Tri-Nations latest (Fri)
3 Sep 2010
Keo.co.za brings you the news from the Tri-Nations.
Smit: Boks went back to basics
John Smit believes last week’s victory over Australia in Pretoria has given his team a platform to build on.
‘It’s a long way off from where we need to be but at least there’s a win under our belts,’ he said on Friday. ‘If we think we have turned the corner we now need to be able to open up on the straight and that will only be evident if we can follow through on that tomorrow.
‘Since our return from overseas we have been concentrating on what we can control, which is our game – our set pieces, what we do in general play, how we kick and whether we kick to give it away or to get it back.
‘When you have a bad run of results you have to go back and touch on your basics and get them back to where they belong’.
Ackerman presents Bok jerseys
South African business icon Raymond Ackerman presented the Springboks with their match jerseys in Bloemfontein on Friday.
‘It took enormous courage from you to come back the way you did last week,’ the founder of Pick n Pay told the team. ‘I know what its like to take reverses. It’s different for you guys because your setbacks make the headlines. To come back from 14-0 down needed something special and it was amazing.’
McCalman ready for Spies battle
Wallabies No 8 Ben McCalman, who will make his first Test start on Saturday, is looking forward to playing against Pierre Spies.
‘Pierre played his best Test [of the year] last week, but I have confidence after playing against him earlier this year [in the Brisbane Test],’ said McCalman, who added that his side were looking to improve on their performance at Loftus.
‘Everyone is disappointed that we could not convert that [21-7] lead into a victory,’ he said. ‘The Boks are physical, but the important thing is that we stick to our plan and take the game to them. Hopefully it can work in our favour if we can move those big guys around a bit.’

62 Comments
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3 Sep 2010, 07:50 am
will be very close…..or an easy bok win.
3 Sep 2010, 07:56 am
@grant10(grant10)-1: I think it will be close for 60 minutes. Then the floodgates will open…. Habs will score 2, Hougie 2, Morne 1, Schalk 1, Spies 1 and Juan 1.
3 Sep 2010, 07:57 am
@Tegejo(Tegejo)-2: ja….
see my comment on the other thread….i do agree with you……a lot depends what mental state the aussies are in….
3 Sep 2010, 07:58 am
habs score? lol
3 Sep 2010, 08:06 am
For once I agree with Grand Ball -Boks by 10
3 Sep 2010, 08:13 am
@Tegejo(Tegejo)-2: 8 tries in one game?? the bokke would be lucky to have scored 8 tries the whole 3Ns… now its one game… hmmmm
3 Sep 2010, 08:19 am
Wobblies to wobble past the Blokkies stuck hard in their starting blocks and to win easily by 20 metres.
Aaaaaag jaaaaa! (3 octaves above middle C)
3 Sep 2010, 08:24 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-7: Its growing on you, isnt it?
3 Sep 2010, 08:26 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-6: and the Poephol 69 would find it miraculous to add one comment bordering on value displaying any form of rugby knowledge as they already have. Admittedly the Boks have not played to their potential this 3N but in our last six outings against the AB’s the results stand 3-3 so how much better are they really. Had PDV got it even halfway right the Bulls and Stormers showed just how much better the 3N could have been for the Boks. The thiing is the Boks can seriously improve and the AB’s seem to have peaked as their results although still wins haven’t been as convincing now have they.
3 Sep 2010, 08:32 am
Boks to take it by many. I get the feeling of ‘if it all comes together, somebody is going to get a hiding’.
3 Sep 2010, 08:34 am
@bluealligator(bluealligator)-9: hey bluealligator, still an angry man I see..
I found it incredulous that a team that has probably scored approx. 8 tries in this years 3Ns (5 in the one game last week, but really not too many others) is suddenly going to score 8 in the one game?
how are they suddenly going to do that? with all your profound rugby knowledge, please enlighten me oh intelligent one..
as for the ABs, who even mentioned them? seems your insecurities are running amok again… as for the ABs peaking, believe that if you will… I dont, they still have plenty to work on..
but good to know that with one post I can get under your skin so easily..
3 Sep 2010, 08:37 am
@bluealligator(bluealligator)-9: hows this for rugby knowledge
3-0 suck it up crybaby…
3 Sep 2010, 08:40 am
@bluealligator(bluealligator)-9:
“to add one comment bordering on value displaying any form of rugby knowledge as they already have.”
if my rugby knowledge is anything like your sentence structure knowledge, then Id agree with you…
3 Sep 2010, 08:44 am
What do you call 15 guys sitting around the TV watching the Rugby World Cup final ??
The All Blacks
3 Sep 2010, 08:45 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-11: ‘I found it incredulous that a team that has probably scored approx. 8 tries in this years 3Ns (5 in the one game last week, but really not too many others) is suddenly going to score 8 in the one game?’
