Why White fears a new president

Why White fears a new president

Springbok coach Jake White, accused of backing an extension of Brian van Rooyen’s tenure as SARU president, is wary of Andre Markgraaff’s return should Oregan Hoskins unseat Van Rooyen.

Lobbying for the presidency is reaching a climax this week and the Hoskins camp, led by Cheetahs President Harold Verster and Mike Stofile, have expressed concern that White had attempted to canvass votes (on behalf of Van Rooyen) among the small unions.

White knows what he has in Van Rooyen, who earlier today was reported in the press as saying he would give White whatever he requires to prepare for the 2007 World Cup. Van Rooyen has said he would not interfere with White and allow him to his own devices.

Enter a new president and the Bok coach is again confronted with the possibility of a national director of rugby. Enter Hoskins and the possibility of Andre Markgraaff as the national director of rugby becomes a distinct possibility White does not want to deal with.

Hoskins, a few weeks ago, told Keo.co.za that he and Markgraaff had not been in contact and that Markgraaff was not a part of his election campaign. Hoskins said the only interaction he had with Markgraaff was a phone call in which Markgraaff wished him well for the election.

Keo.co.za’s sources, however, indicate that Markgraaff wants the post of national director of rugby created — and he wants to be it.

At the time of Markgraaff’s resignation from the SARU administration, Hoskins was quoted as saying that he felt Markgraaff would be missed on rugby matters and that he had a high regard for any rugby contribution Markgraaff could make. Hoskins did say that he felt Markgraaff may have struggled as an administrator, but that there were other contributions he could make.

This would have scared White, who did not want to work with Markgraaff. The Bok coach made this clear just days prior to Markgraaff’s resignation. The two had clashed on the eve of the Boks test win against the Wallabies in Pretoria.

It has long been argued that SA Rugby needs a national director of rugby — an individual who can coach other coaches and act as a sounding board to the national coach. Nick Mallett’s name was bandied about long before he took over as WP Director of Rugby.

However, nothing came of that, despite initial approaches to Mallett to establish interest.

Hoskins, should he feel the need for a Director of Rugby, could still look to someone like Mallett, but the most likely introduction would be Markgraaff. And such a scenario could be the start of the end for White. It is why White is backing the one he knows, rather than the one he doesn’t.


83 Comments

  • 1.bliksem: Reply to this comment

    Conspiracy theory.
    I reckon the sharks were upset with the promotion/relegation deal in the Super 14 and also because of no home tests so they got Orgean to run for president to change these dicisions.

  • 2.robdylan: Reply to this comment

    Surprised you okes aren’t trying to angle your old bud Solomons into this story.

  • 3.St.Petersburgbok: Reply to this comment

    You know, I would not have a problem with Magraff as national director if he had the credentials…….but he does not, not even nearly.He would be an Afrikaaner Quota appointment in everyway and form.

    On WHAT possible basis would Hoskins employ the guy knowing,already,beforehand that the current ,relatively successful, popular Bok coach is against it….and to be quite honest about it…probably a better candidate for the job himself?

    If this Hoskins wants to waste money, rather just throw it in the garbage and save us all some time and aggravasion.

  • 4.St.Petersburgbok: Reply to this comment

    :lol: @ RobD
    That’s tomorrows story!!

  • 5.robdylan: Reply to this comment

    bliksem – that’s not so much a conspiracy theory as downright common sense.

  • 6.bliksem: Reply to this comment

    OK robd thats just the way I sussed it out.same thing different spelling.

  • 7.robdylan: Reply to this comment

    StP – right now, they are trying to dredge up **** against Hoskins. We all know the keo and the whole of HSM are in BvR’s pocket…

  • 8.Stan: Reply to this comment

    As long as White wins, he has nothing to fear. Forget about Markgraaff, there are too many against him.

  • 9.bliksem: Reply to this comment

    robd I agree with you fully there

  • 10.robdylan: Reply to this comment

    bliksem – makes sense, no?

  • 11.bliksem: Reply to this comment

    keo always shy’s away from that one.

