Celebrating Saturday’s answers
5 Jun 2006
Keo, in his Business Day column, writes that at last an international match provided answers and did not ask more questions.
The answers, in no particular order of merit, are:
1. Evidence of why the International Rugby Board insists on neutral referees in test matches. South African Tappe Henning was an embarrassment. He was the wrong match official for an occasion that supposedly was based on improving player welfare. If it did so, it was at the expense of spectator welfare.
2. South Africa’s best tighthead prop is playing for Saracens in the English Premiership. Despite Jake White’s refusal to acknowledge Cobus Visagie’s desire to play for the Springboks again, the former Bok strongman cut short any thought of an extended international return for Sharks loosehead prop Deon Carstens.
3. Hanyani Shimange and Gary Botha’s test claims. John Smit’s value was emphasized in his absence, both as a hooker and as the team captain.
4. Another Bok management utterance that Albert van den Berg and Danie Rossouw are in the class of Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha should see the management fined for deliberately trying to con the rugby public.
5. Wikus van Heerden is a salt of the earth kind of chap. He is however not a test flanker and the loose-trio combination that started against the World XV is best left to the fantasy leagues. Individually, they score points, but as a unit they lack in every aspect.
6. Schalk Burger is 50 percent of the Bok pack. Burger was another whose shares rose dramatically in his absence. None of the Bok loose-forwards could make an impact at the breakdown.
7. Ricky Januarie is surviving on the memory of 2005. He is currently overweight, overpaid and clearly over the honeymoon period.
8. Jaco van der Westhuyzen needs game time at flyhalf. He was a poor imitation of the flyhalf who ignited a youthful Bok backline in 2004.
9. Gaffie du Toit is a makeshift wing and not the answer at test level.
10. Andre Snyman, similarly to Du Toit, is a ‘holding job’ option at wing. Neither gives the fullback (on Saturday Percy Montgomery) comfort in defence. Neither plays back effectively and neither understands the winger’s off-the-ball importance.
From this 10-point perspective, the Bok coaching staff should have felt Saturday’s win came not in the 10-penalty inspired 30-27 scoreline, but in evidence that what played as a Bok XV on Saturday should never be allowed to play as a test XV in the future.
The celebration of Saturday is in the answers we got from the game. To even try and celebrate a win that yielded not one backline line break and no tries against a mix and match World team that in the build-up spent more time boozing than training would be further insulting the intelligence of every person who paid R250 to get in at Ellis Park.
The Boks, inspired by the return of Burger and company, will be a different proposition for the improving Scottish team. Struggling against the World XV has no relation to Saturday test match in Durban. The comparison is one of apples and pears.
What is relevant from Saturday’s match at Ellis Park is the definite change of playing attitude within the Bok camp – and it is not a good one.
For the first time since the awful 2003 season, the Boks played with no ambition, no freedom of expression and no innovation. They played like a team scared to lose and one inhibited by pressure and not excited by opportunity. It is as much a reflection on the coaches because they determine the match strategy.
The Boks, asked to operate within the restrictions of a No 10 who kicked 80 percent of the ball and a pack that struggled at the set pieces, offered absolutely nothing in attack.
Defensively, the Boks were not great, despite the limitations of a World XV that lacked familiarity and cohesion. The lineout is one of the primary attacking platforms and the World XV won five effective lineouts in 16, claimed another three ineffectual ones and lost eight, mostly because of wayward throwing.
And still they outscored the Boks by two tries to nil!
The ‘win by 10 penalties’ mentality highlighted a lack of ambition among the Boks. Saturday’s exhibition match should never have been about kicking 10 penalties to beat a World XV. It should have been about scoring tries and showcasing talents good enough to create try-scoring opportunities. It ended up being neither.
Saturday in Durban will be different. At least it should be. Burger and his mates have attitude and hopefully this translates into a Bok team with a bit more ambition.
242 Comments
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5 Jun 2006, 16:53 pm
200 !!!
5 Jun 2006, 16:54 pm
Nee Vinnie !!!!!!
5 Jun 2006, 16:57 pm
5 Jun 2006, 17:00 pm
15. percy
14. snyman
13. fourie
12. jdv
11. habana
10. butch
9. pienaar
play ‘em and let the opposition weep…
5 Jun 2006, 17:02 pm
ja the same butch who hasnt stringed together more than 2 games in a row for 3 seasons.
Dream on bud.
5 Jun 2006, 17:03 pm
15.greef
14.gus
13.barry
12.joubert
11.tonderai
10.hougaardt
9.bolla
play em and have the opposition crying with laughter
5 Jun 2006, 17:04 pm
Vinnie
Big G is not a he. Big G is a she.
5 Jun 2006, 17:04 pm
Some good news. It seems the Poms are gonna lose the 3rd test vs Sri Lanka and draw the series at home.
