The new face of Super Rugby
20 Dec 2010
Find out everything you need to know about the expanded competition in the bumper 156-page issue of SA Rugby magazine.
We kick off our Super Rugby preview section with an idiot’s guide to the new format (if you still don’t know how it works after reading this, we can’t help you). That’s followed by three pages on each South African team (how they are shaping up, player signings/losses, fixtures, previous log finishes, numbers that matter etc) and one page on each of the Kiwi and Aussie sides.
Also in the new issue:
– The Springboks failed to make any progress on their end-of-year tour
– Is Victor Matfield too conservative to be Bok captain?
– The All Blacks capped off an outstanding 2010 with their third Grand Slam in five years
– The Wallabies were frustratingly inconsistent on their end-of-year tour
– If England are to seriously challenge for the World Cup, they will have to stand up to the big beasts of the game
– Behind the swagger lies a secret diary that is driving England wing Chris Ashton to new heights
– Why the Barbarians are still relevant in the professional era
– Yet again the World Cup schedule helps the big nations and hinders the smaller ones. Why can’t the IRB make rugby’s showpiece event fair to all?
– Plus: Why Stuart Abbott is back in SA, Tim Noakes on the Boks ‘doping’ controversy, Heinrich Brussow’s injury battle, SA players in Europe
Click here to subscribe to print edition
Click here to subscribe to digital edition
2,264 Comments
20 Dec 2010, 08:09 am
will buy this
20 Dec 2010, 08:27 am
@grant10 : ditto as long as there are no long winded ‘WP are so this and that articles’
20 Dec 2010, 08:27 am
Rent-a-Quote Noakes opining on a pharmacology so obscure that the UKZN professor of pharm knows nothing about the drug in question?
That’s like Zuma opining on quantum mechanics.
But not being an expert won’t stop old Dr Boris Burn-Outski from having his usual tuppenceworth, will it?
20 Dec 2010, 08:28 am
Hahaha!
“Is Victor Matfield to conservative to be Bok captain?”
This is the same guy who gets criticized for kicking for touch repeatedly when he should be kicking for goal, right?
Plonkers.
20 Dec 2010, 08:28 am
to = too
20 Dec 2010, 08:30 am
Looking forward to getting my copy. Pity that the same tired old faces always make the cover though.
20 Dec 2010, 08:34 am
Matfield has had more than enough experience as captain and he still thinks that any team he leads will automatically get tries. Well surely he has learnt his lesson with The Sharks..or has he?
Don’t hold your breath.
20 Dec 2010, 08:46 am
i would rather have Matfield lead us to wc 2011…..at least he makes the team on merit.
20 Dec 2010, 08:52 am
2011 Bok game plan
Well you know the tactics (kick and tackle, kick and tackle or give it to the closest FWD standing off 10m from the ruck)
mind you the sharks also executed the pressure game during the CC with there direct approach and rush defense…BUT…. also had the vision to entertain strike runners, skip passes and pre planned backline moves as well as FWDs linking well with backs…..
20 Dec 2010, 09:01 am
Dont see the Sharks competing for the S15 title
Exceptional performance against the Bulls – CC semis
Province on the udder hand – Like Grant10 said, Mediocre when they cross the Liesbeeck River
20 Dec 2010, 09:04 am
Matfield folds under pressure and get emotional when decisions goes against him
Juan Smith with the Pathetic Cheaters have shown his leadership capabilities
20 Dec 2010, 09:28 am
@Great White Shark : Don’t think you can call our latest cover ‘tired’. And in 2010 we had Brussow, Steyn and Lambie on the cover for the first time. Expect more new faces in 2011.
20 Dec 2010, 09:28 am
@Mighty Horua : Smith is a good leader in terms of how he leads from the front but his rapport with refs is just as, if not poorer than Matfields. gets quite emotional as well
20 Dec 2010, 09:31 am
Also with regards to Brussow….boy have we missed this fella. If we’re gonna be completely honest he was the core of our success in 2009. Was to us what Pocock currently is to Wallabies. Lets hope more of these “fetchers” are being breeded at grassroots level. It is a specific specialty which needs specialist teachers
20 Dec 2010, 09:33 am
Just my opinion…but if this cover was meant to signify the super rugby comp wouldn’t it have made more sense to have 15 boxes? Just saying…
20 Dec 2010, 09:35 am
Nothing wrong with Box as cappy, but I still don’t see why it should be either and not both
20 Dec 2010, 09:37 am
@Simon :
When can we see Bjorn Basson or Juan de Jongh?
20 Dec 2010, 09:47 am
******* predictive text ****, Vic, not Box…
20 Dec 2010, 09:50 am
@subliminal verses : Remember that the Boks had a much weaker coaching team than WP, Bulls, Sharks and Lions. It does not matter what the tactic was going to be, there is no way of executing it accurately with **** coaching. I am not saying the kick and chase is a good tactic, quite the opposite. But it does not stand a chance with idiots in charge.
20 Dec 2010, 09:50 am
@Mighty Horua : you’re just looking for coloured players! They don’t sell magazines except if their surname is habana!
i mean, who wants to see zane kirchner on the cover hahahaha
imagine odwa & akona ndungane on the cover! Next thing you will have black kids buying this magazine, no can’t have that.
Why alienate the current target market…
20 Dec 2010, 09:53 am
Hell, even a re-televised matchup from last year between the Lions and Otago are better than the Heineken slow mo kaka!
20 Dec 2010, 09:53 am
@Mighty Horua :
De Jongh maybe, but they have been banned from the Bulls so no chance of Basson I am afraid…
20 Dec 2010, 09:56 am
@Transformation :
ENTITLEMENT
ENTITLEMENT
20 Dec 2010, 09:58 am
@PissAnt :
Keo been banned?
Must be Ryan Vrede doings!
He and his open secrets
20 Dec 2010, 10:00 am
@Mighty Horua :
I believe it was Vrede indeed.
20 Dec 2010, 10:01 am
The Heineken Cup surely must lower than the Churchill Cup re entertainment!
Hell bring back the Invarsity Cup or even broadcast some Maties inter-hostel rugby
At least we will have Jake White showing off his Winning Ways
20 Dec 2010, 10:03 am
@TheTackler :
Aaaaaah Tackles…. still bearing the emotional scars of your last run in with your eternal nemisis, the Good Professor, I see…
I distinctly recall you being labelled the “Cowardly Kiwi” and taking an almighty mauling on this site.
Aaaaah…. the memories
20 Dec 2010, 10:03 am
I believe Boks have also been told not to speak to them, but that was just a rumour.
Simon?
20 Dec 2010, 10:04 am
@Mighty Horua : ja Koshuis is the ShizNit
20 Dec 2010, 10:04 am
@PissAnt :
So Rassie’s Twenty20 rugby showpiece still on?
We need any rugby to replace the English/Heineken kaka
20 Dec 2010, 10:06 am
hahaha@open secrets
20 Dec 2010, 10:07 am
How about a match between the Imaginary Shark Academy and Grey
Or are they one team?
20 Dec 2010, 10:11 am
Simon
What about a nice article in SA mag about the Burger Bunch that played for WP during the 80/90
Neil and Kobus
What are they up too?
20 Dec 2010, 10:13 am
Or a nice memorial about some legends that have passed on!
You guys are so stuck on showponies!
20 Dec 2010, 10:13 am
@Bod : You must have eaten some performance-enhancing magic mushrooms, pilgrim. (Noakes made a royal old pillock of himself — his default position, really, so it actually required even less effort than pushing his old burn-out hobby-horse.)
20 Dec 2010, 10:13 am
@Mighty Horua :
Jan Lock; Gerbrand Grobelar etc
20 Dec 2010, 10:19 am
@Mighty Horua :
Still going apparently.
20 Dec 2010, 10:21 am
@PissAnt :
Wine Farmers?
20 Dec 2010, 10:25 am
Still remember Kobus Burger scoring against NTVL
However WP lost 26-24
Naas and Robert being at their best
20 Dec 2010, 10:26 am
@Bod : 27 emotional scars indeed
Noakes tackles Kiwi coward
Tim Noakes, through a post on Keo.co.za,
has slammed the ignorance and cowardly
postings of ‘The Tackler’.
This post deserved its own thread.
Here’s what Professor Noakes had to say:
I read with great interest the claims by The
Tackler that I am the “pseud and mouthy
charlatan” who is responsible for this
burnout issue. These are certainly complex
words for a blog on rugby matters.
Although the word mouthy does not appear
in my Illustrated Oxford Dictionary, pseud
as an adjective refers to someone who is
intellectually or socially pretentious and not
genuine; the noun defines a poseur.
Similarly a charlatan is someone who falsely
claims a special knowledge or skill. The
word apparently originates from the Italian
meaning a ‘babbler’.
One of the joys of my profession is that it is
possible to determine to what extent a
person claiming to be a scientist (as I do) is
a poseur or a charlatan. We call this a rating
system. All South African scientists are free
to apply for such a rating. My current rating
is A1, the highest possible ranking. My
understanding is that there are fewer than
six such South African scientists rated at
this level in my particular discipline.
In addition, this year I won a national
award for lifetime achievement in science
as well as the award for the top South
African scientist of the year in a magazine
sponsored event. Thus, if I am indeed a
poseur and a charlatan, I must also be a
genius since I have clearly misled very
many local and international scientists of
repute. But Tackler, who sees through my
bluffery, must be in possession of
information that has escaped the scrutiny
of those scientists.
And was it I who developed the issue of â
‘burnout’ as a result of my
charlatanism?
Interestingly the International
Rugby Board organized a conference on
this topic some years ago. Much was made
of a survey of top international All Black
players, the first of its kind. Those players
complained that they played too much
rugby; that they practiced too much; that
they were away from home for too long;
and that there were insufficient breaks
between the different annual competitions.
They pleaded for less rugby. This, please
note, is not Tim Noakes speaking, but elite
New Zealand rugby players. Their concerns
have been addressed in New Zealand; the
players are now carefully monitored for
signs and symptoms of ‘burnout’ and this has led to a series of scientific
publications on â €œburnout†in rugby
players in that country.
If the New Zealand
selectors did not believe in the problem of â
€œburnout†and its prevention, would
they choose two different teams to
represent their country internationally?
Similarly the contract signed by the
Wallabies mandates that they must have 63
days a year without rugby. If the Australian
rugby authorities believed that â
€œburnout†is some myth developed by
a poseuring South African charlatan, would
they allow their players any time away
from rugby?