  • 12.keo: Reply to this comment

    Sorry Rob Dylan. He’s in Ireland. But do remember Bliksem when we reported that Brian van Zyl was bringing back Straeuli everyone thought that was an April fool’s joke, until they froze the post of national director and introduced Straeuli as commercial manager, whose responsibilities are exactly that of national director.

    Markies is hovering. Jake knows it and that’s why he is backing Van Rooyen.

    St Petersburgbok … this election will be won on deals done and not ethical goodwill. The guys controlling SA Rugby are the one who put the one guy into power. The one guy there does not control the 14 unions.

  • 13.Stan: Reply to this comment

    Only for Keo’s sake, i would vote for markgraaff!

  • 14.bliksem: Reply to this comment

    robdylan I read a article,well researched one as well on ruggaworld a while ago explaining the connections you were pointing towards.

  • 15.Bongani: Reply to this comment

    Can somone please tell me what this massive ‘rugby’ contribution is that Markies supposedly makes?

    and these Rugby matters that supposedly only ‘rugby ou’s’ can handle …..????

  • 16.bliksem: Reply to this comment

    Stan,is Markgraaf rerig so sleg?Het ons albei kante van die saak gehoor?Almal maak foute,dalk het die ou nog n kans nodig.

  • 17.bliksem: Reply to this comment

    bongani,markgraaf is involved in a rugby academy.I am purely taLKING RUGBY.yOU ARE JUST HERE TO STIR.Hamba

  • 18.keo: Reply to this comment

    Markies gets my vote as well. It always makes for entertaining theatre having him around.

    Whoever is president of SARU should have no influence in the operational side of the game. But because of the current system, this person has an influence, based on the 14 provinces who this president serves.

    Regardless of whether Hoskins is ***** or the devil, he will face the same obstacle any of his predecessors have because of how the powerbase is structured.

    It is a system devoid of logic. Look at the voters, who must make the call. It is the same guys who put Luyt there, then got him out and put Silas there and then got him out and put Van Rooyen there. Surely they are the problem and not whoever they put up there to be their puppet?

    And for all Oregan’s good intentions, who will control him and his decision-making … 14 provincial presidents and their deputies.

  • 19.bliksem: Reply to this comment

    so keo,how to change things?

  • 20.Redox: Reply to this comment

    robdylan

    your hardly neutral sharks man and all. :)

  • 21.keo: Reply to this comment

    Yes Bliksem, let’s bring back Markies. Jake White has had it way too easy not having to fight internal obstacles.

    He needs to be kept on his toes by a guy who wants to coach the team, pick the team, but take no responsibility when the heat is on.

    Markgraaff’s rugby knowledge is the greatest myth in SA Rugby. What has this guy ever done? Where has his success been.

    11th in the Super 12 with the Cats
    four defeats out of five to the All Blacks, including a first ever series loss in SAfrica to the All Blacks.
    He did a runner when appointed assistant coach to Harry Viljoen …

    Please could someone explain why this guy is a rugby guru?

  • 22.ebay addict: Reply to this comment

    no keo at the moment Van Rooyen is the devil

  • 23.Onlooker: Reply to this comment

    JW is better concntrate on the task in hand and curbs his PRs stunt and his never ending thrive on a media exposure, that one doesn’t win test matches.
    Former Boks coaches, all of whom guys of a higher education such as Mallett, Christie and Dr Ceccil Moss all maintained a reasonable low key presence outside the Boks camp and JW is advised to follow suit.

  • 24.robdylan: Reply to this comment

    Redox – one thing I have never tried to hide is my Sharks bias! I’m quite proud of it.

    Look – giving an AB test to Rustenburg really is the last straw. The oke is an idiot. I would even support Doos Basson against him.

  • 25.St.Petersburgbok: Reply to this comment

    I must add though that Jake White should not be reporting directly to the president.In what other similar sized organization is the “operational manager” reporting directly to the board.

    He is taking huge liberties withregards to this.
    Likewise, Jake (and I’m going to contradict myself here) should have no say in who would be appointed in this role.

    Nobody gets to choose who their boss is.

  • 26.robdylan: Reply to this comment

    Mallett? Onlooker – remember why Mallett was fired?

