Simple solution to Steyn saga
16 Aug 2010
MARK KEOHANE, in his weekly Business Day column, says Peter de Villiers should have picked up the phone months ago and spoken directly with the Bok fullback.
Frans Steyn has told South Africans he is prepared to die for his country – on a rugby field that is. Personally I’d much prefer him to want to live for his country – on a rugby field that is. Steyn wouldn’t be worth anything dead.
The Springboks are a better side with a living Steyn at fullback, although there has been little life when it comes to communication between Steyn and Springbok coach Peter de Villiers, who last week publicly questioned Paris-based Steyn’s commitment to playing for his country.
Steyn’s response was by way of the media. He said he wanted to go to the World Cup. He said he was prepared to die on a field for the Springboks. He said in an interview with Rapport newspaper that he hadn’t spoken to De Villiers since a one-off appearance against Wales in Cardiff in June. The only communication was from convener of selectors Peter Jooste a few weeks ago to tell him he would only be considered for the Boks’ Grand Slam tour in November.
Then Steyn was picked for the home Tri-Nations Tests.
Steyn said he called the Bok coach and left a voice message. He hasn’t heard from him again. While Steyn was doing his talking in one Sunday publication, De Villiers was doing his in another and had this to say about Steyn and the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand: ‘Regarding Frans, I haven’t thought that far yet.’
It was the most revealing of responses because De Villiers seems to have thought about everything else in confirming he had already identified his World Cup squad and that there would not be enough time (more than a year) to introduce new players.
De Villiers also had a few other things to say, which I’ll get to, but what I can never understand – and De Villiers is not the exception among rugby coaches – is just why it is so damn difficult for a coach to talk directly to a player.
I can only think the problem is the size of so many coach’s egos. Do they consider it beneath them to be the first to call and is it the responsibility of the player to go on two knees in asking for personal communication?
Players don’t initiate communication with coaches because players don’t select themselves, but no coach can expect loyalty from a player when that coach can’t take the time to speak to the player and uses third parties and the public forum of the media to get across the message.
De Villiers did not want Steyn in his squad, which explains why he hasn’t ‘thought that far yet’ when it comes to Steyn’s World Cup ambitions. The senior players then insisted Steyn get selected, and with De Villiers having sworn allegiance to these senior players he was compelled to reintroduce Steyn to the national squad.
Steyn, in the interim, had got hurt in a pre-season club match and did not make it to South Africa. Now there is doubt over the seriousness of the injury and De Villiers, again publicly, questioned Steyn’s desire and how much the medical opinion can be trusted.
Steyn then fired back that there had been no communication between De Villiers and himself. And so it has continues … everything gets said in the media, but nothing gets said privately.
The situation would have been resolved months ago by one phone call, and if the coach had made the effort and Steyn had still played silly buggers then make it public, but the only thing De Villiers has made public is that he refuses to talk personally to Steyn.
Ideally you’d want a coach who actually wants to talk to one of the best players in the world, but generally when it comes to De Villiers you’d want him to do less talking and more coaching, assuming that he has it in him to actually coach.
And it is an assumption that I make with little conviction after reading De Villiers’ Sunday Times interview with Simnikiwe Xabanisa. His answers lacked reflection and introspection and rugby intelligence.
‘Studying our videos, it’s mind boggling to me why we didn’t win,’ was De Villiers’ response to losing 32-12 and 31-17 to the All Blacks and 30-13 to the Wallabies.
Mindboggling is more appropriate to De Villiers’ refusal to dial a number and tell a player he either wants him in his squad or doesn’t.
What should boggle the mind though is when your teams scores four tries and concedes one and loses. And for purposes of clarity De Villiers’ team scored the one try.
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165 Comments
16 Aug 2010, 11:03 am
Dragons!
16 Aug 2010, 11:04 am
Awesome! Not bothering to incorporate it into a sentence really gives me the edge!
16 Aug 2010, 11:05 am
Now to read the article.
16 Aug 2010, 11:05 am
Simple solution play Aplon, Joe PietersenLambie or RViljoen
Steyn is an adult and must take responsibility for the decisions he agreed with his agent as he knew like the older players that if u go to Europe u don’t get selected
This is the least of our problems though
16 Aug 2010, 11:11 am
@KevinRack(KevinRack)-4: Agreed. Especially on Riaan Viljoen. Big and strong, kicks it a mile. Sound familiar? As an added bonus he has an instinctive feel for finding gaps and doesnt just clatter into the first available oppposition player. I’ve also seen him pass the ball.
16 Aug 2010, 11:13 am
Keo I am surprised that since we are dealing in rumors here mainly you do not mention Gerrie Swart, who seemingly insists all communication has to come through him?
Also, through all Fransie’s ambitions of dying for the Bok jersey why then make yourself unavailable for Bok selection through you agent as what was reported earlier this year prior to the Welsh test?
Both are idiots for hangin their dirty laundry in public through the media, but the underlying problem comes from both sides as I see it.
16 Aug 2010, 11:14 am
South African rugby administration is a joke. No wonder they have no friends left in SANZAR. We are the public these clown are supposed to be responsible too. How do we go about getting these fu’in amateurs removed from there post and replaced by sensible professional rugby people?
16 Aug 2010, 11:19 am
So where are all those big mouth Bulls supporters from last week!! Such a shame, so close but yet so far. Believe it or not the Bulls time to shine is over. And please i dont want to hear, “ag ja but our players are wif the boks” or “it was the refs fault”. Get over it, WP has just as many, if not more, Boks short in their camp!!! Just accept your fate!! Well done Province!! Next week, Sharks vs Province, now that is a game to look forward. Go Sharks!!!! Hope you can stop this WP rampage!!
If the Sharks cant do it, Then province deserves to win this years currie cup!!! No doubt!!
16 Aug 2010, 11:20 am
Pdivvy is a steyn-remover. People call him Omo.
16 Aug 2010, 11:21 am
I personaly don’t like shooting down coaches. I believe in giving them a fair chance. I was willing to say that P divvy should be given a chance to repair the blunders of the overseas trip. But after the last two weeks I have changed my mind, actually divvy did it for me. The whole FS matter speaks of the coach’s short comings. Then also, I want to comment on a statement he made last week regarding foreigners “sniffing” around here, stealling our secrets. Divvy’s one helper (**** Muir) could do absolutely nothing with the Lions. Two foreigners come “sniffing” and we can all see the positive results. Thank you to John Mitchell and Carlos Spencer for the great “sniffing” you guys are doing. Elton Jantjies gave so much credit to these guys after the Lions beat the cheetha’s. And to Divvy, you should be ashamed of your comments aswell as your unprofessional handling of Frans Steyn.
16 Aug 2010, 11:28 am
Good article Keo.
