Boks have Test attitude
2 Jun 2006
Springbok coach Jake White has a proud unbeaten record on home soil. And he is not about to let that slip against the World XV tomorrow.
“The law of averages will dictate that we will eventually lose at home,” White said at Friday’s press conference. “But we are working hard to maintain that record for as long as we can. A defeat against the World XV is not an option.”
Stand-in captain Jean de Villiers says everything has gone according to plan. “The preparation this week has been very good. Although it is not official, we are approaching this match as if it is a Test. The only thing that has changed is the captain,” grinned de Villiers.
The Boks are favourites to beat an experienced, but ageing World XV at Ellis Park tomorrow, which will provide a fantastic launching pad for the more important assignments later this month. Two Tests against Scotland should be easily negotiated, before the crunch June fixture against a full-strength France in Cape Town.
The altitude is also expected to be a major factor for the team that was thumped 46-19 by England last weekend.
The team that runs out at Ellis Park is likely to change dramatically by the time the Boks take on France, especially with several first-choice players due back from injury.
However, the team de Villiers leads out tomorrow has exactly 400 Test caps between them – and they are considered a second-string outfit. When White started his career as Bok coach against Ireland in Bloemfontein in 2004, the team that gave him an opening 31-17 win had just 179 caps.
It illustrates just how far the Boks have come under White’s guidance.
By Andrew Hollely
179 Comments
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2 Jun 2006, 15:28 pm
cab – he probably had them pulled, a capetonian habit from the flats
2 Jun 2006, 15:29 pm
asha1 good point. But i think the main reason for the Boks sticking to the gameplan is, because it actualyl works. Bear in mind the only time it does not work is when the Bosk dont implement the plan properly.
Cab how right you are. I just get gatvoel of the total negativity that we read week in week out.. Hell who has beaten us at home in 2 seasons under white? no one. Away from home we have come mighty close in the last two seasons (a minute and three minutes) from beating the AB’S at home.. no other side in the world can claim that, yet before every season we have the same nobjockys claiming the worst BOK season yet lol.
2 Jun 2006, 15:29 pm
ha ha … no seriously, it was horrific, the whole front row went for a six in a tackle.
2 Jun 2006, 15:29 pm
lol
2 Jun 2006, 15:31 pm
Watchit Gecko
2 Jun 2006, 15:32 pm
Oaks, I think White is doing well. I think he treats players with respect. I was watching boots and All last night, and in the highlights it showed the guys celebrating the trinations win, did you see how they were hugging the oak – shows respect, they all dig him. He not stuoid like streaulie
2 Jun 2006, 15:34 pm
Dawn – No critism on Capetonians. I am from Bellville after all.
2 Jun 2006, 15:34 pm
Biggest looser coaches since re -admission:
1st: Streulie
2nd: 1992- John Williams I think
3rd: Markgraaf
2 Jun 2006, 15:35 pm
Jake White’s strong points are that he is a traditionalist and believes in continuity.3 years ago supporters were complaining that the team was chopped and changed on a weekly basis,3 years on we have the continuity SA rugby has been craving and supporters now want to change a winning team.
I think Jake is doing a fantastic job in the face of stern challenges and coming up on top more often than not.
2 Jun 2006, 15:35 pm
Bowlouw – Carel Dup for his record, although not his ideas.
2 Jun 2006, 15:36 pm
Dawn
Snoek selling well today?
2 Jun 2006, 15:36 pm
Best Coach: Kitch, White, Mallet, Mac??
2 Jun 2006, 15:37 pm
jondood – snoek always sells well in CT
2 Jun 2006, 15:37 pm
agree boylouw.
2 Jun 2006, 15:37 pm
Kitch – 14 wins in 14 games……can’t argue with that!
2 Jun 2006, 15:38 pm
good: Kitch, Mallet, White.
ok: Sonnekus, Markgraaf
average: Mac, Carel Dup
bad: Williams, Straueli
2 Jun 2006, 15:40 pm
Agree ben, SA supporters are weired. i minute they hate too many changes, the next they complain that Jake always chooes the same players, one minute they are complaining there are not enough players of colour, the next there are too many, one minute there are not enough over seas players being considered, the next there are too many etc etc poor ******* – and he has to deal with all the muppit politicians who know squate about ruggers
2 Jun 2006, 15:40 pm
Jean would “FLECK” Robbie Fleck like a “pup snoek”
2 Jun 2006, 15:40 pm
MAc was good, but the dutchies did not like him
2 Jun 2006, 15:41 pm
bl – ja, but his record wasn’t great either
2 Jun 2006, 15:41 pm
dawn doesnt sell snoek, its just a body odour so leave her alone…
2 Jun 2006, 15:41 pm
Flek was a good province player – average International player.