  • 27.bliksem: Reply to this comment

    keo in my eyes SA doesnt have any rugby gurus.Go and see how NZ runs their training courses and also look at the Murray Mexted School of Rugby.He is a ******** but he has great coaches in place there.Do SA coaches have a quarterly coming out with new coaching drills etc?In NZ its simple.To patent a new coaching drill/idea you make up a manuscript which you post to the NZRU.You make antother copy which you post to your own adress.This gives you the copyright to the idea/drill.In the quartly all these new drills are explained and credit given to its orginator.Do we have such a system?We are sadly far behind.

  • 28.St.Petersburgbok: Reply to this comment

    There should not be any friction between the Bok coach and national director anyway as long as the Director understands that his job is to coach the coaches and not coach the side.And the coaches understand that the Director is Boss and accountable to the board for their poor performance.

    Everyone knows where they stand and pressure is on everyone to succeed.

  • 29.Bongani: Reply to this comment

    well “Doc Cravens’s dog” a start would be to dig out that expensive Accenture report & perhaps implement some of its suggestions.

    But an excellent question – how can any meaningfull change ever be affected under the current setup? And how can that setup itself be changed?

  • 30.keo: Reply to this comment

    Bliksem, in an ideal world the solution would be logical. There would be a board that was responsible for the well-being of the professional game and the governing body would be accountable for sustaining the amateur game.

    The president of SARU would be but one board member in a board of no more than eight. There would be three independents (with no links to SA Rugby, so there can be no backhanders and no provincial bias), three co-opted members from the existing president’s council, which includes the SARU president and one player’s representative and the MD of SA Rugby Union.

    One of the independents would be chairman and this board, with a strong MD, would make the bloody decisions, based on what is good for SA Rugby and not one of 14 provinces.

  • 31.bliksem: Reply to this comment

    Easy Bongani.Follow the NZ structure.They dont care if you are a maori or a islander or a pakeha.best player to play.Also they dont pussyfoot around players like we do.Reuben Thoren as Black captain got dropped from the side.See that happening with Smit?

  • 32.St.Petersburgbok: Reply to this comment

    I’ve no problem with there being a test match in Rustenburg so long as it was for the correct reasons…….better chance of winning.

    If it is a personel problem with the Sharks well then Van Rooyen has a lot of answering to do and would be enough to get anyone else in a sinilar position fired.

    For the record,personally, I’d be happier if test matches against top 5 opposition never ever went anywhere near the coast.I still have nightmares of that 2nd 40minutes vs Lions at Kingspark. Just imagine if we’d played the 2nd test at Ellis?

  • 33.jonnow: Reply to this comment

    This article is nothing more and nothing less than a Hoskins smear campaign.
    “Enter Hoskins and the possibility of Andre markgraaf as the national director of rugby becomes a distinct possibility”
    Keo please tell us how you arrived at this conclusion. What facts do you base this on, or has this simply been sucked out of your thumb?
    “Keo’s sources indicate that markgraaf wants the post of director of rugby to be created and Markgraaf wants that post. Hoskins, should he feel the need for a director of rugby, the most likely would be Markgraaf”
    What a load of unadulterated garbage. Why on earth would Hoskins appoint Markgraaf with the baggage he brings with him. You have not a single fact to back up this pathetic story, you rely simply on innuendo and vague statements such as “keo.co.za’s sources”
    Keo why don’t you do us a favour by showing us the connection between Hoskins and Markgraaf and tell us who these so called sources of yours are. But you will not coz there is not one, but we all know that it is in your financial best interest that Van Rooyen is re-elected.

  • 34.bliksem: Reply to this comment

    good point jonnow.keo,name your sources.

  • 35.St.Petersburgbok: Reply to this comment

    Keo
    How accurate is this opinion?
    Also, can you catergorically state who you support?

  • 36.St.Petersburgbok: Reply to this comment

    Oops, Jonno beat me to it.

  • 37.St.Petersburgbok: Reply to this comment

    Jonno
    Pray tell…how is it in Keo’s best interests financially?
    Are you just sucking this out of your finger as well?

  • 38.keo: Reply to this comment

    jonnow … can you tell me your address? Obviously I don’t give my sources away. there is no smear campaign against Oregan because there is nothing to smear.

    We have given his views on the presidency and given his response to things as much as we have reported Van Rooyen’s.

