Farr-Jones questions Bok logic
14 Sep 2010
Nick Farr-Jones reckons the Springboks’ refusal to cut loose dead wood will adversely affect their chance of defending the World Cup.
Speaking exclusively to keo.co.za in Sydney, the 1991 World Cup-winning Wallabies captain also criticised coach Peter de Villiers’ erratic behaviour and weighed in on the issue of South Africa shifting allegiance to the northern hemisphere amid strong rumours that the South African Rugby Union (Saru) is frustrated at what it perceives to be a gang mentality from its Sanzar partners New Zealand and Australia.
Reflecting on the Springboks’ diabolical season, Farr-Jones told this site: ‘South Africa’s primary strength in 2007 was the experience of their group. Now some of those players are looking to be carried out in coffins.
‘I suppose one argument could be that they’ve earned the right to retire on their terms. But there needs to be some honesty in their personal assessment of their contribution. Every player gets to the point where they have to ask themselves some tough questions about their ongoing value to the side and some of the senior boys are at that place now. I was there and I know just how hard that can be.
‘But I’m not sure they’re being completely honest in those assessments, and if they carry on until the World Cup South Africa run the risk of jeopardising their campaign.’
Jones said De Villiers, who will face the president’s council for a performance review of the Boks’ Tri-Nations title defence, where they lost all but one of six Tests, and to be probed on his ludicrous media offerings which ranged from suggestions that referees were favouring New Zealand, to the support of alleged cop killer Bees Roux.
‘He’s so unpredictable and controversial. You have to think that he’s a liability to South African rugby,’ Farr-Jones said. ‘At Test level you need a coach who is measured, composed and intelligent in his dealings with the media. De Villiers hasn’t displayed those qualities consistently enough.
‘That undoubtedly heaps pressure on your captain [John Smit] and a team takes their emotional cues from their leader. That situation needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.’
Farr-Jones believes there’s still time to make personnel changes.
‘Twelve months is sufficient time to gel a side for a World Cup,’ he said. ‘The introduction of young players injects freshness and positive unpredictability into a side, and the Springboks could do with those qualities.
‘In 1990 we [Australia] made fairly significant changes to our squad and we went on to win the World Cup. I can’t see why the Springboks cannot employ a similar strategy to their benefit.’
There have been persistent suggestions that Saru was open to discussing a breakaway move to the northern hemisphere given its frustration at being undermined in the most important decisions recently taken by Sanzar.
Farr-Jones scoffed at these suggestions. ‘Financially and logistically there would probably be some viability to a decision to move,’ he said. ‘But it won’t happen. The South African public would lynch their bosses if such a decision was taken.
‘They want to compete against the very best in the world, and Australia and New Zealand have consistently proven themselves to be just that. I’m sure some discussion went on around that issue at board level, but it would make them hugely unpopular with their support base if they abandoned their Sanzar partners.
‘Furthermore, New Zealand and Australia would certainly try everything they can to dissuade such a move. In terms of viewership of Super Rugby and Tri-Nations, South Africa is the major contributor and therefore enables Sanzar to negotiate a lucrative broadcasting deal. Even with the introduction of Argentina [in 2012], they wouldn’t be able to command as big a deal as they have now.’
‘But the politics in South African rugby is so complex and unpredictable that they may very well be off to join the north when the current deal expires. I hope it doesn’t come to that though. Australia and New Zealand needs South Africa.’
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399 Comments
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15 Sep 2010, 07:47 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-326: @TheTackler(TheTackler)-327: @poppa69(poppa69)-329: sooo, new zealand apparently has ‘depth’ and it was only conviniently displayed when they won their eoyt games & this year’s incoming & tri-nations?
you guys are hilarious.
Here’s the team that played the 1st tri-nations game of 2009 in bloemfontein, is it your fisrt team or are there 2nd stringers in it?
