Fiji fever hits Cape Town
19 Apr 2006
Western Province Director of Rugby Nick Mallett is in Fiji on a shopping expedition, confident of luring talented Fijian players to Cape Town.
Mallett confirmed to the Fiji Times that the province was looking at six players, between the age of 17 and 20, to relocate to the Western Province Academy and hopefully to play for Western Province, the Stormers and Springboks.
The Fijian factor is something Mallett has focused on for the past year and he also believes that if Auckland and the like can lure Fijian, Tongan and Samoan players then why can’t Cape Town?
It is an action that will no doubt be seen negatively by some, but it is one that should be applauded. It is long overdue and finally someone has done more than talk about it.
Australia and New Zealand have for years tapped into the Island resources, why not South Africa?
Mallett returns to South Africa at the weekend and he expressed confidence that there was enough talent to identify six promising players, who in three to five years could be playing for the Boks.
520 Comments
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19 Apr 2006, 13:36 pm
bigg #193
i left in ’93 went to cape college
19 Apr 2006, 13:36 pm
Jondood,
Looooonnng time. I still take her the odd lunch box from time to time. She is hoping to get out of maximum security in a year or two which should get her internet access and time to reflect her pearls of wisdom on this site. Until then, she is begging and blow jobbing her way through the warden in a desperate attempt to be allowed 30 mins blogging, but alas to no avail yet.
19 Apr 2006, 13:37 pm
OCO how do you figure that one?
19 Apr 2006, 13:38 pm
Well it’s bedtime. This post is flying. Perhaps reach 1000?
19 Apr 2006, 13:39 pm
So in summary we have:
Ludicrous coaching the cats and Fester coaching the stormers. Hand Relief and the Poison Dwarf reporting the game, and Kamp Draadtrek for bringing the game into disrepute.
19 Apr 2006, 13:41 pm
CB,
Easy, Arsenal have no English players on the pitch most of the time.
… and an arsenal is where one keeps munitions so it is apt to go boom (or in WP, probably “Poof”)!
QED
19 Apr 2006, 13:41 pm
From a rugby point of view I don’t see the sense in Mallet doing this. These guys will be youngsters who are perhaps physically stronger and have other gameplan views, but at the end of the day they would have to adapt to the provincial style of play at WP. They will be told how to play & what to do to fit into the provincial mould. Rather bring in older rugby experts from NZ, Aus etc to assist our coaches towards success (eg. Campo), their knowledge will directly influence the standard of our rugby!
19 Apr 2006, 13:41 pm
19 Apr 2006, 13:41 pm
Predawn,
Is that why they glue valcro to the ceilings of the Holiday Inn’s over there?
19 Apr 2006, 13:42 pm
OCO, Dooh now I get it
19 Apr 2006, 13:43 pm
Ice we probably know each other…
Tackler i know you are from Cape Town,
19 Apr 2006, 13:44 pm
Stan don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. That’s narrow minded.
19 Apr 2006, 13:44 pm
Redox
Contrary to popular belief lifting is not legal in the line out. A player can be supported once he has jumped and the supporters hands must be between the knees and waist. I think that bit’s correct.
There’s a ref on Sky sport who was explaining this a few weeks ago.
He also mentioned that the majority of players at senior level also think lifting is legal.
19 Apr 2006, 13:45 pm
OCO,
Arse(nal) could have a complete different meaning amongst the brokebackers….
19 Apr 2006, 13:47 pm
David,
I have read books with *** orgies sounding less intimate than your groping lineout summary.
19 Apr 2006, 13:48 pm
new bulls post up
19 Apr 2006, 13:49 pm
Stan,
Not forgetting that Arsenal are coached by arse-end-banger?
Could he be the next WP/Stormers coach?
19 Apr 2006, 13:50 pm
Isn’t that why you love the game 3rdday?
19 Apr 2006, 13:51 pm
3rdday, I guess that answers any questions about your sexuality then? Some of you guys are really funny.
19 Apr 2006, 13:51 pm
Delek,
Dont knock what?
19 Apr 2006, 13:51 pm
yip, also understand it that way David.
whats the situation with slowing the ball down, if you are on your feet and have come in through the gate, why cant you compete for the oppos ball?
19 Apr 2006, 13:53 pm
Almost forgot,
Maybe “Fiji Fever” is their local slang for “Bird Flu”?
There’s a lot of “Pigeons” in WP and that could be disasterous!
19 Apr 2006, 13:56 pm
I dont think many people her have an appreciation of what Nick is aiming to achieve. The current performance of The SA unions is dissmal, souht africans for some reason just cant finish, and this is a problem from the Boks down to Grass Roots, ny adding in international players who can finish we would be reviving SA Rugby, many unions have one style of attack and no back up plan, perhaps in these players experience in Pacific island rugby, Nick has found a back up plan. this must be commended.