    All I say is that Markgraaff’s name is in the mix again, just like Straeuli’s was in Natal. When it happens, you heard it first here.

    St Petersburgbok … it is irrelevant about who I support. I don’t support the system that empowers any one president. I have made my views clear in many columns. I thought Rian Oberholzer, as a strong operational MD, was right for the job.

    The problem was the compromise in the make-up of the board because it allowed the same provincial presidents control of the board.

    I support a system that has a board appointed for professional rugby and not the provinces that make up the SA Rugby Union.

  • 39.St.Petersburgbok: Reply to this comment

    The Director of Rugby would ussually be quite a big position to hold.Surely he would be responsible for selecting and recruiting a new Bok coach should the need arise.

  • 40.ebay addict: Reply to this comment

    keo is worried that if rugby ran smoothly and properly in the country then there wouldn’t be enough to write about to fill a website

  • 41.Bongani: Reply to this comment

    Just like BEE is moving into phase two with BBBEE, rugby transformation is going to be stepped up in the very near future. With us having lost the bid for 2011, my sources tell me that major changes will be effected over the next few years …. this my friends is as a direct result of us, rugby people, not being able to solve our own little management challenge – I can tell you now that gov is getting less enamoured with rugby by the day as we lurch from crisis to crisis …. some thoughts after a long day …

  • 42.Dawn: Reply to this comment

    Keo and Bliksem, sitting in a tree …………

  • 43.St.Petersburgbok: Reply to this comment

    So basically it will make little difference who is president? Regardless of how good the intensions are of the candidates,they will never get the votes at executive level to make the changes needed.

  • 44.keo: Reply to this comment

    gotta run …

    chat later boys

  • 45.Ig: Reply to this comment

    STP – entirely correct ! Think about it like this – you get voted into a job and then you need to convince the people who voted you in to give up their power or vote themselves out of a job !

  • 46.St.Petersburgbok: Reply to this comment

    Bongani

    I don’t think anyone has a problem with that senario, as long as it is done to all underperforming sports…..see Cricket and Football.

    Can your sources report this…or is this just White Afrikaaner moer time again?

  • 47.Bongani: Reply to this comment

    Spot on Ig – so the question really is How can that catch 22 ‘structural’ problem be overcome & changed to the benefit of rugby?

  • 48.Ig: Reply to this comment

    Well – as keo pointed out earlier – when Olbeholzer changed the structure of rugby – where SA rugby ran the business and cash and Saru – the amateur pasrt of the game – things where looking dandy – then the presidents voted in BvR and he changed the whole thing back again.

  • 49.Redox: Reply to this comment

    Im not a huge fan of BVR in fact initially i supported hoskins but now my impression of hoskins is that he will just be the guy who takes the heat for decisions made by the presidents council this allows the presidents council to now make decisions based on bartering rather than on whats best for sa rugby i.e. H Viljoen gets the backing of B Van Zyl for bok coaching job if he did a ,b and c shouldn’t u decide who is coach based on what’s best for the boks not what u can get out of the deal ? It’s really difficult to figure out who to believe at the moment. Ideally I would like to see the power to make decisions taken away from the presidents council and sarfu can be run by a professional arm as happens in all other pro sport national bodies e.g. aru, EnglishFa etc Not Gonna Happen though!

  • 50.Dizwar: Reply to this comment

    I find it incomprehensible that people can say they support having a lying, underhand, cheat in the position as President simply because another person vying for the same post is rumoured to have links with a man who has been blacklisted by many (including this site of course).

    Are we being asked to assume that once Hoskins has been elected he will resign and hand over power to his favoured son? Or will he, once elected, create a new position with more power than what the President has today?

    Now there also seems to be an attempt to whitewash BVR’s sullied character through a carefully-timed release of financial results. Here we are being told that although BVR might not have the highest principles he’s a sure bet for a strong bottom line.

    I don’t know what Markgraff has done in the past and I don’t claim to know what Machiavellian schemes he has up his sleeve. But I do know that having him being an associate of a President who has more integrity than the present incumbent is the preferable situation. Those who say “Better the Devil you know than the one you don’t” are misguided.