The act of labeling another is the classic
trick of the intellectually lazy. For it
discourages debate. The risk of listening to
another’s opinion is that it may force
one to question one’s most sacred
dogmas. And perhaps to invite the question
of why he or she reacts so irrationally to
another’s ideas.
Those involved in New
Zealand and Australian rugby are not
intellectually lazy, nor are they hide-bound
to any sacred dogmas. Nor it seems, are
they irrational. They are simply
professional. As a result they continue to
advance and not stagnate. They do not
debate whether or not burnout exists; they
simply act to insure that their players no
longer suffer from the condition. And that
they win the important rugby matches.
Whilst we in South Africans do not even
question why the performance of those
international players who have not had a
protracted rest from the game for 3 or
more years, play poorly, break down, and
ultimately disappear from the game at an
unacceptably young age. Rather we look for
a convenient scapegoat“ the coach or in
this case, myself.
Perhaps the greater
sadness is that we presume that our players
can withstand this sustained abuse and that
even when they do finally break down,
they will recover fully with rest of a week
or two. We do not ever consider that for
some this may not happen and that for
those players, 3 years without a break is all
that their bodies can sustain (in a rugby
lifetime).
Finally, The Tackler should know that to
attack another whilst enjoying anonymity is
cowardice & not a good characteristic for
a rugby player. In future I would encourage
him (or her) to use their real name
whenever (s)he disparages another by
name in such a public forum as the Internet.
Or else, lacking such courage, to remain
silent.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, August
15th, 2006
20 Dec 2010, 10:29 am
@TheTackler :
Really???
As I recall…
I read with great interest the claims by The Tackler that I am the “pseud and mouthy charlatan†who is responsible for this burnout issue. These are certainly complex words for a blog on rugby matters. Although the word mouthy does not appear in my Illustrated Oxford Dictionary, pseud as an adjective refers to someone who is intellectually or socially pretentious and not genuine; the noun defines a poseur. Similarly a charlatan is someone who falsely claims a special knowledge or skill. The word apparently originates from the Italian meaning a “babblerâ€.
One of the joys of my profession is that it is possible to determine to what extent a person claiming to be a scientist (as I do) is a poseur or a charlatan. We call this a rating system. All South African scientists are free to apply for such a rating. My current rating is A1, the highest possible ranking. My understanding is that there are fewer than six such South African scientists rated at this level in my particular discipline.
In addition, this year I won a national award for lifetime achievement in science as well as the award for the top South African scientist of the year in a magazine sponsored event. Thus, if I am indeed a poseur and a charlatan, I must also be a genius since I have clearly misled very many local and international scientists of repute. But Tackler, who sees through my bluffery, must be in possession of information that has escaped the scrutiny of those scientists.
And was it I who developed the issue of “burnout†as a result of my charlatanism? Interestingly the International Rugby Board organized a conference on this topic some years ago. Much was made of a survey of top international All Black players, the first of its kind. Those players complained that they played too much rugby; that they practiced too much; that they were away from home for too long; and that there were insufficient breaks between the different annual competitions. They pleaded for less rugby. This, please note, is not Tim Noakes speaking, but elite New Zealand rugby players. Their concerns have been addressed in New Zealand; the players are now carefully monitored for signs and symptoms of “burnout†and this has led to a series of scientific publications on “burnout†in rugby players in that country. If the New Zealand selectors did not believe in the problem of “burnout†and its prevention, would they choose two different teams to represent their country internationally?
Similarly the contract signed by the Wallabies mandates that they must have 63 days a year without rugby. If the Australian rugby authorities believed that “burnout†is some myth developed by a poseuring South African charlatan, would they allow their players any time away from rugby?
The act of labeling another is the classic trick of the intellectually lazy. For it discourages debate. The risk of listening to another’s opinion is that it may force one to question one’s most sacred dogmas. And perhaps to invite the question of why he or she reacts so irrationally to another’s ideas. Those involved in New Zealand and Australian rugby are not intellectually lazy, nor are they hide-bound to any sacred dogmas. Nor it seems, are they irrational. They are simply professional. As a result they continue to advance and not stagnate. They do not debate whether or not burnout exists; they simply act to insure that their players no longer suffer from the condition. And that they win the important rugby matches.
Whilst we in South Africans do not even question why the performance of those international players who have not had a protracted rest from the game for 3 or more years, play poorly, break down, and ultimately disappear from the game at an unacceptably young age. Rather we look for a convenient scapegoat – the coach or in this case, myself. Perhaps the greater sadness is that we presume that our players can withstand this sustained abuse and that even when they do finally break down, they will recover fully with rest of a week or two. We do not ever consider that for some this may not happen and that for those players, 3 years without a break is all that their bodies can sustain (in a rugby lifetime).
Finally, The Tackler should know that to attack another whilst enjoying anonymity is cowardice – not a good characteristic for a rugby player. In future I would encourage him (or her) to use their real name whenever (s)he disparages another by name in such a public forum as the Internet.
Or else, lacking such courage, to remain silent
My transformation act for the day.
20 Dec 2010, 10:30 am
Mine is in italics!
Any event, remains one of the all time classic threads.
20 Dec 2010, 10:32 am
Finally, The Tackler should know that to
attack another whilst enjoying anonymity is
cowardice & not a good characteristic for
a rugby player. In future I would encourage
him (or her) to use their real name
whenever (s)he disparages another by
name in such a public forum as the Internet.
20 Dec 2010, 10:46 am
I’m almost feeling sorry for old Tackles. . .not. One thing to have an opinion, a whole other thing to be obstinate.
20 Dec 2010, 10:48 am
@Redlion is doing pre-season conditioning :
Yeah as long as there’s also no “Lions about to turn a corner” … or “Forget Loffie this is the new 3 year plan” type of articles…
20 Dec 2010, 10:53 am
@wp_boytjie :
After so many corners, they could be running around in circles
20 Dec 2010, 10:54 am
@wp_boytjie :
BTW
Loffie had a 5 year plan
20 Dec 2010, 11:01 am
@garth :
Cant agree more, if you looked at how teams played in the CC and we know what coaching structures that are in place, then you have the EOYT boks regroup before the tour……i bet some of the rookies thought they were at a rugby clinic for schoolkids with the level of coaching by the 3 stooges
20 Dec 2010, 11:09 am
@Mighty Horua :
Lol , now its a 10 year plan for Loffie at Boland
20 Dec 2010, 11:11 am
@wp_boytjie : Same plan that wp has been on. Or perhaps a 15 year plan?
20 Dec 2010, 11:24 am
@Mighty Horua : 47 no way Loffie definitely had a 3 year plan.
20 Dec 2010, 11:24 am
@Two Eyed :
Both finals in 2010 ? Which other SA team made both finals this year ?
a 1 year plan b!tch.
20 Dec 2010, 11:26 am
@wp_boytjie : Runners up counts for nothing. Nobody remembers them
20 Dec 2010, 11:30 am
@Two Eyed :
Stats do the talking man , if you made Number 2 out of all top Southern Hemisphere clubs in Super 14 then you can consider it a success , if you become the only SA team in Super Rugby history to beat all Kiwi sides. 15 year plan bla blah haha
20 Dec 2010, 11:32 am
@Transformation :
Are you sure? I thought it was a Fiver?
20 Dec 2010, 11:33 am
But how long have Rassie been with the WP/Stormers?
20 Dec 2010, 11:39 am
BTW
I hope they drop that USELESS Paul Harris!
And since when is Paul Harris fielding at Slip?
Johan Botha way, way, way better than this quota
20 Dec 2010, 11:41 am
From a pool of 55 million Saffas (ZImbos included), there no better SPIN bowler than Paul Harris?
20 Dec 2010, 11:45 am
15 year plan.
snort
20 Dec 2010, 11:49 am
@Mighty Horua :
Agreed, although no one is more useless than Tsotsobe.
Epic quota.
In what universe and on what planet is he a better cricketer than McLaren?
Day 1 of this test, ball moving all over the place, batsmen looking in trouble and this clown goes for 50 in 9 overs??!
Ditto for their second innings.
At least Harris took a few important wickets.
20 Dec 2010, 11:50 am
@Mighty Horua : Tsotsobe battles to get above the 130km/h mark. On that first day with all the help from the pitch he was useless.
20 Dec 2010, 11:51 am
@John Galt : Yep….agree.
20 Dec 2010, 11:52 am
@Mighty Horua : ja Drie jaar plan boet
20 Dec 2010, 11:54 am
@John Galt : lopsy is not effective, needs to go back to supersport series.
20 Dec 2010, 11:54 am
@John Galt :
Agree on Tsotsobe but the USELESS title must go to Paul Harris
I think the reason why hes at slip is that he’s effing slow or just effing lazy.
There are much better fielders that could be slip – Like AB or Amla
Johan Botha should play – however the clique will decide otherwise
20 Dec 2010, 11:59 am
Who was MOM?
20 Dec 2010, 12:00 pm
Apart from just bowling 40 overs of arm balls, taking the odd wicket in between, looking at the oppostion players as if the ball spun – Paul Harris contributes F-ALL
20 Dec 2010, 12:01 pm
@Two Eyed :
Kallis
20 Dec 2010, 12:04 pm
@Transformation :
loppers needs to find an extra two yards of pace.
if parnell has come through the 4 day game unscathed they might go with him.
otherwise its maclaren.
20 Dec 2010, 12:05 pm
Even JP Dumniny posed a bigger threat than Paul Harris – and that was last year vs Poms
20 Dec 2010, 12:10 pm
The reason Paul Harris left the Titans – actually the Titans discarded him cause he was behind Roelof
Paul isnt even first choice at his franchise
20 Dec 2010, 12:12 pm
@Mighty Horua :
I remember that, JP got a few key wickets whilst relegating Harris to the ‘specialist fielder’ tag.
Harris is very unathletic. Same with Lonwabe ‘Kwashiokor’ Tsosobe.
I think they both need a good gym program.
20 Dec 2010, 12:14 pm
Paul Harris cannot even turn a bloody doorknob
20 Dec 2010, 12:15 pm
Milk has a more consistent record of turning than Harris
20 Dec 2010, 12:16 pm
The only way he ever gets wickets is when batsmen are fooled to play for the turn (which is never there).
20 Dec 2010, 12:17 pm
@John Galt :
Gym wont help!
They are good provincial players and needs to be content within that realm
20 Dec 2010, 12:18 pm
@PissAnt :
20 Dec 2010, 12:18 pm
When is Parnell going to be fit again?
