Why Jake’s jolly

Why Jake’s jolly

Jake White is not suicidal after round 10 of the Vodacom Super 14. And he does not share Graham Henry’s sentiments that the standard of the tournament has suffered because of the inclusion of two franchises.

Speaking to Keo.co.za, White said it was a South African weakness to always sell our teams short and to focus entirely on the negative. He said there was plenty to encourage him in the first 10 rounds, especially the performance of the Sharks and the Cheetahs.

“The Sharks have won four from their nine matches and with a bit of luck they could have beaten the Crusaders and Brumbies away from home. They’ve played good rugby and they have had some very good results. At the start of the season there were predictions they would not win a game. Their form has to be a positive. The Cheetahs are the new boys to the competition, but they scored a fantastic win against the Hurricanes and have also won four matches. They have struggled in the last two matches on tour, but for a first up effort they’ve done very well and they’ll do even better once they get home.

“No one is denying the Cats and Stormers have been poor, but the Bulls have been competitive and with a bit of luck the four wins could have been eight wins. They lost to the Brumbies in the last minute, lost to the Canes in the last minute and were a conversion kick from beating the Reds in Brisbane. They also got a draw in Hamilton. You’ve got to keep some perspective. The line between success and failure in this tournament is a point, a missed kick or a charge down. There are five teams in the pack chasing the Brumbies and two of those teams are South African.

“There weren’t many who were predicting two SA teams would be in the hunt with four rounds to play. It isn’t all bad news.”

White said the Cheetahs had shown themselves worthy of a place in the competition and that the Force were not as bad as their league position suggests.

“Again you go and analyse the Force’sr performances and there has been some very good matches. Their defeat on Saturday was their worst this season and I’ve seen plenty of the established sides take 50 points in this competition. Go and see what the Crusaders did in 1996. Who back then would have backed them to win five titles, play in seven finals and have an 80 percent win record?

“I see Graham being quoted about the decline in standard, but it is not the way I see it. The Crusaders, Canes, Waratahs and Brumbies have played as well as they’ve ever played in Super 12, the Bulls have been as effective as last year but the rub of the green has not favoured them and the Sharks have started to produce quality games. I think the rugby has been good, but there has to be an appreciation for the improvement in defences and the improvement of teams all-round.”

When asked how he would rate his Boks’ performances, White said team circumstance dictated form and that some had delivered more consistency than others.

“I go back to what I said this time last year when everyone was questioning whether I was going to pick half my Bok squad. I know what I have got and I know they are the best players in the country. The same players who looked out of form in last year’s Super 12, combined to beat the All Blacks in Cape Town a few months later. I know where the backbone of my Bok team is and nothing has changed in my thinking. I also know that Schalk Burger would be more imposing if he operated behind the Bulls tight five or that Jean de Villiers may be more effective outside of Tony Brown and with his team playing good attacking rugby. These are all things you factor in.

“The thing I am the most depressed about is the injury situation. I have lost Gurthro Steenkamp and Ashwin Willemse for the season. They would be definites in my squad and it is a huge blow. Ashwin’s was particulary painful when you consider how hard he has worked to get back. He looked superb against the Sharks and it was cruel that his season was ended with another knee injury,” said White, who this season will pick a Bok squad of 45 to prepare for the first three test matches.


70 Comments

  • 1.BMM: Reply to this comment

    Jake you just hang on to your perspective!
    This man is just so wise to keep a cool and calm head. SA just don’t realise how incredibly lucky we are to have him as our coach. It could quite easily have been Chester, can’t even remember the other dude who was in the race, Joubert or even Gert Smal. In fact I firmly believe that if Jake had not been appointed coach when he was we would probably have fired 2 coaches by now and be about to appoint another!!

  • 2.TheTackler: Reply to this comment

    Go back to the Super 10. Have THREE SA teams, three Oz teams and four NZ teams.

    That’s a good reflection on the overall strength of the game of rugby union in the SANZAR nations.