    And Jake White needs to grow up and focus on rugby, not political campaigns. I can’t believe that he is getting involved in these shenanigans.

  • 51.CoffeeshopBok;-): Reply to this comment

    Bongani mate StP nailed it there, last I checked rugby was’nt the only sport in SA and last I checked rugby is the most successful.
    If I were gov I’d be a bit more concerned with the mess the soccer is in.

  • 52.St.Petersburgbok: Reply to this comment

    In light of the current structure with regards to the Presidents……the only way to change the system is for the government to take over the operation and fire everyone and pray that they have our best intentions at heart…which is also a bit of a risk really.

    or

    For some filthy fraking rich South African to buy the entire shebang.

    (This Abromovitch fellow from Chelsea….his brother is a saffer,right?)

  • 53.Bongani: Reply to this comment

    StP, all sports my friend – Soccer is directly in the firing line of the pres himself …. no need to moer white afrikaners, they are quite capable of moering themselves :-)

    Cricket may have sacrificed performance but has stuck to its commitments …. have we?

  • 54.St.Petersburgbok: Reply to this comment

    Ja Coffee, particularly as WE are hosting the next Football WC, and that’s no willy wallie Rugby WC. That’s BIG!!

    see…….3 billion people sitting down to watch the WC final and the ******* lights go out!!!

    Not to mention that Bafana Bafana are well on course to be the FIRST host nation ever to not make it past the first round.

    Japan,South Korea and USA all made it to the last 16.No small achievment in football.

  • 55.Bongani: Reply to this comment

    After the local government elections Soccer is going to get some serious rockets ….

  • 56.St.Petersburgbok: Reply to this comment

    Bongani
    Sacrificing performance is just as bad as sacrificing national obligation.

    I don’t pay to watch anyone lose, this isn’t the Red Cross mate, I expect my pound of flesh for my coin.

  • 57.St.Petersburgbok: Reply to this comment

    Ja…..and after they get those rockets maybe they can get some decent players a well.

  • 58.KSA Shark: Reply to this comment

    Bongani
    Cricket stuck to it’s commitments…….
    And what will the UCB do when they are in financial difficulties because the stadiums are empty? When last did you see a full cricket stadium?

    They will ask the government for financial help.

    The government will give “incompetence” as the reason for firing the persons in charge at the UCB.

    They will then have a good reason for getting their buddies onto the board of the UCB.

    ALL THIS WHILE NOBODY REALLY CARES BECAUSE THE TEAM IS LOSING ANYWAY

  • 59.Redox: Reply to this comment

    CoffeeshopBok

    Not sure if rugby is more successful than the other sa sports in fact i dont know if its more successful than soccer even. Rugby is just in a smaller pool How many countries have the cash and playing numbers to compete in rugby about 4 , 5 at a push compare that to soccer were there are about 80 countries which invest about the same amount of money and as large a pool large pool of players to select from as sarfu,england new zealand has. Sure bafana are a big fup at the moment but Being ranked 50th or whatever in a sport were +-80teams have the finances and playing numbers to compete with u isnt as bad as it sounds.

  • 60.Derek Noble: Reply to this comment

    Mark, you are seeing things that are not there. OK, so Hoskins wants to create a Director of Rugby post. Also known as Performance Director. I think that’s a good idea, Jake White needs to be left to work with the Bok squad, not trying to shore up the coaching arsenal of the whole country. Chris Spice does that job for England, and Alan Solomons will shortly take up a similar position in the USA.

    You seem to have leapt from the creation of that post, to an assumption that Markgraaf will be in strong contention for it. All your sources are saying is that he would want it. I might want it too, but I’m definitely not going to get it. If your sources say he is likely to get it, then say so, and back it up.

    Finally, Jake White should not be aligning himself publicly with either candidate. Even a statement that he prefers the devil he knows, is designed to influence the voters. That creates a problem for him if Hoskins wins. Unprofessional.

    If you want to use your journalism to support van Rooyen over Hoskins then you have every right to do so, but to justify it by linking it to some imagined spectre of a Markgraaf/Hoskins deal is disengenious.