Never before in the history of SA and Springbok rugby has the game been served by such INCOMPETENCE at administrative and management level – and by such rugby-ignorance and blatant, bloody-minded, stubborn, stupidity at coaching level. PdV couldn’t even coach Maties at the Varsity Cup! Ditto his assistants – Muir and Gold – the most useless assistants ever to add NOTHING to the brains trust of Bok coaching (sic)…
Truth be told – PdV actually NEVER wanted Steyn in his team. I bet you right now – he was delighted when Steyn left for France – as it would open the way for his 2 quota-favourites: Conrad Jantjes and Zane Kirchner – 2 players nowhere near the class and X-factor value of Frans Steyn!
Although I agree 100% with PdV and SARU re the ref’s inconsistencies and bias in our recent 3 Tests in Australasia (a problem from the 90′s and early 2000′s resurfacing) – and took exception when he/they were villified by the Aussie media and certain personalities – I’m afraid one thing is true: PdV is a clown when it comes to portraying any semblance of rugby nous.
Imagine – just imagine – where this team would have been – if Jake White and Eddie Jones were kept on as coaches, or, at least, Heynecke Meyer appointed as head coach…??? Instead – we now reap the “rewards” (sic) of a poltically-appointed (read: totally incompetent, out-of-his-depth) coach – and his equally inept, clue-less, “still on a learning curve” (Lol!) assistants…
Oh for a Dr. Louis Luyt or Danie Craven to run the game here in SA…and a head coaching duo of Heynecke Meyer and Carel du Plessis…or Jake and Eddie…or Alan Solomons; Rassie Erasmus; Brendan Venter; Alistair Coetzee…….the list goes on – but alas – ALAS – we sit with the 3 most useless STOOGES – dumb, dumber, and just-plain dumb!!
I could cry…………alas…
16 Aug 2010, 11:28 am
@KevinRack(KevinRack)-4:
You go to Europe and you don’t get selected?
Hello – Butch James?
And you can bet, if Ruan Pienaar wasn’t injured, he be in the starting 22 for the upcoming test.
The fact is the coach has a personal beef with Frans Steyn.
It is pure ego and it is ridiculous.
16 Aug 2010, 11:32 am
Jake White didn’t select Luke Watson.
We can speculate as to why all day.
But White was adamant that he believed there were better options than Watson, and his reasoning was backed up by the particular game plan he wanted to play.
Is there genuinely a better fullback than Frans Steyn in this country?
When PDV tries to explain his non-Steyn selection with “rugby reasons”, it smacks of something else.
That whole “the NH guys are off the pace” was rubbish.
Why are BJ Botha, CJ Van Der Linde and Butch James in the squad then?
16 Aug 2010, 11:34 am
And with Ruan Pienaar now off the radar (though it remains to be seen for how long) and James admitedly not the best goal kicker in the world, what will happen if Morne Steyn breaks down or has an off kicking day?
Without the luxury of Steyn in the backline?
The Boks are very thin when it comes to goal-kickers when the should and could have incredible depth in this regard in the match-day 22.
16 Aug 2010, 11:37 am
@puff(puff)-13: BJ and Beast have been fired. They’re not in the squad any more.
16 Aug 2010, 11:37 am
@puff(puff)-13:
PDV:
I think we’ve learnt from the last few Tests that the pace of the northern hemisphere game can’t compare with what we have down here. It’s taken us three months to bring all the guys who play in the northern hemisphere up to speed.
Regarding Frans, I haven’t thought that far yet, but we can’t have him come here from France and straight to the World Cup because it won’t allow us the luxury of having him as just another player on the same level as others.
I think the best thing to do now is talk personally to his club and see if we can work out something.
16 Aug 2010, 11:38 am
New Zealand:
Carter
Weepu
Cruden
Dagg (?)
Australia:
Giteau
Shepherd (the guy who should be kicking for poles)
Barnes
O Connor
Cooper (admitedly not the best)
South Africa:
Steyn
James
16 Aug 2010, 11:39 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-9: Hahaha, regardless of your pathetic attempts to badmouth SA you still make me laugh more than most.
16 Aug 2010, 11:40 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-15:
But BJ has been in the squad for the whole of the Tri-Nations.
Steyn however has only been spoken about now because of intense pressure.
It seems highly likely that PDV has reluctantly agreed to approach Steyn, in whatever shape or form, to join the squad.
But his comments clearly reflect his reluctance.
Again, a sign of weakness and indecision from the coach.
And don’t get me started on his petulance.
16 Aug 2010, 11:41 am
Nick Armstrong(Nick Armstrong) Says
a problem from the 90’s and early 2000’s resurfacing yep
puff(puff) You arev right the coach has not been consistent here but I don’t think PDiddy is that bad a coach it’s lack of experience coaching u20 then the jump to senior rugby
16 Aug 2010, 11:44 am
@puff(puff)-17: I can’t think of a backline player that’s gone to the NH and come back a better one besides Percy Montgomery but that was only for kicking…
PDV is not wrong in that regard. My problem with this whole thing is how it’s been handled. Very immaturely and to @PissAnt(PissAnt)-16: although Steyn is not innocent the guy is what, 23? and de Villiers and managing the supposed 2nd best team in the world. A little more maturity from the latter is expected.
16 Aug 2010, 11:46 am
i would like to see willem ablerts in the team and maybe jano vermaak and sarel pretoors we need fresh blood i feel even the free state full back hennie he impressed me in the super 14 this year
16 Aug 2010, 11:47 am
@puff(puff)-19: Another thing I’d like to add is that although he has not stepped up, Zane Kirchner had a great S14 for the Bulls and it makes sense that he would start although now the lack of planning with Steyn is having consequences and now Aplon will likely start against the All Blacks at FB… Although he does continue to suprise.
16 Aug 2010, 11:50 am
Habana, WO & January has been shocking in the Tri Nations
16 Aug 2010, 11:50 am
The coach did not want Steyn, the senior players (who actually runs the show) basicly demanded that Steyn gets the call up. Clearly the senior guys know the value of Steyn. Divvy is digging his own grave. I hope we beat the All Blacks this weekend, but I am affraid that will be enough to plaster over the cracks. Then all will be well again and the crises will be over. And Divvy will keep lying to himself, say that all is well.
16 Aug 2010, 11:52 am
I don’t think we’re being fair enough to PDV here. If you look at how the statements that PDV made have been misreported, particulary as far as the Steyn incident, where his qualification at the end regarding Steyn’s commitment was left out is concerned, it’s clear that the media would love to portray Steyn (and by extension us rugby loving public) as the injured party, and not enough effort is being given to highlight the role of his agent, his obvious influence in the young man’s life and the possibility that Francois is as much to blame as PDV.
16 Aug 2010, 11:53 am
@geroom_sexwater(geroom_sexwater)-24: Add Spies to that list.
Hope the Boks can lift their game at the calabash.
16 Aug 2010, 12:00 pm
Keo and his madams always find ways to crit PDV
The Frans Steyn-issue has never been a problem with other players playing in the NH. We have never heard from Keo to bring back Joe van Niekerk, Brent Russel etc. to play for SA..