  • 3.bokusa: Reply to this comment

    The usual Jake White spin. He slipt up when suggesting that the form fly half is Tony Brown. Not one SA fly half to speak about. The problem is not in the pack. We have enough talent to compete with a pack, it’s the backline that worries me. Last year the Boks got the rub of the green and scored most of their tries from defensive pressure. Without any real attacking presence, it’s going to be a long Tri-Nations.

  • 4.TheTackler: Reply to this comment

    And when Jake’s 2006 Bok team gets hammered home and away by both the Wobblies and the All Blacks, his head is going to be absolutely screamed for. And the next RWC is just around the corner. No time for a change! SA rugby is going to be stuck with Snake Bite!

  • 5.bliksem: Reply to this comment

    Congrats tackler on all the names you come up like Ludicrous etc.This shows that for a 41 year old man you are pathetic.Triumphantly claiming a feat like that.Then again you got no friends so what else are you supose to do.

  • 6.Mclaren: Reply to this comment

    Strange world,

    Jake is impressed by the best SA team, the Sharks. Not many Sharks are going to be in the Bok starting 15. BJ Botha should be in the team with CJ and Bands out with injuries. Ruan Pienaar is excellent and must be in the WC squad in 2007. FDP and January did not impressive in the S14. Kiwi Tony Brown is better than Pretorius, Hougaard, Bosman and Olivier. Pity he can not play for the Boks. Lets be honest in the S14 so far Henno Mentz is superior to Bryan Habana who is pretty useless, even more on defense. Jacques Botes is very impressive too, he is fast and very busy, surely better than Tim Dlulane and anything the Cats have available. Jake should have another look at Luke Watson. He is exellent this season, pity he is not playing for the Bulls!!

  • 7.jakesfourie: Reply to this comment

    With the sa sides doing so poorly its unrealistic for us 2 expect jake 2 do miracales.Its good that he keeps it positive,hopefully it’ll pay off 4 him&the boks.
    This will surely b the make or break year 4 him.People will forget how well he has done so far lifting the boks from nr6 to nr2.

  • 8.rastafox: Reply to this comment

    Some great points Mclaren!!

    I have to agree it will be sad to see plonkers like Sephaka and Andrews keeping BJ Botha out. He has been without doubt the form tighthead this year and has been growing steadily in stature for the last few seasons.Jacques Botes is into another great season and is far superior to Jacques Cronje and Tim Dlulane,wether as no. 6,7 or 8.I feel for those players that have held their heads high in Super 14 that know the plonkers like Julies,Joubert,Shimange,Cronje and Sephaka will most likely be selected ahead of them.This faith in the fringe players is what worries me and will cause us to add to the lists of overseas based players.I hope that Jake’s faith pays off when the hammer comes down.

  • 9.green blood: Reply to this comment

    bliksem

    tackler is lonely. i bet if every one ignores his comments for more than a month he will not post any more. ok, maybe two months for he is thick, but he will eventaully get the message. tackler we will talk again after 3N, and you have already written of the boks,

    wonder if he is related somehow to siener van Rensburg?

  • 10.kapie: Reply to this comment

    I see that “Comical Ali’ aka TheTackler is having a field day

  • 11.kapie: Reply to this comment

    or must I say night?

  • 12.BlueBlood: Reply to this comment

    Luck,luck,luck,rub of the green. Ja, if our teams were lucky then we would be 1 – 5 on the log. It’s not about luck. It’s the sad fact that our teams are utterly useless. There is nothing to be positive about,even the Sharks. Everyone is talking up the Sharks. The Sharks are useless and pathetic. And they are our best team. That is a nightmare, when your best team is a bunch of losers who are nowhere near championship material. No Shark deserves to be a Bok, let alone any other player in a S14 team. Our best flyhalf is an import!

    How long before we are like soccer where you can play wherever you get a contract?

    Jake has to pull off a miracle this year. I don’t know how he is going to do it. With the imbeciles plodding around the field these days, I’d be suprised if we beat Scotland.

    Jake has to be positive. I mean the guy gets paid enough for it, but he must walk on water this season.

