Small wonders
13 Dec 2010
JON CARDINELLI says South African rugby is slowly but surely ridding itself of a conservative and limiting obsession with size.
All Gio Aplon needed to do was get up, and he’d be a hero. In one of the great rugby mismatches, Aplon had come face to face with Bakkies Botha at a ruck. The belligerent lock had flattened him, a robust action that would subsequently earn Botha a four-week suspension.
It was a significant moment, and for an instant, the Newlands crowd held its collective breath. To their delight, the diminutive winger got back on his feet and played on. Aplon had literally gone head to head with a 120kg behemoth and lived. If ever there was doubt concerning his aptitude for the brutality of top-flight rugby, it was seemingly eradicated in this instant.
But there shouldn’t have been any doubt. Rugby has changed. It’s no longer a sport reserved for the massive and muscle-bound. Slightly built players no longer prove the exception to the rule. The new law variations have allowed the smaller blokes to come into their own, and size is no longer a prerequisite for selection. If you’re good enough, you’re big enough.
Australia and New Zealand have always embraced this mantra, while South Africa is starting to come round. As seen by the 2010 Super 14 and Tri-Nations competitions, the Antipodeans are taking their preference for more agile backs to new levels. Matt Giteau, Cory Jane, James O’Connor, Anthony Faingaa, Rod Davies and Israel Dagg all fall into rugby’s lightweight category and yet performances for their respective franchises and countries have been as telling, and in some cases better, than those delivered by the heavier backs.
South African teams are slowly but surely following suit. Apart from Aplon, Juan de Jongh is embarrassing the non-believers at Test level, while Super Rugby and the Currie Cup have borne witness to the unique talents of Pat Lambie and Bjorn Basson. Throw Francois Hougaard and Lwazi Mvovo (who aren’t much bigger) into the mix, and you begin to understand why size is now less of a factor in selection than it has been in previous years.
Kicking played a major role in team tactics in 2009. The Springboks were the most successful side in the Tri-Nations thanks to their kick-chase strategy, a ploy that involved accurate box kicks and up-and-unders that were aggressively chased by the fastest players. If the opposition didn’t lose the ball in the air, the chances of losing possession in the ensuing breakdown was high given that defenders were allowed to compete more in this area.
The 2010 season has seen a change to the laws, and thus a change in approach. Unless these deep kicks are accurate, the likelihood of retrieving possession is slim now that the breakdown laws favour attacking sides. Teams are now selecting players who are able to counter-attack, players who are often slighter, shorter and more agile. Keeping possession is key, and if the opposition kicks deep, you can run it back knowing that even if you don’t break the line, you’re still likely to hold on to the ball.
‘The laws have played their part,’ says former Springbok wing Breyton Paulse. ‘Ten years ago the game was a lot tighter and forward-orientated, and there were more big boys on the scene. You may remember a few small backline stars like Christian Cullen, but they really had to work hard to generate those moments of magic.
‘Nowadays, the backline has more of a platform; they have more freedom to attack. The laws have brought the flair back to rugby, and that in turn has changed the mindset when it comes to selecting smaller players.
‘It’s very encouraging to see from a South African point of view. I was worried about the state of the game last year, but the tweak in the laws has meant that the counter-attack is once again a big part of rugby. It’s always been part of the New Zealand game, and perhaps South Africa has been a bit conservative in recent years. That has started to change.’
At 1.78m and 80kg, Paulse wasn’t much bigger than Aplon when he was playing for the Boks. He grew up playing against bigger opposition and it conditioned him for a rugby world where perception was as tough to beat as a Jonah Lomu or Joeli Vidiri. It was feared that Paulse’s size would inevitably count against him in close combat.
But in modern rugby there’s an appreciation for gifted players, and that appreciation isn’t limited by size. It’s not to say that somebody like Aplon hasn’t had to alter his approach, particularly on defence, to make the highest grade. Test rugby is still about dominance at the point of contact, and although the laws favour the attack, defenders still need to make their presence felt.
Many will remember the hit Botha made on Aplon in that Super 14 match between the Stormers and the Bulls, but so few recall Aplon’s own defensive contributions. Through working with Stormers and Western Province collision coach, Omar Mouneimne, Aplon has refined his tackling technique to the point where he’s not a defensive liability. With his mixed martial arts background, Mouneimne was able to teach Aplon to use his body weight to good effect.