16 Aug 2010, 12:01 pm
@willievz(willievz)-27: Matfield, Smit and Morne Steyn to be added
16 Aug 2010, 12:03 pm
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-28: None of those players are the best in their positions like FS is.
16 Aug 2010, 12:06 pm
I’m a wonderful example of a mind that’s open. I used to back Div 100%, and I was quite vocal about it. I defended his eccentricities and paraded his coaching credentials. But I stand before you here today with an honest and frank admission that I was wrong. I summed the guy up wrong. I’m big enough to admit it and make a public U-turn here. He’s a fool and his only coaching success has been on the coat tails of others. If I can admit this publicly, then surely Div can backtrack publicly on the Steyn issue. Surely Div can also be a big man. Like me. I’m great. And so are the Lions, who won on Saturday. We’re great and we’re winners.
>^..^<
16 Aug 2010, 12:07 pm
@puff(puff)-19: BJ’s not been in the squad for the whole 3N because we’re only halfway through it now and already he’s been dumped.
16 Aug 2010, 12:08 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-30: Joe van Niekerk is 10X the player Spies, Kanko and Vermeulen,
16 Aug 2010, 12:10 pm
@puff(puff)-13: I think PDV wanted Kirchner in the side. He wouldn’t have been able to pick Steyn in the squad and justifiably play Kirchner ahead of him so it was probably easier to leave Steyn out altogether on the basis that NH rugby is ****. To be fair, Kirchner hasn’t let him down, he’s probably been the best back but it seems most people still want Steyn.
16 Aug 2010, 12:10 pm
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-28:
Actually, I’d like to see Van Niekerk ahead of Kanko and Spies at this point.
But I know I’m in the minority.
The crucial aspect to playing Frans Steyn is:
A. He is far more to offer at 15 plus he has the experience of winning a world cup.
B. He can also cover 12 admirably and has formed a formidable partnership with Jacques Fourie in the midfield before.
With these points in mind, it seems to me as if Kirchner and Olivier (who has not stepped up at test level, sorry) are superfluous.
16 Aug 2010, 12:10 pm
Zane has done nothing wrong. Mr reliable for 90% of the test hes been selected! Frans Steyn should f-off to France!
16 Aug 2010, 12:12 pm
@katman(katman)-31: Akways enjoy your posts Katman…
What are your odds in Jantjies making it as a springbok flyhalf before Lambie (or JLP, or Peter Grant for that matter)?
16 Aug 2010, 12:12 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-32:
And Butch?
16 Aug 2010, 12:14 pm
I thought PdV’s interview was good. Really refreshing to hear a coach speak honestly without the normal bullsh!t. I also new while I was reading it, people would be criticising it come Monday.
16 Aug 2010, 12:15 pm
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-33: Joe, at #8, is formulaic. He always picks up the ball, drives off only to the right and is intercepted short of the gain line. He never passes, right or left, and dies with the ball.
16 Aug 2010, 12:15 pm
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-33: The issue is not about Joe being better than Spies/Kanko or Zane and Steyn but Keo and his madams relentless pursuit of PDV!
16 Aug 2010, 12:15 pm
drop habana play shadowwwwwwwwww
16 Aug 2010, 12:17 pm
Bok back for world cup:
1. Du Preez
2. Morne Steyn
3. Habana
4. De Villiers
5. Fourie
6. Pieterson
7. Frans Steyn (can cover 12)
8. Francois Hougaard (can cover 9, 11 and 13)
9. Butch James (need to see if he still has what it takes at test level though)
10. Juan De Jongh (ahead of Olivier – can cover 12, 13)
11. Jacobs (PDV’s fave player)
12. Aplon (can cover 14 and 15)
13. Pienaar (can cover 9, 10 and 15)
Goal-kickers:
Morne Steyn
Butch James
Frans Steyn
Ruan Pienaar
It is a formidable blend of experience and youth, specialists and utilities plus there is depth in goal-kicking and drop-kicking.
16 Aug 2010, 12:18 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-40: then Spies is equationic. Spies = Ruck inspector = Cant tackle = Useless
16 Aug 2010, 12:18 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-37: I reckon Conrad Jantjes is in the running to make the squad, but not at flyhalf. I think Div is salivating at the prospect of including the other Jantjes (the barely legal one) in the squad as a willekaart. A black flyhalf would put Div back on the map. Mark my words…
16 Aug 2010, 12:22 pm
John Smit has been ****** the past 2 years but Ryan Vrede cant have enough of the exceptional leader! Senior players selecting and coaching the Boks, Keo dont want excuses from PDV!
16 Aug 2010, 12:22 pm
You can’t have your bread buttered both sides. Steyn made his choice and must live with it.
JDV called the coach to inform him , his coming back.
Why should the coach phone players to ask them to play for the boks.
Running to the rapport.
16 Aug 2010, 12:23 pm
@katman(katman)-45:
What’s happened to Burton Francis?
He looks like he has awesome potential – often injured though.
And no word on the extent of Adrian Jacobs’ injury – haven’t seen him on a rugby field for so long.
16 Aug 2010, 12:23 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-40: perhaps but I recall him creating a try for JPP against NZ from the base in ’08, he plays on the flanks now for Toulon. He’s better than Spies however who appears to be defining the term show-pony these days. Of the other SA 8s, Willem Alberts might well be the real deal, just back from injury and already killing it in the CC like he was in the S14.
16 Aug 2010, 12:23 pm
@katman(katman)-45: Yeah the younger Jantjies was who I was referring to, at flyhalf. Not sure about Conrad, he may get another look in, he was a favourite before, so who knows, not sure he brings much more than Zane, but anyway….
16 Aug 2010, 12:23 pm
@Bagel(Bagel)-18:
There is a big difference between ‘bad mouthing’ and ‘objectiveness’, TT has the latter with a dose of humour.
16 Aug 2010, 12:27 pm
Steyn > Snor .. Snor is in love with Zol Kirchner. Steyn > Zol Kirchner. Snor = Clown .
Anyway , wtf is baklei botha going to be saying on super rugby tonight? Is he going to anouse his retirement? Or that he has found Buddha? That he likes taking long showers with men? Not terribly concerned he is a walking yellow/red card for the boks anyway.
16 Aug 2010, 12:27 pm
@money_man(money_man)-51: I’d say it’s more the former with a dose of humour actually
but I do agree he’s an entertaining poster
16 Aug 2010, 12:28 pm
Morne Steyn
Peter Grant
Burton Francis
Jacques-Louis Potgieter
Patrick Lambie
Elton Jantjies
Lionel Cronje
SA flyhalf options suddenly looking tremendously bright and exciting for the future.
16 Aug 2010, 12:29 pm
@puff(puff)-48: Don’t know where Francis is. All I know he’s a benchwarmer at best, now that Jantjes is delivering the goods.
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-50: If Steyn won’t be there, I’d rather have Jantjes or Aplon at fullback than Kirchner.
16 Aug 2010, 12:30 pm
A simple solution to Steyn saga is to ban that rubbish from SA rugby! He has only cause trouble!