  • 13.bliksem: Reply to this comment

    “Well into the early morning” kapie.green he is very lonely.just comes here looking for attention.Talks the talk doesnt walk the walk.

  • 14.Mclaren: Reply to this comment

    Rastafox,

    Jacques Cronje has dissapointed thus far, but I believe that he is much better at 7 than 8, however, Botes seems like the better player. Can SA afford not to play Schalk Brtis in the 2007 WC? He is a brilliant player that can change a match quickly. This guy can be a superstar. Percy is past his best, Jaco at 15 couls also add something on the attack. SA needs to identify and select the players who have the natural talent and oomph to win the WC.

  • 15.GCC: Reply to this comment

    blikskottel, jou sommetjies is nie lekker nie; dis nou so 17h45 in nz.

  • 16.bliksem: Reply to this comment

    GCC jy is reg ons is GMT+2 hulle is GMT+10.Verskoning.

  • 17.Fuzzybear: Reply to this comment

    Somebody throw me a flipopin bone here, can you imagine if Jake wasnt positive?

  • 18.Methos: Reply to this comment

    BlueBlood

    Don’t be all that negative. There is light at the end of the tunnel. I beleive that we have sufficient talent to put forward a Bok team that will be able to compete with the best in the World. One of the reasons I beleive we are struggling in the S14 is something Nick Mallet keeps harping on. We just don’t have enough talent to outfit 5 teams. Our Bok players are supposed to fly with the eagles but are being dragged down by the weasels that surround them. Sure there are some Boks who are weasels but if you take even them and put them between other good players they get lifted.

    I know we say that the guys are profesionals and should play like that but we have to face the facts that even if they get paid the are not neccisarily good players. There are some plonkers out there who are better suited to the kitchen than the rugby field.

    When Jake picks his team he will pick some plonkers and players out of form like he did last year. Joe repaid his faith, De Wet Barry and Marius Joubert did not. That is why he dropped them. We can go on and on about he must select the best players but we have to remember that the best players are not always the best team. In the days of Rudolf the terrible we were all screaming for consistency, now that we have consistency we are all screaming for Jake to pick the form players. Remember the old cricket saying, “Form is temporary but class is permanent.”

    So Blueblood, cheer up and have a little faith.

    Cheers

  • 19.Methos: Reply to this comment

    I’ll be back shortly, I have to go to the loo to squeeze out a big fat tackler.

    Cheers

  • 20.rastafox: Reply to this comment

    Got to agree on Percy,the old warhorse has looked a touch long in the tooth at times.As far as Schalk Britz goes I feel he is the perfect back-up to Smit.Smit as captain will play if fit
    and can switch to prop late in a game if needed. The current crop of back-up hookers are not performing.Gary Botha looks a little off the pace as he finds his fit after a lay-off, Shimange is unfortunately not good enough and I fear can only be selected as a quota.These players can develop their games and not collect splinters as Shimmie has.It has been to the detriment of Shimnage that he never plays any rugby.

  • 21.Drunkmonkey: Reply to this comment

    I hope he leaves the bulls players alone

  • 22.Edwill: Reply to this comment

    I think Jake should get David Campese or Carel du Plessis involved with the backline as soon as possible. Allistair Coetzee is not going to win the World Cup for you. It seems he might just be a dress up coaching member as evident in the Cats’ backline play.

    A guy like Morne du Plessis or Alan Solomons can also be pulled in, in some capacity.

    If I was SA Rugby I’d do the following:

    1.) Assemble the following Bok Management and Coaching team:

    Manager: Morne du Plessis or Alan Solomons

    Head Coach: Jake White
    Forwards Coach: Balie Swart
    Backline Coach: Carel Du Plessis
    Skills Coach: David Campese
    Defensive Coach: ?
    Kicking Coach: Naas Botha

    The manager would manage and evaluate the Coaching team and players performance and giving advice of areas of concern.

    The Head coach would be solely in charge of picking teams and picking game plans.

  • 23.Fuzzybear: Reply to this comment

    Edwill Id get Rob Fleck involved with that backline before those old farts!

