Cheer up, says Jake
5 Jun 2006
Bok coach Jake White told South Africans to cheer up. No one died at Ellis Park on Saturday.
White, addressing the media in Durban ahead of Saturday’s test season opener against Scotland, said he was surprised at the vitriol and backlash following the Boks 30-27 win against the World XV.
He acknowledged it was not a good game of rugby, but he felt the criticism was over the top.
“I don’t know, it feels like there is a lot of doom and gloom going around. I don’t know why. It is almost as if someone has died,†said White. “Ellis Park was not a great spectacle, it was not a great game of rugby. But sometimes you get those, it happens from all levels, from under-13 upwards. Not every game can be a great spectacle, not every game can be all about tries and running rugby. Saturday was just one of those games that happen every now and then.”
White said the fact that the Boks did not score a try did not mean his team could not score tries.
“Suddenly everyone is saying that we cannot score tries, that we only score tries from intercepts. I think we should hold perspective,” said White, who reminded the media that a Bok team lost the series against the Lions because they could not kick goals … not because they could not score tries.
He said his team would be capable of scoring tries and creating enough pressure to get over the line against Scotland. He said his side had scored six tries against Scotland at Murrayfield in 2004, but that he could not remember the critics being hugely excited about it.
White’s memory, though, must have taken a pounding from Tappe Henning’s whistle on Saturday. When the Boks hammered Scotland 45-10, playing with just 13 men at one stage, the necessary plaudits were delivered. In the context of the match, however, it may have seemed subdued because the result came a week after the 32-16 pounding against England.
White, by all accounts, was defensive when addressing the media, but if he talks about perspective, then part of that is the expectation of the Boks since he took charge. The rugby public have a right to demand a certain quality, based on what the team has shown itself capable of delivering.
White should not be worried by the criticism of the 30-27 win against the World XV. When critics start applauding that kind of victory, then he should know he (and his team) are in trouble.
“I think maybe the expectations were just too high before Ellis Park, but it was never going to be a Uruguay type of game (the Boks went on the rampage against Uruguay in the opening match last season).â€
White also said inexperience had cost his team. However, this is a moot point. Those drafted into the starting team hardly lacked experience. Gaffie du Toit made his test debut in 1998, Andre Snyman is one of the most experienced test backs around, AJ Venter has played test rugby since 2001, Wikus van Heerden made his test debut in 2003, Deon Carstens played test rugby in 2002 and Albert van den Berg, Danie Rossouw and Hanyani Shimange have all been in his test squad since 2004.
226 Comments
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6 Jun 2006, 09:24 am
201!
6 Jun 2006, 10:00 am
Tomsta,(post191)
“Nonu is going to be shown up so much by BOD”
We shall have to wait and see about that, won’t we.(I think Bod would rather mark Tana.)
6 Jun 2006, 10:03 am
“a lot of doom and gloom”.
Yes you are right Jake. Never a truer word said.
But some people, and there are lot on here, are just not HAPPY unless they are whining.
6 Jun 2006, 10:09 am
I’m sorry to go off topic here but TO ANDREW AND THE TWITS WHO SAID PAULSE IS STILL QUICK, WAKE UP!!!
The guy up until 2003 had jet shoes but his pace has GONE. In 2003/4 (when we had all those speed/fittness tests),the Bok back 3 (Paulse,Terblance & ? ) all ran the 40m in over 5.20sec (they wouldn’t release the official times). Big Joe was quicker with a 5.08 (they gave out some times). Russell was the quickest with a 4.7.
PAULSE IS A SNAIL BOYS,GET USED TO IT!!!
6 Jun 2006, 10:17 am
Tomsta,
Dude, Scotland beat both France and England in the 6 nations. It may historically have been the case that these sides were weaker, but apart from the All Blacks perhaps, there is not a side in the world that can dare to expect a win against any of the 6 nations teams anymore.
When will SA supporters be able to show a little credit where it’s due?
6 Jun 2006, 10:23 am
I do agree that we should blood new players, particularly on the EOYT, but the single biggest problem in this regard is that SA supporters refuse to accept that we lose to a NH side other than ENG or FRA and this means the coaches don’t dare do it.
6 Jun 2006, 10:28 am
No one may have died, but we all received a real wake up call to how sick the patient is.
Jake is starting to remind me of Mallet and Straulie when they started talking alot of **** just before the ’99 and ’03 WCs.
Think the pressure is too much to bear.
6 Jun 2006, 10:53 am
Let’s remember that games like these must also be seen against the backdrop of the current international rugby scene. We don’t live in isolation anymore.
England crushed this team, and you have to ask the question : what would the ABs second stringers have done ?
I am worried.
6 Jun 2006, 10:59 am
BlueBlood,
couple of things:
- England were losing up until the last quarter,
- England met a team that had never played together before.
- Dwyer approached the SA game very differently and set out to win with a structured game plan, rather than entertainment value.
- Cobus Visagie was pumped out to maul our lot and force his way into a bok contention, there was no such motivation against England.
