Jake’s still smiling
18 Jun 2006
Springbok coach Jake White woke up on Sunday morning with far more to be pleased about than not.
Despite getting criticism from many quarters, White, John Smit and co continued to restore the pride to Bok rugby with a gutsy, ugly display yesterday over a robust Scottish team.
His team managed to play rather poorly yet still emerged comfortably 14-point winners against Scotland at the EPRU Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
While the Scots tried to blame the referee and his assistants for robbing them of the chance for an historic first ever win over the Boks in South Africa, White preferred to heap praise on Scotalnd.
“I’ve got to compliment Scotland. I thought the way they did their homework in the lineouts especially put us under pressure. Last week we were allowed to get ball and drive from the lineout. Today they obviously contested that very well,” said White.
“I can see now why they beat England and France. They deserve a lot of credit.”
“We tried to play as quickly as we could and Scotland had a lot of injuries – I don’t know if they were all injuries – and that slowed the game down. I think that caused us to force it a bit in our own half an dmake mistakes. Full credit to Scotland,” added White.
The win clinched the series 2-0 and represents White’s third home series victory on-the-trot – following Ireland (2004, 2-0) and France (2005, 1-0). The victory also stretched the team’s unbeaten run on home soil to lucky number 13 in-a-row, equalling the Springbok record for consecutive matches without defeat at home.
White though has done it all on his own – with a little help from his players of course – whereas the previous record was jointly held by Ian McIntosh (1 game), Kitch Christie (10 games) and Andre Markgraaff (2 games). White’s sequence does include one draw (30-all against France last year in Durban) while the other sequence was all wins.
Christie is the only other Bok coach, since re-admission to never have lost a Test on home soil.
Captain Smit summed it up best: “It is nice to be able to underperform and still win, but it is not satisfying. This was an important game to win and now we can focus on our task next weekend knowing we need to keep working hard.”
By Andrew Hollely, in Port Elizabeth
144 Comments
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18 Jun 2006, 14:21 pm
Cheers LS, I’m not the tallest on earth – perhaps that’s why I like Breyton hahaha
Off now to have a few beers and a nice braai, show the poms how it’s done!
18 Jun 2006, 14:25 pm
ls,
potential means **** if you don’t convert potential into performance.
i have the same problem with JDV, huge potential but apart from flashes here and there he has not delivered.
i am glad we agree at least on the fact that the try was pretty unavoidable given the situation.
again, tactically, he can afford to ‘hang back’ on his own goal line.
i put that try down to quick phase possession for the scots, some great communication and good execution, it was a good try for the scots, end of story.
on his ability i again ask show me where he missed a tackle in the game?
how about his positional play, how about his kicking game, he had one or two dashes yesterday, by simply popping up at the right places.
i ask, why is that, because he is simply at the right place at the right time?
kak.
he anticipates, and he looks for work, habana does not.
not because he does not want to, because he is simply not experienced enough to anticipate in the way paulse is.
this is why experience is vital.
out of all our wings in sa, who has a kicking game to compete with paulse?
JP – not a chance
Chavanga – hell no
even the ndungane’s who i personally would have loved to see in the squad does not have that.
so then ask, what is the role of a wing in the modern game?
just catching a ball and scoring a try? then i am afraid we will never agree.
your positional play, support on defense, and workrate is vitally important, and based on that, paulse has no equal in SA currently – if you believe there is someone better, i would love for anyone to highlight that player to me and give me some examples of why.
and your comment on size is very jake white like when it comes to size’ism.
this is why the russels of this world will never realise their full potential.
nothing against you, it is a personal preference, but i would suggest you look at it from a overall or totality perspective. where a player lacks in size he offers so much more in so many other departments.
when last did we see a great balanced runner in our back division?
a mat rogers type player, or matt gitaeu?
18 Jun 2006, 14:26 pm
londonshark
We both agree that BP is potentially passed his best although some of us feel he still has a bit to offer. The few games DSTV did cover of BP that I saw were not pleasant viewing I must admit.
But, in Jake White we trust. He has not dropped us yet and he obviously knows what he is doing and has a plan.
I just wish he (JW) would get a decent backline coach. Alistair Coetzee is a nice oke but never really rocked with EP before joining the bok squad. His involvment at the Cats this past season is best left alone as well.
Our backline needs a specialist with a good track record – like Balie Swart is to the forwards.