‘Even though guys like Gio are smaller, they’ve got to get used to making the big hits,’ explains Mouneimne. ‘Smaller guys need to get under the bigger attacking players. If you aren’t built like a freight train, you aren’t going to be able to smash back a bigger attacking player with a direct tackle.
A smaller defender needs to work hard to derail that freight train; to upend it by getting low and driving upward.
‘I did a lot of wrestling work with Gio and we worked on using his body weight to a specific end. He did a lot of power and strength work in the gym because wrestling techniques can only take you so far. You also need to have some power behind those hits.
‘We also worked on aggression. Smaller players have to be even more aggressive than others when competing for the ball at the breakdown. The law changes have also made it harder for them, because you can no longer ride the tackle back and then compete for the ball. You have to release the ball-carrier and show daylight.
‘Before, a smaller guy like Heinrich Brüssow would give away negative yards and ride the tackle because he knew he’d have a chance of turning over possession. Now with the new laws, you have to focus on getting a powerful first hit on the attacking player. You can’t give away negative yards, so smaller players have to be clever, and aggressive.’
Paulse agrees that attitude is as essential as technique.
‘Juan de Jongh and Aplon are always punching above their weight. I can relate. I grew up with the game, and my opponents were always bigger than me. When you persist with your rugby and make it to the highest level, fear is obviously not a factor because you’re used to the odds, but in your own mind you’re a rugby player like everybody else.
‘If you had to name some of the world’s best players, you’d be naming some of the smaller guys. Shane Williams has been fantastic for Wales over the years, and then you get the new players like Gio coming through. The standard of skill has improved and the game is played with a lot more flair, which suits the men who rely heavily on skill.
‘The small guys still do strength work in the gym to condition themselves for the big hits and contact, and having grown up with the game, there’s no fear. That’s why people shouldn’t be worried when the little guys get bashed around. They can handle it.’
If you’re tough enough, and you’re skilled enough, then size shouldn’t factor into selection. The top players who want for size have discovered a means of circumventing their defensive limitations, a facet that has so often been listed as a reason for match-day omission.
Rugby has changed, and as long as the lightweights are up to the defensive task, they should be included. Aplon, O’Connor and Dagg are just three who’ve thrilled with their counter-attacking efforts in 2010, and if the respective national coaches continue to show faith in these players, 2011 promises to be even better.
Paulse believes that with more effort from the coaching fraternity, South Africa can take the game to the next level. He believes that Super Rugby mentors need to tap into the talent in the Springbok Sevens side, as these players are already exceptional counter-attacking exponents.
‘Fabian Juries was such a legend in the sevens code, but his strengths have never really been properly utilised in 15s,’ he says. ‘Gio Aplon is an example of a guy who’s played sevens and is starting to make an impact. We need to be looking at how we can bring these guys through. Counter-attacking is a big part of sevens, so perhaps it will help if we start using more of these players in Super Rugby.’
– This article first appeared in the December issue of SA Rugby magazine.
97 Comments
13 Dec 2010, 10:26 am
pocket rocket dragon
13 Dec 2010, 10:36 am
Dagg is 6ft 2in and weighs 95kg so that’s not small by any standards. An inch taller and the same weight as Conrad Smith, and quite a bit bigger than Mils Muliaina.
13 Dec 2010, 10:39 am
Still think Snorre should give Paul Treu a few sessions with the Springbok backline.
13 Dec 2010, 10:39 am
Speak for yourself John size does matter. Oopps wrong blog,
yeah Giomite is the man. Not to sure about size of the player but definetly the size of the commitment and technique.
Lambie has great technique. Small example, when fielding the high ball, he is one of the few Saffa players who take the ball in the air or when he is close to the try line he turn his back so the ball wont go forard. Might sound trivial but technique is king.
In the end, on the try line the bigger oke will win ask Schalla.
13 Dec 2010, 10:42 am
**** the rugby is over for a few months, just boring cricket or golf.
13 Dec 2010, 10:42 am
was it jake who said he didn’t want to pick breyton paulse for games against the home unions because he was too small?
13 Dec 2010, 10:42 am
Yawn.
Trying to construct a pattern out of unrelated bits of information again.
Like the time they tried to suggest that Bjorn Basson would reach a dead end in his career by moving to the Bulls.