All Blacks — 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Joe
Rokocoko, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu,
11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donand, 9
Brendon Leonard, 8 Rodney So ’oialo, 7
Richie McCaw, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Isaac Ross,
4 Brad Thorn, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew
Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Owen Franks,
18 Jason Eaton, 19 Kieran Read, 20 Piri
Weepu, 21 Luke McAlister, 22 Cory Jane.
15 Sep 2010, 07:56 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-351: where did I say that Trans? all my comment in 329 asks is about the depth of SA rugby we were so vehemently told about before the 3Ns…
I never once mentioned NZ or “depth” in regard to NZ..at least call out the right people mate…
15 Sep 2010, 08:01 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-351:
You seem to have forgotten it was not us talking up the SA depth,we left it to you guys and oh boy you depth came through this year didnt it.
I did say we have got depth and the proof is in the pudding,Junior world champs,now obviously we must have some good players come through. We may not have the depth in some key positions,well mainly one but we are not far of it.
15 Sep 2010, 08:06 am
the ‘Fat Boys Club’ choose the team…..so very little chance of any young ‘depth’ players being allowed to show there wares…..
Imagine if they show the ‘seniors ‘ up?
We cant have that now can we ?
15 Sep 2010, 08:19 am
read something very interesting….Francois Pienaar says the WC should be seen as a 4′ 4 month project ‘…..as only then should you have a good idea of the personnel you will be taking.
Eye opener….Boks brain trust decided on virtually a 2 year project! Its too long….it has created complacency and an entitlement culture.
Watch how the poms are doing this….creating a dog fight for positions…..dropping all dead wood, including their skipper….Johnson ruthless and showing who is the boss…imagine if we had this culture here.
15 Sep 2010, 08:19 am
top line should read 4 month project
15 Sep 2010, 08:32 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-352: @Hurricane(Hurricane)-353: so you blokes don’t think the all blacks have incredible depth?
15 Sep 2010, 08:43 am
@grant10(grant10)-349:
what’s that grantie?
asking somebody not to whinge for an entire day?
how about you stop wetting yourself every half an hour and then we’ll chat about other people moaning
15 Sep 2010, 08:44 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-357:
that’s it transie keep the fuckers in line…
15 Sep 2010, 08:52 am
@gunther(gunther)-359: piece of cake Gunman..
15 Sep 2010, 08:52 am
@gunther(gunther)-359: the champs to chumps line, no thanks grunter…
@Transformation(Transformation)-357: NZs lacking depth in quite a few key positions… but its about the team collective in NZ, not so sure about SA..
15 Sep 2010, 09:08 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-361: that’s alright Popps sometimes i get confused whether Tackler is kiwi sympathiser or what…do you take him as a fellow All Black fan?
15 Sep 2010, 09:11 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-362: Tackler can support whoever Tackler wants… as for you being confused, makes more sense then you’ll ever realise
15 Sep 2010, 09:24 am
Come on. The ABs can’t brag after the diabolical display last year. Same with the Aussies. And strangely both coaches kept their jobs.
15 Sep 2010, 09:27 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-363: well i take cue from you, one minute nz has depth, the next no depth..
All Blacks stars in cotton wool
By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE – Stuff
Captain Richie McCaw and eight other stars
are in cotton wool but the bulk of the
champion All Blacks will be drip-fed to their
provinces in the leadup to the end of year
tour.
Eighteen players from the All Blacks squad
will be available to play ITM Cup, if required
by their provincial coaches, at various
stages over the next five rounds.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry said: “Many
of the players, especially those in the All
Blacks starting XV, have had a big year with
Super 14 rugby and the test season, while
others haven ’t played as much rugby. So we
are taking a sensible approach in managing
their workload as we prepare for the end of
year tour as well as the new Super Rugby
competition in 2011.”
McCaw will be joined by Kieran Read, Piri
Weepu, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Mils
Muliaina, Sam Whitelock, Cory Jane and
Jerome Kaino in being totally rested under
the plans released today.