ENG needing 325 to win are 125/6, Murali taking all 6 wickets. Jones(keeper) and Plunkett(bowler) are at the crease. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Some fab news hey guys?
5 Jun 2006, 17:05 pm
those 3 games he probably showed more class than what jaco kak-ou showed in his whole career..
5 Jun 2006, 17:07 pm
cheers manne,geniet haar.
5 Jun 2006, 17:09 pm
Wie bliksem, big g?
5 Jun 2006, 17:13 pm
he he hmmmmmm, dont think you can handle a few of us…
5 Jun 2006, 17:20 pm
firstly bristol shark i agree with you the guys blaming carstens dont have a damn clue about scrumming
and this is why i say those saying smit only there because of captaincy>????? wake up he is prolly the strongest scrumager in south africa be it on loose head tight head or hooker , also one must look at the lack of lock power behind carstens on saterday
bakkies and matfield are strong scrumagers
heres the team id like to see
15 percy
14 snyman
13 fourie
12 jdv
11 habana
10 butch
9 pienaar
8 jvnk
7 juan
6 burger
5 matfield
4 bakkies
3 bj botha
2 smit
1 os / carstens if os fit carstens reserve
reserves
carstens or andrews
f du preez
aj venter lock or loose
albert
bosman
russel
gary botha
this team could do some serious winning
5 Jun 2006, 17:32 pm
shark_lover, you must be born with the helm, cause sheit, that is exactly the team that i would propose, every last one of ‘em…
5 Jun 2006, 17:34 pm
big g,
Prepared to try and fail.
5 Jun 2006, 17:39 pm
5 Jun 2006, 17:41 pm
keo, you are right in every respect except about Cobus Visagie. It seems to me that this idea that he gave a dominant performance on Saturday is nothing more than a myth that has been reinforced by constant repetition. Yes, Deon Carstens is ****. So what? How does that make Visagie great? Even if we accept (which I don’t) that Visagie dominated the scrums, we should bear in mind that the modern tighthead has to do more than just scrum. Visagie, who is very flabby and unfit, may or may not be a good scrummager, but what is certain is that he does ****-all outside of the scrums. Jake White insists on fitness, athleticism and a high workrate. Visagie, with his gut hanging over his waist-line and his total lack of contribution in the rucks and mauls and in open play, has no basis for feeling aggrieved about his exclusion.
5 Jun 2006, 17:43 pm
sharksfucker and big_lesbo, your team is mostly pretty damn good, but you squander all of your credibility by suggesting ***** James at flyhalf. After all this time on the sidelines, you would think this arrogant wanker would have taken the trouble to learn how to tackle head-on.
5 Jun 2006, 17:45 pm
Bad day pierre?
5 Jun 2006, 17:45 pm
You could say that, Vin.
5 Jun 2006, 17:47 pm
You alright?
5 Jun 2006, 17:48 pm
i agree pierre, jaco looked so much better, i think we should stick with him…. whateva..
5 Jun 2006, 17:48 pm
Hehe yeah cool. Only kidding. Just being messed around by travel agents. No biggie.
5 Jun 2006, 17:54 pm
Uh…yeah…Jaco does look much better than Butch. In fact, I would go so far as to suggest that Jaco’s worst performance is comparable to Butch’s best (although I am having difficulty remembering a performance by Butch that could appropriately be coupled to the word “best”). And your point is…?
5 Jun 2006, 17:55 pm
Put away that flamethrower.
5 Jun 2006, 17:58 pm
Pierre,
Couldn’t agree more about Cobus. Me think’s as per usual, JW’s comments were pullled out of context re Cobus’ future for the boks… He did show old Deon a new place to put his head – but that doesn’t neccessarily mean he’s the ultimate prop forward…
He certainly is overweight too… Unlike old Quinton Davids. Now THERE was a finely-tuned rugby machine…
5 Jun 2006, 18:05 pm
Hehe greenbok. Where is QD playing now? Anyone know?
5 Jun 2006, 18:08 pm
Pierre – last I heard, he lost his place at whichever English team he was involvedwith… Didn’t consistantly make their 1st team… WHAT a joke!
Thought I read something about hime being on his way back here – but am not sure…
He had all the opportunities – and just failed to take them.
5 Jun 2006, 18:10 pm
Yeah, he basically gluttoned himself out of contention.
5 Jun 2006, 18:18 pm
He’s coming to play for the Cheetahs.
Pierre take your moeilike head out of that bag of squirrels.
5 Jun 2006, 18:20 pm
Dawn, no.
5 Jun 2006, 18:21 pm
Fine.
5 Jun 2006, 18:22 pm
Good.
5 Jun 2006, 18:28 pm
Good.
5 Jun 2006, 18:38 pm
Perfect.
5 Jun 2006, 19:21 pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY – TIM D!!!!!!
Hope you prove yourself once again and throughout the Currie Cup show that YOU deserve the bok spot more than Solly T.