16 Aug 2010, 12:31 pm
#52
then why cut Zane from the squad
16 Aug 2010, 12:31 pm
Either my work server is as slow as a JP NEL linebreak, or keo.co.za is well and truly fooked. Pages take a whole tea break to load. Screw this. Later.
16 Aug 2010, 12:32 pm
@puff(puff)-54: In any particular order??
16 Aug 2010, 12:34 pm
@puff(puff)-54: Remove Morne Steyn from that list cause FDP is retiring from SA rugby.
16 Aug 2010, 12:36 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-59:
Still need to see more of Lambie, Francis, Jantjies and Cronje before I rate them in any order.
There’s also Francois Brummer.
And what happened to young Guy Cronje at the Sharks?
With the rise of Lambie, the contracting of Pretorius and Steve Meyer, this guy seems to have been forgotten about.
Come to think of it, where the hell are Adrian Jacobs and Luziko Vulindlu too?
16 Aug 2010, 12:36 pm
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-60:
Ha, ha – good one.
16 Aug 2010, 12:37 pm
i see dark days ahead …losing to Argentina, Scotland etc ..
january
E jantjies
j de jongh
w murruy
habana
mvovo
kirchner
eish .. EP would beat this lot
16 Aug 2010, 12:37 pm
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-44: Too true. Good runner with ball in hand though. Faster than the Bok backs.
16 Aug 2010, 12:37 pm
@puff(puff)-54: Its about time, always been a problem of ours.
Burton Francis, Patrick Lambie and Elton Jantjies all have great talent, just need to keep improving on the decision making
16 Aug 2010, 12:37 pm
And Sias Ebershon also looks promising.
16 Aug 2010, 12:37 pm
Jaques L Potgieter is the only 10 that will save SA rugby from this kick and chase bollie that is currently being dished up by FDP and Morne
16 Aug 2010, 12:40 pm
@geroom_sexwater(geroom_sexwater)-63:
Just looking to provoke, eh?
Mvovo is going to come through nicely, I feel.
I would take Juan De Jongh to the World Cup ahead of Wynand Olivier and/or Adrian Jacobs.
I for one sincerely hope that Waylon Murray regains his best form.
16 Aug 2010, 12:40 pm
@geroom_sexwater(geroom_sexwater)-63: I disagree
16 Aug 2010, 12:42 pm
With
Pieterson
Aplon
Basson
Mvovo
Van Den Heever
Mapoe
Mjekevu
Is it time to see the exit of the Ndungane twins at test level?
Me thinks so.
16 Aug 2010, 12:42 pm
juan de jongh is the only decent player and maybe mvovo.. i like him..but the rest …no way
16 Aug 2010, 12:44 pm
oh, and by the way, just my two cents but…
Daniller, Viljoen, Jantjes etc. etc.
I personally think that, given some more time to get back to his best after a long injury, Louis Ludik is an exciting option at 15 for the Boks.
But I’d like to see Lambie tried there too.
And, no, I’m not a Sharks supporter.
16 Aug 2010, 12:46 pm
@geroom_sexwater(geroom_sexwater)-63: “Dark days” was with your quota Bok team of 2002
W Greeff, B Paulse, M Joubert, R Fleck, F Lombard, B James, J Conradie, W Roux, L Van Biljon, D Carstens, M Wentzel, J Labuschagne, C Krige, P Uys, J Van Niekerk.
Replacements: J Dalton, C van der Linde, A Venter, P Wannenburg, J Botha, A Pretorius, B Russell.
16 Aug 2010, 12:46 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-30: Neither is he!
16 Aug 2010, 12:51 pm
Mighty, i agree, paulse, F Lombard, bolla, p uys & big joe was k@k at its best
16 Aug 2010, 12:52 pm
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-73:
1. Durandt
2. Smit
3. Van Der Linde/Botha/Du Plessus
4. Botha
5. Matfield
6. Burger
7. Smith
8. Rossouw/Spies/Van Heerden
9. Du Preez
10. James
11. Habana
12. Steyn/De Villiers
13. Fourie
14. Pieterson
15. Montgomery
Was quite the transformation, wasn’t it?
16 Aug 2010, 12:53 pm
@theOracle(theOracle)-74:
To say that Breyton Paulse and Joe Van Niekerk were k@k Boks speaks to your knowledge about rugby.
16 Aug 2010, 12:54 pm
you have to admit, paulse is no shadowwwwwwwww
16 Aug 2010, 12:54 pm
big joe like bobby had 1 great year …
16 Aug 2010, 12:55 pm
Good article Keo – right on the money. Frans Steyn, at this rate, will go down as the most underutilized-potential-unfulfilled talent in the history of SA rugby; the mind boggles.
16 Aug 2010, 12:59 pm
@geroom_sexwater(geroom_sexwater)-78:
Actually, Van Den Heever is no Paulse – yet.
16 Aug 2010, 13:10 pm
@puff(puff)-77: what are you talking about now? Who said anything about those two?
16 Aug 2010, 13:13 pm
@puff(puff)-81: mayb in 2 seasons he’ll b where paulse was in his first season.
16 Aug 2010, 13:20 pm
Van der Heever couldnt even contain Mvovo and Juries!
16 Aug 2010, 13:22 pm
Select Players that show loyalty to SA Rugby.
Steyn Playing in Europe does NOTHING for SA rugby.
SA rugby owes Young Frans nothing.Zilch.Nada.
Quite the reverse in fact.
His hefty salary is due in no small part to being a former Springbok.
16 Aug 2010, 13:26 pm
@geroom_sexwater(geroom_sexwater)-79:
Right.
but phhark…………………..were they great years or what!
Big Joe at his peak was an awesome player. Obviously injuries ground him down. But at his best, he was among the very best………………… that ever was.
ever was
ever was
ever
16 Aug 2010, 13:46 pm
I dont get what is all this fuss about Hougaart, i mean realy he has not been that impressive at 9. I just wonder why guys like Vermaak and Rory Kocket dont get mentioned? I think this is where south africa is getting it wrong. We see one player in a particular position play well for a few games, suddenly he is the talking point and the other players that are playing consistantly well are ignored. It a simple case of tunnel vision!! Even this whole Steyn issue, okay he is a good player, and personaly id like to see him play. But start looking at your options (Zane is not an option, not good enough), Aplon, Joe Peterson, Louis Ludik, there are alternatives. But no, we get stuck or drawn in to one player and thats it, he must play and all else gets ignored. Its ignorance!! So when is it okay to stick to one player for a few years before looking again? Never!!
It dates back to Jake White in 2004. Fourie Du Preez, a scrum half sent from the rugby gods had been discovered, and we stopped looking for an alternative Number 9, because Du Preez was just to good, need not look any further. And now, we are sitting with a problem at 9!! Pienaar perhaps, but Jake stuffed him around, and was never seen as Fourie’s successor.
January should have been tossed in 2006. Same can be sayd in Percy’s case, he left a big hole at 15 to fill and still today we dont have a true alternative. I hope i made my point. Look at the All Blacks & Wallabies, always new and young faces getting involved, we just stick to what worked before, but its not working now!!!!!