Under the players’ collective agreement the
All Blacks are allowed two weeks off after
the Tri-Nations. Some of them have chosen
to get stuck in for their provinces instead
with seven in action over the next two
rounds.
For the Ranfurly Shield matches over the
next five rounds holders Southland will
have to do without halfback Jimmy Cowan
for the challenges from Auckland and
Canterbury. Auckland will have prop John
Afoa and midfield back Benson Stanley
available for their tilt next week while
hooker Corey Flynn and first five Colin Slade
will be available for Canterbury’s challenge
if Southland still have the shield on October
9
The All Blacks returned to New Zealand last
Sunday following their 23 –22 victory over
Australia in the final match of the Tri-
Nations, with players spending the next few
weeks at home before the 30 –strong All
Blacks squad for the end of year tour is
announced on October 17.
The All Blacks will play tests on consecutive
weekends from October 30 against
Australia, England, Scotland, Ireland and
Wales.
The All Blacks have injury concerns out of
their unbeaten season.
Star No 10 Dan Carter is recovering from
ankle surgery and hasn ’t been listed for a
pre-tour return to action yet.
All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson said hooker
Keven Mealamu and first five –eighth Aaron
Cruden are recovering from their respective
injuries suffered in the weekend ’s test win
over Australia.
Mealamu suffered a slight calf tear in his
right leg and will be out of rugby for
several weeks while Cruden sprained his left
ankle early in the test.
Meanwhile, All Blacks and Waikato midfielder
Richard Kahui will undergo an arthroscopy
on his injured right shoulder today.
Kahui re–injured his shoulder in his return
to rugby ten days ago playing for Waikato
against North Harbour. He had been out of
rugby since suffering a small fracture of his
right shoulder socket in the All Blacks’
opening Investec Tri Nations Test against
the Springboks at Auckland on July 10.
Dr Robinson said the arthroscopic
procedure would examine how much
damage there was to the interior of the
joint and, if required, Kahui would have
surgery. Alternatively, if surgery is not
required, he will continue his rest and
rehabilitation.
15 Sep 2010, 09:35 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-365: where have I said NZ have depth Trans? again fabricating stories… have I personally said NZ have incredible depth? nope, not once… now run along and scroll through the archives trying to prove me wrong..
you falsely accused me above and yet continue once the error was pointed out to you..
15 Sep 2010, 09:38 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-366:
falsely accused sniff..
I’m just a fool whose intentions are good…
oh lord please don’t let me be misunderstood…
15 Sep 2010, 09:41 am
@gunther(gunther)-367: awww grunter, whats the matter old man… the boks and the bulls losing..
bwahahaha
vatso katvis..
15 Sep 2010, 09:47 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-366: don’t have a fit now, i’m just yanking your chain..
15 Sep 2010, 09:54 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-369: Thats right – just flush the dunny and move on
15 Sep 2010, 10:01 am
@aliboy(aliboy)-370: hey ali hoe gaan dit?
Palmerston North Police have identified
some of the culprits responsible for a
violent brawl at Arena Manawatu and say it
is only a matter of time before they are
caught and banned from the stadium.
The fight happened after crowd tension
boiled over when Asaeli Tikoirotuma scored
a try on full time as the Manawatu Turbos
beat Wellington 36-24 in their ITM Cup
match on September 4 and involved up to
20 people.
The scuffle involved Wellington fans and
people from Manawatu and took place in
front of children. Full cans of beer were
thrown on the embankment side of the
ground before punches were exchanged.
Senior sergeant Cliff Brown said police had
reviewed footage of the incident and
officers were searching for those involved
and would give them a two-year ban from
FMG Stadium.
“The investigation is still ongoing and we
haven’t caught up with these people yet,”
he said.
“We have identified two if not three of the
individuals concerned.
“Once they’ve been dealt with by police and
their identities confirmed, if we are satisfied
they are the people pictured, they will be
issued with trespass notices.”
Manawatu Rugby Union chief executive
John Knowles was happy with the response
from the police.