As for Slappin the Cape boys in the face, maybe thats what they need, they need to lose that sense of assurance and know that they play in a corporate sport and just like in your job if your not the best u’ll be left behind, behind a desk for the next 10years whilst the guys who stood up spend there time playing golf.
19 Apr 2006, 13:57 pm
why must we take players from overseas cant we just train our players properly so that we are the world force
19 Apr 2006, 13:57 pm
Gentlemen – Dan Retiefs post where he alludes to a series of skirmishes and stamina , is indeed thought provoking and certainly worthy of closer consideration .
Someone else alluded to a coloured poulation , which evokes some memories ….. growing up in the green rolling hills of Natal , the last outpost , we were force fed with english literature including the likes of Noddy and Big Ears . Then there was the ditty “my old mans a dustman , who wears a dustmans hat…” which was surreptitiously sang as the coloured’s national anthem ” my old mans a ********..” Seriously , I think it was 3rd day who made mention of this and if only he knew his history , he would recall that Afrikaans professor who was tarred and feathered (literally) for conclusively proving that ALL afrikaners have 7% coloured blood running in their veins . Therefore 3rd day , your argument of a skilled rugby playing coloured nation , is flawed because we already have such a nation , being poached by all S14 franchises in the quest to satisfy overweight and unemployable politicians who dreamed up this racist affirmative policy in the first place .
Vorster was castigated in the 70′s over Bryan Williams , de Oliveira etc. and bringing politics into sport – the ANC have simply refined that process . Is it any wonder that professional youngsters , black and white (including talented rugby and cricket players) are leaving in droves to pursue their dreams and aspirations else where resulting in a massive brain drain . Keo’s missus who is a political journalist (Karen Schimke) , will be able to recall that Professors name .
19 Apr 2006, 13:59 pm
well why take players from overseas its not like south africa is short on rugby players we are just not using our talent properly
19 Apr 2006, 14:01 pm
Tackler if you said you read that article in the Herald you would’ve been lost in a sea of expats on the north shore. But now i may know where to start looking. Wellington is a very small town, and i know a hell of a lot of South Africans down here.
see you soon bud.
19 Apr 2006, 14:03 pm
Wise words Shaka,
I also think that the same professor had a history book banded because he said in it that, due to a lack of accomodation during Die Groot Trek, that some Voortrekkers had had to make do with living in pig styes to keep out of inclement weather.
As they say, “The pile of **** is the same, it’s just the colour of the flys that have changed”.
19 Apr 2006, 14:05 pm
Cab
Apparently as soon as the ref calls ruck then it’s hands off.
Strangely the trick the Reds pulled on Saturday was also mentioned as having been seen in SA, where the opposing team stand back from the lineout drive which immediately creates an illegal “truck and trailer” for the team trying to drive.
It’s an interesting column featured every 2nd week.
19 Apr 2006, 14:07 pm
ahahahahahaha
This is bloody hilarious
Tackler has fled cause he is getting grilled.
Brad, Cab and Pussycat you guys are connaseurs of the english language cause tackler has got nothing!!!
Where bouts in da dominion post region you scumbag tackler – Dont claim Hawkes Bay either – your too much of an idiot to live there – I bet its Kapati – raumati beach or the Bush – The Wairarapa bush – you are a nobody living nowhere!
19 Apr 2006, 14:10 pm
Well done Nick.
If SA can’t produce the goods, buy them in. It is f’n awul that we have to resort to this. How is it our professional players that have been playing rugby for 10 years + at a high level cannot pass & catch.
When I think about it, I get teary. Problem is the system does not appear to reward skill or form, but rather size stength. After reading the article on Super sport, looks like JW is more concerned with conditioning than skills.
If that is the case, we might as well maak the Bulle almal bokke, because they already have a strong side with very little skill.
19 Apr 2006, 14:11 pm
Go on tel us your town you so called tackler. You know your safe as in New Zealand – wer not gona hunt you down we dont even know your name!!
(nor do we care)
na but seriously where you at bro??
Dominion Post is good – but not as good as Super Sport Friday – which by the way is from which new Zealand paper?
19 Apr 2006, 14:11 pm
OCO – a bit harsh .
I am more in line with Mandela’s reconcilliation protocol , than the fragmentation and division we have seen developing under Mbeki’s arrangement .
Lets face it , cant change the past but what we need to do it take the positives from the past and harness these into our future . Highways , hospitals , schools , rugby stadiums and other accepted icons of excellence .
Equally , if any thing or component of tribalism is negative , drop it . I mean , how barbaric to slaughter a cow at Kings Park when we win the 2007 RWC .
Sure we celebrate , but in an acceptable fashion – acceptable to those not only in Africa as well !!!!
