Botha, Diack shine as Ulster oust Scarlets
6 Dec 2008
South Africans BJ Botha and Robbie Diack delivered outstanding performances in Ulster’s 26-16 Heineken Cup victory over the Scarlets at Ravenhill.
Tighthead prop Botha, discarded by the Springboks, scrummed powerfully and carried the ball well, while Diack put in a commanding display at No 8, contributing 10 carries, nine tackles and two linebreaks, to win the Man of the Match award.
There was, however, a more favourable result for Wales’ other representative, the Cardiff Blues, who held on for a 21-7 victory over Biarritz.
Meanwhile, the Sale Sharks blitzed French side Montauban 36-6, while England flyhalf Danny Cipriani kicked 20 points in Wasps’ 25-16 win over Edinburgh.
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43 Comments
6 Dec 2008, 00:25 am
Robbie is strong and fairly skilled but also one-dimensional and a bit sluggish round the park. He should therefore be able to cope well in the NH competitions,and will probably also make the Ireland team once he qualifies for selection.
If he stayed in Cape Town he would not have made the Stormers squad as players such as Vermeulen, Koster, Watson, Burger and Louw are far better and will always be selected in front of him.
It is a pity that BJ has left though.
6 Dec 2008, 00:55 am
If it is’nt Sevens I dont care.
6 Dec 2008, 01:16 am
# Robzim: Step up your rugby knowledge, he hasn’t a prayer of making the Ireland team, Heaslip (Leinster), Leamy (Munster), Wallace (Munster) and Wilson (Northampton) are all well ahead.
Took a good shoeing tonight though
6 Dec 2008, 01:17 am
BJ would’ve been an Ireland player however, they’re struggling for tightheads.
6 Dec 2008, 01:18 am
Munster would beat the Stormers, probably with something to spare.
6 Dec 2008, 01:46 am
#5 Big Hit:
Not so sure. They certainly wouldn’t win the Super 14. Yes, they played well against New Zealand, but remember, it was a New Zealand team with a guy like Scott Waldrom (second choice openside at the Hurricanes after Masoe), Eaton, Tuitavake, basically guys who are pretty good but have seldom played together (if ever) and are well off the pace of the top guys.
In my opinion, Munster are at best as good as the Stormers, and on paper, worse. The Stormers starting team is amongst the best in the Super 14, it’s when guys get injured that the lack of depth in the backline and at prop start to tell, and why they couldn’t pull through to get a bonus point in Week 14 which would have seen them qualify for the semi’s.
6 Dec 2008, 01:47 am
#3 Big Hit: He would make the England side with ease though Biggles.
6 Dec 2008, 01:48 am
#5 Big Hit: Big Hit this goes along with Cipriani being better than Ruan Pienaar and England being South Africa’s toughest match on the autumn tour.
6 Dec 2008, 02:49 am
#6 ziyaad: that was a Munster 2nd team ziyaad missing over 10 internationals. The Stormers aren’t really a good outfit.
#8 SodaJoe: Cipriani is a better 10 than Ruan Pienaar and in time (perhaps this summer) you’ll see it. Kid was just back from injury.
6 Dec 2008, 02:56 am
#6 ziyaad: Come on, the Stormers except for 3 or 4 players are ****.
#9 Big Hit: Cipriani would make the Stormers team. Refer to my comment above.
6 Dec 2008, 04:01 am
#9 Big Hit: Talks cheap. I agree brought back to soon from injury. But Ruan was always in another higher league.
I could also say watch the Stormers next season. It’s all conjecture.
#10 Loosehead: Peter Grant is streets ahead of Cipriani, and Johnson wishes Grant was English.
6 Dec 2008, 07:54 am
#5 Big Hit:
Munster would beat the Stormers, probably with something to spare.
A little like England will beat New Zealand easily this Summer… Oh yes it was the ref’s fault, I forgot….
Na Biggie don’t get ahead of yourself again….
6 Dec 2008, 08:12 am
Same level as Watson!! Watson is the stomers’s new quota player, the Beast apparently doesn’t qualify, due to not being born here or something. Watson was given honorary
6.Ziyaad. Depends where they play. If it rains in the cape or if they play in Ireland, the stomers will lose. Tight five was better in the S14 but not a good Currie Cup. They stay suspect, especially front row. Brock, Brits , Mujati , I wouldn’t be shacking if I was the Munster side.