16 Aug 2010, 13:55 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-6: HI Morne!
I think you miss the boat on this one boet.
Look firstly i also say if Steyn does not want to play for the Boks no problem its his choice
And its PdiV choice too if he wants him or not
But dont Slate the player in public if infact you didnt want him , and question his loyalty
He Steyn moved on and played happily for his club, and of course he wants ti play for his country
But he had accepted that the Over seas based players will not be chosen RIGHT ?? is it not what PDIV said ?
Well now Pdiv is choosen over seas based players , so of course Steyn feels there is hope , but again he had moved on and is playing for his club ,
A club that pays his salary and not SARU
Again in saying that PDiv has not spoken to this player since the wales Test?
Only communication being Peter Jooste that contacted Steyn to say he wont be needed before the year end tests, so no problem Steyn now knows the situation
Well then WHY WHY WHY the comments from our national coach questioning this players loyalty to his country in public???
the same Coach that does not have the backbone to speack personally to the player
Its pretty simple really , If you dont want him NO PROBLEM, BUT THEN DONT ALSO PUBLICLY RUBBISH THE PLAYER , leave him alone and let him move on
16 Aug 2010, 13:58 pm
Keo agree 100 % with the article
Its pretty simple really , if you dont want the player then leave him be , dont act like you have been trying to gain his services then publicy trash the player
16 Aug 2010, 14:00 pm
The reason they so easily throw away a talent like Steyn as it makes it very easy now to add that extra player of colour
its very simple to see
well no problem leave steyn alone and choose whom you want
but in good old english , then stfu about the player
16 Aug 2010, 14:10 pm
We all know he’s not realy a good coach. But he will be there till after the WC next year. Wonder what’s he going to do after the WC.
16 Aug 2010, 14:20 pm
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-87: I agree with some of that Sharkie.
Currently Steyn is not the best at any position (15,12,10) The Wales test is proof of this. I’m not fond of cliche’s but I will use this one “You are as good as your last game…”
To be the best you have to show consistent form in that position for a looong time. Finish and Klaar!
The question is, “Is Frans Steyn the form (see I do not use “best”) player in his position?” any position? The answer is a simple “No”.
There is this S T U P I D saying that “Form is temp, and class is permanent”… that is the most stupid thing to say IMO..
Someone please answer this question.
what defines form?
what defines class? :rol:
16 Aug 2010, 14:21 pm
I think Frans Steyn is setting himself up for failure. What if he is picked and he is off form? He probably will never be picked again because he is part of the cause for disruption within the ranks. So, yes pick him, I just hope he doesn’t drop one high ball (re: Zane Kirchner), misses a drop kick or doesn’t pass a ball. He will be seen as a glory boy within the SA camp. I hope he has a head doctor on speed dial.
16 Aug 2010, 14:22 pm
I think PDV should rather invest in Joe Petersen and Peter Grant. He’ll have more options and speed. Frans is not actually that fast over 20m.
16 Aug 2010, 14:30 pm
U know, i dunno if grant has commented here but i also get the feeling there’s more to this story
i read Keo’s mail from last week and it seemed more accurate than the sentiments he’s putting in here for business day
which is disappointing
will post excerpts soon
unless its already been done
16 Aug 2010, 14:32 pm
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-94: again the problem here is not about class or form
its about a coach that yaps about a player when infact he had not contacted or had the intention of contacting him
senior players insisted they choose him
i think he is our best FB , but again it is not about what anyone thinks about the players ability
HOw do you question someones loyalties to his country in public ? yet you have not spoken or chosen him
Jootse had informed Steyn he will only be needed EOYT , just to suddenly get a call up ,
and then in the press read his coach questions his loyalty
this to me a is a major issue
16 Aug 2010, 14:33 pm
on another angle, i dont see why because “there’s no 1 like steyn” he must get this special treatment
it took 5 days to ascertain whether Steyn had an injury or not..WTF
would the same be tolerated for other overseas based players?
even after the Butch episode, i was reminded abt why we should rather select locally based players
14 days is a LONG time in rugby and i dont buy this BS abt they should’ve been more organised to get him
u dont see the All Blacks carrying on like this?
16 Aug 2010, 14:35 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-96:
Well if he is as committed to SA and not thinking about his club as much, as he says then the coach should be able to call him Saturday morning to play Saturday afternoon and he would be there right?
I hope Frans Steyn trying to fight PDV in public is not a stupid move on his part. I would like to know what all the players who sacrificed millions of rands in contracts to play in the best competitions think about Frans Steyn wanting everybody to dance to him?
16 Aug 2010, 14:36 pm
FARK me
even Sonny Bill Williams is back in NZ cos it means that much to possibly be in the World Cup representing NZ
As good a player as Steyn is and as much impact he would make for us…we ALL knew the writing was on the wall when he signed a 3 YEAR deal
i mean JdV signed a 1 year deal
3 YEARS!!!What was he thinking
16 Aug 2010, 14:37 pm
nowhere has steyn insisted that he be selected
he has let the coach know he ia available if selected and of course as long as the correct protocols are followed according to the NH rules
He has let the coach know that he carries his country at heart and will do anything within his powers to play for his country
that is all , now the coach and selectors have the right to choose whom they wish
only for the coach who had not contacted him , or spoken to him to say in public he doubts the mans loyalty to his country
16 Aug 2010, 14:37 pm
hmmm…
16 Aug 2010, 14:38 pm
Keo’s mail last week below…is there any consistency i.t.o todays article and his mail???
The only person with that answer is Frans Steyn. It is convenient to knock
Peter de Villiers for his stupidity when it comes to certain ramblings, and
no doubt a lot of damage was done in relation to Steyn when he publicly
criticized Steyn after the Boks? win against Wales in Cardiff and then did
not select him for the June internationals or the away leg of the Tri
Nations.
Steyn?s agent seems to do all the talking and the word in the industry is he
is the biggest problem because it stems from the make-up of Steyn?s club
contract with Racing Metro. If Steyn is not there and away on international
duty he then loses on his remuneration ? and by extension so does his agent.
Steyn makes up for it with match fees for the Boks, but his agent gets
nothing while Steyn is with the Boks. Steyn is the agent?s meal ticket. This
is the word in the industry, and the only person capable of giving the exact
breakdown of what the issue is, is the player. Steyn has conveniently
avoided being the bad guy in this situation. His agent talks; De Villiers
responds and the there is little love between the two of them.
De Villiers says there is no problem between him and Steyn, but opinion on
this within Bok circles is divided and the most commonly held view is that
Steyn does not rate De Villiers, has little respect for his coaching ability
and does not want to play under him.
If this is the case then Steyn must go on record and say so and make
himself unavailable for Bok selection until such time as there is a new
coach, which will be after the 2011 World Cup. It is a player?s right to
chose the environment in which he plays, even though the average supporter
would be disgusted at players being selective about when they play for their
country.