  • 24.Methos: Reply to this comment

    Edwill

    Not a bad team there. Add Rassie Erasmus to the Forwards and get someone else to coach the kicking. Naas doesn’t beleive in kicking coaches. Defensive coach – Get some one from overseas a Australian Leuge defense coach or a NFL blocking\tackling coach.

    Cheers

  • 25.green blood: Reply to this comment

    edwill

    Naas wants to be head coach or nothing at all. He will not get involved for why get into the firing line if you can sit on the outside and criticize. Tim lane can be defense coach!!

    gt tackler contracted to do the spinning with the media i.e. media liason and then he can also be used as a tackle bag.
    we have enough players from 5 regions to get a good 22. problem is we have to pick good combo’s, and you might not see the best 22 individuals, not to mention all the selections to keep the minister of sport happy.

  • 26.Blackberry: Reply to this comment

    aaaagh the calming influence of JW! So he will pick a Bok squad 45 players. If guys like Luke Watson and Schalk Brits don’t make it they will never see the green jersey while JW is in charge.

  • 27.stinkvinger: Reply to this comment

    Methos,

    The Ausie league deense coach was tried and it dind;t work. rather get somebody like ray Mordt in.

    Will also like to see rassie as either forwards coach or tecnical analyst.

  • 28.Frazer: Reply to this comment

    Ja Jake, and if you try hard enough, you can put a positive spin on just about anything. The simple fact is that this is another year that none of our teams will even come close to winning the thing. The Bulls play boring, stupid rugby. The Stormers play headless chicken stupid rugby. The Cats – well they can’t even play rugby. The Cheetahs give the impression of a team that is in way over its head and hanging on for dear life. The Sharks are the only team that has managed to play anything approaching decent rugby and is the only team whose Boks are performing. Now put a spin on that… It’s going to be a long, hard season for Bok fans.

  • 29.rastafox: Reply to this comment

    the next best 15 uncapped players only:
    15.JP Pietersen
    14.G.Pieters
    13.R.Cooke
    12.W.Olivier
    11.A.Ndungane or his brother
    10.M.Steyn
    9.R.Pienaar
    8.R.v/d Merwe
    7.J.Botes
    6.L.Watson (c)
    5.J.Muller
    4.R.Skeate
    3.BJ.Botha
    2.S.Brits
    1.J.Engels

    Bench: JD Moller,C.Ralepele,A.Bekker,K.Floors
    P.Delport,N.Olivier,JP.Nel

  • 30.ciccino: Reply to this comment

    One has give credit to Jake. He took players 2 seasons back when there was no sa teams in the semis and won Tri-nations. Last year 2 of sa teams were playing for woodenspoon of the competition – the boks did o.k. He seams to know how to get better perfomance out of the players.

  • 31.ciccino: Reply to this comment

    Rastafox,
    not a bad team to my liking.

  • 32.ciccino: Reply to this comment

    I would love to see a trial match between that team and current boks. Could be fun.

  • 33.Sampioenman: Reply to this comment

    Ek sien Tackler is alweer besig om n klomp kak uit te braak… Die game kannie groei as die kompetisie nie groei nie.

  • 34.rastafox: Reply to this comment

    Wouldn’t it be great to see the old North vs South match again.A bok trial if ever there was one!!!

  • 35.boeja: Reply to this comment

    uncapped bok side

    1.jd moller
    2.s.brits
    3.bj botha
    4.ross skeate/johan muller
    5.andries bekker
    6.luke watson (c)
    7.baywatch
    8.pierre spies
    9.ruan pienaar
    10.steyn
    11.ondugane
    12.barret
    13.cooke
    14.ondugane
    15.jp pietersen

    16.(HOOKER FROM CHEETAHS)liebenbergh
    17.neil fullard
    18.skeate/muller
    19.g.vosloo
    20.paul delport
    21.joe pieterson
    22.n.oliver

  • 36.rastafox: Reply to this comment

    The Grizzled XV:
    1.Os
    2.Ollie
    3.Visagie
    4.Ackerman
    5.v/d Bergh
    6.Britz
    7.Gerber
    8.AJ
    9.Davidson
    10.Greef
    11.Hall
    12.Barry
    13.Snyman
    14.Breytie
    15.Percy

  • 37.yoda: Reply to this comment

    ciccino

    2 years back the stormers was in the semis

  • 38.Grrrr....I'm a Lion!: Reply to this comment

    :cry: … Is there any hope left….???