20 Dec 2010, 12:19 pm
@John Galt :
Imagine they send Paul Harris to the Gym – We might end up with a Shoaib Aktar looking Harris
20 Dec 2010, 12:22 pm
i’m loving all the articles poking fun at the poms tltltltl funny as hell!
20 Dec 2010, 12:23 pm
@gunther : lopsy looks a tad chubby to me, he needs to be fit as a fiddle, maybe some fitness training with that warhorse makhaya will do him some good…
20 Dec 2010, 12:28 pm
Come on guys its not as if we have ever had a good spinner in recent years.
Gogga Adams, Nicky Boje,Johan Botha, Harris , Symcox etc etc, they never scared opposition.
Vinnige Fanie, Donald, Pollock , Steyn , Morkel.
We breed fast bowlers, spinners are not in our blood.
20 Dec 2010, 12:45 pm
@wp_boytjie :
symcox was ten times the spinner harris is.
adams and boje even robbie petersen were all better than harris.
harris can’t even tie up an end.
he is the worst spinner in world cricket.
even that dude from zim is better than him.
the sooner Imran Tahir qualifies the better.
20 Dec 2010, 12:46 pm
@Mighty Horua :
“Agree on Tsotsobe but the USELESS title must go to Paul Harris”
In fact he is so useless he is currently ranked 14th out of the top 100 test bowlers in the WORLD!
Dilettante!
20 Dec 2010, 12:52 pm
@Transformation :
he needs AD to look at him as well.
heed needs dome work on his action.
20 Dec 2010, 13:00 pm
Great send-off for Jinx. The rest of the keo gang are still knocking back the whiskeys in Obs, but alas, the katman must work.
Cheers Jinx the Lynx. Catch you on the B-side.
20 Dec 2010, 13:10 pm
Imraan Tahir is a must for the Proteas. That guy is a fantastic Legspinner! Can you imagine the team with him in it! All round they would be good. Harris is ok, but not a match winner in Imraan’s class. He is married to a SA girl and has qualified.
Well done Proteas and congrats Jacques! The ****** is off your back now.
20 Dec 2010, 13:20 pm
Whats wrong with m o n k e y.
20 Dec 2010, 13:28 pm
@>^..^< katman : 86 – Katman, did you go? Not sure if you live in CT or Joburg buddy.
Jinxie’s last journey today. Keep the beers cold Jinxie. We will all catch up sometime.
20 Dec 2010, 13:31 pm
@Bill Reyts : does he have a bar-coded ID or passport?
20 Dec 2010, 13:37 pm
After England match
“Harris “to be charged” for contravening Trade Descriptions Act
Sources tell me that the South African government is in the final stages of an investigation into whether Paul Harris has contravened the South African Trade Descriptions Act.
The investigation was started following video evidence provided from the third test match between South Africa and England at Cape Town, which finished on 7 January. The video evidence mainly centred on the final days play when Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell and Graham Onions saw England to a narrow nine wickets down draw much to the frustration of Graeme Smith, Proteas supporters and so it seems the South African government.
Having checked a wealth of other materials including Wisden, CricInfo and transcripts of interviews with Harris himself, the investigators found that he was described by all as a slow left arm spinner.
However, on viewing the video evidence from Cape Town and that of several other test matches that Harris has played in, the investigators found no evidence of spin, turn or even a mild tweak. My source tells me the fact that JP Duminy was able to extract considerable spin and turn from the pitch was the final nail in the coffin for Harris.
Charges are expected to be brought shortly and Harris’ place in the squad for the impending tour of India is expected to be in jeopardy.”
20 Dec 2010, 13:38 pm
some dudes must be bloated from the humble pie down under
No Beer?
by David Lloyd
It looks like a u-turn rather than a U2 for Australia in the third Test match.
They’ve made some extraordinary selections and the talk is that they’re going to play four pace bowlers with Michael Beer being left out. They’ve got Steven Smith to provide a bit of spin, but I think they’ll need Simon Smith and his amazing dancing bear to beat England!
There’s a programme called Inside Cricket on Fox Sport out here, and the panel have been getting really stuck in to the Australian players. Of Xavier Doherty, Mark Waugh said: “He bowled that many pies he should have opened a bakery.”
Ricky Ponting says they deserve all the stick they’re getting after playing some pretty ordinary cricket. He’s not hiding and I admire him for that. As usual people are talking about sacking the captain, but if you take a step back you wonder who else could do the job. He’s only as good as the team he’s got.
In my opinion, the best bowlers are in the side, but the problem is they’re all coming back from injury. It was pretty clear they were unfit in the first two Tests and maybe 10 days off will have helped.
They need a spark and everybody here is saying that Mitchell Johnson has to perform. This bloke was International Cricketer of the Year in 2009, but as I’ve written in this blog before, we in England have never seen anything like that. I don’t think it’s unfair to say he’s been dreadful every time I’ve watched him.
I thought they might send him away to play some cricket, but he has stayed with the group and just netted. Well, there’s a time when those nets are going to get taken away.
And if he was that great, why did he get left out in the first place?
A final word on Australia. You could say that their cricket is a bit of a laugh at the moment. Well, I’ve just been watching a one-day game on TV and a fellow called Tommy Cooper has taken two catches!
20 Dec 2010, 13:48 pm
@Puma : Yep, I was there. Service was in Maitland and wake was in Obs.
Dawn, UFO, Grant10, Slappes, Robzim, JustRugby were still there when I left – sitting on the stoep drinking whiskey and beer (except Dawn was on the ginger ale). I’m sure Jinx would approve.
20 Dec 2010, 13:49 pm
@>^..^< katman :
I only drink when it’s dark.
Go well Jinx!
20 Dec 2010, 13:51 pm
@>^..^< katman : 93 – Great everyone went. I would have gone had I been in CT.
Gonna miss Jinxies posts plenty.
20 Dec 2010, 13:57 pm
@Dawn : And how you must pray for sunset…
20 Dec 2010, 13:58 pm
@>^..^< katman :
Actually, it’s too darn hot to get gesyp now!
And I’m out of whiskey. That’s wy WPTID didn’t pitch.
He owes me.
20 Dec 2010, 13:59 pm
Great to see everyone again. I need more beer though… Cheers Jinx! (Dawn, sal jy asb organise vir die volgende keer?)
20 Dec 2010, 13:59 pm
Good grief.
I still can’t believe I just went to Jinx’ funeral.
20 Dec 2010, 14:00 pm
@Slappes :
I ain’t organising skwat!!!
20 Dec 2010, 14:00 pm
@Dawn : That’s a big accusation to make, claiming that someone deliberately reneges on his bet obligations. Hope he isn’t reading this.
20 Dec 2010, 14:00 pm
@>^..^< katman : @Dawn : We can all have a glass for Jinx tonight.
20 Dec 2010, 14:02 pm
@Puma : Yep, let’s do that.
20 Dec 2010, 14:05 pm
@Dawn : 99 – Very sad Dawn, can’t believe he is gone.
Was looking for some posts Jinx done during the IPL we posted plenty together. He was really gifted with words. Took me forever to find those, but came across some great posts when he was talking to you Dawn. He sure was fond of you plenty.
20 Dec 2010, 14:06 pm
@Dawn , lol. I just googled Skop’s nazi shark tirade, farkin hilarious. Jinx also commented on that thread.
20 Dec 2010, 14:08 pm
@>^..^< katman : 103 – Right its on..hahaha.
The last time I spoke to Jinx he told me to hop on a plane to CT and come and have drinks with everyone at Firemans. Just too far for me though. Wish somehow I did. So will have a few glass for Jinx tonight here in Umhlanga of course. He wont mind at all. Probably would say, “I dig that lank”…hehe.
20 Dec 2010, 14:11 pm
@>^..^< katman :
He KNOWS I will moer him.
20 Dec 2010, 14:14 pm
@Puma, Jinx brother spoke about him and mentioned both blogs in the eulogy.
20 Dec 2010, 14:16 pm
@Slappes : 108 – Very nice of Jinx’s brother to do that.
Go Google “Roelof saves SA. Keo.co.za.” Jinx posts a great post there to Roelof. Only Jinx could say such great words.
20 Dec 2010, 14:18 pm
Eish! Why amongst all the malls in CT does my wife want to go to Kanala Walk today?
20 Dec 2010, 14:19 pm
@Slappes : Jinx posted under another nic during the IPL. (for fun of course) Google Frikkadelhi Daredevil that was his nic during the IPL. He posted some great posts then. He was gifted with words.
20 Dec 2010, 14:21 pm
@Slappes : 110 – Look up Shark_Lover there. He runs the Cattle Baron Restaurant in that Mall.
Pity you going to the Malls this time of year. Not for me…hehe.
20 Dec 2010, 14:29 pm
No malls please, thank you!
Voortrekker Road was bad enough.
20 Dec 2010, 14:40 pm
@Puma, Dawn lol. I hate malls – period! Voortrekker was scary but it seems as if Katman knows his way around there? Scaly place and people, Lions supporters are quite at home there.
20 Dec 2010, 14:42 pm
I did my Christmas shopping in Somerset Mall yesterday. I was on the telephone from Chad while my wife was fighting the crowds.
Easy
20 Dec 2010, 14:51 pm
Rest in peace Jinx.
20 Dec 2010, 14:57 pm
@Dawn :
@107
My! Oh my! Am I surprised you have not received the so promised goods? That one just panders to this cyber crowd. Totally untrustworthy, if ever there was one such.
Surely you know you are dealing with a veritable, grossly self-interested, conniving skunk – net ‘n ou soetbek.
20 Dec 2010, 14:58 pm
@Slappes :
Nee jong
Katman almost drove us to Katmandu.
Missed his turnoff.
20 Dec 2010, 15:07 pm
@Dawn : the worst news this holiday is that Rossoneri has stopped drinking
now i get gesuip alone!!!!! Not kosher AT ALL
20 Dec 2010, 15:15 pm
@Transformation :
Whatever for.
20 Dec 2010, 15:28 pm
Trying to imagine two sour old crones drinking together…not a good mind picture.
20 Dec 2010, 15:34 pm
@Dawn :
She wants to save what’s left of her two front teeth.
20 Dec 2010, 15:43 pm
Stormers, Sharks and Bulls to make the play offs of Super Rugby next year.