19 Apr 2006, 14:13 pm
David,
yes exactly, but i’m wondering whether the “hands off” shout has any basis in the rules or whether its simply become modern practice employed by the refs in the interests of letting the game flow. If the latter, there is a real interpretative problem for fecthers, especially where the ref has not shouted “hands off” clearly. Surely then it is not possible to penalise for “slowing the ball down” unless there is basis for this in the rules. Burger was penalised for this in the tour of the NH 2 years ago, which cost us, yet this is how many great fetchers like McCaw, Smith and Kronfeld achieve turnover ball.
Didn’t see the Reds game unfortunately.
19 Apr 2006, 14:13 pm
Hey yyeah by the way all you Japies – dont expect us to crumble again like that in the cricket – im surprised ive got away with it this long – Next game if Bond is back he will teach your amatur top order a thing or two.
Our boys are better than yours – we will prove that this series you wait!
19 Apr 2006, 14:15 pm
400 is naby!!!!!!!!!!!!!
19 Apr 2006, 14:15 pm
Is Nick Mallet attempting to fill a serious need? We have a lack of big, fast and skilled backline players. We need to follow a similar approach to football and recruit foreign players where we have a lack of depth etc. Look at the value that Tony Brown has brought to Sharks, surely young players will benefit further down the line. The English league has improved significantly with foreign players apply their trade their. Apart from the Sharks what stops Nick Mallet from flying over to the UK and luring say Johnny Wilkinson to play for Province and the Stormers or for that matter Jake offering Andre Snyman a contract with the Boks after a fine season with Leeds? Rugby is now a professional game and results count. I would rather have a few foreigners in the team and make with playoffs and sit with local players facing relegation. I can recall when the Sharks won the Currie Cup in 1995 or 1996 (not 100% sure) and they had a few french players in their side and nobody complained. They still produced further talent down the line!
19 Apr 2006, 14:15 pm
Bond is topclass, but our top order can bat when they concentrate on playing rather than talking.
19 Apr 2006, 14:16 pm
Pollok is up to *** all.
What a bad member of your team – the filthy morange head with his poultry 125kms.
YUK!!!!
Steyn will be delt to shortly – he has nothing
19 Apr 2006, 14:16 pm
NZ maori
Are you drunk, cause you’re talking alot of **** all of a sudden
19 Apr 2006, 14:17 pm
Shaka,
The saying isn’t from SA, it’s international but I suppose that I could rather have said that “it’s just the politicians who change” which, on reflection, and the touchy nature of the local inhabitants (still after 12 years), could have been more “Rainbow Nation” like.
19 Apr 2006, 14:17 pm
HAHAHA yoda You are right on the button.
19 Apr 2006, 14:20 pm
Perhaps its the kick up the arse the local players need to start performing.
19 Apr 2006, 14:21 pm
But hey i think we ARE a better side than you on our day in cricket.
Its a different topic really for another day but i had to show some patriotism in the wake of that defeat.
We were abismal. I abandoned keo on purpose last nite cause nothing i would have said would have been worth any credit.
Ya Yoda mate – its even worse than you thought mate – im drinking VB – that oz beer. Please forgive but its not a bad drop
19 Apr 2006, 14:21 pm
Cab
The defining moment apparently is “it’s a ruck” call. Hands off is a reminder to those who didn’t hear.
What is interesting is that he reckons that, legally, there is rarely such a thing as a legal lineout. The refs basically use their judgement as to whether to penalise or not depending on how the infringement affects play.
It appears that the trend is for refs to blow depending on the context.
19 Apr 2006, 14:23 pm
NZMaori, VB is a good beer really enjoyed drinking it whilst down under.
You guys will be hard to beat in the one dayers, thats the black caps strength game.
19 Apr 2006, 14:24 pm
Tell you what, if you guy’s want the players to learn skill, get down to the beach & play touch rugby.
Natal South coast, Warnadoone – skills that will make FDP (I can only pass one way)embarresed & perhaps retire.
Perhaps that is something that schools should introduce, a 7′s or touch rugby league for ages 10 – 12 – before they learn to skop & donner!
19 Apr 2006, 14:25 pm
Context. Interpretation. Perception.
Hard for our refs with such rules as today but i dont think they are doing such a bad job MOST of the time.
Except for Paul Honniss of course – he is the pits
19 Apr 2006, 14:27 pm
Coffee shop you alredy beat us 4 nil in the one dayers – i know i always blame coaches but tyet again we have the players but the coach is not going well = its know in some circles that Flem and J.B do not get along well. Captain and coach . Thats half of it – no excuses for yesterday tho Intini dominated
19 Apr 2006, 14:27 pm
The real disgrace here is the plundering of Fijian/Tongan/Samoan resources – these are the Pacific Islands, a rugby force all by itself which will never develop its own identity and cultivate its rugby so long as their best players are poached by other wealthier countries; it’s a disgusting tragedy and NZ especially doesn’t come out of this looking good. Can you imagine if this happened to SA rugby?
John Cowper – Detroit
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