We played poorly, but it is our first game of the season with new players and new combinations. Good to get that out of the way, the boks need warm-up games to get into full swing.
6 Jun 2006, 11:06 am
Rossouw was kak, but he needs game time there. White should still play a few novices, with the first team guys on the bench. I would like to see Wynand at 12 for the first half. It is a big shame none of the black wingers r in the squad. Great series to blood some new guys. Russel need ssome game time too. Jaco is not the answe rat flyhalf, he is a fullback and a good one too! I would play
10. Meyer Bosman/James/Gaffie
11. Russel
12.Wynand/Julies
13.Fourie
14.Snyman/Gaffie
15.Jaco
Monty and JDV on the bench. I would love to see Gaffie back at flyhalf, he may suprise
6 Jun 2006, 11:07 am
Cab, how mny times was the entire world XV backline offside? Quite a few. Was the world XV spoling? Yes!
6 Jun 2006, 11:09 am
leeanthonyw,
constantly offsides, it wasn’t only the boks fault for the quality of that game, Tappe blew the game to pieces and Dwyer’s lot were infringing.
6 Jun 2006, 11:28 am
I have a feeling the Scots will beat the Boks this coming Saturday, and I hope they do.
No Watson, Dlulane and Brits in the team!!
6 Jun 2006, 11:34 am
any ideas what ricky januarie’s plan was in gripping Spencer’s collar for 10 minutes?
6 Jun 2006, 11:34 am
leeanthonyw
gaffie might suprise? wouldt be difficult for the guy as no one expect anything but kak from anymore. he last played a good game when he was still with griekwas. its time to let him go, sure he is one of the most talented guys around, but does talent give you the right to play in the bok team, when all you dish up week after week for years is kak! I think not, i could be wrong, and hopefully i am, but i think gaffie is a lost cause
6 Jun 2006, 11:47 am
I can still recall Jake White going on Supersport after he got selected as the new coach saying that he wants the South African supporters to be proud of the national team again. Looking at the above comments it doesn’t appear as if he reached the goal he set for himself.
6 Jun 2006, 12:01 pm
Dis in groot blow vir die bulle dat hougard uit is … die land se beste flyhalf uit
6 Jun 2006, 12:04 pm
Die Leeuloop is baie verleidelik…
6 Jun 2006, 12:07 pm
Drunkmonkey,I know you are always raving about DH and I in turn give you **** (all fun and games), but are you being serious or do you REALLY rate the guy?
6 Jun 2006, 12:26 pm
This is going to be JW hardest int season with the boks this year .. and I’m afraid I see the danger lights flashing.
Our lack of depth and even of a first choice player in certain positions is going to haunt us this year .. and effect our performance in the 2007 WC.
Dare we say that if JW has a bad 2006 int season that he might not take us to the WC in 2007 .. or worse still, will he also utter those words at the end of this year … “judge me at what we do at the WC”
I do believe we have the players to be succesful, do I believe that JW is the coach to get us there .. I’m affraid I’m not convinced .. I have this bad feeling that he has taken us as far as he can … hope I’m wrong. That said I will always be a bok supporter and will always hope for the best.
If all was perfect and there was no injuries, this would be my starting 15 and there respective backup (please excuse the spelling):
15) percy, for kicking (Conrad Jandkies)
14) Ash Williamse (Ndegana twins)
13) Fourie (Ronney Cook)
12) Jdv (Olivier)
11) habana, (Mametsa of the bulls, always looks for work)
10) A Pretorius, (Oops – problem, Bosman maybe)
9) Pinaar, (FdP & Jan if he gets fit again)
8) Joe, (Pedrie W)
7) J Smith, (Spies & AJ)
6) S Burger, (Tim Dulane & Watson)
5) Matfield, (Skeets)
4) Botha, (Bekker or Ackerman)
3) CJ, (BJ)
2) S Brits, (G Botha and Chillieboy)
1) Os, (G Steenkamp)
6 Jun 2006, 12:30 pm
What about the Oz test, are’nt they playing England this weekened? any teams been announced.
wonder if the oz tight 5 are ready for it under connoly?
6 Jun 2006, 12:34 pm
Ag Jake I still believe in you, just beat England in the Winter then you can come round for a Braai at my house!
6 Jun 2006, 12:38 pm
lol rude
6 Jun 2006, 12:41 pm
Bloem Leeu
Ek het dit gisteraand vir my vrou stap vir stap verduidelik…
6 Jun 2006, 13:02 pm
Let’s start at the beginning: What the F^&%#^&K
was JW thinking picking a frontrow like that against the likes fo cobus & co. Granted, injuries seems to be abundant in this area. But at least pick a frontrow that’s not get fucked, and I do mean fucked. A Bok pack that concedes tightheads?!? And at that rate?
9 Jun 2006, 06:56 am
Scratched-together at the last minute “World XV” comprised mostly of retired plAyers to play a non-test against the world ranked #2 team, the Boks at pretty much full strength at the very START of their test season…
And they score TWO tries against the Boks’ bugger-all?
And get squeaked out by only 3 kicked points?
Be afraid!
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