20 Dec 2010, 15:44 pm
@Dawn : just…
@Great White Shark : ah Predawn and his useless imagination
20 Dec 2010, 15:44 pm
@Slappes :
Please tell this doos I’m not a sour old crone
20 Dec 2010, 15:45 pm
Sharks team for next Year
1. Beast
2. Smit
3. Jannie
4. Sykes
5. Hargreaves
6. Daniel
7. Alberts
8. Kanko
9. Mcleod
10. JLP
11. Mvovo
12. Bosman
13. Adi
14. JPP
15. Lambie
16. Bismarck
17. Van Staden
18. Skeate
19. Deysel
20. Hoffmann
21. Riaan Swanepoel
22. Odwa
20 Dec 2010, 15:46 pm
@Great White Shark : She is reg my bru.
20 Dec 2010, 15:49 pm
Bulls team for next year.
1. Guthro
2. G.Botha
3. Werner Kruger
4. Bakkies
5. Matfield
6. Stegmann
7. Potgieter
8. Spies
9. FdP
10. M.Steyn
11. Basson
12. Wynand
13. Pretorius
14. Gerhard
15. Kirchner
16. Chiliboy
17. Greyling
18. Danie
19. Van Velze
20. Hougaard
21. Brummer
22. Dippenaar
20 Dec 2010, 15:52 pm
@Dawn, no need to. He seems like the stalking type, and you don’t need a crazed lovestruck shorky following you in the holidays…
20 Dec 2010, 15:53 pm
Stormers team for next year
1. Blaauw
2. Liebenberg
3. Brok
4. Fondse
5. Bekker
6. Burger
7. F.Louw
8. Vermeulen
9. Ricky
10. Grant
11. Habana
12. JDV
13. JF
14. Aplon
15. Jantjes
16. Deon Fourie
17. CJ
18. Anton van Zyl
19. P.Louw
20. Dewaldt
21. Lionel Cronje
22. Juan de Jongh
20 Dec 2010, 16:10 pm
I predict 1 SA, 1 NZ and 1 Aussie team in the semis next year, with the other spot a toss up between an SA and Kiwi team.
The true effect of the new format will take time to become clear, but I just have a sneaky suspicion that it’s gonna nail us more than usual.
If the Bulls lose away to the Stormers and Sharks, the Sharks lose away to the Stormers and Bulls and the Stormers lose away to the Sharks and Bulls, then all 3 SA teams are stuffed.
And that is a very possible scenario.
20 Dec 2010, 16:33 pm
@Tacitus : I notice you don’t see the Lions losing to anyone. Finally you seem to be seeing the light.
20 Dec 2010, 16:36 pm
@iori Yagami :
I dont like a few positions there in that sharks team mate
1. Beast
2. Smit……time to go old man (Bissy)
3. Jannie
4. Sykes
5. Hargreaves
6. Daniel
7. Alberts
8. Kanko
9. Mcleod
10. JLP….Lambie way too gifted to be wasted @ 15 (Lambie)
11. Mvovo
12. Bosman….(JLP)
13. Adi
14. JPP
15. Lambie……(Ludick)
20 Dec 2010, 16:36 pm
@>^..^< katman : naturally Tacitus is only concerned about the ‘super powers’
20 Dec 2010, 16:39 pm
@subliminal verses : who actually rates alistair hargreaves? Everytime he gets picked for the Bokke he pulls a ‘Stegmann’…
20 Dec 2010, 16:44 pm
@Transformation :
Yeah……good in black and white tho (realentles defense)
would try out Anton Van Zyl or Ross Skeate for the green and gold instead
20 Dec 2010, 16:51 pm
@subliminal verses : i rate A van Zyl too, even more after that Baabaas game…
20 Dec 2010, 16:55 pm
@Tacitus :
We were just talking about you!
20 Dec 2010, 16:58 pm
@Transformation :
I rate Keegan Daniel as well….have you eva the pace on that kid ???
20 Dec 2010, 17:13 pm
Well, looks like TheTackler got served good and proper by the top dog!
20 Dec 2010, 17:17 pm
@subliminal verses : yeah but what else does he bring to the table, pace and? Is he a ball carrier, link man, does he slow down oppo ball?
20 Dec 2010, 17:21 pm
@Transformation :
he could play 12 or 13, i think
20 Dec 2010, 17:22 pm
who remembers Adrian Kaper ????
20 Dec 2010, 17:38 pm
@subliminal verses :
I remember that legend – used to work wonders with the run rate!
20 Dec 2010, 18:50 pm
Statistics are like a lamppost to a drunk man. It does not serve to illuminate but rather, to keep him upright.
A very apt description when it comes to statistics, specifically where it is used to motivate the inclusion and exclusion of certain players.
I had to learn the hard way that statistics, although extremely useful, can sometimes be very damaging. Especially in a dynamic medium such as rugby where success is dependent on more things than just raw mathematical or scientific data. Most telling, statistics only become useful, or useless, depending on the interpretation of data and how that is done.
In my days of doing analysis in sport I got very frustrated by certain coaches insistence on the continued selection of certain players when my analytical data suggested they were not where they should be from a performance point of view considering widely accepted bench marks. That was until I ventured into coaching myself.
I learned as the saying above goes, that statistics merely support views in rugby, it does not illuminate or give certain clarity on events or players.
Practically I am also reminded of this whenever I see a Baa-baa team, or World XV team assembled. Statistically you can pick the best individual players in the world in certain positions, but that is no guarantee they will gel as a team, in fact, they seldom do.
The recent End of Year Tour was supposed to answer the question of leadership within the Springbok team, in the absence of regular captain John Smit who underwent surgery and rehab. His long serving deputy, Victor Matfield was charged with the honour to lead the Boks on tour and given the performances, the questions on whether there is life after John Smit from a captaincy or leadership role, remains largely unanswered.
The situation is even more complicated with the fact that Smit’s continued inclusion in the Bok team mostly based on his leadership ability, is keeping who many believe to be the best hooker in the world at the moment, Bismarck du Plessis, on the bench.
Many argue it is more of a sentimental issue than a logical one, and statistically they can prove this to you rather convincingly, but I am afraid it is not that simple.
I think Smit would be first to admit that 2010 was a forgettable year for him. From a form and conditioning perspective it was probably his worst year as a professional player.
But is one bad season enough to make what would arguably the most crucial decision for a Rugby World Cup in 2011?
If one bad season is all we consider, not many players will play more than 20 tests for South Africa, let alone 50 or 100.
It is a very fine line one walks when you pick teams based on form alone, especially at test level where form comes from different dynamics (lower levels of competition, different teams and different competitions).
The question we should ask, is whether a fit, conditioned John Smit would be a asset, or liability for the Springboks at World Cup 2011?
Following that, it would be up to the player to ensure he is (fit and conditioned), because I do not believe this should be a case of either or, for me it is a case of having the best captain, lock forward, and hooker in a match day 22, and I cannot see why this is impossible.
20 Dec 2010, 19:04 pm
@PissAnt :
Surely as long as Smit’s performances as a player are overshadowed by those of Bismark, then it will always be a case of “either or”? Only one hooker can take to the field.
20 Dec 2010, 19:17 pm
smit is a hero….yesterdays hero!
20 Dec 2010, 19:53 pm
@PissAnt :
20 Dec 2010, 20:03 pm
@gunther :
You know I had to.
20 Dec 2010, 20:09 pm
@PissAnt :
an early christmas present?
20 Dec 2010, 20:13 pm
@gunther :
Damn straight!
20 Dec 2010, 20:22 pm
@PissAnt :
good santa.
i belive barney is in great nick.
20 Dec 2010, 21:23 pm
@grant10 :
Unless he’s lost a bit of weight and picked up a heck of a lot of form, he’s on borrowed time.
Provincially there’s no place for him unless he doesn’t mind playing second fiddle to Bismarck.
20 Dec 2010, 21:54 pm
@PissAnt : How plonkerish is poor old Noaksie in that limp riposte? (And, no, he — or you — won’t find “plonkerish” in the dictionary either. But there’s just no mistaking the meaning and the appropriateness of this adjective in qualifying old Boris Burn-outski and Harry his ancient hobby-horse, is there?)
20 Dec 2010, 21:56 pm
@Mighty Horua : Botha’s a chucker.
20 Dec 2010, 22:01 pm
@Yetirat : You’re dreaming, pilgrim. Noaksie’s nutty burnout theories have been proven wrong yet again by the triumphant yet unrested and not-terribly-rotated All Blacks.
Noaksie’s just an intellectually-lazy fraud who has trundled out the same unscientific nostrum for 25 years. He’s a legend in his own lunchtime.
20 Dec 2010, 22:06 pm
@TheTackler :
You’re embarrassing yourself. I’m even embarrassed for you.
20 Dec 2010, 22:30 pm
a quiet toast to one of the great gentlemen of mankind. Salute Jinxie. I dedicate my copy of Astral Weeks to your memory old boeta. aux riv ous
20 Dec 2010, 22:34 pm
@Simon :
Just as long as they’re Sharks faces.
20 Dec 2010, 22:34 pm
@TheTackler : You had your @ss handed to you before and you’re back for more?
20 Dec 2010, 22:40 pm
@Slappes :
tickles loves punishment.
why else would he be here?
20 Dec 2010, 23:28 pm
@Simon : #12
“Expect more new faces in 2011.”
Does that mean that Elton Jantjies (young player/newcomer of the year), Bjorn Basson (record try scorer), Conrad Jantjes (come back of the year in 2011?), Ricky January (most talked about player of the year in 2010) will be featured on the front page or at least in the mag
@Mighty Horua : 39
I remember Avril Williams outplaying kobud during the trials for the right wing spot against England in ’84.
My best memory of Kobus was when he ran over J.J. van der Walt of the Blou Bulle to score a try. That and of course the fact that he was the brother of the original “Klein Schalk Burger”
@Transformation : #40
@PissAnt : #41
On the other hand, I think if you feel the need to defend yourself on an open forum like Keo, against a person hiding behind a pseudo, there must be something more than meets the eye.
20 Dec 2010, 23:39 pm
@gunther : To hand out punishment.
20 Dec 2010, 23:40 pm
@Great White Shark : Harden up.
21 Dec 2010, 00:12 am
@wp_boytjie : 82
Gogga was the best we had after isolation.
@gunther : 83
Symcox only kept his place because he could bat and of course the fact that he could give it back verbally. Other than that, he was a kak spin bowler.
Could talk the talk but when it came to the walk…?
@Bill Reyts : 87
Tahir will only become a SA citizen in the next few months as I understand it. Our law prohibits a player from presenting SA unless he is a citizen. Remember all the hoolahoo with Beast when he was still a Zim citizen?
