try last week.
Ps: did anyone hear the sky commentators say that technically lions won the series because they scored more points.
July 5th, 2009 at 9:12 am
Is there a ray of light? That was de Villers first ever press conference where he didn’t talk ****.
July 5th, 2009 at 9:23 am
PDV not talking nonsense? Only if he has very bad laryngitis.
July 5th, 2009 at 11:04 am
#7 Jackson 4:
No, the pressure is off now that’s why
Wanna see what someone is really like, put him under pressure
In PdV’s case, he embarrassed himself and his countrymen
July 5th, 2009 at 11:22 am
With regards to sky team, that is the worst one sided commentary i have ever heard, Commentators are supposed to be journolists and should be impartial, these guys were cheerleaders for the lions ……disgracefull!!!
July 5th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
#6 Oxy moron: yes I heard that idiot moderator say something like they won on points difference…
#10 surreyshark4: actually some of their comments were “that should have been a try” and even said that the nr8 should get a two week ban – same as bakkies for his clearing out (which was from the side too), yes for the most part they are biased but it goes to show…WHAT IF (as savethespringbok said).
July 6th, 2009 at 7:44 am
#3 savethespringbok:
They only came right when a Kiwi replaced the Irish actor and swinging door.
It is rather funny to think that Swinging Door O’Gara made the first tackle of his life last week, and it cost the game! Lol.
July 6th, 2009 at 10:00 am
GET QUOTES FROM INTERNATIONALS RE PIET HELIUM!!!
This cries out to be done, also because Keo dot coza is being vilified for pointing out that his reasoning and comments are being questioned.
So, give the guys a chance to go on record, scribes and ex-players specifically – and then maybe Piet or Oregon will be able to take some measures that will serve to make the Boks management team and Saru lesser objects of ridicule during the Tri-Nations.
Most importantly, this could take the racism card of this discussion – and what a relief that would be, oh man!
July 6th, 2009 at 10:08 am
#13 RugbyRIP:
I would have thought the quotes from the international press would have been suffifcient to quash the racism accusations.
Or do SARU and a few of the moronic keo muppits believe that somehow “bittereinde SARFU fans” have somehow managed to involve the international press into this “racist” conspiracy.
Unfortunately for SA rugby PDV is untouchable. I imagine his skin colour would save him from a nuclear explosion (only if it happened in SA of course, in the rest of the world normal rules of the universe apply)
July 6th, 2009 at 10:14 am
#14 DEE DAH:
Dee Dah – sure, but it is a bit fragmented and maybe not too easy for all to find or follow. If it is packaged, maybe it will be better noticed and understood, with a more constructive result than just a PdV bashing? Which some people have to turn into a racist item because there are no other excuses left?
And which make all Saffers look like complete tossers, btw.
July 6th, 2009 at 10:40 am
sarugby.com does not “climb into the coach” they actually stick to rugby.
And as for the Bakkies banning, it’s 2 stinking weeks… week 1 is already done and we don’t even play next week. Let it go, suck it up and take your punishment like a man.
July 6th, 2009 at 10:53 am
#15 RugbyRIP:
I agree it is all a bit fragmented and the PDV defenders are either ill informed or simply choose to ignore the facts and opinions expressed worldwide. Jon Robbie is the guy that amazes me the most, he is either just being a loyal friend or he has had an undiagnosed stroke that affected the part of the brain that controls rugby.
Unfortunately when PDV has so many brainfarts it becomes apparent to most people that the only defence he can rely upon is to accuse his detractors of racism. He has done it before and he will do it again. That is the only track record the man has his rugby coaching track record is extremely bare.
I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when the squad for last saturday was announced and seen the senior BOKS faces when they realised that a whitewash has just been made a lot harder.
I imagine the senior BOKS will get gatvol sooner rather than later and I expect european rugby to have some big signings at the end of this season. If that happens PDV will stay on till the next world cup because he will have a ready made excuse for the poor results that are coming. Please guys don’t leave just stage a palace revolution instead.
When PDV has played second string players the team has looked disjointed and clueless. The JW era players are holding this team together and it will inevitably fall apart.