The damning truth about Davids
2 Feb 2006
Lardy Davids left Cape Town last year huffing and puffing that he’d been done a dirty by Western Province and the Stormers.
Sycophantic publications screamed racism, and Davids was quick to seize the opportunity to label Nick Mallett, Kobus van der Merwe and his coaching team as discriminatory. Racism, he said, was alive and well at Newlands.
In Gloucester he found a heavyweight club in the demanding English Premiership. He found a coach and management team that backed him. He spoke about the prestige of the club and his desire to prove his detractors wrong.
“One of the key issues about signing Quinton is that he was prepared to prove himself. There’s a longer-term deal on the table for him if he can show what he’s worth. We want people to be driven by performance, and I’m delighted that he’s got that attitude,â€? Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan gloated soon after Davids’ signing.
The words were backed up by action. Davids was hauled over a month earlier in order to get him fit. The shocking indictment that was a horrendously out of shape rugby player at the peak of South Africa’s domestic season was passed over, a fresh start was promised.
Away from the political turmoil that had shrouded his career, Lardy Davids wanted to be judged as a rugby player. Now he has been. Gloucester have played 13 games this season, Lardy has started two and come off the bench in one.
Gloucester purchased Davids because of a liability at lock. Adam Eustace (13 appearances) and Alex Brown (nine appearances) are not of international quality. They are solid club players, and they are deemed to be better than Davids.
Davids can no longer pull the race card, for to do so reveals the stark truth of his career. The colour of his skin did not deny him opportunity in South African rugby, the reality is it made a club player into a Springbok.
Davids sought to rid the disguise of colour, but all it revealed was a player filled with excuses. There is no accountability in Davids’ mind, and the countless coaches who have embarked to get the player into acceptable physical condition is the damning legacy of potential unfulfilled.
Davids played 37 times for the Stormers, where he felt he was not judged as a rugby player. At Gloucester he has been, and his 23% appearance rate is reflective of a player whose ability and attitude reflect the amateur he always should have been.
102 Comments
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2 Feb 2006, 13:19 pm
Alan Solomons left Stuart Abbot on the bench; Jean de Villiers has been benched by being played on the wing, instead of centre. Andre Venter was played at lock to make space for Skinstad. Rassie was dropped by Harry Viljoen, Andre Vos was moved to flank.
What does this all prove? That the players are useless?
Tell us about Lardy’s performance, Chris, not he’s being benched.
Davids has the potential to be a good Springbok lock. But that is entirely up to him.
2 Feb 2006, 13:23 pm
agree with henri F, not a bad lock, but needs to get his gat in gear. harsh press.
2 Feb 2006, 13:23 pm
Chuckle chuckle
2 Feb 2006, 13:25 pm
Stormsaam, racism in WP should be the least of your worries boet, go see someone before its too late.
2 Feb 2006, 13:30 pm
Stormer
Re Racism at WP – you’re right, they don’t hire wights anymore in the administration, it is all AA/EE.
Re Rose brothers. Nick and the team did a helluva lot to keep them, but you can blame Rose snr for that. The 2 boys were apparently not too happy to have to move to Guntown.
Re Bolla – massive attitude problem. Did not fulfill his other responsibilities and needed a wake up call. We might see a different Bolla if he decides to be a teamplayer.
2 Feb 2006, 13:32 pm
should be whites, eish I need a holiday
2 Feb 2006, 13:36 pm
Tsimba is not eligible for springbok status and as such why should SA rugby invest in him. The Cheetahs have young upcoming flyhalves who qualify for the boks and they should get preferential treatment over Tsimba. Kees Lensing was the same, he left to play in England and in my opinion should not have played for the bulls because there were other SA qualified props who could have . We should utilise our resources on players who qualify for the springboks. There is however an argument for the inclusion of seasoned pro’s from overseas such as Mendez who’s experience and knowledge is invaluable.