@subliminal verses : 143
Adrian Kuiper, boet. At least get his name right.
The only guy who took transformation in cricket seriously enough to go and play for a “Coloured” club after unity was achieved.
Exept for Bob Woolmer (RIP) of course who was doing that almost ten years before that.
@PissAnt : 145
At least tell us who you are quoting here or is this your own words?
You know that JS is a “divisive” subject on this site.
I know where you stand wrt the JS conundrum and I’m with you on that.
21 Dec 2010, 01:13 am
SLAPPES…….I know your sensitive about your weight ,you fat plank.Some advice, put your ridiculously tight rugby shorts on,get of keo and go for a jog,sitting there sucking on biltong and playing with yourself isn’t helping your problem
21 Dec 2010, 01:23 am
@gunther : 83
“symcox was ten times the spinner harris is.”
You should think about this statement again.
Symcox: 37 wickets in 20 test matches compared at an ave of 43 compared to:
Harris with 101 in 35 test matches at an ave of 37?
As I said in my p. 165, Symcox was in the team because we wanted a long tail. He was never good enough to be an international spinner.
21 Dec 2010, 01:25 am
@nama1 :
“did not want a long batting tail”
21 Dec 2010, 02:00 am
My predictions for covers of SA Rugby mag for 2011:
Jan: F du Preez… I can’t wait to play.
Feb: Vic Matfield… Why I think we’ll be S15 champs.
March: Morne Steyn… The 85% man.
April: Ruan Pienaar… Why Pdv should select him.
May: John Smit…I’m ready!
June: F. Steyn… I want to play in the WC.
July: Morne Steyn… What went wrong in the S15.
Aug: John Smit…Captain Courages.
Sept: F. du Preez… The reason why we’ll be WC champs.
Aug: Lambie…The future of SA rugby.
Sept: PdV… No…yes… thanks… goodbye.
Oct: F. du Preez… Japan is waiting.
Nov… Vic Matfield… Thank you, big guy.
Dec: John Smit… It had to end
21 Dec 2010, 02:14 am
let me have an unemotional ,objective look at the smit saga….
Firstly, in my opinion, the fallacy of needing smit in the bok team for his captaincy has been exposed for the drivel that it is. 5 out of 6 ti nations losses, a disatrous 2009 eoyt, all under smits so called magic leadership! The sharks operated like a machine without the vaunted skipper. Matfield has his detractors, i am not 1 of them. 3 super 14 titles, a win in Dunedin, a 3 out of 4 in europe 2010,countless CC s? The man walks the talk!
Now lets look at where the new Lazurus like comeback kingcan play?
Hooker?? Houston, we have a problem! Bissy is universally acknowledged as the worlds best hooker, almost virtrually unaminously. Even the jake snake has him in the world 15 !So sorry Jonny boy…
Okay, lets do the saffa, sentimental candy floss limp wristed ,knee jerk reaction….lets accomodate smit.
Loosehead….oops…Houston, sommer another problem! Guthro SA player of the year….Beast, part of a much vaunted front row that destroyed the poms at twickenham, the same poms that murdered the aussies and tested the kiwis! The redeeming feature of a poor 2010 was the boks scrumming….so sorry jon…loosehead a no no.
So whats left? Tighthead>??? Come on, keep it real, the man has had a neck op, he even admitted to being scared of playing 3….and i dont blame him. And with Jannie , BJ, CJ…? No sorry jon……..sommer another moer of a problem!
Lets just be realistic ….and less bloody sentimental over the issue. Merit gents, merit!Thats all that should count.
If smit makes a lazurus like comeback the question remains….will he be prepared to play off the bench and hand over the captaincy? Because he doesent make that starting 15 on merit or form…..and i tell you something for nothing,,,,,we want to have a snowballs chance in hell of retaining Bill we better not be candy flossed….
21 Dec 2010, 02:30 am
and the above merit based philosophy applys across the board, certainly to the great Luke Watson as well…..lets give these okes a big welcome home…..and let them do there talking on the field….
All i wish for is that the kak favoritism and the ‘entitlement culture ‘ gets done away ith once and for all…..No fat boys club gravy trainers…please. Let the okes play there hearts out in the knwledge that merit will be the litmus test….not sentiment!
I have said for a while now….boks chosen correctly and with a new backline coah can go on to retain this wc. But there cant be room for rubbish sentiment. Butch , Frans steyn, bj….come home guys, and compete in super 15 so apples can be compared with apples….
choose specialists, stop the players out of position, always use an out and out fetcher, our 10 needs to play ‘ flatter ‘ ….if ms cant, then replace him! But MS cannot sit as deep in the pocket as he has and then expect the backs to fire. Butch still my main man if fit!
21 Dec 2010, 02:58 am
@grant10 :
“certainly to the great Luke Watson as well…..”…….the great?? Luke Watson……what you smoking? If anyone is a gravey trainer you got the name correct at least!
21 Dec 2010, 03:02 am
@bokke baiter :
Talking of playing with yourself, it appears you do that every time you log onto Keo. Saffa’s turn you on you perverted f u k?
21 Dec 2010, 04:31 am
Tackler was fired by Tim Noakes in the eighties and ran away to NZ to recover his mojo
Cool to see all the CT bloggers paying respects to Jinz. Good one!
21 Dec 2010, 04:32 am
sorry, Jinx
21 Dec 2010, 05:33 am
@nama1 :
Paul Harris has become the fastest to 100 wickets (only 6 matches behind the ‘opener’ Morkel) out of all the Japie ‘spinners’ in the modern game and is ranked 14th in the world currently… whether he turns the ball or not… enough said!
21 Dec 2010, 05:59 am
@grant10 :
You’ll never quite understand the 22man 85min game that is test rugby… JS annihilated Tiann Liebenberg en-route to 6 consecutive wins in the S14 and then went on to have to play 75mins each test in the 3N due to the uber-quota on the bench, two of which he had brilliant games despite his team…
Based on that alone he would most definitely deserve a spot if only off the bench in the RWC over all other incumbents (BDP being the starter)… S15 form depending…
22man 85min test rugby.
21 Dec 2010, 06:03 am
@whatever :
Nah Tackler was his English teacher in the 80′s, that said Noakes would never make it as a real scientist due to his poor punctuation and grammar…
21 Dec 2010, 06:32 am
@nama1 : not even one Spies article? You’re dreaming boet
21 Dec 2010, 06:49 am
@bryce_in_oz : John Smit was useless just about the entire season. He had one half decent game for the Boks, the rest of the time you may as well have played Liebenberg, who has been the number 2 hooker in the country. John Smit is the only one that wants to talk to the media. That’s the sole reason for keeping him around. On merit, Luke is more deserving of the Bok captaincy…. just a pity about his mouth. It sounds like he has matured a little now.
21 Dec 2010, 07:23 am
@garth : well said young man…it is only rhe weak sentimentalists who hold onto past glories ….its time to be bold and to embrace merit…..yesterdays heroes will never be forgetten….but its time to usher in a new dynamic into the Bok set up….and it starts with Smit either firing all cylinders and pushing Bissy out the team…on merit….or retiring in the nest interests of the team. After all….he is not bigger than the game….and as Matfield has recently said…..a few players really need to reevaluate there actual contributions….i wonder who he was referring too?
21 Dec 2010, 07:28 am
@garth :
Oh please… there was no way any coach in his right mind was going to drop his 2009 all conquering captain, with BDP out, for another hooker who he dominated in the S14… get real numnuts!
As for whether Liebenberg (or many others) should have been in the 22 over a player that struggled to perform at VC level… that’s a pretty standard answer…
Luke Watson does not even factor into the above discussion over the period!
21 Dec 2010, 07:33 am
@grant10 :
Should a form Smit be in the 22, even if only from the bench in 2011 with BDP in the squad… damn right… and he will!
Either way the Boks can potentially have one of the most mobile/powerful front-row bench options…
I’ll leave the captaincy debate to you numnuts though…
21 Dec 2010, 07:35 am
@bryce_in_oz : is the lad not allowed to share an opinion?
21 Dec 2010, 07:36 am
@bryce_in_oz : why so aggressive?
21 Dec 2010, 07:37 am
@bryce_in_oz :
“I’ll leave the captaincy debate to you numnuts though…”
Although it is extremely straight-forward… Smit on the bench, Victor will be captaining… Smit starting, he’ll be captaining…
Best of both worlds…
Only a numuts would try and complicate that…
21 Dec 2010, 07:41 am
@grant10 :
Not intentional, product of toneless blogs… take out the word ‘numnuts’ if deemed so…
21 Dec 2010, 07:42 am
@nama1 :
You forgot:
Gerhard vd Heever – The revival of the white wing
Deon Helberg – Redemption Time
21 Dec 2010, 07:56 am
@bryce_in_oz : okay.
21 Dec 2010, 07:56 am
@grant10 :
Grant old boy you have been banging this same drum since 2007.
Of course the tune has changed a bit depending on Smit’s position but the meaning the same.
When last did you say something new on the subject? Seriously.
Lets summarise your point of view
Smit the TH – Oh no turbo reverse. nuff said.
Smit the LH – Adequate but there are others better (which there are)
Smit the hooker – Here you have altered your tune where Smit has ranged between No 2 and 5 in your rankings. When Liebenberg got stuffed by Smit you moved him up one.
Smit the captain – Not worth a place in the team if you can’t command your main place
Smit the person – Was meant to retire in 2007 (after his book). Was very mean to your mate (Luke). Note that Luke climbed into Smit and White in 2006 but that got one grudging admission. Smit also too unfit. Smit also kidnapped the Lindbergh baby
Now w/o exaggerating I reckon you must have posted many thousand posts on this subject saying a flavour of the above every time
Saying something over and over again may convince your customers but it is unlikely to convince anyone with half a rugby brain cell. Oh sorry I forgot. We are on keo.
BTW – of course you are entitled to your opinion. Do you have to say it many thousand times.
21 Dec 2010, 07:56 am
@Mighty Horua : good morning Sir…i trust you well?
21 Dec 2010, 07:57 am
@Tacitus : If our teams do well overseas and the Lions and Cheetahs take points off the touring opposition we may well see three S.A teams. You just need a lot of points. Our teams are going to have to go for bonus points every game.
21 Dec 2010, 07:59 am
@garth :
When Liebenberg and Smit played against eachother in the S14 Liebenberg came off 2nd best…. badly.