Like err…Zane Kirchner (who became a Bok despite his limited talent while at the Bulls), and err…Jaco Pretorius (old, constantly injured and 2 yards slower than in his prime) and err…yeah, that should be sufficient to establish a clear pattern, or what…
I guess Nonu is a midget, as is Sonny Bill Williams. And Muliaina. And Gear and Rockococo.
Yeah, the evidence is clear. Smaller players are the future. Not.
Let’s not use the Aussies as an exmaple, as they hardly have the cream of the crop to pick from, and have to make do with what their small talent pool can dish up.
13 Dec 2010, 10:46 am
Many bigger players can take a leaf out of the guys like Aplon’s tackling technique. Since he does not have the strength to drive a bigger player back, he always goes for the legs. Invariably the player goes to ground faster as Aplon does not get involve in a upperbody wrestling match.
The result is that the tackled player has less time to play the ball as he is on the ground immediately. Spies and Jean are two players who almost always try to drive the player back.
They should consider going in low every now and again.
13 Dec 2010, 10:51 am
@Tacitus : 7 yeah, this doesn’t sit well with the crack theory of being genetically predisposed to play a particular sport now does it
13 Dec 2010, 10:51 am
I get what Paulse is saying, but his example is a bit weak. The thing that made Brussow so useful is that he almost always tackled the opposition backwards and THEN ‘ride’ him to steal the ball. That is what made him different from other fetchers. If you disagree… search for Brussow on YouTube. Many examples there.
13 Dec 2010, 10:52 am
@Dumb Supporter :
There is a reason why “high tackling” (e.g. going for the chest area) is utilised by modern rugby teams. It means that the ball is wrapped up and that the player cannot offload in the tackle.
And it provides an opportunity for the ball to be popped out by the collission.
Lastly, it also allows the defender to conduct offensive defense, meaning that you have a chance of driving the attacking player back in the tackle, thus gaining ground for your team and swinging the momentum in the opposite direction, as the next ruck will now be in a situation of pressure for the attacking team, since they are on the back foot.
Low tackling – as we were taught at school (vat hom om die enkels) is out dated, and only practices by those who have no other choice. Like Aplon and co.
13 Dec 2010, 10:53 am
@Tacitus :
practices = practiced
13 Dec 2010, 10:57 am
Who cares…. Wake me up in Feb.
13 Dec 2010, 10:58 am
@Tacitus : i seem to remember aplon tackling Mils’ upper body and driving him backwards at soccer city ie offensive defending.
13 Dec 2010, 10:59 am
Don’t forget that even in the last six months Aplon was kept on the bench while a certian S. Naqelavuki (remember him) started for the stormers. He couldn’t run, couldn’t tackle, couldn’t pass, couldn’t catch, couldn’t kick, but he was big. That’s it, nothing else.
And while the impact of Willem Alberts in recent games was impressive, no-one seem to have noticed he made all his appearances as open-sider. That’s right, he might be an excellent ball carrier, but he’s certainly not the answer to the McCaw/Pocock question at the breakdown. Earlier this year, in the week before yhe French test in CT (if I remenber correctly), all the talk was about Starting Danie Rossouw at 6. That never happened, but such thinking is cause for concern.
It certainly still appears that SA, as far as “6″ is concerned, give preferance to big bruisers (Burger, Alberts, Potgieter) who has never won a turnover ball among them (for all their other strenghts), to more skillfull but smaller exponents (Flo, Daniel.) Granted, Stegman got a chance, but that was probably just a Vic “I’ll vouch for him” Matfield selection, that must be considered a failure.
Dont be to surprised if, for the WC you see the following: Smit for Bismarck and Petersen for Aplon. Lesser players, but bigger
13 Dec 2010, 11:00 am
A good big man will always beat a good small man. In boxing. The difference is that the defensive team has the advantage one on one. If you can tackle properly you’ll be fine. Gio is a great example of this. I remember Andrew Walker, the Wallabie fullback facing Jonah Lomu one on one in a front-on situation, a circumstance that Lomu used to dominate with ruthless efficiency. I thought it would be a sure try for NZ, but Walker calmy went down and took Lomu around his ankles. Big man down. Simple. No contesting for the ball in the tackle of trying to smash him back or anything like that. Just a textbook “old school” tackle. Just like Gio.
It’s not as good as Strauss smashing Vermeulen back in the tackle, or as spectacular, but a well trained smaller man can still bring down his bigger apponent.