2 Feb 2006, 13:37 pm
storm & stormsaam,
look i am not going to argue your points about racism no matter how you present them.
call me blind or call me ignorant, but i cannot believe a union of over a hundred years, a union that has done a hell of a lot to bring us stars like breyton, chester, bolla, andrews and the likes who all represented their country with honour will in any way or form associate itself with anything remotely close to racism.
if it turns out to be true i will be the first to condemn it to the highest degree and those individuals responsible should be given the harshest punsihment available.
actually, something like that will shock rugby in SA to its core. but its all conspiracy theory’s at the time – yours just seem to fit in well with the current situation.
what i do put this down to for now is bad coaching, even worse administration, and can someone please tell me whose job it is to scout talent in WP rugby.
dollie, brent, schalk, ashley johnson, gaffie, de waal, the rose’s, shimange – how in the hell could they let them go in the first place?????
henry f,
dont ask for facts when it comes to WP articles my friend, you aint getting ****.
2 Feb 2006, 13:38 pm
on tsimba,
he is injured again.
2 Feb 2006, 13:49 pm
It wouldn’t be shocking at all PA. It’s the norm.
Shock Horror. An Afrikaans based management structure is run by individuals with silly racial bias. That ain’t nothing new.
But you’re right coaching, administration and talent scouting are the major problems at the moment. There doesn’t seem to be any scouting except from Maties (the white afrikaans university ; )
2 Feb 2006, 13:58 pm
Stormer
Probably didn’t read my first post.
BTW, Aplon (spelling?) is from Maties.
Oh Yes, and Nick is very much English, not Dutch.
Re Gus, there is a bit of a mistery, but hey, he played in that record braking match against the Blues. If Lardy can be there, so can Gus.
2 Feb 2006, 14:12 pm
I did Dan and I think its unfair for the to make de Kok captain thereby giving him little (close to no) chance to perform. This would obviously be upsetting hence the ‘attitude’ problem. Then having the cheek to half only his salary for ‘underperforming’ when he’s not given a chance and many others were not performing. Making an example of him. Soon after the Rose brothers ran off. And yes Nick is English. It’s not a mentality exclusive to Afrikaans speaking people.
I don’t think it’s the biggest problem at WP, but it’s naive to think that the management is completely free of racial bias. Same goes to our society. Strange that they throw their toys and call people fat/useless/lazy when its pointed out.
2 Feb 2006, 14:40 pm
A wonderful layout Stormer.
Now could you share your unique insight with us , on our soccerteam’s abysmal performance?As they are definitely not run by an elite Afrikaans Broederbond clan. It must be the coach then. He looks white and it looks like he would like to learn to speak Afrikaans…..
2 Feb 2006, 14:48 pm
Safa Stan Safa. 4 letter horrible S word like your name and ****. They fire previous successful coaches like Barker cause they were getting too much ‘power’ and offered opposition to them.
I’m not saying that racism is why Stormers/WP are stuggling. But don’t think it crazy to suggest that it exists. I mean people like Stan are probably invloved.
2 Feb 2006, 14:51 pm
they let aashley johnson go!?!? WP rugby just gets better and better.Fcking morons.
2 Feb 2006, 15:17 pm
Big up to Stormer for introducing some classic theories – let’s face facts, institutionalised racism (in SA) will still take another 15 years at the very least to work its way out of the system & that’s only because the system (political) changed fundamentally …. Amandla to QD ‘aka the great big hard man’ and by the bye he will always be a legend to true Province fans …
Chris are you a paid up member of TCC (the chattering class)?
2 Feb 2006, 15:57 pm
No Stormer, if i was involved there would have been a bit of pride and discipline. Socccer is being run like the county and the rest of Africa.
and WP rugby…..
2 Feb 2006, 16:08 pm
What a load of rabble-rousing racist **** this article is, keo. Lardy kicks ***. He would be in my all-time great Bok XV, along with Jorrie, Koenie and the Gaff.