Actually you have a short memory. Smit played pretty well in the S14. Admittedly he did not play well in the 3Ns (clearly tired). BTW there is a long list of players that played badly in the 3Ns including Matfield
21 Dec 2010, 08:03 am
@Biscuit : you can slice it, you can dice it
You can spin it like a DJ…
But unless smit has Lazurus like qualities he will not make a bok starting 15 on merit.
Bissy is a beast, a machine, a once in a lifetime talent.
If smit allows his own lust for personal glory to cloud his judgement, well lets just say the wc 2011 may be a short bok trip….far less than a month…
That you can bank…..all over rover ,goodnite nirse…
Now i have to be off….enjoy your day you sentimental old candy floss man!
outta here
21 Dec 2010, 08:04 am
@nama1 :
nama…
have you calmed down now that you realise I have not done a “background check” on you
I don’t buy that Harris is a better spinner than Symcox.
You can quote all the averages you want but they played in different teams at different stages of development.
Symcox turned the ball more than Harris and had more control, he also bowled with better flight.
anyway it’s only an opinion.
I shall patiently await the selection of Tahir.
21 Dec 2010, 08:06 am
@Mighty Horua :
I trust you enjoyed the youth festival as part of the keo youth league delegation.
was the sushi to your liking?
21 Dec 2010, 08:09 am
@Biscuit :
The argument is whether Smit should be in the 22… no real argument there from any sane fan…
Some punters would have him simply retire altogether if he’s not the captain… which is rubbish…
Shaun Pollock gave up the captaincy only to continue as one of the Protea’s best ever contributors with both the bat an ball…
Quite frankly… a fit Smit (without his 2010 chronic cervical injury he was carrying) for 50-60mins with FINALLY an impact bench option in BDP, or the other way around is extremely exciting…
“Smit on the bench, Victor will be captaining… Smit starting, he’ll be captaining… win/win!”
Yep… let’s just see what happens in the S15, it’s going to be bruising…
But let’s just see what
21 Dec 2010, 08:13 am
@bryce_in_oz :
‘Quite frankly… a fit Smit (without his 2010 chronic cervical injury he was carrying) for 50-60mins with FINALLY an impact bench option in BDP, or the other way around is extremely exciting…’
Agreed. Bismarck is a better option for super sub than Smit. Thats why Smit to start with Bismarck coming on at 40/50/60 minutes.
21 Dec 2010, 08:16 am
@nama1 :
All mine
21 Dec 2010, 09:37 am
@grant10 :
Hi Grant
Its Christmas so time to be light-hearted
But seriously for one sec – Answer my question.
Have you said anything else in your multi-thousand post on Smit that is different to my short summary?
You are persistent, I may be a bit sentimental.
I never denied that Bissie is the real deal btw. Its your anti-Smit monologue that I have taken issue with over the years
21 Dec 2010, 09:41 am
@bryce_in_oz :
I am in agreement with you.
Smit had a good 2009, a decent 2010 S14 but a poor 3Ns.
However Tim Noakes warned us of player fatigue and Smit was not the only one.
Smit has now had an enforced rest. By all accounts he has lost weight and hit the gym hard. Apparently looking great.
Clearly he is fighting and that is a quality we admire.
But yes, lets see the S15 form. My bet is that both Smit and Bissie will play very well.
I would try and look for to put Smit into the starting 15 if I could but failing that have him on the bench.
21 Dec 2010, 09:43 am
@Biscuit : you sum it up perfectly my man.
My persistence is an absolute abhorrence of accomodation selections and any form of entitlement culture, it weakens pro sport….
But i am trying to tone it down….promise.
21 Dec 2010, 09:46 am
@Biscuit : smit cannot start at 2 imo….and 3 is completely out of the question….he will end up in hospital.
So , unless Bissy has an injury, Smit will have to make a move at 1…..and there is serious okes fighting for that spot.That is about the sum of it imo.
21 Dec 2010, 09:48 am
@grant10 :
Entitlement does suck – Did you disapprove of sneaking Luke into the side?
Lets see the S15 form. Then lets judge.
21 Dec 2010, 09:59 am
@Biscuit : difference is luke should of been a bok in 2006 already mate….and you surely would acknowledge that…..
No…i always prefer merit….never liked the way LW was chosen, wished he had said no….but the man was used as a pawn.
I agree…lets see what the super 15 comes up with….if smit shows he is worthy of a starting place, on merit, i will be the 1 st to say well done…..i do harbour doubts though….bissy is far more than a ‘ normal ‘ hooker.
To me Bakkies, Bissy, J Smith and Brussow are crucial parts of a bok pack that can do real damage in wc 2011….and jannie dup has , imo, been the ‘ find ‘ of the 2010 season…anchoring that bok scrum like a good th should do!
21 Dec 2010, 10:01 am
@gunther : Kallis does a Judge Motata
Kallis ploughs Audi R8 through gate
Cape Town – Proteas star batsman Jacques
Kallis was apparently involved in a car
crash in the early hours of Tuesday
morning.
An eyewitness told Sport24 that Kallis had
crashed a white Audi R8 through the gate
of a neighbour’s house off Herschel Walk in
Wynberg, Cape Town around 02:30.
The witness said he awoke to an “almighty
bang” and noticed a car inside his neighbour’s property.
His wife, fearing a burglary was in
progress, immediately called the police.
“Soon thereafter three cop cars arrived at
the scene. I clearly saw it was Jacques Kallis
behind the wheel. Kallis at no stage left the
car,” the witness told Sport 24.
“Kallis must’ve called his girlfriend as she
arrived shortly thereafter and took him
away once everyone had left.
“The car, which was severely damaged,
was removed from the driveway by a tow
truck,” the witness added.
The Proteas star, currently involved in the
Test series against India, scored his maiden
double century in the first Test at
SuperSport Park in Centurion last weekend.
21 Dec 2010, 10:07 am
@Biscuit :
Yep, ruggaworld had a current pic of slim Smit, in one of the threads… who has also now fully recovered from his chronic cervic op and ready for the start of the Sharks season…
22man 85min test rugby… bench selection is just as important as the XV at the top level… Smit/BDP, the order is not that important as long as they’re both there…
21 Dec 2010, 10:07 am
@Transformation :
was he drinking “strong tea” with a colleague?
21 Dec 2010, 10:09 am
@gunther : Harris is twice as good as Symmo. The numbers just don’t lie in cricket averages, whether you like it or not. Symcox was not even ordinary, but sub-mediocre.
21 Dec 2010, 10:12 am
@TheTackler :
harris is a turkey.
self basting at that…
if you think cricket averages have no context then you are dumber than I thought.
No wonder you left south africa when sheltered employment became a thing of the past.
21 Dec 2010, 10:17 am
@gunther : after a double to ‘strong tea’ is the only proper drink to imbibe…
Didn’t hear anything about him being tested for alcohol though…if those cops didn’t then they’re poephols!
21 Dec 2010, 10:21 am
@gunther :
It’s all that fake hair.
Got into his eyes.
Are you coming for drinks.
21 Dec 2010, 10:21 am
@Transformation :
Maybe its the same cops who looked after Tony Yengeni
VIP squad…
21 Dec 2010, 10:26 am
@Dawn :
what drinks, where?
this is quite a busy time of year for me.
also I am heading to Arniston thursday morning.
do you think they used the hair from his back?
21 Dec 2010, 10:27 am
Audi R8? Plus money for breast implants. I mean hair implants. Was cricket affected by the recession?
21 Dec 2010, 10:30 am
Our own Tiger Woods.
21 Dec 2010, 10:35 am
@TheTackler :
Yep… Harris is the quickest Japie spin bowler to date to 100 test wickets… and took only 6 matches less than the opener Morkel to get there… hence he’s currently ranked 14 in the world out of all the bowlers eh.
21 Dec 2010, 10:35 am
If JS can outplay, BDP for the 2 position that’s awesome. But we all know he does not have the skills or the strength.
21 Dec 2010, 10:37 am
@garth : i agree.
21 Dec 2010, 10:39 am
bissy and brussow will have mc caw and pocock having sleepless nites.
Not so with smit….thats just the way it is…
21 Dec 2010, 10:43 am
@>^..^< katman :
could it be sponsored?
I believe boucher phoned Maserati looking for a sponsored car
no self-esteem issues there then.
21 Dec 2010, 10:51 am
@gunther : Cricket averages average out across whatever contexts in which they occur.
Harris is much much better than Symmo, or Hobson, or McKinnon, or Chevalier or even Tayfield.
Averages don’t lie.
21 Dec 2010, 11:03 am
@gunther :
Not now man.
When I say so.
Next year.
21 Dec 2010, 11:03 am
@gunther : I heard Boucher also bought a house in the same Herschel Walk development. A regular little athlete’s village, stumbling distance from the post match celebrations.
21 Dec 2010, 11:04 am
@TheTackler :
Are you still here.
21 Dec 2010, 11:05 am
Watse gesypery goes on in our cricket team.
21 Dec 2010, 11:07 am
@>^..^< katman :
where kallis goes boucher will never be far away
21 Dec 2010, 11:09 am
@>^..^< katman :
athletes village?
does that mean there will be free condoms in the lounges?
21 Dec 2010, 11:11 am
Harris is not worth a spin bowler! Useless as a fielder and batsmen
Atleast Symmo smashed a 100 against Pakistan!
21 Dec 2010, 11:13 am
Batsman or batsmen?
21 Dec 2010, 11:14 am
@Mighty Horua :
Even if the ball did go through the stumps…
21 Dec 2010, 11:14 am
@gunther : Yep. And signs in 15 languages not to flush sanitary pads down the loo.
21 Dec 2010, 11:15 am
Playing second fiddle to Roelof at any form of the game must constitute Uselessness!
Not even second fiddle! 10th Fiddle
Being the alleged spin bowler in the team and Greame Smith tossing the ball to JP Duminy – Pathetic!
21 Dec 2010, 11:22 am
@>^..^< katman :
is there a Mcdonalds on site?
because then they could bring them back to life as hamburgers.
21 Dec 2010, 11:24 am
@gunther : yeah those cops are a real classy bunch…
21 Dec 2010, 11:30 am
@gunther : You mean like Supreme Poultry is currently doing with expired chickens?
21 Dec 2010, 11:30 am
@Transformation :
chest in stomach out
21 Dec 2010, 11:31 am
@>^..^< katman :
much the same.
what did the lesbian frog say to her girlfriend?
21 Dec 2010, 11:33 am
@gunther : wonder if kallis did my township simpleton routine that got me & rosso off the one time…
21 Dec 2010, 11:35 am
@gunther : I don’t know. Was it something like “come on honey, do your tadpole dance for me”?