I mean just look at the scrumhalves. They regularly bring down guys a lot biggger than them in diverse circumstances, it’s all about technique.
13 Dec 2010, 11:01 am
@Transformation : #8. HA HA HA HA. We breed them big.
13 Dec 2010, 11:04 am
@Transformation :
Well done to him. I guess that this one ocassion proves that he can do it all the time then, or what?
I like Aplon. I want him in the team at present.
But that doesn’t mean that bigger isn’t better. I’d rather have Gear than Aplon. I’d rather have Lomu than Aplon. I’d rather have Joeli Vindiri than Aplon.
But I’d rather have Aplon than Ndungane or Mvovo.
Point is, a good small player might well be better than an average big player. But a good BIG player is better than a good small player.
Until we have a better option, Aplon is my man for the wing position. But I don’t think he is the permanent solution there.
13 Dec 2010, 11:08 am
@stormersboy : in boxing? ever heard of Manny Pacquiao?
13 Dec 2010, 11:10 am
@Dumb Supporter : #8
I saw him drove Mils Muliaina back quite a few metres during the 3N.
Just a few weeks ago in Europe he did the same against a Welsh player to effectively win us the match, I think.
13 Dec 2010, 11:11 am
@Tacitus : like spies is constantly tackling people backwards? pfft relax Tac, breath easy..
13 Dec 2010, 11:12 am
@Transformation : Sure but can you give me a name of a good boxer who is significantly bigger that he’s beaten?
13 Dec 2010, 11:16 am
@stormersboy : The Klitschko brothers.
(And one of them has a Ph.D as well…)
13 Dec 2010, 11:17 am
@Tacitus : Your point about good big is better than good small has strong merit, especially in todays age where attacking the ball in the tackle is the way to go…
Not every big man is amazing in the tackle though.
All the conditions have to be present. A good example would be Frans Steyn. Great in the tackle.
Aplon is a great player who makes the best of his size, and in some cases his size is an advantage, like on attack where he’s very elusive. Same thing for De Jongh, Curtley Beale, O’Connor etc. Their tackling is adequate, they bring their man down but seldom dominate the collision.
13 Dec 2010, 11:18 am
@TheTackler : What about the klitshco Brothers?
13 Dec 2010, 11:19 am
@Tacitus : What part of “going in low every now and again” do you not understand? Sometimes it is better to just get the guy with the ball to ground as soon as possible. Like when there is no support close by for him or when he is going for the try line. I have seen many occasions where players go for the chest wrap just to be driven back by the attacking player.
Simple, realy.
13 Dec 2010, 11:19 am
TECHNIQUE will beat size, i say
when Spies got his technique right against England he was MASSIVE
most times beforehand he slipped off tackles and did not gain any defensive yardage
thank you very much
13 Dec 2010, 11:27 am
Jon – go watch a rerun of the tries scored against the Boks in this last NH tour. Aplon features regularly as a defensive liability.
And perhaps Fabian Juries should be quiet – the big English boys have shown that a big fast guy will ALWAYS be better than a small fast guy.
13 Dec 2010, 11:31 am
@stormersboy : margarito that he just crushed last month and fractured his cheek bone is bigger than manny…
13 Dec 2010, 11:32 am
@stormersboy : did you see david haye beat that Valhueve(sp) giant to get his heavyweight championship belt?
13 Dec 2010, 11:34 am
@Tacitus : #11. I going to disagree with your statement, only because you haven’t completely presented your argument.
You’ve oversimplified defence, without presenting context. Tackling to kill the ball or prevent the offload in the tackle is all and well, but this does not constitute effective defense. An understanding of the most effective tackle to be made is more important than the big hit.
13 Dec 2010, 11:37 am
@Transformation : 29 Yes, but still within the same weight division so actually not heavier.
Yes I did see Haye. I’m not convinced that he’s the real deal yet, would like to see him fight one of the russian bros..
13 Dec 2010, 11:39 am
@Tacitus : You going to see your arse with this thread. The fact that you are a BB supporter will only serve to cloud you objectivity.
13 Dec 2010, 11:42 am
@stormersboy : How do you explain the stormers as the best defensive team in the S14 when they had de jongh, aplon, duvenhage, pietersen, habana in their backline?
13 Dec 2010, 11:45 am
@pompies2 : What’s your point? I’m not saying small guys can’t tackle, read my post 16?