18 Jun 2006, 14:27 pm
again, tactically, he can afford to ‘hang back’ on his own goal line.
should read “can’t”
18 Jun 2006, 14:41 pm
Bokusa (2)
Until then the world awaits your judgement…..
18 Jun 2006, 14:56 pm
Yesterday has to be the worst game of rugby I’ve ever attended – the warm-up women’s game between SA and Holland dished up a better performance. Thank f@ck I never paid for the ticket!
And then to have the day end off with some bonehead security and cops cuffing a Scottish youngster for having a laugh. Typical of this country!
18 Jun 2006, 14:59 pm
pissant u quite the essay writer hey? hehe
agree with most ur points tho…..except jp.
you watch the u21′s last nite?
18 Jun 2006, 15:00 pm
I am not worried to much! It is the start of the season. The team will be a little rusty its normal. If you look at the first game there passages of play that brought everybody to their feet. That is the kind of play we wil see this year and the next for 80 min, and it is just going to get better.
18 Jun 2006, 15:01 pm
have faith guys the tried to lossen the game up when it shouldve been more structured and vise versa 4 the ending of the game
18 Jun 2006, 15:02 pm
percy has started to run it back a bit which is nice to see
18 Jun 2006, 15:09 pm
PissAnt
As fans we can expect more from our players with 50+ test caps than debutants I think.
18 Jun 2006, 15:09 pm
ml,
you only noticed now? (on the essay writing)
i did not get to see the u/21 match unfortunately, but i only compared JP’s kicking game to that of paulse, i believe JP is a great young talent, like barrit, strauss and goodes, we should look after these kids because they can become great players.
and i agree, i though scotland played a very spoiling game and there was a lot of niggle on their part.
it was an ugly test, an ugly win, but a win nevertheless.
our team did not click yesterday, but the intensity will lift – i am positive about that.
look, even the all blacks looked average against the irish!
but they too, will lift their game.
dont forget, we had a whole lot of new combinations again yesterday in our backs, it plays a huge part when it comes to cohesion.
teams become great when they play together for a while, the crusaders are a prime example of that.
18 Jun 2006, 15:10 pm
StP,
i agree to an extent, paulse made one huge error yesterday.
but the other guys are hardly new boys except for olivier.
simple fact for me, everyone was average to poor except pakslae and monty.
18 Jun 2006, 15:20 pm
oh yeah, and if jacue fourie is not fit for the frogs, expect dewet to be recalled and olivier to play 13, a position i personally believe he will become one of the best in the world.
olivier has a bit of BOD in him, i would love to see him run out at 13.
18 Jun 2006, 15:21 pm
sorry for stuffing up your name again mossie.
18 Jun 2006, 15:30 pm
Yes our lineouts were a surprise. Normally rock solid and steal a few opposition ball, but smit overthrew them so many times on the weekend.
18 Jun 2006, 15:35 pm
viper,
true, but i believe it also has something to do with who calls the lineouts and the general communication.
maybe some forwards canshed some light on this – because having seen these combo’s work so well for us before and seeing how kak they were yesterday, i simply cannot put that down to our players not being good enough – would love to know what went wrong where.
18 Jun 2006, 16:12 pm
Pissant,I’m Russells biggest fan mate. But what Russell has which Paulse lacks is gas to burn.The moment he loses his pace,I would have the same problem with him as I do with Paulse.
On your other points.I agree with all of them including that FOR ME, a winger is more of a finisher than a 2nd fullback.But there is a balance.I mean I still wouldnt put Chavanaga in place of Paulse because his basic skills are shocking.Would I put JP ahead of Paulse,in a heart beat.
If I could take Paulse’s brain and heart and mix them with Habana’s speed,we would have the perfect winger.If we want someone who can kick and has a good head on their shoulders,we might as well chuck Andre P on the wing,or even Gaffie.I mean they are both quicker than Paulse and they are both better kickers.I just don’t feel there is place in the Bok team for Paulse anymore (at least when we play the bigger teams).
18 Jun 2006, 16:18 pm
Pissant,on post 104.
I didn’t expect Paulse to hang out on our line.I expected him to NOT rush up,thats all.But as we said,the try was on either way I reckon so I’m not gonna drill him over that.
18 Jun 2006, 16:31 pm
I belive that Paulse should eat the chicken.