21 Dec 2010, 11:36 am
@Transformation : What? You threatened a traffic officer with a stolen firearm?
21 Dec 2010, 11:36 am
@>^..^< katman :
close
mmm! it’s true we do taste like chicken.
21 Dec 2010, 11:38 am
@gunther : ha ha. I do however know what you get when you cross a hippo with a lesbo.
21 Dec 2010, 11:38 am
@Transformation :
more likely he pulled the ANC vibe and gave it the
“offisher do you know who I am?” routine.
21 Dec 2010, 11:39 am
A Likkalotapus.
21 Dec 2010, 11:39 am
@>^..^< katman :
?
21 Dec 2010, 11:40 am
@>^..^< katman :
@ 241.
that is going to upset the keo youth league.
21 Dec 2010, 11:46 am
And speaking of athlete’s villages… All the athletes were congregating on the village before the Olympic Games. There is a great spirit of cross-cultural friendship and everyone goes out of their way to make new friends. The American athlete spots a young man carrying a 4m long, 6 inch wide carry bag and makes the logical assumption.
“You must be a pole vaulter,” he says.
“Actually I’m a Sveed. But how you know my name?”
21 Dec 2010, 11:51 am
@TheTackler :
Why don’t you rattle of your list of credentials then and lets see how they compare to those of a world-renowned scientist?
21 Dec 2010, 11:56 am
What do you Saffas eat for Christmas lunch?
Boerworst or Biltong?
Swilled with Sour Cane or Sav Blanc.
21 Dec 2010, 11:57 am
Lions team for next year.
1. JC Janse van Rensburg
2. Maku
3. Buys
4. Snyman
5. Franco
6. Baywatch
7. Wikus
8. Moukena
9. Vermaak
10. Jantjies
11. Killian
12. Doppies
13. Murray
14. Mapoe
15. Taute
16. Marutlle
17. Pat Cilliers
18. Trevor Hall
19. Derick Minnie
20. Kockott
21. Francis
22. Delport
21 Dec 2010, 11:57 am
@>^..^< katman :
21 Dec 2010, 11:57 am
@cane : We also do turkey. But we plate them individually.
21 Dec 2010, 12:00 pm
@cane : We eat anything we want but mostly Turkey, gammon, beef, chicken, veggies. I am trying something new this year and braaing for Christmas lunch. This should be the South African way….all this meats and turkey and stuff are European tradition.
21 Dec 2010, 12:00 pm
@>^..^< katman :
unless your name is Nathaniel..
in which case you do the turducken…
21 Dec 2010, 12:02 pm
@iori Yagami : Great team. We’re still short a decent lock and another prop, plus quality back-up to Jantjes.
Also not sure if your starting loose trio is right. Minnie might replace Baywatch. And that Strauss bloke looked pretty impressive in the CC.
Is Chavangha still part of the squad? If so, I’d have him on the bench instead of Delport.
21 Dec 2010, 12:03 pm
“Give us strength”! I see that our resident Crank, namely GRANT10 has crawled out from under his rock and is again ‘beating the same old drum’.
Wikipedia’s Encyclopedia describes ‘Crank (person)’ as follows:
“Crank” is a pejorative term used for a person who unshakably holds a belief that most of his or her contemporaries consider to be false.A “cranky” belief is so wildly at variance with commonly accepted belief as to be ludicrous. Cranks characteristically dismiss all evidence or arguments which contradict their own unconventional beliefs, making rational debate an often futile task.
Universal characteristics of cranks include:
1. Cranks overestimate their own knowledge and ability, and underestimate that of acknowledged experts.
2. Cranks insist that their alleged discoveries are urgently important.
3. Cranks rarely, if ever, acknowledge any error, no matter how trivial.
4. Cranks love to talk about their own beliefs, often in inappropriate social situations, but they tend to be bad listeners, and often appear to be uninterested in anyone else’s experience or opinions.
Some cranks exhibit a lack of academic achievement, in which case they typically assert that academic training in the subject of their crank belief is not only unnecessary for discovering “the truth”, but actively harmful because they believe it “poisons” the minds by teaching falsehoods.
Others greatly exaggerate their personal achievements, and may insist that some alleged achievement in some entirely unrelated area of human endeavor implies that their cranky opinion should be taken seriously.
GRANT10 ………. “You are the weakest Crank – Goodbye”
21 Dec 2010, 12:03 pm
@iori Yagami :
turkey etc when it’s 30 degrees outside just seems wrong.
21 Dec 2010, 12:03 pm
@iori Yagami : 251 – Lions look good for next year.
21 Dec 2010, 12:04 pm
@gunther : Lol I wonder how that tastes.
21 Dec 2010, 12:04 pm
@iori Yagami : Me too. I’m doing a fillet, patted down with olive oil and rolled in cracked black pepper, on the braai this year. Sounds festive enough for me.
21 Dec 2010, 12:06 pm
@cane : 250 – Howzit Cannie, When is your b/day again? today or Thursday?
21 Dec 2010, 12:08 pm
@>^..^< katman : Ja I am getting my fillet at Fairfield butcher on Friday. ‘patted down with olive oil and rolled in cracked black pepper,’ patted down? lol I am rubbing in my olive oil and black pepper!
21 Dec 2010, 12:09 pm
@iori Yagami : I have a special relationship with my fillet.
21 Dec 2010, 12:09 pm
@gunther : True hey. We should move away from it and have a cool South African Christmas.
21 Dec 2010, 12:10 pm
@>^..^< katman :
each to his own!
21 Dec 2010, 12:10 pm
I’m thinking of getting my meat rolled in oil and patted down this christmas.
I may pass on the black pepper though.
21 Dec 2010, 12:11 pm
@>^..^< katman : ja they still need some depth in key positions. I think Josh Strauss moved on if I am not mistaken.
21 Dec 2010, 12:11 pm
@iori Yagami : I don’t expect you to understand.
21 Dec 2010, 12:11 pm
@gunther : Wtf
21 Dec 2010, 12:13 pm
@>^..^< katman : What else you putting on the grill?
21 Dec 2010, 12:14 pm
@gunther : Sounds like you’ll need a special pair of braai thongs for that.
21 Dec 2010, 12:15 pm
@iori Yagami : 254 – I braai every Christmas, just easier.
@>^..^< katman : 261 – Katman, sounds great buddy, mouth watering already..hehe. Add a good Cabernet with.. my kinda Xmas lunch too.
21 Dec 2010, 12:16 pm
@iori Yagami : Haven’t decided yet. I have the in-laws here, so I guess I have to make the effort. I quite fancy a bunch of cold side dishes – beetroot, asparagus etc.
21 Dec 2010, 12:16 pm
@Puma : Ja they do. I just hope they take points off visiting sides enabling our three top teams to make the play-offs.
21 Dec 2010, 12:17 pm
@Puma : I have several pepper fillet friendly wines lined up already. Chief amongst those is a 2004 Kaapzicht Shiraz. Mmmmm…
21 Dec 2010, 12:18 pm
@Puma : Clever guy. This way it keeps my girlfriend also free from duty and you know what they say about a stress free woman……….
21 Dec 2010, 12:19 pm
@iori Yagami : Post 254.
I agree Origami, We of southern climes should embrace own heritage more at Christmas.
Still ……………….it’ll be roast lamb in the house of cane…………………….because thats the way it is. The way it has always been.
Turkey for Christmas didn’t show up in NZ untill the 1970′s. Probably due to American TV and Movie influences.
When I was a boy we had chicken …………..fresh…………very fresh………….extremely fresh. It was not possible to get a fresher chicken.
But those days are gone.
8)
21 Dec 2010, 12:20 pm
@>^..^< katman : I am going the whole 9 yards. Chicken, chops, sausage and ofcourse the Fillet. I also love me a noodle or potato salad.
21 Dec 2010, 12:22 pm
@iori Yagami : 275 – Think Lions gonna do far better than most think they will. Could even beat many of the top 3 here, Bulls, Stormers and Sharks. All SA teams gonna have to be at their best playing Lions next year.
Good for SA rugby having a strong Lions team, also next year can’t see them just gifting overseas sides 5 points. Not gonna happen.
21 Dec 2010, 12:22 pm
@cane : We’ve been brainwashed I say. I will take chicken over turkey anyday. Did you slaughter it yourself?
How is the weather over there now?
21 Dec 2010, 12:24 pm
@>^..^< katman : Sounds good. I wonder what my future father in-law will say if I bring a red wine?
21 Dec 2010, 12:25 pm
@>^..^< katman : 276 – Damn sounds good Katman, you wanna have another guest?…hehehe. Red wine is my favourite.
@iori Yagami :
21 Dec 2010, 12:25 pm
@iori Yagami : Sounds good. I’ll probably stick to the fillet on the braai. My mom-in-law likes to take over the kitchen and will no doubt supply the bulk of the dishes. It would almost be an insult if I tried to prepare more.
21 Dec 2010, 12:26 pm
@cane : 278 – We braai the Lamb in my house Cannie.
When is the big 55 coming up? Or I have missed it?
21 Dec 2010, 12:27 pm
@Panache ( òó /) Aplomb : Post 257.
We all have our faults. And yes Grant10 may have one or two more than your own good self.
But hey:
It’s Christmas soon and Grant is a Keo identity.
Almost a legend……………he may have to die before becoming an Official Legend. But lets give him a break for a week or two.
21 Dec 2010, 12:27 pm
@iori Yagami : If he’s worth having as a father in law, he’ll embrace you in a bear hug with tears in his eyes should you rock up with a decent red.
21 Dec 2010, 12:30 pm
this place is a morgue
21 Dec 2010, 12:30 pm
@>^..^< katman : Lol I know what you mean.
21 Dec 2010, 12:32 pm
@>^..^< katman : He just recently discovered alcohol, i dont want to overwhelm him.
21 Dec 2010, 12:33 pm
@>^..^< katman :
nice choice.
I will be rocking a Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir.
Due to the excessive heat.
21 Dec 2010, 12:34 pm
@Puma : 55?
21 Dec 2010, 12:34 pm
@Puma : post 285.
the 26th.
You have a great memory Puma.
When was yours?
I thought Jinxie (God rest his Soul) was slightly older than us, but see he was a little younger. Just a little mind you.
21 Dec 2010, 12:35 pm
@cane : I am in the presence of veterans here.