Anything is possible in rugby…..it all depends on the bounce of the ball.
3 Sep 2010, 08:46 am
@I_support_BEES(suffer_guy)-14: CMAX prisoners
3 Sep 2010, 08:46 am
Why did Graham Henry go to a ball dressed as a pumpkin?
Because he hoped when the clock struck midnight he would turn into a coach.
3 Sep 2010, 08:47 am
Graham Henry has a busy day and tells the team just to practice passing round some plastic cones for training.
After 80 minutes he sees them trudging back looking depressed.
“How did the session go lads,” he asks.
“The cones won 18-12,? replies Richie McCaw.
3 Sep 2010, 08:47 am
A man’s body was found in the harbour wearing an All Blacks jumper, pink panties, fishnet stockings and a ***** up his arse. Police removed the jumper to avoid any embarrassment to his family
3 Sep 2010, 08:48 am
Any Aussie or Kiwi mind shedding some light on this McCalman chap? I havent seen him play before. What type of player is he? Similar to which player?
3 Sep 2010, 08:49 am
What do you do for a drowning New Zealand Rugby player?
Nothing. You could drag him to the top, but he’ll choke anyway.
3 Sep 2010, 08:54 am
Some All Black supporters die, and as expected they go to hell. The devil notices that they’re quite happy, and asks them why.
They explain “After the lousy weather in New Zealand, we actually enjoy the warmth.”
The devil thinks “I’ll fix them” and turns up the heat. He finds the Kiwis with their shirts off enjoying a chop on the barbie and having a frostie.
“Whenever the weather gets this good in New Zealand, we can’t waste it, so this is what we do”
The devil decides to wipe the smile off their faces by turning the heat down to freezing. He returns to the Kiwis to find them celebrating.
“What now?” he asks.
One explains “Well when hell freezes over, we’re sure to win the Rugby World Cup”
3 Sep 2010, 09:05 am
@I_support_BEES(suffer_guy)-18: Ive always found passing around cones to leaving one rather chilled (relaxed) and not depressed
3 Sep 2010, 09:09 am
Fact is Poopa99, the ABs peaked at the wrong time… again! And once again in a year when none of the other teams even cares who win the TriNations (same as in 2006).
My suggestion for you would be to start buying tissues because the ABs will look like morons… in their own country next year.
3 Sep 2010, 09:10 am
Hmmm… I heard Tackler is dating a girl called Suzy. That true?
3 Sep 2010, 09:15 am
@Bouts(Bouts)-24: theyve peaked in your estimation.. next year is just that, next year, so for anyone to assume they know whats going to happen a year out is rather limited to cranial capacity dont you think?
.. you should rather worry about your world champion team being 1 from 5 with a very real possibility of going 1 for 6..
the rot started on the EOYT last year, the fact you guys are still so much in denial is rather pleasing for me..
no one cares about this years 3Ns? bwahahaha thats why PDV and Hoskins have added weight to the whole conspiracy angle, because its not important…
3 Sep 2010, 09:39 am
The yarps are worried. VERY worried! You can almost smell the fear and panic as the big black tide swells ever larger and scarier…
3 Sep 2010, 09:41 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-11: I am certainly not angry. I also never said we would score 8 tries in one game, I merely referred to your infantile rugby knowledge as the Boks have scored 10 tries in this 3N. Then your following comments revert to your usual and now incredibly boring Xenophobic and disturbingly immature tone. I find it all far too juvenile and quite frankly comments and attitudes do not belong on a South African rugby website. In all honesty, we would all be better served if you refrained from such acts here and kept them for NZ websites.
3 Sep 2010, 09:48 am
We all know trhe Boks have not played well this year but we also know they can improve and have the experience and depth to do so. A good conditioning programme and the bleeding of some incredibly talented youngsters on the EOYT and the curve will begin to move upwards again. I also see Graham Henry is going to withdraw his top players from the S15 because it worked so well in the S14 for the 2007 RWC.
3 Sep 2010, 09:51 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-26:
I hope for your sake & all Nz’s that the All Blacks win the world cup or at least get to the final.
NZ have been the best side throughout the proffessional/modern era,no doubt.
But no world cup in 23 yrs is unacceptable,no matter how one puts it/Its equivalent to Brazil not being able to win the SWC in 20+ yrs..Which would never happen
3 Sep 2010, 09:54 am
@bluealligator(bluealligator)-9:
.
0-3
3 Sep 2010, 09:55 am
@bluealligator(bluealligator)-28:
my infantile rugby knowledge, well come on then mr intelligent.. you still havent explained how they are going to score 8 tries this weekend, which is the point I was referring to, made by another poster and the point I was responding too
But you couldnt resist having a dig because I got to you last time… thats magic to know, Im glad youve wasted so much our yopur time already trying to berate me… I laugh and laugh and laugh at that fact..