  • 39.Brads: Reply to this comment

    Jake White, Jake White. You old kidder you!

    Come on, tell it the way it really is. I dare you! Don’t be so shy, just admit you need as much time as possible to do your magic and whip the boys into some sort of form before the international season takes over.

    The last thing you need is an unexpected fly in the ointment like having some of your first choice guys involved in the S14 finals.

    Sure, if there was a chance of winning the damned thing, but really!

    So I agree with you Jake, it will be so much easier when the Bulls or the Sharks do the right thing and confirm their failure to make the semi’s. Leave the problem of player fatigue and probable injury to Aus and NZ.

    Which means of course, it will be best for SA Rugby if no SA team makes the Semi’s.

    Question though? How does that sit with the average SA supporter wearing a Bokke hat?

  • 40.bigg: Reply to this comment

    Grrr – Why are out Stormers & Cats doing so badly?? It’s just to depressing to watch. sniff sniff

  • 41.Brads: Reply to this comment

    bigg
    I Agree.

    This is a serious question that needs an answer.

    On an equivelent regional level, it would be like Auckland (read Blues) and Crusaders (read Canterbury) being equally dire!

  • 42.Brads: Reply to this comment

    bigg

    hmm Auck – Blues, Crusaders – Canter… I should really amend that line.

    Nah, I think you should get the point.

  • 43.DotDan: Reply to this comment

    Cats should start looking at their school and junior levels like the sharks and the bulls… You never hear anything about a Lions Academy being so great, or that Great Rugby players emerge from the lions academy…

  • 44.DavidSp: Reply to this comment

    Methos

    You guys in the Cape have a club coach who both played and coached NFL as a defensive specialist for years before returning to SA like a good patriot to apply his knowledge in rugby.

    He’s tried to contact ALL the franchises to help out but nobody wants to telk to him.

    ps. I actually think the idea of making Super 14 smaller to Super 10 again is a brilliant idea.

  • 45.shaka mehlomakulu: Reply to this comment

    Gentlemen – in your respective corportate environments , make use of what works . If there was an apppopriate playing track record to speak of , coupled with a string of games where that influence is clearly visible , USE IT . The Aussies had the wrong attitude about Campo , and Natal have used it to good effect . Natal were just lucky they had the added attraction of a former Rhodesian cricketer with a rather attractive daughter , who bowled Campo middle wicket – no pun intended . **** Muir moved to the WC and won the CC for WP after some lean years . The picture must be abundantly clear – let White Jake build a management team around himself and its clear he has the ability to win RWC 2007 . The worst thing for SA is for politicians to become involved – look at de Lille , Holomisa – neither had a good team and have vanished / will soon vanish , like the morning mist in the rising sun . Go White Jake and get your best management team around you and consider the inclusion of players including Habana , Jaques Botes , Floors and Watson . Admittedly Habana is currently poor , but when he sees more ball , he will blossom .

  • 46.bigg: Reply to this comment

    Brads – I am a SA rugby fan, hell I even have a tattoo of the springbok emblem on my upper leg. I used to get so excited about watching rugby but now I really couldn’t care. I actually dont watch anymore as it is not good my blood pressure even though I am 31. I don’t think it is good for any SA supporter. However I think that the Boks will do well as we do have 1 of the best coaches around in Jake White.

  • 47.DavidSp: Reply to this comment

    Dotdan

    The Lions Academy is the RAU Sport Centre

    Ever hear of Francois Pienaar, Hennie Le Roux, Ian MacDonald, Japie Mulder?