2 Feb 2006, 16:10 pm
Don’t think Geo’s exactly covered himself in glory in the UK, either.
2 Feb 2006, 16:11 pm
I wonder if Lardy and Geo have been to see Brokeback Mountain yet. Maybe then they will want to share a shower after all.
2 Feb 2006, 16:37 pm
Pierre,
You cannot compare Die Dik Kwota with Geo.Geo was injured, useless and overweight.
2 Feb 2006, 16:43 pm
Ek sê weer:
Geo was injured,and the Quota useless and overweight.
2 Feb 2006, 16:43 pm
…whereas Lardy is just useless and overweight. Gotcha.
2 Feb 2006, 16:45 pm
Stan dude, I hate to break the news to you but the country is actually doing quite well. A hell of a lot better now than it did under apartheid.
2 Feb 2006, 16:50 pm
Stormer, the sad thing is that there are some specimens on this site who would actually consider that to be a controversial statement.
2 Feb 2006, 16:51 pm
Is there any truth to the rumour that the Great Hard Man in fact gave Geo his injury, to teach him a lesson? Or have you heard something different?
2 Feb 2006, 16:55 pm
But offcourse the country is doing well.
21000 murders last year. a New record.
2 Feb 2006, 17:01 pm
Die enigste besering wat Die Kwota vir Geo kan gee is n bytmerk of Aids. Fisies niks verder nie.
2 Feb 2006, 17:18 pm
I think Keo is harsh on Davids now that he is out of favour, but that wasn’t the case 3,4 years ago, some sang Davids praises as a Sormers’ hard man and invaluable Boks’ ‘intimidator’ but it wasn’t me.
Davids as a forward is no worse than say Shimanga, Sephaka, Dale Santos, Ettien Fynn or Eddie Andrews for that matter, they are all honest players but on merit alone they would never make the bench or their respectively Reserve CC teams
So why picking on him?
2 Feb 2006, 17:21 pm
mmmmm, nothing we all didn’t know already.
Wonder how many other club level Boks we have?
2 Feb 2006, 17:25 pm
Stan, the time has come for me to call you a racist. You ****** racist.
Onlooker, leave Shimmy out of your list. He’s the real deal.
2 Feb 2006, 17:46 pm
since 1992 there have been more undeserving white players picked for the boks than there have been undeserving black players. its a simple fact. why is it only the black ones are hotly debated, yet the **** white selections are just laughed off as silly mistakes and forgotten?
food for thought…
2 Feb 2006, 18:02 pm
well there web site does not even have him in the sqad – see http://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/2338_2337.php
2 Feb 2006, 18:30 pm
pierre,ek hou nie van die ******* gedeelte nie…
2 Feb 2006, 18:34 pm
Stan: OK, fine. I take it back. You’re not a ******* racist. You’re a racist who never gets laid. Better?
2 Feb 2006, 18:50 pm
I strongly disagree with the never gets laid part.
2 Feb 2006, 18:59 pm
The one thing I recalled from couple of years back was that when Selborn Boom and Hottie Lowes left WP for France, it was openly attributed to Davids secured a spot as a lock no matter what in the Stormers/WP line up, could somebody recalled what Keo had to say about Davids THEN?!
2 Feb 2006, 19:11 pm
Onlooker,
This must be the first and hopefully the last, but Keo has always been one of the Vetkadet’s biggest critics.
2 Feb 2006, 19:12 pm
Hopefully the last time that i support or defend the Bonzai, i mean!
2 Feb 2006, 20:20 pm
RED CARD FOR DAVIDS! WHAT A PLONKER
2 Feb 2006, 21:59 pm
“a mere club rugby team of the nobody calibre of Gloucester”
BLOODY CHEEK. HAve you ever been to Kingsholm? Have you ever witnessed LIVE Premiership rugby? Have you ever witnessed LIVE Heineken Cup rugby?