6 Dec 2008, 08:42 am
#3 Big Hit:
#5 Big Hit:
I thought my comment about NH rugby will let you fall out of the branches
Regarding your rating of the Ireland no 8′s being so good I take it against the background of you selecting 8 current England players to make a combined SA/England side. With a pinch of salt that is…
The same goes for Munster beating the Stormers – Did you not also say that England will beat NZ this summer?
Btw do you know how many British club teams have ever played against a Super 14 team and beaten them?
#10 Loosehead:
I am trying to find a Cheetah player that will make the Stormers team. Can you help me out because I cannot think of one. And do not come with that hooker
6 Dec 2008, 08:55 am
speculate – to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds;
conjecture, hypothesize, theorize, hypothecate, suppose
anticipate, expect – regard something as probable or likely;
formulate, explicate, develop – elaborate, as of theories and hypotheses;
speculate – talk over conjecturally, or review in an idle or casual way and with an element of doubt or without sufficient reason to reach a conclusion;
hazard, guess, venture, pretend – put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation;
suppose, say – express a supposition;
meditate, mull, mull over, muse, ponder, chew over, think over, excogitate, reflect, ruminate, contemplate
cerebrate, cogitate, think – use or exercise the mind or one’s power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments;
premeditate – think or reflect beforehand or in advance;
introspect –
bethink – consider or ponder
cogitate – turn over in one’s mind
wonder, question – place in doubt or express doubtful speculation;
puzzle – be uncertain about; think about without fully understanding or being able to decide;
consider, study – give careful consideration
So this is how Munster would beat the Stormers, and how the Barbarians were going to wallop the Australians
Far too much of this little supposition being bandied about, for some it was to be a foregone conclusion, no way in hell would that Barbarian team have capitulated to the rookie Aussie, but then they didn’t factor in all the hypothesis, that Jake the ignoramus would be in charge with sidekick Eddy the jester and wonderboy Frans the dropkick dancer at pivot.
Same goes for Stormers vs Munster
Propose and speculate all you like, the result is quite often not the presumable conclusion.
6 Dec 2008, 09:05 am
#10 Loosehead:
1. JD Moller
2. Deon Fourie / Britz
3. Mujati – best SA tighthead in 2008 S14
4. Bekker
5. Fondse
6. Burger
7. Vermeulin
8. Koster
9. Januarie
10. Grant
11. Nak…..i
12. de Villiers
13. Bobo
14. Tonderai
15. Jantjies
Only 3 or 4 ????
6 Dec 2008, 10:11 am
This stormers team should do a decent job. Although i think bobo could be a weak link.
6 Dec 2008, 10:15 am
nak @ 13 … jantjies @ 11 …. Percy @ 15
6 Dec 2008, 10:18 am
i see Dollie is in Canberra …. could be playing for the Brumbies in Super 14 …. so Brumbies = easy game
6 Dec 2008, 10:18 am
Goodmorning
A bit of the topic… Isma-eel Dollie’s apperently negotiating with the Brumbies to play for them in next years Supper 14….
6 Dec 2008, 10:21 am
#5 Big Hit:
Howdy Biggy
Only place any of the NH sides , Intl or Heineken can compete is at home. Agree Munster would have a good chance at home but put them up against the Bull’s ,Sharks and Stormers all back in SA and I think they would get a good snotty.
Any 6 Nations side would get smacked away from home by Tri Nations team’s.
6 Dec 2008, 10:21 am
snap charlie
6 Dec 2008, 10:22 am
Are you sure dollie will even qualify to be in the act squad? They would rather get an established international to strengthen their squad
6 Dec 2008, 10:27 am
Wasn’t the Protea the National flower during aparheid?
6 Dec 2008, 11:09 am
#5 Big Hit: Hahaha! The truth is that any S14 team (Cats, Cheetahs, Highlanders included) would beat any Heineken Cup team, probably with something to spare too.
6 Dec 2008, 11:17 am
But England might be able to manage mid table in the Super14
6 Dec 2008, 11:20 am
#15 Mr. Mistoffelees: Proof at last! I’ve been wondering about you Mr Mistoffelees [sic]… Been thinking that your writing style is very similar to skopskiet’s, but just not quite. I noticed that this disguise was created when some of your others were recently banned, so you’ve obviously attempted to conceal your banned self. Almost. Your true colours shone through in your comments about JW and EJ however. The jester reference is unmistakable. Haha, nice try skopskiet.
6 Dec 2008, 11:20 am
haha , SBS news in Australia just used the term “Australia’s educated rugby public”
6 Dec 2008, 12:06 pm
#27 wooden spoon: true – one just has to feel sorry for him – he cannot help it.