“We are absolutely welcoming it,” he said in
reference to the trespass notices.
“We are pleased the police have listened to
what I had to say and have taken the
trouble to go through the evidence.”
Mr Knowles stressed the remaining home
games of the season would remain a safe
environment for families because there
would be increased security in the area of
the ground where the fight broke out.
As owners of the site, Arena Manawatu
have given the police the go-ahead to issue
the trespass notices to those responsible
and venues manager David Walsh said he
was comfortable with the amount of
security at the stadium.
“We won’t tolerate that sort of behaviour .
There’ll be no be no more reoccurences.”
Private security arranged by the Manawatu
Rugby Union is charged with keeping the
peace at home fixtures, the next of which is
on Friday night against Auckland. However,
Mr Brown said there might be more police
at the games in future.
“We will certainly be monitoring the
situation closely.”
Manawatu Bucketheads co-founder Chris
Long said that none of his fan group was
involved in the fight.
15 Sep 2010, 10:28 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-371: gee whats this prove??
we’ve all read reports of brawls in SA rugby games where there are knives and chains used…
even murders at games? a young kid just recently…
really Trans, you should think before copy-pasting some articles..
15 Sep 2010, 10:29 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-371: Savages!
15 Sep 2010, 10:35 am
@RedLion is born again(RL)-373: I mean, full cans of beer were thrown!. What’s wrong with these people?? The terrible waste!
15 Sep 2010, 10:35 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-372: it’s not supposed to prove anything, quit being precious
you did the same thing when that kiwi cricket ceo complained about the behaviour of all black supporters @ etihad stadium. This is rugby related news, deal with it 
15 Sep 2010, 10:40 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-372:
since you’re being tender
By DANIEL RICHARDSON – The Manawatu
Standard
Manawatu Rugby Union chief executive
John Knowles says alcohol may no longer
be sold at Turbos home games if there is
another repeat of the fight on September 4.
Alcohol is not currently served after
halftime on the embankment side of the
ground where the brawl erupted after the
game between Manawatu and Wellington
two weeks ago.
Mr Knowles said if they were left with no
other option liquor sales would be scrapped
altogether at home games.
“It’d probably affect game crowds, that’s
the issue these days.
“From a financial perspective it’s not a
money earner for us really.”
Prior to the fight, full cans of beer were
thrown, causing injury. Mr Knowles said
there were plans in place to sell beer in
plastic cups next season.
“The change can’t happen as quickly as this
year … It’s a longer term solution that we
are looking into,” he said.
One of the biggest issues faced by security
staff were people “pre-loading” on alcohol
before the game and not appearing drunk
on arrival.
“Security should be stopping people at the
gate if they’re intoxicated,” he said.
15 Sep 2010, 10:41 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-375: Ive never seen you repost the article on the young boy killed in SA at a rugby game, why is that?
your smugness disguised as “rugby news” really is poor…
15 Sep 2010, 11:31 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-377: ‘smugness’? You’re tripping dude…
iRB Bosses Take Note:
Saturday night’s epic Test between the
Wallabies and the All Blacks was watched by
70,288 spectators, including several IRB
heavyweights, the chairman Bernard
Lapasset, vice-chairman Bill Beaumont, chief
executive Mike Miller and the boss of the
referees, Paddy O’Brien. What they and the
vast roaring crowd saw was 21st century
rugby at its best.>/strong>
The Test was everything the World Cup
2007 final between England and South
Africa should have been, but was not. That
final was a static match where both teams
played for field position and penalties.
On
Saturday night, the ball was in play for long
periods, with the All Blacks five times
establishing seven phases of play, and the
Wallabies once. There were only 33 kicks,
and many of them had a scoring intent.
There were five scrum resets, 14 lineouts,
and 27 turnovers (12 to the Wallabies, 15 to
the All Blacks). There was a thrilling
unpredictability about the play, which is the
glory of rugby.