” find it all far too juvenile and quite frankly comments and attitudes do not belong on a South African rugby website”
tell that to your countrymen, another blog cop who only ever sees the traffic one way..
man you Saffas are precious little things arent we…
3 Sep 2010, 09:59 am
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-30: Mish, the world cup is NEXT year..
the fact so many others need to live vicariously through previous WC happenings really is pathetic, but it seems to have spiked now the Bokke have lost 3-0..
Bluegator is even claiming the 3Ns isnt important, seems his attitude has done a complete 180 in 12 months..
Ill worry about the WC when the WC starts, and if we dont win it so be it… it wont be the end of the woprld for me, its a game of rugby, at the end of the day thats all it is..
3 Sep 2010, 10:05 am
The ABs are just building momentum. The Boks lost their momentum on the 2009 EYOT and then ground to a complete standstill this year.
3 Sep 2010, 10:09 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-32: Okay Poephol I will type this really slowly so maybe you can understand! I never said we would score 8 tries I merely corrected your poor knowledge by pointing out we had exceeded the 8 tries you claimed we had not managed as yet. I have never said the 3N is not important it is, for a real rugby fan all test matches are! Not quite sure what yopur time is but it must mean a lot to you. If you don’t like being berated on a South African site don’t use it there must be at least one Kiwi site decent enough for you to make a fool of yourself on.
3 Sep 2010, 10:12 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-31: Ja Black panties we know we also beat you lot 3-0 recently and it is a great feeling but still not as satisfying as winning a RWC but you probably won’t remember that feeling hey?
3 Sep 2010, 10:16 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-33:
fair enough.
But havent u in previous time yourself been guilty of the same?(stated that the WC is not as important people make it out to be/3N is more a true gauge etc etc)
See you at RWC,will be making my way there 2011
3 Sep 2010, 10:20 am
@bluealligator(bluealligator)-35: so, I said approx. 8 tries, I didnt know the actual number or I would have put 10 eish.. but be honest, in 5 games youve scored ten tries, take out the 5 from one game and in 4 games youve scored 5 tries..
so how then can he make the leap to 8 tries in one game… anyone with a semblance of rugby knowledge would know that 8 tries in a test match by one side is very rare, considering the teams playing.. (I know it has happened, but generally it is a unusual occurence, or do you disagree on that too?)
3 Sep 2010, 10:23 am
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-37: nope, never said the 3Ns is a true gauge from memory, I think youve confused me with someone else there… Ive always said a fully fledged tour is IMO a much truer indication…
3 Sep 2010, 10:41 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-33: do you think this guy knew what he was talking about Pops?
Defiant or delusional?
Jake White is convinced the Springboks can
win the World Cup next year.
This follows a 36-26 defeat to France in
Cape Town, a 49-0 thrashing to the
Wallabies in Brisbane and a 35-17 loss to
the All Black second-stringers in Wellington.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that we can
win the World Cup,” White told the
Independent’s Peter Bills. “I intend to focus
on nothing else now than except making
sure this team can develop to win the World
Cup. I love my job, I love coaching South
Africa and I ’m determined to get it right.
“[The criticism] hurt, it hurt a great deal. It
has been an unbelievable week. But I also
found out who my friends were. I had
messages from all kinds of people
encouraging us to keep going. That meant a
lot.
“I know we will turn the corner. We will get
our injured players back and that will make
a big difference. ”
White also had a dig at the All Blacks, who
are ranked No 1 and are favoured to win
the World Cup.
“There is no guarantee that if you have
been dominant for 18 months before the
World Cup that you are going to win it, ” he
said.
White then defended flank Solly Tyibilika
who failed to make an impact at the
breakdown on Saturday and ran the wrong
defensive lines.
“Solly did well, he never looked out of
place,” said the coach.
This entry was posted on Monday, July
24th, 2006
3 Sep 2010, 10:47 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-33: do you think BlueAlligator & Graham Henry are the same person? They both seem to think the world cup is most important
Henry: ‘It’s about the World Cup’
All Blacks coach Graham Henry has
emphasised once again the World Cup of
2007 is what motivates every team
selection. Hence the eight changes to the
team that walloped the Wallabies.
Questioned again because of the rotation
policy, Henry reminded the New Zealand
media that the bigger picture since his
appointment has always been the World
Cup.
And to win the World Cup he felt New
Zealand needed 30 players capable of
playing test rugby.
“We might win on Saturday by keeping to
the same 15, that might give us an even
greater chance, but it might not bring the
carrot that we ’re looking for (in World Cup
success),” Henry declared.