6 Dec 2008, 12:10 pm
I just hope that Pdv will put full empahsis on FITNESS fro the boks this year. For me this has been a key to the wallabies and NZ successes. There is no reason why the bokke should not be the fittest team next year, but……I hope….
6 Dec 2008, 12:33 pm
The ones to be feeling sorry for themselves are these self same indoctrinated *** creepers, that cannot see wood from trees or frauds from authenticity. The very ones that eulogize about dire overrated fools, these are the poor helpless fools that continue to hold lofty some illusory mindless creep as their hero.
Time these buggers saw real coaches from frauds and stopped believing all the hogwash they so desperately need to in order to perpetuate their myths of fallow illusions.
6 Dec 2008, 14:08 pm
#31 jerimiyah: Yet another hilarious post from you skopskiet. I really do believe you say all of this repetitive boring stuff with a bit of tongue in cheek!
6 Dec 2008, 16:13 pm
#16 ARK:
1. JD Moller: average
2. Deon Fourie / Britz: average
3. Mujati – best SA tighthead in 2008 S14: average
4. Bekker: an excellent cover at wing
5. Fondse: workmanlike
6. Burger: excellent
7. Vermeulin: excellent
8. Koster: yet to prove himself
9. Januarie: **** pass for a 9, but a huge heart
10. Grant: unconvincing
11. Nak…..i: ok when he turns up
12. de Villiers: excellent
13. Bobo: suspect hands and slow
14. Tonderai: too injury prone
15. Jantjies: excellent
Ok, so make it 4 or 5 players.
6 Dec 2008, 16:15 pm
#31 jerimiyah: Jake White!
6 Dec 2008, 20:35 pm
#14 Robzim: I predicted NZ would beat England because we had injuries, the 8 England players were picks on form given SA had laboured to a win over Scotland. Munster would beat the Stormers with something to spare like I said, their seconds nearly beat NZ. Leicester hammered Western Force pre-season and Harlequins have beaten the Sharks.
6 Dec 2008, 21:45 pm
#35 Big Hit: Bullsh *t Big Hit. I’m 99.9% certain the Sharks have never lost to Harlequins. A couple of years back the Sharks used to come over annually for a warm up game before the S12. Cleaned up easily.
7 Dec 2008, 02:40 am
#9 Big Hit: LOL Cipriani is better than Pienaar? Ha ha ha ha arh arh arf arf arf!! That is hilarious! Jeez you are very deluded boet! Did you not see his charged down kick against the Boks or the PIs? Pathetic. Coming back from injury is no excuse for a lack of skill. I’ve never seen Pienaar get charged down and he is pretty good on defense not to mention dangerous on attack and multi talented besides being an accomplished fly-half! Cipriani is nowhere near in the same league as Pienaar. Most countries would kill for a player like him! Hopefully if PdV can convince him to stay at 10 in a few years he’ll be a world-class 10 potentially rivalling the likes of Dan Carter.
7 Dec 2008, 02:43 am
#17 Wezwp: You can see why they wanted to poach Jacobs…********! Adi is staying put at the Sharks thank god!
8 Dec 2008, 09:49 am
#37 JayDaFiveOh: Cipriani is very very skilled, he didnt show it recently but will do in due course.
#36 wooden spoon: I think you’re right, it was another S14 side that Harlequins beat but I’ve looked at a couple of match reports and Harlquins were competitive with their second team 20-13, 32-19 the scores.
‘A second-string Harlequins line-up gave Natal plenty to think about before steadily running out of steam in Tuesday’s prestige friendly at the Stoop.
Resting nine of the team which lost at Newcastle on Saturday, Quins showed great heart and spirit in making the early running against a Natal side with at least seven Springboks in their line-up.’
8 Dec 2008, 09:51 am
#39 Big Hit: the score in 2004 was 29-27 Sharks with Gregor Townsend the matchwinner for natal as Butch went off.
8 Dec 2008, 15:35 pm
#40 Big Hit: You also had a few internationals playing for Quins at that stage to. Andre Vos, for one.
8 Dec 2008, 15:45 pm
#41 CraigE: yeah, my point wasn’t that Harlequins are better than Sharks they definitely aren’t, its just that the majority of GP sides are competitive as they’re not just NH players but have many SH players too.
8 Dec 2008, 16:10 pm
#42 Big Hit: Yip! I agree. Would love to come and watch a few of those games. Must be quite a spectacle watching a group of internationals, from opposing international sides, playing together, against other internationals or even national team mates.
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