If Steyn does not have the desire to play Test rugby ? and that well may be
the case because he started so young and at 20 years-old had already won a
World Cup medal ? then he must be mature enough to say so. It could be he
needs two years at club level in Europe, without the enormous pressure that
comes with having played for your country at 19, and then returns to Test
rugby rejuvenated at 25 and ready to commit to those pressures for the next
five years.
To get closure on the immediate situation, it is Steyn ? and not De Villiers
? who needs to be doing the talking. The bad guy here is not De Villiers.
The bad guy, by continued silence, is the player every South African
supporter wants to see wearing the Bok No 15 jersey. It is time Steyn spoke
with the same clarity and authority with which he kicks a ball.
16 Aug 2010, 14:41 pm
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-98: OK thats a plain stupid comment from you
good grief do you understand zero about laws and commitments??
dont thumb suck and make up you own little version
he said i am available with the understanding that things were would go through the club that pays his salary
, its a mere 14 days planning
i guess the idiots that run SARU must be as stupid as you because they too cant seem to understand this simple requirement
16 Aug 2010, 14:42 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-100:
Well if the coach didn’t pick him or think he is good enough, shouldn’t he prove on the field he deserves to be there?
Or is his public screeching a passive aggressive ploy to get the coach to butter his properly?
16 Aug 2010, 14:43 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-103:
aaah, yes, the typical KEO.co.za standard for commenting, calling everybody stupid and SARU stupid. Point is, he is not playing and he is making a name for being a problem child.
16 Aug 2010, 14:44 pm
@Papoose(papaown)-97: then you dont understand there is a difference between the rules down south then up north
there is a 14 day prior to match period up north
its pretty simple
fit in with their rules or do not choose the players from up north
again if you dont choose him , dont publicly trash him and question his loyalty
16 Aug 2010, 14:45 pm
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-105: oh BS you made a damn idiotic comment , live with your own stupidity and have the balls to admit it
16 Aug 2010, 14:46 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-106:
I’d rather pick Patrick Lambie or Joe Petersen instead of 50% Steyn.
16 Aug 2010, 14:47 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-50: i commented during the game about how Zane showed up Jantjies consistently in that game
Jantjies still far off his best but the gap was pretty evident
16 Aug 2010, 14:48 pm
@Papoose(papaown)-102: Big HIt eplained earlier that the rules i speak of will change in 2012 , to accomdate the SH players
partly because of the fact that Argintina is joining the 3 nations
to many players from our countries
this meaning it will mean less effort to have players released up north when they have to play for the SH countries
16 Aug 2010, 14:48 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-107:
No, I think you stupid. Stupid Stupid…you live with that hahahahaha, this is fun.
Is that the best comeback…you stupid? What are you 5?
Face it, PDV is going to be there till next year’s world cup. If Steyn wants to be there he should keep quiet, and get a meeting with John, Vic and the coach. As easy as that. Else post world cup, the coach that is picked will see him as a problem child.
16 Aug 2010, 14:49 pm
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-108: thats fine thats ur choice of who you like or dont
that has nothing to do with the fact that the coach has been an idiot in the way he publicly does things
we all have players we like or dislike , no harm in that
16 Aug 2010, 14:50 pm
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-111: no moron ur the one of 4 now piss off ur becoming a bore with your child like attitude
16 Aug 2010, 14:51 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-112:
Calling the coach an idiot is not going to get Frans Steyn in the team. Just like calling your boss or your ceo an idiot will not get you a promotion. So who is actually the idiot here? PDV will have his job at the world cup. Where wil Frans be?
16 Aug 2010, 14:52 pm
i mean…Y MUST we carry on like this for 1 player
Bok team doctor Craig Roberts also confirmed he is yet to receive any information regarding Frans Steyn’s injury. The Racing Metro-based player arrived in South Africa last Thursday after undergoing a scan to assess the seriousness of his leg injury. The results of that scan are yet to be released from the French club.
16 Aug 2010, 14:52 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-113:
No moron, you are 3.
Now you say I’m 2.
16 Aug 2010, 14:53 pm
@Papoose(papaown)-115:
Maybe it is not serious and they don’t want him to play.
16 Aug 2010, 14:55 pm
@Papoose(papaown)-115: i cant believe you guys actualy cant read
they do not have to choose him
papoose its simple dont select him , but then shut your mouth about him , dont come with this is his heart there to play for his country
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-116: and so you maturity levels hit new lows , grow up kid
16 Aug 2010, 14:57 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-106: i understand there’s a difference
i do however admonish the vitriol being spewed because “we should’ve sent the request ages ago”
14 days is a LONG time in rugby
“PdV should’ve called Steyn months ago”
WTC
as Adi said @ 47 ‘JDV called the coach to inform him , his coming back.
Why should the coach phone players to ask them to play for the boks.’
16 Aug 2010, 14:58 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-118:
No you grow up, since you think that calling people stupid negates their points, valid or not. So, I think you need to grow up, seriously.
16 Aug 2010, 14:59 pm
as @RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-117: but this is the same thing that happens in soccer with club versus country
we deplore PdV for saying things like “i would like to see the medical report myself”
even the Springbok team doctor hasnt seen the report
16 Aug 2010, 15:00 pm
@Papoose(papaown)-119:
Exactly my point. What Frans Steyn is saying to the rest of the team that made their commitment to SA is; Look I’ve got my millions you idiots, now pick me or I will tell the media.
16 Aug 2010, 15:03 pm
@Papoose(papaown)-119: because a player does not select himself
read the ariticle, Steyn sms’d the coach as he did not answer when phoned
whether 14 days is long or not is irrelivent
its the laws up north as untill its changed ion 2012 its how it has to be
the coach did not even reply to the sms
come now mate surely this is not difficult to understand
, head selector informed steyn he will not be required to play for the boks till EOYT
just to suddenly find out he has been selected , but again his club who pays his salary has not been contacted for his release as per the required needs of clubs up north
16 Aug 2010, 15:04 pm
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-120: ffs kid move on
16 Aug 2010, 15:09 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-118:
How can he shut up about Steyn when all the journos at every press conference ask him about the “saviour” of the Springbok rugby who has a powerful pysche (I know I sound like Transie
) which he will use against 3N opposition but just could not bring it against Wales?!! 
16 Aug 2010, 15:10 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-124:
ffs YOU move on
SO if he is so wanting to die for SA a club contract wouldn’t scare him right?
So let me get this straight: if you don’t get picked for the team, didn’t get a reply from the coach and the team didn’t protest your omission, then what you do is make a public statement? Yeah those are the kinda Boks we want.
16 Aug 2010, 15:10 pm
Hmmm – opinion is divided on Frans Steyn and those in favour of his inclusion side with his version of events and those opposed to his inclusion take on the problem child mantle.
I fall in the latter category. I just think that he made a bad career move to go to Racing Metro in the first place. If he is prepared to die for his country, he should have made the decision to play locally in order to prevent any problems with his selection for the Boks.