    All products of RAU…

    For the moment though I agree – the cupboard is pretty damned threadbare although Hugo Van As is working on it at UJ at the moment without the support of the GLRU.

  • 48.stucky: Reply to this comment

    Tackler (NO:2) your posting from a NZ perspective makes sense. If I where a SARU admin the first question I would ask is, is this good for SA rugby. I would see that your suggestion does not favour SA teams due to logistics (no matter how small the advantage) and would not consider it.

    But I’m not an SARU admin. Those positions are for brainless *******.

  • 49.seamus: Reply to this comment

    I reckon that for positions 1-8, SA have worldclass players. As many have said, our problems lie in our backline.

    9 – plenty of quality options
    10 – big problems
    11 & 14 – lack of ball has limited ability to shine, but there are a few options
    12 – JdV – world class
    13 – Jacque Fourie – world class
    15 – Percy, but it’s “changing of the guard” time. Need to start introducing Fortuin or JP Pietersen

    Reserves

    Plenty for the pack

    Backs

    10 – God help us
    11 & 14 – we have a few
    12 – Like the look of Cooke and Olivier
    13 – Both Natal and FS have some quility options
    15 – Fortuin and Petersen

    10 is the big problem and has been since Henry retired. Hopefully he has been put out to stud.

    Come back Butchie… all is forgiven.

  • 50.cab: Reply to this comment

    dont know about new sprinboks being chosen this year, perhaps Peter Jooste had one thing in mind, but JW certainly has another.

    Intersting article, I like hearing from Jake and he is right about Schalk Burger.

  • 51.TheTackler: Reply to this comment

    Stucky (#48), if anything I say makes perfect sense it is because it is precisely the diametrical opposite of what SARU will actually do.

    Of course it makes sense to go back to a Super 10! All the endless yakkity yak about long travel and player burnout etc etc.

    And SA’s fairly limited player strength all compressed into only three teams instead of diluted across five…

    It’s all just too sensible!

  • 52.scoob: Reply to this comment

    i think the selectors will play it safe with the bok side and take the usual players and then some form players like BJ and pieterson just in case the ‘usuals’ fail.

  • 53.Cheetha Champs: Reply to this comment

    Tackler, reason your suggestion will NEVER happen is simple. MONEY !! The unions make more money of TV rights and gates – for 200 games than for 100. Lost advertising revenue etc will ensure that in a couple of years time we will have a Super 20.

    dont even consider using the quality vs quantity argument – doesnt apply at all.

  • 54.TheTackler: Reply to this comment

    Well, that “Super 20″ will no doubt consist of the top 14 New Zealand and Australian sides and six miserable cellar-dwellers selected on ever stiffer race-quotas from the good old Republic, hey?

  • 55.cab: Reply to this comment

    scoob,

    yip also really do hope JW swallows his pride and includes a decent TH like BJ in the squad, especially with CJ in the kak.

  • 56.Rommel: Reply to this comment

    The situation isn’t that bad for the springboks as what the S14 would indicate.

    All a team really needs in one bad apple and the whole team is up to ****. A bad no 10 for stormers mean JDV never get a qualtiy ball so he goes down the drain. The guy next to jdv then gets jdv’s **** and some more. At the end the wing will perhaps receive the bal on the side line and 15 really pissed-off blackies trying to re-arrange his ribs. But put a decent No 10 in the mix and JDv has a bit more space and bob’s your uncle. the whoel line can move more freely.
    Same in the front. one bad player in th etight five and your scrum will suffer. You can have Os there a his best, but if the Lock behind him is up to **** Os means nothing.

    SO take Os and Put Bakkies behind him. I don;t want to be the the prop that has to contend with them. So 5 teams are really up to **** but 15 best players are quite something else.
    I would like to think that the stormers would have bene much better of with a decent flyhalf and fullback. two players, but what a difference they would have made.

  • 57.cab: Reply to this comment

    ha ha Rommel, aint that the truth, faced with Os and Bakkies, not the most appetising prospect for any team.