  • 61.Onlooker: Reply to this comment

    Yes Robdylan
    I do remember the reason why Mallett was ousted but you have to distinguish between a one off outburst from Mallett to a constant drivel and spin doctor injections from JW, let’s face it: it’s not a respectable feature from a Boks coach

  • 62.Onlooker: Reply to this comment

    Keo,
    If only a third of what has been disclosed over last 2 years about BvR mismanagement affairs is true, it’s more than enough to see him off, however, that may not happened.
    The ‘government’ is certainly backing him firmly and that all he needs to stay put, sponsors may pull the plug at any time but the lesson from ‘Tennis ‘RSA’ demise after Standard Bank had bailed out must be still fresh, despite the 14 years elapsed!
    So, I’ll bet on BvR

  • 63.rednik: Reply to this comment

    I have said it before and I will say it again. We do not need Maarkgraaf in any capacity.

    Oh ****, here we go again.

  • 64.Windhoek.Lager: Reply to this comment

    What a load of bollocks. There is no substance whatsoever to this story. Must be a slow news day.

  • 65.Bongani: Reply to this comment

    Heard this line recently – Rugby journalism is people who can’t write interviewing people who can’t talk for people who can’t read.

    lol ….

  • 66.BULLET: Reply to this comment

    DIRECTOR OR RUGBY is a load of bollox, let White be omnipotent, and if we dont get at least third place, fire him. I know that some pahlooka’s will be shouting that if we do not win, he must go, but third is a good finish considering our pool and where we came last RWC. Also, third automatically qualifies us for the next RWC.

  • 67.BlueGirl: Reply to this comment

    This is really a circus. Markgraaff should never be allowed back into SA rugby. He’s there for his own gain only!

  • 68.bloubulsd: Reply to this comment

    where do I vote for Markgraaff? I want him back just to know Keo is pissed and not sleeping and crying in his head off:)

  • 69.munkiboi: Reply to this comment

    Keo – what I really want to know is what exactly BVR has done that is so bad to begin with. I know there have been many accusations, and media smaer campaigns, but for the life of me it sounds like he is being made a scapegoat, and that the big provinces are pissed off because he doesn’t bow to their will.

  • 70.junior77: Reply to this comment

    What Bull. I’ve never read anything on Hoskins saying he though Markgraaff made a positive contribution on this website or any other media. Please show me these quotes or are you BVR’s camp keo.

  • 71.Train: Reply to this comment

    keo

    who is going to win?

  • 72.princess: Reply to this comment

    Seems like one can’t believe a word from either side. All the campaigning seems pretty useless when the 14 fat cat presidents are gonna vote for who will give them the best seats at a test match!!!It really does not matter what else happens…………..as long as they still get their handouts!!!

  • 73.TheTackler: Reply to this comment

    There simply is no “Afrikaner quota”, StP.

    Every single white Afrikaner in the umbra and penumbra of Springbok rugby has had to have got there on merit alone. Only the brown boys are ever capable of being quota figures.

    That probably adds in Van Ruin and Oregon as well.

  • 74.Lem: Reply to this comment

    LOL, the only reason the ################## are interested in Rugby is becase there is money involved. They need another pool of money to dip their greedy hands into.

    I hope the WC soccer players enjoy soccer by candlelight! They better schedule the games during daylight hours!

    The only bigger joke than SA Rugby Admin is the SA Government. (And SA Soccer of course, and maybe the cricket…and…)

  • 75.TheTackler: Reply to this comment

    Can you actually call them the “######## #########” these days and not end up in jail? Aren’t they all a bit twitchily sensitive when you use that old ape metaphor?

  • 76.Koos: Reply to this comment

    Gee Keo, a bit light in the news department so you just concocted a story out of nothing? Enough said on that though…

    More interested in how we actually change the current set-up to something resembling what you mentioned in an earlier post.

    As I see it the smaller unions who have the upperhand will not budge or give away any of their powers, so where do we start?

  • 77.oink12: Reply to this comment

    O oh..Dnt like Bvrooyen. but after reading this article.. Well i dont like andre more

  • 78.TheTackler: Reply to this comment

    Andre Markgraaf is apparently like SA rugby’s version of Arnie Schwarzenegger’s role “The Terminator”.

    Just when you think he’d all entirely dead and buried, he stages yet another new comeback.