Australia and New Zealand have led the way
(remember the ELVs?) to write a set of laws
and a way of interpreting them that allowed
for the thrilling spectacle at ANZ Stadium. For
years, forces in the IRB resisted these
efforts. There is some justice, therefore, that
theWallabies (No.2 in the rankings) and the
All Blacks (No.1) lead the world in running
rugby.
This season the Wallabies have lost once
each to England and the Springboks and
three times to the All Blacks. But they have
improved significantly. The scrum is much
steadier, the lineout is stronger, with several
steals against the All Blacks on Saturday
night. The defence needs stiffening, with 22
tries leaked in the Tri Nations compared
with nine by the All Blacks. And the goal-
kicking by Matt Giteau is a moveable feast,
with two defeats, to England and the All
Blacks, both in Sydney, directly related to
misses that should have been converted.
Importantly, the Wallabies have finally
established a distinctive and winning
pattern to their game. It exploits the width
of the field with long, flat passes to the
outside backs to create overlaps. This allows
the fullback to come into the line out wide,
as Kurtley Beale did twice on Saturday,
forcing Conrad Smith into two missed
tackles. Once the defence is stretched,
Giteau and Quade Cooper start to flick inside
passes for runners to storm down the
unprotected midfield.
The All Blacks, playing
their midfield driving game, crossed the
advantage line 81 per cent of the time
compared with the 67 per cent by the
Wallabies. When this wide, fast Wallabies
game is on song, as it was in the first half of the past three Tests, it is virtually
unstoppable. Now they must learn to play it
for 80 minutes.
I would give the Wallabies 6.5 out of 10 for
this season. To achieve a perfect 10
allocated to the All Blacks (the first team to
win all six Tri Nations Tests), the Wallabies
need one of the Super 15 teams to
dominate next season. The greatest era of
the Wallabies, 1998 to 2003, was based on
the strength of the ACT Brumbies.
Who will
be the new Brumbies? This is why the
match between Melbourne Rebels (with Rod
Macqueen in charge) and the Waratahs on
February 18 to lead off next year’s Super
15 season has a huge importance for the
Wallabies going into a World Cup year.
15 Sep 2010, 12:21 pm
On the bright side..if the Boks happen to play Scotland…they could possibly win!!!
15 Sep 2010, 14:47 pm
The Boks playing against any club sides on their NH tour this year?
15 Sep 2010, 17:40 pm
Great to see the top 2 teams in the world taking the lead in such a dynamic and entertaining manner.
Credit to the brains trust in both countries.
16 Sep 2010, 00:30 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-10: It’ll be quite funny if SA leaves the Trinations and the S15, and enters the AVIVA, are you serious? They are a joke! The 6N is too torrid to watch. The WC will be a pleasure for the Wallabies and the AB’s when and if this happens.
16 Sep 2010, 00:31 am
@skopskiet(yliad)-11: wow…..but too true!
16 Sep 2010, 00:34 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-13: we’d win the Grand Slam annually! The NH is no competition, and they won’t have us.
16 Sep 2010, 00:37 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-16: I can’t wait for us to win continuously! In the NH winning will be our name, do we really want that? The circumstance where we have no rivalry?
16 Sep 2010, 00:52 am
@race of tan(race of tan)-25: You were entirely intelligent until you sneered that Jake WHITE is the only option as coach, the man is a rodent. We have many other coaches who can provide us with insight. JW would need Eddie Jones for that.
16 Sep 2010, 00:52 am
13. NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA) :
8. Hurricane(Hurricane)
18. poppa69(poppa69)
81. Black Panther(Black Panther)
0. Tackler:
310. Inevitable(Inevitable)
So you all agree we should go to. Finally consensus
37. RedLion is born again(RL) LOL are you sure you are not Skopsnot
172. Ratel Brussow(Morne Steyn is under-rated) thanks for the stats, we have been saying the yellow card ratio per penalty count is way in favour of our SANZAR partners.