  • 58.B4theGame: Reply to this comment

    yeah well he should be jolly as his ENTRENCHED QUAD of PLAYERS must still start the season and start playing…they would be well rested come end of MAY :)

  • 59.Cheetha Champs: Reply to this comment

    Sounds about right Tackler. Except of course for the all conquering Cheetahs….

  • 60.scoob: Reply to this comment

    Rommel
    You are right bud, combinations are so important. i recon youve hit the nail on the head. lets not forget experience with inexperience, something i think the sharks have benefited from.

  • 61.munkiboi: Reply to this comment

    Given the pathetic excuses for rugby players Jake has to work with, one can only assume he’s a bit of a voodoo man, as well as a rugby coach. Is he close friends with any shamans or witch doctors? Where does he get that magic from?

    despite the fickle, excessively demanding nature of SA rugby fans, it must be admitted that Jake’s bok have overperformed, and I believe will continue to do so.

    When whoever wants rid of him gets their way, we will see the boks enter a slump indicative of the one we found ourselves in post Nick
    Mallett. Of this I am convinced. If it were’nt for Jake I’d have stopped watching rugby. Straueli nearly forced me to stop!

  • 62.OCO: Reply to this comment

    Reading Jake’s comments:
    “I know what I have got and i know they are the best players in the country. the same players who looked out of form in last yyear’s Super 12…”. Expect DvB, Joubert, Andrews and Joe to feature in the starting 15.
    “Schalk Burger could be more imposing ..” Schalks in.
    “JdV may be more effective ..” – he’s in.

    So expect 6 Stormers in the starting ine-up. probably more.

    JW is already starting with excuses for his selection and most probable failures.

    Wonder if the other 9 or less will be able to fill in for the ‘certains’ poor play?

  • 63.DavidSp: Reply to this comment

    The last time we had no teams in the Super Tournament semi final was 1998

    A good omen perhaps?

  • 64.munkiboi: Reply to this comment

    OCO – you’ve got 3 stormers centres starting there boet. Do you think perhaps you’re a little paranoid and losing perspective?

    Of the 6 you name, I reckon 3 have somethingg to offer the boks. Big Joe, Schalk and JDV.

  • 65.munkiboi: Reply to this comment

    OCO – why dont the other out of form boks get a mention from you, and only the stormers do? Me thinks you are bitterly biassed. No idea why. Who do you support?

    Habana, Fourie du Preez, Jaque Cronje, Bakkies and Gary Botha have been shadows of themselves this season. Wayne Julies reputation has gone backwards, and Pretorius is only just returning from injury, whilst Jantjes has not carried his good currie cup form into the S14. Monty looks past it, and Os rarely has an impact these days. And its too early to tell what Jaco’s form is like either.

    What say thee?

  • 66.Staal: Reply to this comment

    Ek wag nou-al maande vir my ADSL by telkom. He teen v julle nie ‘n kontak nie – of is daar iets beters? In Pretoria

  • 67.bliksem: Reply to this comment

    Staal Telkom is n monopolie.In NZ betaal jy nie vir plaaslike oproepe tussen landlyne nie maar hier in SA word ons gerook.Op Carte Blanche gesien as n moer groot file download vat dit jou 7 dae in SA.Kos ook so R10 000.Vlieg Hong Kong toe gaan na n interner kafe en download die selle goed in 15 minute.Vlieg terug en jy spaar so R2000 met jou vliegtuigkaartjie ingesluit.

  • 68.Johnny7: Reply to this comment

    Spot-on seamus(50), but don’t forget, he’s brought back Snyman as well. Is it to fill in on the wings or is it to keep Jdv and Fourie on their toes and maybe impart some wisdom? But we do need Butch back, does anybody have an update on his rehab?

  • 69.Drunkmonkey: Reply to this comment

    ja jake kan smile want bulle nog bo … hulle speel so sleg en hulle is 5de. Nou gaan bulle peak

  • 70.fanks4vemammaries: Reply to this comment

    Agree with TheTackler about a return to S10. It’s weird how much his writing style resembles Keo’s some times.

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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