“The major thing is that through the
campaigns now until the end of the World
Cup, we ’re a team of 30 players. We’ve just
got to make sure that we keep the 30 on
edge and involved. If you pick 22 guys and
have eight sitting around doing nothing for
a campaign you ’re not going to get the
unity in the group that you need to win a
Rugby World Cup … you’re not going to get
the commitment from those eight.”
The biggest talking point is the return to
test rugby of Rueben Thorne, who won 23
and few one of his 28 tests as captain of
John Mitchell ’s All Blacks. Thorne has not
played a home test since 2003.
Forwards coach Steve Hansen said Thorne
deserved his chance: “He’s playing really
good rugby … he had a great Super 14.”
Hansen also stressed that the All Blacks
would never underestimate the Springboks.
“They are a formidable foe,” said Hansen.
“They will be very, very angry sitting in
their hotel thinking about that game. They
won ’t need too much motivation other than
that.”
This entry was posted on Tuesday, July
18th, 2006
3 Sep 2010, 10:51 am
Tranny, Posting copies of articles ‘Porra’ style does nothing to impart YOUR thinking.
Try posting an opinion of your own please as most others do when nailing their colours and hoisting them up the mast.
3 Sep 2010, 11:04 am
@RugbyRulz(RugbyRulz)-42: Im waiting for the
“ungrateful piece of maori *****” comment,,,
all because of my blog persona..
3 Sep 2010, 11:09 am
@RugbyRulz(RugbyRulz)-42: In all fairness: Transie has voiced his own opinion here a number of times. The archived bits here are relevant as it plays of Poppa’s opinion that the WC is not that big a deal vs the All Black coach.
3 Sep 2010, 11:09 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-41:
Do you do anything BUT post someone elses subjective articles here or cut’n'paste non-applicable forensic ‘evidence’ ?
A little variety now’n'then wouldnt go astray.
3 Sep 2010, 11:14 am
Spies not at all intimidating
2010-09-02 22:31Email | Print
Ben McCalman (Gallo Images)
Stephen Nell
Durban – Wallaby No 8 Ben McCalman is not at all intimidated about the prospect of facing Pierre Spies in Saturday’s Tri-Nations Test in Bloemfontein.
“Pierre played his best Test (of the year) last week, but I have confidence after playing against him earlier this year,” said McCalman.
He was referring to the Wallabies’ 30-13 win in Brisbane.
McCalman came on as a substitute 10 minutes before the end and helped Will Genia knock the last nail into the coffin of the Springboks’ Tri-Nations title ambitions.
“I got the ball from Will Genia and ran into Spies. I got the better of him in that situation. It was a great moment and made me realise that I want more Test rugby. Will scored shortly after that,” he said.
The Wallabies are clinging to the win in Brisbane and the lead that was surrendered at Loftus Versfeld last week as evidence that they have what it takes to beat the Boks in Bloemfontein.
“Everyone is disappointed that we could not convert that lead into a victory last week,” said McCalman.
“The Boks are physical, but the important thing is that we stick to our plan and take the game to them. Hopefully it can work in our favour if we can move those big guys around a bit.”
McCalman, skipper Rocky Elsom and fetcher David Pocock will be involved in an interesting battle of the loose forward combinations with Spies, Juan Smith and Schalk Burger.
Pocock told Sport24 on Thursday that the new application of the breakdown laws are good for the game because it encourages attacking rugby.
He believes there are still opportunities for fetching flanks to win turnover possession.
“You have to be careful about getting involved at the breakdown because you can easily concede a penalty. But I still believe there are plenty of opportunities at the breakdown,” said Pocock.
The Wallaby star expects Heinrich Brüssow to adapt easily when he returns from his knee injury.
“I believe players with that kind of ability will always find a way of doing well. One of the nice things about rugby and all its intricacies is that you always have to think on the field. I believe Brüssow will do well when he returns.”
3 Sep 2010, 11:40 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-44: I don’t mind the odd reference to a quote but the constant
P
O
R
R
A
style posting is way too much. The posting of ‘excerpts’ of archival material is ok but not the ridiculous column format.
Can leave a link for those who want to trawl through the article in its entirety.
3 Sep 2010, 11:45 am
@RugbyRulz(RugbyRulz)-47: Links not allowed, and porra couldn’t find an article even if it looked like a pallet of fruit….
I happen to enjoy the reality checks that Transie comes up with. I’ve always said he’s actually the best “fetcher” we have….
It’s nice to expose the hypocrisy….
3 Sep 2010, 11:48 am
@RugbyRulz(RugbyRulz)-42:i make my points however i want, you can scroll down if it pleases you
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-45: hi BP…
3 Sep 2010, 11:51 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-49: If you think posting archival articles is making your point then go for it.
I will as you suggest scroll down anything that resembles juvenile PORRA style posts.
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