Its time to go and judging by all the
Kiwi bloggers telling us to go means its is time!!!!
I just wonder if they will still troll our site once we have gone. I would say yes as there are few Saffa bashers here who still think its the old days and cant help themselves.
Still our biggest problem is SARU and its managememt. If there was a single spine amongst them we would not be is this **** we have now.
16 Sep 2010, 01:15 am
@RedLion is born again(RL)-37: quite informative, actually.
16 Sep 2010, 01:19 am
@KevinRack(KevinRack)-387: It’s a pity that your thoughts are quite so narrow. To be fair, the SANZAR partners are not too averse but rather that the Boks are not doing so well presently, thus necessitating your rather spurious comments. My friend, you want the Boks to overcome their recent decent rather then run off to Europe like Colonial cowards.
16 Sep 2010, 01:26 am
@stodders(stodders)-38: Greenwood may put word with the pen but the play his team serviced us over numerous years with, was rather contrary. Kick..Kick…Kick….maybe pass…Kick….then to the forwards….direct rugby…kick….kick. Rather tiring. May be he was watching the Glory Years of the Welsh in the late 60′s through the 70′s. hmmm….kick.
16 Sep 2010, 01:32 am
@BishopsOD(BishopsOD)-40: well OD tough or not son, the AB’s present the best product in Rugby to distribute to the global market. The kick and chase just does not cut it.
16 Sep 2010, 01:37 am
@Fern(Fern)-52: is that a word “demolishment”, my little Fern?
16 Sep 2010, 01:45 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-55: Stodders, you are not far off when depicting SA culture, Black is bad, and White allegedly good……allegedly, whites in this country without much knowledge or want of it, created the violent environment that they experience consistently and viciously. They contained crime to the townships in SA, and with the new dispensation accompanied by openess and dropping of group areas act, the very poor in the country let loose. If you don’t provide policing in areas and merely containment, then things happen a lot.
16 Sep 2010, 04:30 am
@Qudeni(Qudeni)-393:
Thats a huge faaken generalisation dude. Like saying all Muslims are allegedly terrorists?? Way off the mark!
16 Sep 2010, 06:26 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-378: it’s funny how it’s only when Nz and Oz play that it’s supposedly ’21st century at its best’ even though SA/Oz were better games. Spiro is a gimp.
@Qudeni(Qudeni)-382: rugby in Australasia would go down the drain without the South African money
@whatever(whatever)-394: in fairness he’s posted a lot of b/s so far in this thread, take no notice
16 Sep 2010, 06:39 am
389. Qudeni(Qudeni) LOL are you are doff. More cadre mentality, just what this site needs.
Look what your cadre mentality is doing to South Africa. Read the last line boy and not suck on the hindtit of a cow.
My friend, you want the Boks to overcome their recent decent rather then run off to Europe like Colonial cowards. LOL just like Julius, run away to europe. LOL thats so funny.
Still our biggest problem is SARU and its managememt. If there was a single spine amongst them we would not be is this **** we have now.
This is a site for men not boys
16 Sep 2010, 08:45 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-395:
SA/Oz games were better ?
They criticised them here as “7′s”.
Quite possibly considering how many missed tackles there were. Thats how you get point-a-minute halves of rugby like theese 2 teams did – twice.
Quite probably because they were more mistake-laden without the ABs involved – remember how they mocked Rococoko in 2009 as he dropped garryowens ? Well hellooooo Habana.
Instead of falling over yourself to up-SA and down-NZ, why not just acknowledge that it was an excellent TriN, full stop ?
The best match of TriN’10 ? ABs vs Boks at JoBurg. Stunning match.
16 Sep 2010, 19:39 pm
@gunther(gunther)-358:
20 Sep 2010, 08:20 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-352: There is nothing wrong with the depth of SA rugby. There is nothing wrong with the supposed “dead wood” in the current Bok team either – there is something definitely wrong with teh ability of the coaching staff to be able to direct that power and experience towards a common goal.
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