13 Dec 2010, 11:50 am
@stormersboy : 32 are we talking about a small guy beating a big guy in a boxing match or not? david haye beat valhueve(sp).fact.
that haye is not the “real deal” is a totally different topic altogether
13 Dec 2010, 11:56 am
@Transformation : No, read my original post. A good big guy will always beat a good small guy.
Nikolai Valuev is just a Giant. He’s barely a boxer by heavyweight standards. Any of the good heavies of the last years would sort him out.
Surely you’re not classifying Valuev as a good boxer?
13 Dec 2010, 12:03 pm
@stormersboy : PS whilst Haye is a lot smaller than Valuev, he’s hardly small. 6’3, 100kg’s.
Valuev has been the champ but hasn’t in my opinion, beaten anyone really good or classy yet, and David Haye proved that. Whether Haye proves to be the real deal or not as Transie says, remains to be seen.
There have been many articles written by boxing scribes lately bemoaning the dearth of quality heavyweights at the moment.
IMO even Klitshco isn’t that good. He’s a good technician in the Holyfield mould, but not as good IMHO
13 Dec 2010, 12:05 pm
No doubt that the bigger guy has an advantage over the smaller guy when on the attack. However the bigger guys are sometimes also a liability on defence. Lomu wasn’t well known for his defence, was he? In fact, certain teams targeted his side of the field when they were attacking. France in 1999 comes to mind immediately with little Dominici making a fool of Lomu on the day.
Joeli Vidiri… Dean Hall??? Not that great defensively.
Like with any other position, I think you have to look at the player as a whole and decide whether the positives he brings with him outweighs the negatives as there are no such thing as a “complete” player because every player has a weakness/weaknesses. If it does, then size should not be a factor or it should the last factor to be considered in selecting a player.
13 Dec 2010, 12:05 pm
@stormersboy : Haye & Valuev are in the same c_rap/mediocre category of boxers.
13 Dec 2010, 12:06 pm
@stormersboy : ffs i never said haye is the “real deal”
13 Dec 2010, 12:09 pm
@Transformation : 40 i agree with you on that. Haye may get better, but I can;t really take him seriously until I see him fight Klitshco.
I know you never said Haye was the real deal. I was asking you about Valuev.
13 Dec 2010, 12:17 pm
its generalisations like this that are thrown out like chum into the keowater that get everyones backs up and the endless arguments begin.
life should have taught all of us by now that there is no set formula for success, especially in sport.
the mantra of “a good big player will always beat a good small player” is so flawed its almost an obscene utterance.
how good is good?
is it measureable?
can one players strengths and weaknesses in different areas be compared to anothers WITH the added variable of size to make such a comparison valid?
if the small good player is 30% smaller but 35% better than the good big player in SOME games does he get to start?
(this is obviously farcical but so is the premise so i am going with it).
lastly, i was catching up on a thread last night and was gutted to hear about the passing of Jinx. what a shock it was and my thoughts go out to his family and friends.
I met Jinx only once, in CT with sondebok, harry, wptid and dawnie and his character was immediately apparent, a man at peace with himself and his world with the curiosity and engaging nature of a seeker. He set me at ease and welcomed me with open arms, a true gentleman.
RIP Jinx, you will be missed around here.
eish.
13 Dec 2010, 12:21 pm
@rangerman : Sorry uncle…
13 Dec 2010, 12:30 pm
@stormersboy :
no offence intended man but i just dont think its that easy to measure.
human spirit and drive, hunger to achieve, to dominate an opponent, to win.
these are all variables that are present to greater or lesser degrees in sportsmen and women and the difference is inches, INCHES! (thanks al pacino).
anyways, its all just my opinion adding to the rest so dont take me too seriously eh?
13 Dec 2010, 12:30 pm
@rangerman : 43 let’s see, is jamie roberts a “good big player” and juan de jongh a “good small player”? what happened when they faced off at the Millenium stadium in June this year?
13 Dec 2010, 12:35 pm
@Transformation : well i think juan de jongh actually falls into the category of a good medium sized player and you know that one of these will always beat a medium big player dont you?
13 Dec 2010, 12:40 pm
@rangerman : 47 lol now you have fallen into the Transie trap??
13 Dec 2010, 12:47 pm
What is the cut-off weight to be regarded a big player? Is it different for forwards and backs?
13 Dec 2010, 12:50 pm
@stormersboy : 6ft 6in and 6ft 7 in.