Half chicken, half chicken, every day !!!
Dan Carter, he eat the chicken !!!!
18 Jun 2006, 16:34 pm
I think that Skim guy is rubbing of on the Muppets.
18 Jun 2006, 16:45 pm
i think so too ls
18 Jun 2006, 16:49 pm
I’m having a good influence on you guys.
18 Jun 2006, 17:04 pm
Skim is one funny oke!!
Good to have you skim
18 Jun 2006, 17:12 pm
Jake admitted on All out Rugby this afternoon that Danie Rousouw made a fool out of his belief that the inexperienced players cant perform better than the experienced ones
Jake maybe time to visit this site regularly , we said all along pick the inform players and forget your favourtism to certain players.
18 Jun 2006, 17:27 pm
Tips for the soccer
Australia 2 – 1 Brazil
18 Jun 2006, 17:43 pm
pissant, other than his yellow card. he had a great solo habana like try where most would’ve been isolated and lost the ball from bout 30/40 metres out and he had a better kicking game than paulse is having
18 Jun 2006, 17:45 pm
RS picked the favourite of the moment, in the public’s view, and look where that got him: chopping and changing teams. White is finding the balance between necessary stability and starting to bring in outsiders who can add value. Merely because RS hasn’t included a particular individual is not reason to say he is not taking note of form: form is temporary, class is permanent.
18 Jun 2006, 17:46 pm
Good choices Zinto. I would also include Dlulane, and on his day Tybilika has shone -needs a bit more work and confidence but can be slick.
18 Jun 2006, 17:46 pm
Londonshark, Paulse will prove you wrong, just like he did 2 years ago.
18 Jun 2006, 18:09 pm
Bokinozzie lmfao Uh Huh remind me not to take any of your tips and advise on the Bok squad to seriously
18 Jun 2006, 18:18 pm
My good friend Miky is back
He never had to prove me wrong 2 years ago.I was a fan back then.He added experience to a team in desperate need of it.The current Bok team has enough experience without Paulse.
18 Jun 2006, 18:50 pm
wls
I just thought I would put something humourous on the blog.
Tell a stupid joke “Australia are gonna beat Brazil”
18 Jun 2006, 19:03 pm
Stan
I agree with your earlier comment that the Bulls were the pick of the bunch. Even Jacques Cronjé was a tower of strenght when he took the ball over the advantage line. Pedrie should be there too and JP Nel should be on the bench with all the centres injured.
18 Jun 2006, 19:58 pm
Jake will call me up before before JP Nel mate ( and thank #%&¤#* for that )
18 Jun 2006, 19:59 pm
JP Nel, the poor mans Andre Snyman
18 Jun 2006, 20:01 pm
Whashappening?
18 Jun 2006, 20:03 pm
Lang Giel, het jy ‘n lang piel?
18 Jun 2006, 20:05 pm
Whaddya skim?
18 Jun 2006, 21:28 pm
IMO this Bok set-up is heading for disaster – and the coming 3N will prove it. Jake is protecting the players and they respond by becoming complacent. They get an easy win against the Scots in the first test and then immediately go into a nonchalance-mode – thinking the next encounter will be a walk in the park. Not the right mental make-up for WC 2007. I’ve seen the Boks do this too often. A guy like Victor Matfield is especially prone to this and need a wake-up klap every now and then.
And can something please be done about Habana’s “I’m irreplaceable” attitude. He seems to be under the impression that he’s in the team no matter what. He’s been playing like this for the Bulls too – and got bench’d for it.
18 Jun 2006, 21:34 pm
Londonshark, ok gotcha. But lets just agree to disagree on the present with Paulse.
Surprised on Rossouw, given his past dumb performances. But, in the contexts of the Boks, am delighted that someone is putting up his hand behind the incumbents. Builds squad depth !
18 Jun 2006, 23:35 pm
Mikey,fair enough.
Yep,Danie has been huuuge in against the Scots.Now we just need someone to cover Matfield if he ever gets hurt.I don’t think Albert fits the bill.
19 Jun 2006, 08:19 am
Lo die mofgat pou,
My wifes eyes are fine.
How is your wife’s anti retroviral treatment coming along?
19 Jun 2006, 10:20 am
Stan,
Are you sure? Don’t you guys up north normally beat up your wives when your rugby team doesn’t play well?
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