Yes, everyone will ramble on about it being a professional sport etc, but there are stacks of youngsters who, out of loyalty to their country, do not accept lucrative offers from Europe because they know the chance of being selected for national duty is greater while playing in local competitions
The truth is:
1. Steyn is in the majority of people’s Bok teams based on reputation alone
2. The game has evolved in leaps and bounds in the SH – Steyn has no experience of this evolution
3. It is still, officially, SARU’s policy to not select overseas based players.
PdV said that he will give preference to players who play in SA. He was true to his word by not discarding a mediocre Wynand Olivier for JDV and now he will not just include Butch for Morne – even though I think the latter needs a rest.
I think it is quite rich of Steyn to now plaster his loyalty to SA and the Boks all over the Rapport’s cover page.
Where do rumours originate that he does not like PDV and does not want to play under him? Who the hell does he think he is? If FDP, Vic and JS are willing to play under PDV why should he think that he is above PDV’s coaching?
He is a bad apple and the Sharks should be very relieved that he is gone. They have unearthed a far greater talent in Lambie because of Steyn’s absence.
16 Aug 2010, 15:11 pm
@theOracle(theOracle)-125:
I sincerely hope he never loses form or misses a drop from 50m else he’d look like the biggest idiot ever.
16 Aug 2010, 15:11 pm
@theOracle(theOracle)-125: lol oracle
i guess it is hard :sigh:
16 Aug 2010, 15:15 pm
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-127:
Very good point. How much will Steyn’s boot count now besides giving balls back to the opposition. Has he learnt to pass yet?
16 Aug 2010, 15:21 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-123:
Maybe the sms went something like this:
“Bon Jour, Piet. My agent says I must sms you to tell you that the ZAR is stronger against the EURO so I can fit a couple of games in for the Boks in the 3N. I tried to ‘phone you, but my airtime ran out…to be continued”
The three biggest lies in the world:
1. The cheque is in the mail
2. I won’t come in your mouth
3. I phoned but only got your voice mail
16 Aug 2010, 15:25 pm
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-130: Listen, a flyhalf who plays for the BAABAAS and kicks every ball away proves to me that passing is and never will be high on his priority list. You know, Frans Steyn cannot shine when he gives the ball to someone else, now can he? That is why he plays for a second division club in France because he will have more opportunities to shine. And they want to play him at 12 for the Boks? The mind boggles
16 Aug 2010, 15:40 pm
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-132: Racing Metro are a top division French club, finished in the top 6 last season. Chabal plays at No.8 for them and Juan Hernandez has signed for them too.
16 Aug 2010, 15:43 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-129: Look no one is saying Frans is not talented because he is. All some are saying is that he will have to prove himself (when selected EOYT) that he is still the force he used to be. He is young and I have no doubt he can regain form again (by form I mean SH playing style form).
Obviously I have not seen him play lately to judge his fitness/form but then again neither have those who are calling for him to be in the starting line up!!
ahead of Zane who plays week in week out nogal!
Mind boggling I say!
16 Aug 2010, 15:46 pm
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-131:
16 Aug 2010, 16:11 pm
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-133: amazingb how some cannot understand english boet
they cannot understand it has nothing to do with , is steyn on form or good enough
but how Saru and our coach do not do things accoring to protocol
all they can get in their minds is the dislike for him
pretty sad when ones mind cant think straight or a simple language cannot be understood
16 Aug 2010, 16:12 pm
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-131: LOL
hjahahahaha
i’ve never laughed SO HARD
The three biggest lies in the world:
2. I won’t come in your mouth
WHAT is wrong with you
i’m still laughing!!!
16 Aug 2010, 16:28 pm
@Papoose(papaown)-102: journalists are similar to prostitutes – especially mark keohane. He panders to the highest bidder. One day he is slating Jake White saying Jake is a clown, the next he is having coffee with Jake and his floozie in Paris before the RWC final. *****!!!
16 Aug 2010, 16:35 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-138:
Hahahaha, true, how about Keo’s lobbying to be a Boots and All presenter, saying they don’t have anything to add.
16 Aug 2010, 16:41 pm
@Papoose(papaown)-137: Gone for tests and spent three weeks in an assylum and they still don’t know what is wrong with me. I am currently under house arrest and was released into my 9-year-old son’s care.
I take tablets, but I must have taken them upside down this morning because it had a nasty effect on me. They say the damage is not permanent and I may walk again before Christmas if I stick to the physio regime.
The only symptom that they cannot control with medication is my tendency to talk absolute tripe when I read stories of players with inflated ego’s and who use the press to wash their dirty laundry.
And they are thick enough to use the Rapport – I would not wipe my backside with that paper because the collective lack of intelligence of their reporters will suck my brains out through my *** through the process of osmosis.
16 Aug 2010, 16:41 pm
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-139: Dude, without Darryn, and not even he blows my hair back, that show is so sad.
They need a character to spice it up! Seriously! When Matt Pearce and Bob Skinstad sit there and yack their usual nonsense with Owen not adding much, it just gets boring.
One starts counting the minutes to the Rugby Club segment, or to Reunion for some “QUESTIONS”.
16 Aug 2010, 16:42 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-136:
Man have you got vasbyt in explaining something that needs no further explanation.
16 Aug 2010, 16:43 pm
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-140: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. :LOL: You are on a roll!
16 Aug 2010, 16:50 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-141: Yeah, don’t even bother to watch it anymore. Typical SA mentality – they are not willing to ask the hard questions. Except for John Robbie, but I think he ruffles too many feathers because I have not seen him on the show recently – but then again I don’t watch it so I would not know.
We need someone like Zandberg Jansen of old who is not afraid to say things as he sees them and calls a spade a shovel
16 Aug 2010, 18:09 pm
@SuperStirrer(SuperStirrer)-142: well i am a patient person
16 Aug 2010, 18:20 pm
See Zane is out injured. So Aplon will start. Have no problem there would have wanted Aplon ahead of Zane. Now we in a bit poo though. Who to cover?
We should have sorted this Frans Steyn issue out from the start. Why has it taken Saru so long to get the paper work done?
JPP will have to cover if Aplon gets injured.
16 Aug 2010, 18:23 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-145: Sharky that section of the Tribune I wanted to scan for you. Could not do it. Came out a blur. Tried to see if I could pick it up on the net but nothing. Sorry about that.
See Zane is out injured too now. Read rugby365. Just hope they don’t bring back Conrad. That would be a mistake. Would just let JPP cover for Aplon this week if he got injured. Then wait to have Frans in the team for the two Oz games.
16 Aug 2010, 18:25 pm
@Puma(Puma)-147: hiyas puma bro
thanks np mate
yeah all we can do is wait and see
email me boet so i have ur email
16 Aug 2010, 18:27 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-148: is it not sad to see on sharks world how the most of the so call sharks supports have now turned against cockott??
i mean he loses a bit of form and the hate starts
seriously sharks have some very fickle supporters
16 Aug 2010, 18:29 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-148: Will do Sharky. Just wish you could have read that article. Would have put your posts here in perspective. We need Steyn back pronto mate.