Huge units. Bigger even than the massive Primo Carnera, long considered the biggest world heavyweight champion in history.
13 Dec 2010, 12:53 pm
@stormersboy : i think he was agreeing with me?
@nama1 : 95 kgs and upwards make you a big backline player.
unless you play your rugby in japan because then you are a giant backline player.
naas was a midget backline player as he weighed 72kgs.
but a good midget will beat a bad giant anytime, anywhere.
13 Dec 2010, 12:54 pm
@TheTackler : LOL yes and if you compare that to Mike Tyson who, when he won the world title was 1.80m and 93kg’s.
I’d still back Mike against the Russians..
Echo’s of Rocky 4..
13 Dec 2010, 12:57 pm
@rangerman : Just look at Chuck Norris. He’s a real shortarse. (looking around nervously)..
13 Dec 2010, 12:58 pm
@stormersboy :
you dont find chuck norris buddy, he finds you.
13 Dec 2010, 13:03 pm
@rangerman : Israel Dagg – 95kg, 6’2″ — qualifies as a big backline player then.
13 Dec 2010, 13:04 pm
@rangerman : #51
I guess a big forward must weigh 110kg’s and upwards then. How many “big forwards” do we currently have in our pack if that is to be the case?
13 Dec 2010, 13:07 pm
@TheTackler : I’d say that’s a reasonable statement.@nama1 : I’d say that most of them are heavier than that, with the exceptions like Daniel, etc being below.
Many of the loosies are hovering at the 108 – 100kg mark
13 Dec 2010, 13:07 pm
@TheTackler : yes.
i have set the scale a mite lower than many may think because it starts low with guys like gio aplon at 78kgs and there are a host of 85kg backs in world rugby.
but mostly i am pulling the proverbial and couldnt give atoss as long as the player is talented.
@nama1 : well steggies is not there but the rest must be?
13 Dec 2010, 13:08 pm
@Transie & Stormersboy.
Since you are talking about boxing.
Cleveland – Boxing promoter Don King has been stopped by security at Cleveland’s Hopkins International Airport for having ammunition in his carry-on luggage.
Hopkins Airport spokesperson Jacqueline Mayo says the 79-year-old King was stopped by members of the transportation safety administration on Sunday night.
She says King had ammunition for .38-caliber and .357-caliber firearms in his bag. (news24)
Didn’t he do some jail time shooting and killing a man in the past?
13 Dec 2010, 13:08 pm
For a weird body shape, try 1980 Bok fullback and current headmaster of Affies school — Dr Pierre Edwards.
1.98m (6ft 6in) and only 82kg dripping wet!
13 Dec 2010, 13:12 pm
@TheTackler : ja, many of the forwards of old would be classified as midgets these days, even in the backline.
frik du preez only weighed in the 80′s i think?
but i was reading a book the other day entitled “50 greatest springboks” some weird choices but looking at the pics of the morkel brothers, they seemed like big guys.
didnt mention their weight though.
13 Dec 2010, 13:16 pm
@nama1 : Yeah, the don is a gangster, pure and simple. Convicted felon.
13 Dec 2010, 13:17 pm
Most influential Springbok of all time ????
13 Dec 2010, 13:21 pm
Frik was 6ft 2in and 96kg — not small for those days, but not the usual giant found at lock — like Peter Stagg of the British Lions who towered at 6ft 10in.
Frik’s partner, Tiny Naude, was a lot bigger at 109kg and 6ft 5in.
13 Dec 2010, 13:23 pm
@stew : Nelson Mandela. When he wore that no 6 jersey he sent an unequivocle message to the world that we all love rugby, regardless of colour. That passion relfects here daily.
13 Dec 2010, 13:24 pm
Forwards in the 3N:
Gurthro: 120kg
John smit: 116kg
Jannie Dup: 121kg
Flip vd Merwe: 118kg
Victor Matfield: 115kg
Schalk: 106kg
Juan: 104kg
Spies: 106kg
The problem is clear. Our loose trio are “too small”. Of to the gim with you, you buggers!
13 Dec 2010, 13:27 pm
@stormersboy : YES!!
13 Dec 2010, 13:32 pm
@TheTackler : #64
Hennie Bekker partnering Div Visser. What was their respective height and weight?
13 Dec 2010, 13:37 pm
Tackler is great with google !!!