Oh and what a fabulous loose trio do we south africans have.
Schalk, Juan and Joe. With Pedrie as the perfect impact player (also a possibility that p3 starts and joey comes on). Not to forget we still have AJ in the mix
what a glorious day, can’t wait till Sat. Boks to start the test season. Everything starts on Sat. yeaah
5 Jun 2006, 20:48 pm
pierre,
You agro!
Must I organise a guy for you for a long lost kiss.
Gosh, you take everything up so emotionally.
Hope you don’t argue in this manner in court, that is if your firm allows you in court.
5 Jun 2006, 20:49 pm
better botter
5 Jun 2006, 21:17 pm
pierre ur knowledge seems very limited about rugby if you think jvdw is in butches class ur prolly the normal one eyed bulls supporter type butch passes a ball jvdw doesnt butch kicks well jvdw doesnt butch has a 89% kicking to poles jvdw doesnt butch does tackle albeit sometimes not like it should be done jvdw misses most his defence is not good it again showed saterday butch puts fear into opposition jvdw doesnt and ur f***ING POINT IS ??? theres 4 FH in this country before id get near a jvdw
pretorius , butch , bosman , and the bulls FH what ever his name is …………….. his light years better , just because you dont like a player gives you no right to call them ******** cuzz trust me face to face butch will push ur head back up the *** it came out of, so take ur arrogance and piss off
5 Jun 2006, 21:23 pm
ok back to talking with normal people lol if theres any out there ………….
damn it pisses me off when people call other people ******** and idiots and they dont know them from a bar of soap
now id love to see a fit and full springbok team cuzz i believe we do have the players to do great under jake ….. and no as a sharks supporter i dont like jake but he is in the job and i will support the boks even if i dont like all his choices ,,,,,,,,, its what we are actually meant to do support not act like the now it all gods in armchairs ….. i doubt if 99 % of the people here calling guys like butch ******** and even worse have ever even acheived half of what he has???? i very much doubt it
5 Jun 2006, 22:44 pm
That was a poor display and not much to report from that game. Jake seems to find ways of doing the opposote to what public opinion states (so far he has been lucky with his choices).
Thus I would like to propose my team for world domination in the WC next year: (please note that this team is for next year and not this year so no mention of injury + stuff)
1) Neil Fullard (Stormers – hope I got his name right) Showed through the S14 to be pretty good and -big plus- got around the park more than any other No.1. Os is my hero but can’t do it any more. Thus a little youth is a good thing.
2) John Smit (Sharks) Good Captain, does the basics correct. Would love to have S. Brits but the team needs a captain.
3) K. Visagie – (Ex-WP) Although CJ comes close, Visagie still has it and we need the experience up front, i.e. I want a strong tight 5!
4) V. Matfield – (Bulls) one day when he retires, we will always rememeber how much ball this guy stole from the opposition. World class!
5) B. Botha (Bulls)- The hard man of the team, needs to clean up his temper and focus his aggression in the right place. Got lots of heart and you see it when he plays!
This tight 5 is the strongest we have to offer and I know it would scare the living **** out of Henry!
6) S. Burger (Stormers) – The best fetcher we have (although Luke is a close second)
7) Juan Smit (Cheetahs) – Had more good games in the green and gold than any other player. Lots of energy, great! Almost gets arounf the park as much a J. van Niekerk.
8) J. Van Niekerk (Stormers) – Hi work rate, good ball carrier, good footballer, makes yards … just a no brainer not to pick him.
That loose trio is our best defensive and most creative we can muster. If these three guys played in the same provicial team, they could still be behind a loosing tight 5 and give the oppo a hard day at the office.
9)R. Januarie (Cats) – Although having a **** year is dynamite when on form. If his form is not back by next year come WC, R. Pienaar (Sharks) This guy has the “magic” but does not close down the opposition as fast as RJ does, thus my reasoning
10) A. Pretorius (Cats) – Although always seemingly injured, our best and most solid No. 10. SA has very little depth here.
11) B. Habana (Bulls) – One of the best finishers in the game … no brainer thus had to pick him.
12) J. De Villiers (Stormers) – The complete package when he needs to be. Seems rsty this year but by far our best.
13) J. Fourie (Cats) – Solid and reliable, I think people have overlooked his flair but with JdV, what a pair of mid fielders!
14) One of the twins, both have been in good form this year. I am a little stuck to pick a wing here. Paulse was a great wing, emphasis on great. Lost to much pace. We need a quick wing! Even the pocket rocket? Just as good defensively as Paulse but more a game breaker.
15) JP Pieterson (Sharks) – This guy has the talent and is an unknown factor, kick the ball down this guys throat and he will return it with lots of interest!
Anyone interested in my reserves?
5 Jun 2006, 23:24 pm
Duke,
Thanks for highlighting what team each player plays, I would have been baffled with out that info.
Thanks again.
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