See Dewald has got whiplash fromt he game on Saturday. So don’t expect him to start this Saturday maybe on the bench. Will probably see Louw start at 6 now. Well hope so and not Burger. Burger must start at 8, Juan 7 and Louw or Potties at 6 if Potties is over the whiplash. He never trained today.
16 Aug 2010, 18:31 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-149: Saw that today Sharky. I put a post there that I would be sad to see Kockott go. Not good really losing some of our really good players like that.
Always remember that game against Stormers where Kockott played scrumhalf and Ruan at FH. Both those players were brilliant that day. Some just forget or wish to forget.
16 Aug 2010, 18:35 pm
Sharky, Cheers I am out of here for now.
16 Aug 2010, 19:09 pm
@Puma(Puma)-152: cheers bro catcha laters
email me boet
its why i seldom go to sharksworld
a sharks supporters base and hell the negativity there gets to me
16 Aug 2010, 20:22 pm
Francois Steyn, Benni MacCarthy, Clide rathbone. Almal D,,,se.
16 Aug 2010, 21:40 pm
Frans Steyn has such a big boot the opponents are forced to play at least one of their back three (wings and fullback) ten metres further back than what would be their “normal” field position, making a counter-attack a lot harder to launch from so disconnected a location.
No other fullback forces his opponents to do that.
But PDivvy insists on playing out his own petty vendetta…
It’s about what you’d expect from an AA pseudo-coach.
16 Aug 2010, 23:17 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-155: Clutching at straws, boet. You could also reason that the extra distance that he gets on his kicks makes it more difficult for the chasers to apply pressure on the receiver, thus giving the defending players more time to either kick, launch a counter attack or set up phases and keep posession.
16 Aug 2010, 23:38 pm
Peter de Villiers is a clown
a d.o.o.s
an idiot of the highest degree
Nothing he says or does suprises me
to the contrary its expected
17 Aug 2010, 00:53 am
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-156: The chasers may have 10m further to run, but a speedy winger in full stride running straight covers 10m in about one second.
A defender, having to turn around and, from a dead standstill, then rush back to retrieve a FS overhead bomb, needs ten times as long.
Who holds all the aces?
17 Aug 2010, 02:49 am
Having trawled through many of these comments, I’m staggered that SA rugby – and SA rugby supporters – cannot appreciate that, in a professional era, players have the right to ply their trade wherever they so wish WITHOUT being isolated because of it.
Rugby, particularly SA rugby, has never quite understood the move to professionalism. It has failed to embrace the concept (barring the administrators, who can’t seem to get to the feeding trough quick enough)and consigns us to some hybrid middle ground between true professional sport and ther ox-wagon mentaltity that characterised the amateur era and was littered with brown paper bags, degrees for idiots at Stellenbosch University and cushy military call-ups to Cape Town or Pretoria for talented youngsters.
Just as Brazilian footballers playing in Serie A or La Liga should never be excluded from consideration for the Brazilian national football side, so no All Black, Wallaby or Bok (ar any other player, for that matter) should be excluded from consideration for the national side.
I say let’s move forward, 100%. Let’s pick the best players for the Boks, period. That should be the only criteria.
And God knows we need every bit of talent we can lay our hands on.
But then again, we’re talking about South Africa, who single-handedly are making a magnificent feast of turning themselves into the laughing stock of world rugby.
Very sad.
17 Aug 2010, 02:56 am
@Joe Maher(Joe Maher)-159:
Joe, slightly off topic but still on clowns at least…I see the chewing clown is predicting a 5 zip whitewash in the upcoming Ashes. Apparently they only just missed out due to circumstances outside his control on the previous occassion…
By the way, did keo do away with the cricket blog or am I just to stoopid to find the link?
17 Aug 2010, 04:47 am
Steyn is a wonderful prospect for South Africa and from what Keo is telling us he most definitely is not being handled correctly.
Pros are prima donnas and require kid gloves, they also require a straight talking coach who is willing to stroke the kids ego when needed and to bench them when a kick up the ar$e is in order.
BUT! the problem is Steyn is not locally contracted, he is technically off the radar. Why is he not left to develop his game and in his own time to return for selection. This may only be for WCup selection/training. If he slots in then well and good and if not. Thank you Frans, cya next time. FFS the kid has went offshore to grow and all the media and SARU do is drag him down.
NZ said goodbye to Hayman, they wished him well. I am sure if he felt he wanted another tilt at the WCup he would have gone out of his way to be available. He has not and the NZ media have not lambasted him, they tried to lure him to no avail. They wished him well.
Good luck Frans, I wish you well.
17 Aug 2010, 08:05 am
P Div is a complete joke.
The All Blacks were training at Morningside gyme yesterday, a pool session, every one of them is ripped, strong and fit.
P Div and his circus have not only allowed our team to get fat, they are lazy and not up to the same standard as the All Blacks.
PDiv’s inability to speak coherently has probably got a lot to do with why relationships are strained with Steyn. He probably did call but Francois couldn’t understand why a helium clown was doing a prank call on him.
PDiv = *** beard.
17 Aug 2010, 11:22 am
Dom Frans can’t be completely innocent in the whole affair. Unfortunately every one is on PdV’s case, maybe rightly so. Reality is that Dom Frans is also a windgat hothead and unfortunately we still do not know what lead to the big fall-out. I’ll bet that the whole issue is ego-based. I just hope that if Dom Frans gets his oppertunity again that he will act the part. Monty was a good example, he became a prick and after a couple of seasons in the cold came back as a better team player. Dom Frans can learn from this.
18 Aug 2010, 00:59 am
Fran Styen does the right thing, almost following my advice to the letter:
Disassociates himself from PdV the drunken clown and his honchos, let the Jantejes and the Kirchners be picked at 15.
FS – or his agent/advisor for that matter – plays that game with skill, he knows the Boks’ 15 jersey is pegged for a quota no matter what, so why bother, why get humiliated un necessarily?
The fact thgat most here did believe that PdV contacted FS last week attests to the naivity of the bloggers here on this site
18 Aug 2010, 14:08 pm
Totally farking pathetic PdV.
FSteyn holds one of the keys to inspiring our players and raising our game. He just raises the level that bit more that no-one else can do.
I cannot comprehend how totally stupid FdV is to not have seen that from the beginning. What a moron for thinking he can just get by without these keys. FDuPreez is another … but PdV thought the team will just ‘magically’ adapt without them.
How stupid.
Further is his rediculous comment that Frans’s intensity is not matched to SA international team as he’s been playing in NH … how THICK is that? Newsflash PdV … Frans’s intensity at 50% is more than the lame-arse Bok dynasaurs currently huffing & puffing.
McDonalds anyone?
He’s probably thinking the next game will be a typical Kiwi/Bok event in SA … so wrong. AB’s are really going to put pressure on this first game to get their win.
PdV = IDIOT
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