13 Dec 2010, 13:55 pm
@stew : and small furry animals…
13 Dec 2010, 13:57 pm
I would say this apparent ‘sizing down ‘ of springbok players has come out of necessity.Due to improved drug testing,saffers can no longer get away with pumping there bodies full of steroids and basically cheating the rugby world like they used too,hence you are seeing saffer rugby players in there natural physical state I.e a lot smaller…..also this could be a reason for the current demise of the boks…..no roids=bad results. Anyway ,am looking forward to playing a ‘natural’ springbok team in the future .
13 Dec 2010, 14:00 pm
@bokke baiter :
you are actually quite amusing my man.
keep it up please.
13 Dec 2010, 14:01 pm
@bokke baiter : Kuk man, I’m good friends with one of the guys who is big even by forward standards and he took tons of suppliments like creatine but all strictly above board. Here and there you’ll get a cheat but the rest are clean.
13 Dec 2010, 14:02 pm
@bokke baiter : Just like the ‘natural’ Kiwi team made up of people born on small islands eating roots. Natural of course.
13 Dec 2010, 14:55 pm
A good big un beats a small big un anyday of the week…
Its a small matter of physics…
13 Dec 2010, 15:09 pm
@Heavens Game : clearly you’ve never heard of baby jake matlala
13 Dec 2010, 15:14 pm
@Transformation : Of course this “colonialist” has heard of baby Jake. The little tokoloshe proves it by virtue of fighting people smaller than him… Weigh in?
But what takes you to boxing when we are talking rugby…
Dumfarkwit…
13 Dec 2010, 15:21 pm
@Heavens Game : you’re more of a pervert than a “colonialist”
13 Dec 2010, 15:27 pm
@Transformation : 78. Perverse is what you and Rossi get up to… Don’t transfer your eagerness this side…
Unless of course you would like to take up any kisshen career…
13 Dec 2010, 15:45 pm
Christian Cullen or Thinus Delport?
13 Dec 2010, 15:46 pm
Mike Phillips or George Gregan?
13 Dec 2010, 15:53 pm
Yes your quite right ‘Eish’, no new zealander has ever taken an unnatural product to enhance there rugby playing ability. The geographical isolation of new Zealand makes it virtually impossible for south Africans to illegally export there steroids to NZ,although if you did manage to get them through our borders I think you would find it impossible to find any interested consumers.New Zealanders would rather share Bakkies Bothas handkerchief than par take in illegal drug taking……NewZealand,s image is built on being 100% natural and sticking needles into eachothers bottoms isn’t very natural is it ‘Eish’
13 Dec 2010, 16:19 pm
It is easier for a guy with a height of 2m to weigh over 100kg, could be compared to a guy at 1.8m weighing 85-90kg.
I reckon SA pro rugby has more of an obsession about height that weight.
13 Dec 2010, 17:12 pm
@rangerman :
Very sad about Jinx.
RIP, music man.
Huge respect for your lifes philosophy.
13 Dec 2010, 20:37 pm
Thing is, there are very few small rugby players in top class rugby in South Africa.
I’m just on 6 foot and 100 kg’s and I’m considered an average sized Saffer.
The Blue Bulls backline makes The Sharks backline look silly..it’s just hard to find little Yarpies.
13 Dec 2010, 21:12 pm
Yes ‘great White shark’ you are an average South African.Anyway, could it be South Africa,s obsession with eating copius amounts of bar be cued meat, that has led to the general ‘hugeness’of most Saffers.This is something SA should take a look at,it is a well known fact that,in the animal kingdom, herbivores are much more intelligent than carnivores.I can guarantee that every Springbok(the team not the animal) eats meat and lots of it,this meat eating is reflected on the rugby field. I don’t want to point my finger at individuals and I don’t know the guy,but I wouldn’t be surprised if Bakkies Botha chowed
13 Dec 2010, 21:16 pm
Continued……Bakkies Botha chowed on a packet of biltong at half time…….now Bakkies isn’t the most intelligent of South Africans…… Food for thought
13 Dec 2010, 21:24 pm
@bokke baiter :
Genetics comes into the equation too. I know guys bigger and taller than me that don’t exercise but look like they could benchpress a New Zealand town.
South Africans are as freakishly big as Pacific Islanders. The only difference is we don’t have the pace of the Islanders.
Yes we eat a lot of meat. We’re Africans dimwit.