  • 79.hobo: Reply to this comment

    Tackler

    You can now and then be funny for a Kiwi…:-)

  • 80.wicked wugby wascal: Reply to this comment

    It would be problematic for Hoskins to bring Markies back, since Markies has a LOT of power (still) and may even end up challenging OH for his job as president. God knows what this man is capable of.

    A message to the bloggers: Do you support someone based on hearsay and spin doctoring and one sided arguments, or do you support someone based on what they have DONE. Lets look at what both have done:

    BVR:
    After a shaky start, he got in y promising a return to the running of teh sides by SARU and teh demolition of the SARFU company to run the professionalism game. He did this. It is misguided, but at least he did what he said he was going to do. We are going to go back to this eventually because the amateur guys are idiots. He kicked out a few corrupt accountants, tried to get a Rainbow Cup going with Wales to develop the second tier league and get paid TV money for it – good for teh development fo teh game. This was stopped by political infghting, led by Markies. He has steamrollered people in teh past, and perhaps gone on a power trip or two (which come with very expensive power lunches), but he has shown himself to be a strong leader and most importantly supported JW in whatever he wanted to do. He has survived a strong political internal challenge from Markies and Stofile, which attempted to undermine the democratic decisions of teh council almost straight afterthey were taken, He fought off an attempt by Stofiles brother to interfere and get his brother elected as president. he is a strong leader and a survivor. SA has also gone from 6th with no transformation to 2nd with a good showing. Granted, mre could be done with national structuring and academies. Oh and he has put a relegation system in place to light a cracker under these non-performing unions colective asses, and to develop rugby and transformation in EP. Whether or not they get hammered initially, it will do good things for their rugby (it already is). And who of the other unoins has not got hammered and propped up the table?

    OH:
    He is the boss of a large union which under his guidance has become the laughing stock of the S12, and which struggles against Vodacom Cup sides. He has hired and fired an idiot of a coach (Putt), he has rehired that ****** of everyone’s nightmares, Straueli (as director of rugby no less!! What does he know about management/rugby?), with the result that his team is fighting for its life this year in terms of relegation. To his credit, he has instituted the Sharks academy which looks to be briging in good black and other youngsters. Then again, it was about time.

    In concluson, the spineless political animals on the presidents council dont like a strong leader who steamrollers them and makes them accountable. OH has latched onto this and sees a way to avoid possible relegation of his union (and a massive pay cut for himself).

  • 81.Oranje Orakel: Reply to this comment

    Keo – good old counter-rotating 5 blade prop- spinning here :grin: - but its your blog and you are certainly stimulating the debate

    Given the nature of the thread

    Why is everyone so convinced that Jake White should not be removed- after all his record in NH conditions is not that hot- and what except for the first year of the rush defence have he instilled in the players

    Do not play the consistency part too much- as most of the other coaches did not have that part.

    Do not misunderstand me- I am not saying that Jake White is a poor coach and should be fired- just that he is not the dogg’s balls either

    Maybe he should have kept his mouth shut- remember EOYT 2004 and his inability to keep his yapper shut- and spend some time with his backline coach- trying to get him to perform with the Cats backline.

    I agree with WWW- what is Markgraaf’s claim to fame?

    Sheez but there is really a lotta plonkers in our rugby

    A BETTER GAME FOR ALL

    DOWN WITH THE CLOWN(S)

  • 82.PissAnt: Reply to this comment

    strange this.

    JW getting all political.

    Keo,

    quick question. did you not personally state on this site last year that you refuse to publish articles or statements by any person unless he is willing to be named?

    just asking because i am sure you said that and archives will prove it.

    change of policy?

    this whole article seems to be based on it on the fear of markies returning so i found it interesting that you do not all of a sudden want to name the sources like many muppits before me posted as well.

  • 83.ktb: Reply to this comment

    There is only ONE man for the job of running S.A. rugby and keeping it “clean” MORNE DU PLESSIS — will someone have the sense to get him involved once again.
    Director of rugby SA = Mac – yes MAC, who got hsafted by none other than LUYT because he could not win a series in NZ right after we came out of isolation.He wa not even given a chance to prove himself — shame SARU.

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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