The answer to both is probably no. Over at Gloucester, we have similar opinions of Davids as a lazy squad player, but what are you chatting about claiming my club is of no calibre? I think it’s pathetic considering the only matches Glos have played against SA teams (such as Sharks) we have come away fro your homeland with a victory!?!? And yet you have the cheek to call us non calibre. Long live the shed.
Oh and by the way, your reporter has his facts wrong as Alex Brown is infact in the England Elite player 27 man squad. Tosser.(This comment is not aimed at anyone other than the nob that degrades the most passionate club in England).
3 Feb 2006, 03:35 am
stormsaam
You are just like Davids a quota that is why you scream racism all the time.
3 Feb 2006, 09:24 am
Bloupoes, gaan huis toe, jou ma wil kinders tel.
You need to realize that in Tswane you have 20 million black people living with 1 million white people. When the blacks wake up one day, you okes are gonna k@k. Remember, the wheels turns and one day you dutchmen are gonna have your day…..
3 Feb 2006, 09:59 am
Apart from your ridiculous and ill-informed comments about Gloucester, which make one wonder about how much you know about anything outside of your backyard, and the fact that you seem to allow vile racism on your site, you might also like to consider our record with SAs. In Jake Boer we have a diamond of a player – and it speaks volumes about your management that he hasn’t got a host of SA caps – but do the names Christo Bezuidenhout, Riaan van den Bergh and Delary du Preez mean anything to you? What they are to us is more overpaid and under-achieving SA mercenaries. They came, they talked a big story but they couldn’t hack it in the English Premiership – the toughest league in the world, bar none. If Davids has failed over here then it has nothing to do with the rubbish you spout, but more to do with him simply being yet another SA import who wasn’t up to the job.
3 Feb 2006, 10:06 am
Ahhh cir mhor – don’t mistake us all for the idiots posting on this particluar forum, there are many folks who refuse to move on – trust me we all waiting for them to become extinct – the problem is they are allowed to breed. Good luck for the rest of the season and i hope you can improve on your current fourth place…..
3 Feb 2006, 10:24 am
Pissant. Exactly right! Why the hell does Gus get to play Super 14 when Seconds, who boasts a try a game over 50+ Province appearances is sent to the Vodacom Cup? Something is certainly rotten in the state of Province.
3 Feb 2006, 10:34 am
cir mhor – Christo Bezuidenhout, Riaan van den Bergh and Delary du Preez couldn’t hack it in South Africa. That’s why they decided to make a quick easy quid and go to your little island. Don’t blame them for cashing in, mate. Your club bought them. We keep our good players. There are a few more crappy players you can have too. I wont bother naming them because knowing your clubs, you’ll soon see them playing over there.
3 Feb 2006, 13:07 pm
You guys are scaring me. I thought this year Seconds was in and Gus was out. Am I wrong?
3 Feb 2006, 13:42 pm
ha ha frazer well said,
ci mohr,
as for Jake Boer, he is a decent player whom jake white would have looked at, evaluated, and decided we have better, and rightfully so.
toughest league in the world is the S12, stop with all the bluster, we beat the HP teams perenially at the start of our season in warm-up games so i dont know what you are wittering on about.
3 Feb 2006, 16:35 pm
I think a couple of you (Fraser / cab) are illustrating why so many SAs have such a reputation for unpleasant arrogance and ignorance. On points of fact, don’t you play in the S14 nowadays? What are these HP teams you beat (I don’t think I’ve heard of the competition)? And aren’t you basing your claim on one of your sides seeing off Harlequins 2nd team (they’re in what we call NL1 which is the junior league and well below Guinness Premiership standard). We see your sides play in both S12/S14 and the CC and I don’t think any of them would make the top half of the English league (and that’s from a Scot!). As for your SA players who you so easily dismiss, weren’t at least a couple of them capped for SA (though God knows why!)?
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