Party time for Boks
23 Jun 2006
Tomorrow’s Springbok Test against France falls on an auspicious date.
Tomorrow (June 24) is exactly 11 years to the day that Francois Pienaar’s Madiba-inspired Boks lifted the William Webb Ellis trophy at a packed and ecstatic Ellis Park.
It was a game the Boks were never really given a chance to win, but thanks to a Herculean collective defensive effort and Joel Stransky’s boot they pulled off the country’s greatest sporting achievement with a narrow 15-12 victory.
On Saturday Jake White’s charges have been given about the same chance of winning as their predecessors were in 1995. Injuries and contract controversies have disrupted the build-up, but captain John Smit said the preparation was much better than last week.
“It’s been like chalk and cheese. Personally I’ve trained every session and the preparation has been good despite the disruptions,” he said. Last week Smit was suffering from stiffness that prevented him from taking part in all the sessions.
Said White: “Losing Bakkies (Botha) and Schalk (Burger) is disappointing but it gives the rest a chance to prove themselves and it will test us as individuals and as a team. We are ready for the challenge.”
Smit’s response to whether any of the players, as reported in some media, were contemplating leaving if White did not get offered a contract extension was short and to the point: “As players we do not want to get involved in that circus.”
On the only other occasion that the Boks have played on June 24 – since 1995 at least – was in 2000 when they were kicked to defeat by the faultless Jonny Wilkinson in Bloemfontein. Wilkinson scored all his team’s points in England’s 27-22 win that squared the series 1-1.
Against the French tomorrow, the Boks will be giving everything to ensure this anniversary of that most famous day in Springbok rugby is followed by a massive victory party and not defeat.
By Andrew Hollely
86 Comments
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23 Jun 2006, 17:42 pm
And this gorgeous waitress just brought me 3 more beers….
23 Jun 2006, 17:43 pm
and she’s getting more beautifull with every one.
23 Jun 2006, 17:45 pm
By the time I get to Forries I’m going to beon top form!!
23 Jun 2006, 17:46 pm
‘beon’, tis the beer speaking.
23 Jun 2006, 17:49 pm
skim, have you never beon? From some of your posts I think you beon something very strong moat of the time…..
23 Jun 2006, 17:50 pm
damn, most (hic) of the time…
23 Jun 2006, 17:50 pm
yeb, id ares truuk.
23 Jun 2006, 17:54 pm
shoo, it’s the lack of altitude that’s affecting me I think?
23 Jun 2006, 17:59 pm
Saddam Hussein has ended his hunger strike after missing just one meal, a US military spokesman said today. The fallen dictator announced he would refuse to eat after one of his lawyers was murdered on Wednesday, but only refused his lunch yesterday. “They all took their dinner meal,” said the spokesman.
23 Jun 2006, 18:00 pm
I meant to add:
“what a martyr”
27 minutes to beers
23 Jun 2006, 18:05 pm
Get the waitress to bring you some food otherwise you beon the floor!
23 Jun 2006, 18:08 pm
Dawn, thanks for caring, but eashing is sheeshing….
23 Jun 2006, 18:08 pm
maybe you can beon her.
23 Jun 2006, 18:09 pm
Are you at the Tudor (pay by the hour) Hotel?
23 Jun 2006, 18:10 pm
Tragic. The budget allocated to the fourth Monarch does not include food!
23 Jun 2006, 18:15 pm
Dawn, I’m in a suite in a hotel and skim I can’t be on her – I’m married.
23 Jun 2006, 18:16 pm
And Dawn , I’m actually the 3rd monarch….
23 Jun 2006, 18:17 pm
Andrew the Third, don’t ever get an irishman to pronounce that your majesty.
23 Jun 2006, 18:18 pm
Sorry.
OK here’s my guess.
1st Monarch – Keo
2nd Monarch – Simon
3rd Monarch – Andrew
4th Monarch – Cardinelli
5th Monarch – Ig
Close?
23 Jun 2006, 18:20 pm
Gentlefol it appears the weekend is upon us
23 Jun 2006, 18:25 pm
1 Ig
2 Simon
3 Andrew
4 JC
Keo is no monarch he is the KING!!!
23 Jun 2006, 18:29 pm
yes, it is time to drink and be merry…i hope those irritating roundball supporters keep it quiet round my gaf on sunday.
23 Jun 2006, 18:31 pm
Ig the Head Monarch!!!!!!
No wonder I’m still recovering from those lobotomies.
23 Jun 2006, 18:32 pm
The first G&T awaits. to be bought by a Saffa I have just invited to the 1st test at HQ on the 18th Nov.
23 Jun 2006, 18:36 pm
He bringing it to you on a silver tray?
23 Jun 2006, 18:38 pm
what beon the silver tray?
23 Jun 2006, 18:39 pm
Gin and Tonic beon the tray.
And Andrew beon the floor!
23 Jun 2006, 18:39 pm
I, on the other hand, have some Famous Grouse malt waiting for me.
23 Jun 2006, 18:41 pm
St Mick stop inviting waiters to the tests.
23 Jun 2006, 18:41 pm
pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis has 45 letters and is the longest word in the english dictionary.
23 Jun 2006, 18:44 pm
That’s what you’ll be suffering from if you don’t stop clogging the server, bud.
Ig is the head monarch and well versed in torture methods.
23 Jun 2006, 18:46 pm
try saying that 5 times fast dawn.
I mean pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
23 Jun 2006, 18:48 pm
Why don’t you.
23 Jun 2006, 18:50 pm
pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
see? easy.
24 Jun 2006, 09:08 am
Party time for me tomorrow! End of exams and a weekend full of rugby! Woohoo!
24 Jun 2006, 11:20 am
The lyrics of a classic of yesteryear comes to mind: Dreams…dreams…dreams…dreams, dreams.
Dream on, on my brother!
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