2 Jun 2006, 15:44 pm
I think Mac laid alot of the foundation for the RWC success in ’95 but he did not have the authority & ability to create a disciplined environment like Kitch did.
Kitch’s greatest ability was that he kept things simple and they worked.
2 Jun 2006, 15:48 pm
Ja en nee. If you look at the ’95 team – Mac could never settle on Joubert as his fullback, he never played the Stransky and Le Roux combo. The front row had to be re-jigged. Kruger was brought in at flank, and Christie settled on Joost as 9. That’s quite a lot of changes.
2 Jun 2006, 15:52 pm
Jean a legend? He is very good, but not a legend. Tim Horan, Danie Gerber legends.
2 Jun 2006, 15:53 pm
guys
what we had over the last two years was consistency, which is good. as jw like to say when asked about certain players is that he know the guy’s ability at test level.
thats exactly the reason why you need to test someone else. if the experiment doesnt work, you can always fall back on your player who proved his worth at test level.
but what if, just what if, you’re experiment work.
one word for it…..
depth!!!!!
2,3 players in nearly every position keeping each other on their toes. players can be rested/ managed without weakening the team, to make sure they peak at the ultimate time….
the world cup!!
2 Jun 2006, 15:54 pm
did oom kitch ever take a team overseas?
2 Jun 2006, 15:57 pm
jdv is goed olivier is net better check hoe het easy het olivier driee gedruk
2 Jun 2006, 15:58 pm
Yes – 1994. They played Wales & Scotland in test – beat both, won all the other games except Scotland A in the rain. Beat Swansea 0 then the top Wales team 78-7.
1995 – Tests against Italy & England – won both.
2 Jun 2006, 16:00 pm
They also played against the Baa baa’s in Dublin but they lost that 25-15 playing ‘the brains game’ as Kitch called it.
2 Jun 2006, 16:01 pm
cheers gecko.
i wasnt sure.
2 Jun 2006, 16:01 pm
Jake Here…..
I pick who I want to pick, becase I can… so waa wa wa waaa waaa.
2 Jun 2006, 16:02 pm
yes PISSANT Kitch took the Boks to several major victories,in CARDIFF;EDINBURGH;ROME;TWICKEHAM
http://www.genslin.us/bokke/SARugby.html
2 Jun 2006, 16:03 pm
yes the BOKS lost to Scotland A ,the game was played at ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL in Aberdeen
2 Jun 2006, 16:03 pm
Ben – indeed.
2 Jun 2006, 16:07 pm
why?
2 Jun 2006, 16:08 pm
actually markgraft was a good coach, helluva talent spotter, pity he was such a tyrant.
2 Jun 2006, 16:08 pm
do you guys know where one can bet a few rands on this years test results? given the attitudes of a few muppets here, i may be able to retire at the end the year!!
2 Jun 2006, 16:08 pm
the oke knew his rugby tho…
2 Jun 2006, 16:10 pm
dunno about SA betting sites,but ladbrokes in the UK are quite good.
2 Jun 2006, 16:15 pm
ben, old StM suggested oddschecker, reckon SA are at 6-1 to win the RWC. lets hope they trip up this weakend and the odds lengthen.
2 Jun 2006, 16:21 pm
that’s a tough call cab…..get rich or SA lose their unbeaten home record!
2 Jun 2006, 16:23 pm
I’ll put good money on the ozzies to sort soemthing out by next year.
WOnder what their odds are.
2 Jun 2006, 16:24 pm
was actually meaning getting rich and sa losing their unbeaten home record!!!:)
2 Jun 2006, 16:24 pm
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Better pray for wins this year….
2 Jun 2006, 16:24 pm
I’d happily replace an unbeaten home record for a better away record.
2 Jun 2006, 16:25 pm
What the hell is that? An ostrich?
2 Jun 2006, 16:26 pm
98
2 Jun 2006, 16:26 pm
99
2 Jun 2006, 16:26 pm
100 is mine!
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