13 Dec 2010, 21:29 pm
@bokke baiter : ja, the herbivore feels oh so clever when the carnivore has its teeth sunk into the herbivores neck.
you were funny. now you are becoming inane. up your game you fekken rabbit.
14 Dec 2010, 03:55 am
@nama1 : Matfield to me looks like he has reduced in physical build since he started id say he is around 110kgs now the rest of the Boks backrow im sure are all 110kgs or above Burger is 110kgs as is Smith Spies is 108 Danie rossouw was between 115-120 at different times Bakkies said in an interview once he got down to 118kgs from 124kgs South Africa has always has utterly huge guys, Os in 1999 was 130kgs, Smit supposedly weighs 125 id say more like 130kgs as well.
I agree with the poster who said it is far easier to weigh more if you are taller, if you were 2 metres tall it would be very easy to weigh at least 110kgs. If Aplon bulked up it may massivey effect his pace an extra 10kgs is a lot.
Also bear this in mind guys most sportsmen exaggerate about how tall and heavy they are 6 foot 5 and 108kg becomes 6 foot 7 and 115kgs in the program, i remember meeting a few of the Scottish rugby players and they werent anything like as big as they were making out in the match programs take my word for it. Props as well always just say 120kgs as their weight.
Richie McCaw claims to be 106kgs he is clearly no bigger than 98-100kgs, Dan Carter claims 94kgs – bullshit, Habana claims 94kgs as well – bullshit
14 Dec 2010, 03:59 am
I remember Martin Johnson on a tv show admitting that the rugby players lie about their height and weight to intimidate opposition, Richard Cockerill was with him and said this was true as in the program he was 5’11 and 100kgs (15st10lbs) but in reality he was actually only 5’6-7″ tall and 90kgs odd
14 Dec 2010, 05:18 am
Someone said it earlier that Australia’s use of talented small guys comes mostly from a lack of availability of equally talented big guys.
People have already started to notice the inherent weaknesses that an entire backline of small-but-skilful brings – see the Wallabies previously world-class defence having struggled in the last 18 momths.
I know the Brumbies at least have recognised the issue and have recruited some bigger backs for next season to provide balance.
Andrew Smith: 194cm, 106kg
Ed Stubbs: 184cm, 102kg
Henry Speight: 186cm, 97kg (not huge, but at that height could easily add another 5kg without affecting speed).
It is all about balance.
@dquinn25 : I think for weight they just put the heaviest weight the player has ever been, just like they put someone like Spies’ 100m speed as 10.7, even though I’m sure he has not been that quick since school.
14 Dec 2010, 08:57 am
@bokke baiter : Herbivores??? Dont you eat mutton? Oh sorry, you dont want to eat your girlfriend. My mistake.
14 Dec 2010, 17:20 pm
Just imagine how small Gio Aplon would be if he didnt eat meat, same size as Baby Jake.
Whatever happened to that pub Franchise chain of his “Baby Jakes” are there any left. I watched him box a few times….no killer punch, but always immensely fit. 4 world titles ama…bloody…zing.
14 Dec 2010, 22:01 pm
Aplon is not Springbok quality, this is another Pro Stormers keo.co.za article. He had plenty of opportunity during the autumn tests and he did nothing out of the ordinary.
Why make the issue about size when it should be about performance on the pitch.
15 Dec 2010, 20:49 pm
There is no substitute for big strong rugby players. The All Black backline is feared for this reason. They’re huge and fast.
The Boks used to be feared for the same reason until quotas came along and now the sponsors that design the jerseys have to shop in the kids section to find sizes to fit our midgets.
18 Dec 2010, 19:02 pm
Had to register just to comment on this piece of amazing sports journalism – interview and quote a midget to tell you how important midgets are for the game.
Writer conveniently ignores how important dominance in the tackle situation has become – both to keep and win the ball – irrespective if you play the kick and chase or ball retention game.
Every single tackle Aplon makes is regarded as “heroic” – for other backline players its not worth a mention. If Aplon/De Jong tackles Bakkies its player of the tournament stuff – if Bakkies tackles Aplon/deJong its citings and manslaughter stuff.
Aplon, for his undoubtable talents, can never dominate in the tackle situation – irrespective of whatever martial arts training he has recieved.
This writer must also really like PdV – for he has mostly brought through a bunch of midgets during his reign. Fantasies of South Africans playing a open running sevens style game (and yes the “slightly larger” Fijians run over our sevens every time)
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