21 Dec 2010, 12:39 pm
@iori Yagami : Wine is like getting into a swimming pool. No use in fcking around little by little. Tell your dad-in-law the katman says a bottle per guest on Christmas day is perfectly acceptable.
21 Dec 2010, 12:39 pm
@cane : 293 – Mine was on the 16th Cane. So have not missed yours yet, will wish you then mate.
Jinx was 2 years younger than us Cannie. What loss to lose such a really great person. Will miss Jinxies posts here plenty.
21 Dec 2010, 12:39 pm
Interesting………
Pakistan-born Khawaja would be the first Muslim to play for Australia
Usman Khawaja will play in the fourth Ashes Test for Australia against England if captain Ricky Ponting fails to recover from a fractured finger.
21 Dec 2010, 12:41 pm
@>^..^< katman : :lol
Good one..hehehe. Agree totally…. 
21 Dec 2010, 12:42 pm
@Puma : that was for post 295. Damn we need the post numbers back.
21 Dec 2010, 12:42 pm
@>^..^< katman : Lol i will consider your advice.
21 Dec 2010, 12:44 pm
@iori Yagami : post 281.
No, I am no slaughterman.
My oldest brother had the duty of Axeman.
30 kids from the neighbourhood would show up(aged 4-10). Stand back 20 metres and watch in awesome wonder.
Vegetarians were few and far between in those days.
21 Dec 2010, 12:46 pm
@cane : Lol sounds cool. Poor chicken though, thats a packed execution.
21 Dec 2010, 12:52 pm
@gunther : Don’t get me wrong, the HR Pinot Noir is a splendid wine. But it is a bit of a hairdresser’s choice. It’s about a masculine as a floral foot stool.
21 Dec 2010, 12:52 pm
@Puma : Post 296.
Before you throw that lamb onto the braai on Christmas Day………………………………give it a love bite from me. Waste not want not.
21 Dec 2010, 12:54 pm
@>^..^< katman : Post 303.
I’ve always thought that about chardonnay.
21 Dec 2010, 12:55 pm
@cane : Hey, I like chardonnay. You calling me soft, you big old kiwi fruit?
21 Dec 2010, 12:57 pm
@cane : 304 – Will do Cannie.
21 Dec 2010, 12:58 pm
@>^..^< katman :
even worse for I like to stick it in the fridge for half an hour before opening.
I love shiraz…but when its very hot I find it a bit much.
fear not though I have a Vilafonte Series M in reserve.
21 Dec 2010, 13:01 pm
@cane :301 – Cannie, Bet you pleased you were not the oldest..hahaha. No wonder hardly any Vegetarians…
21 Dec 2010, 13:09 pm
@>^..^< katman : 303 –
Stick with the Cabernet or Shiraz. Best Shiraz I have tasted was in Oz.
@gunther : 308 – Gunther if you want to stick your Shiraz in the fridge, stick to Katmans Hairdressers choice
For me (a red wine drinker) the thought of a good red wine coming out of the fridge is a huge NO NO. 
21 Dec 2010, 13:14 pm
What an enviable problem/situation to have to deal with. I have to stick my red wine on the radiator or in front of the little fan heater before I can drink it over here!
21 Dec 2010, 13:15 pm
@Puma :
only in summer puma and only certain wines..
red wine should be served at room temperature.
what is room temp in durban during the summer?
unless of course you like your wine the same temperature as your soup
in which case keep on dishing out the no no’s
21 Dec 2010, 13:19 pm
@Yetirat :
Are you in Yorkshire Yeti……………or the Himalayas
21 Dec 2010, 13:20 pm
The world’s most respected wine critic, Jancis Robinson MW, rates SA reds rather lowly and says — with much justification — that they all have a characteristic “burnt rubber” undertone.
NZ pinot noirs compete with the very best Burgundy ones both in quality, complexity and premium price. It’s just not a hot climate cultivar and it’s the hardest of all to get just right.
21 Dec 2010, 13:26 pm
@gunther : 312 – Gunther room temp in Durbs is in my air con house
I know red wine should be at room temp but not fridge temp wink: that is a bit too cold. 
21 Dec 2010, 13:29 pm
@Puma :
Puma what temperature do you think it’s at by the time you have uncorked it and served it?
It’s probably an age thing.
21 Dec 2010, 13:31 pm
@Puma : 315.
Drink it the way you like it PUMA.
You only live once.
21 Dec 2010, 13:31 pm
@cane :
Northamptonshire. It’s no joke here at the moment.
Heard some thumping around the car this morning and it turned out the bottle of water I usually keep in the back had turned into a solid block of ice!
21 Dec 2010, 13:33 pm
@TheTackler : NZ might have a better rugby team (now, not next year) and better wines, but one thing is guranteed, we in SA have the better women. But it is all about priorities, I guess.
21 Dec 2010, 13:34 pm
@cane :
precisely.
21 Dec 2010, 13:37 pm
@cane : 317 – Thanks Cane, know we veterans know better.
21 Dec 2010, 13:37 pm
@Puma : know = now
21 Dec 2010, 13:40 pm
@gunther : 316 – Depends Gunther, If you uncork and serve it straight away (straight out the fridge) rather cold
But if left to stand then room temp, depends what temp your room is too. 
Like Cane says, drink it the way you enjoy it. Red wine for me very cold is not on.. lol. But all to our own hey!!!
21 Dec 2010, 13:41 pm
@Puma : meant = stand AT room temp.
Sorry busy working while posing..lol.
21 Dec 2010, 13:43 pm
@Puma : 324 – Jeepers not getting this right, must be a age thing…hehhe
– posing = posting.
21 Dec 2010, 14:01 pm
@Puma :
yoh..
your house must be cold at 14 16 degrees
sounds like you have cracked open your (warm) wine early.
21 Dec 2010, 14:07 pm
@gunther : I know it’s okay for a Pinot to be slightly chilled. As I said, I’m rather fond of one myself. But it does kind of smack of pink Polo shirts with popped collars.
21 Dec 2010, 14:11 pm
@TheTackler : Ja, you carry on telling yourself that. And why stop there? Tell us about NZ’s exquisite biltongs and their magnificent boerewors. Hell, why not convince us that their big game viewing is second to none.
They may produce some good Pinots, but the balance of their red wines is light years behind SA’s best. And by this I mean real reds.
21 Dec 2010, 14:11 pm
@>^..^< katman :
I’m struggling to make the older generation understand.
How did you know I rock the popped collar?
can you see me waving now?
ps that shirt is not as pink as it looks on the webcam….
21 Dec 2010, 14:12 pm
@TheTackler :
Is there no end to you sycophancy? They’ve let you in the country, you can stop being such an arze licker now.
21 Dec 2010, 14:13 pm
Goodnight all,
and whatever you throw on the heat this Christmas……………..I hope you enjoy it.
I sat on Santa’s knee earlier this week, and asked for the following:
- Hurricanes to win the Super whatever.
- Wellington Lions to win the NPC.
- West Coast to win the Heartland Comp.
- Sharkies to win CC.
- Celtic.
- Liverpool/Fulham……………anyone but Chelsea, Man U. or Arsenal.
- Poms to slaughter Oz in the Ashes.
- NZ to win RWC.
And the Big Guy said …………..Okay cane.
But just this once,
21 Dec 2010, 14:14 pm
@cane : @cane : Those shopping mall Santas can’t be trusted. Did he ever explain what he had in his pocket?
21 Dec 2010, 14:15 pm
I’ve started drinking Rose lately due to extreme heat here. Luckily the country I’m in is full of Frenchmen so I can get away with acting like a ponce…
21 Dec 2010, 14:16 pm
@gunther : Lucky guess. You sound like a collar popper I used to know. I bet you struggle to get your facial routine down to the 15 minute mark.
21 Dec 2010, 14:17 pm
@gunther : Gunther, I make the most typos, you should know by now..hehehe
My air con is set at 20 just right, house not too warm and not freezing.
Nah, still working but having some mates around later. So will open my wine around 5pm
It wont stand long either…hehehe. Actually my mates all enjoy a iced cold beer, I do too sometimes. Today it is overcast with rain so the red wine looks a good choice for later.
21 Dec 2010, 14:18 pm
@cane :
You asked for Celtic???
Anyway, Scotland doesn’t want them. Help yourself
21 Dec 2010, 14:20 pm
@>^..^< katman :
Plenty of red varietals that can be served chilled… obviously on top of the multitude of Rose varietals (the more savoury the better)… look no further than a GSM (Grenache Shiraz Movedre) or some of the many quality sparkling reds around…
As for those wanting to step away from the Turkeys/Hams… they can easily be done on the Weber… the Turkey’s boned, brined and herb butters stuffed under the skin or a leg ham boned and basted with any multitude of goodness… either with a smattering of red wine soaked hickory chips (or vine clippings) on indirect heat with hood closed and hey presto…
Any of the above chilled varietals match perfectly…
21 Dec 2010, 14:22 pm
@JockBok :
A Rose is a very delectable summer guff.
21 Dec 2010, 14:23 pm
@cane : Named after those giants of SA rugby, Earl and Jody, of course.
21 Dec 2010, 14:24 pm
@cane : 331 – Cane nice post there. But ask for Sharkies to win S15 and Boks WC
If you don’t post before Christmas Cannie, have a great one and enjoy it mate. Also all the best for your Birthday on the 26th my friend. Only allowed you one week to catch up to me in age…hehehe.
21 Dec 2010, 14:24 pm
@JockBok :
Easy Jocky,
Variety is the spice of life.
21 Dec 2010, 14:24 pm
@bryce_in_oz : I know. I’m all for a chilled red. I’m just yanking Goenta’s chain.
21 Dec 2010, 14:27 pm
@JockBok : 333 – JockBok, WHAAAT!!! Rose????? Well I never…hehehe. You sound as bad as Gunther with his red wine in the fridge…hahahaha.
How you buddy? When you coming home for Christmas?
Celtic is fine with me, Cannie can have that one in his wish list. Though Rangers are fine too. Have so many Scot mates and it gets hectic with who to support. Celtic or Rangers. I go with the flow who ever is visiting me. But I have a Celtic jersey. Given to me many years back.
21 Dec 2010, 14:35 pm
@Puma :
Howdy Puma. Go with Hearts. We are on a bit of a run at the moment, 6 wins in a row including stuffing Celtic, and a draw last week saw us consolidate 3rd place. G*d is a season ticket holder so you’d be in good company
In the proccess of packing now actually. Leave after midnight tonight, Ethiopia tomorrow morning 5am, Jozi at 1.15, The Spur at 1.30, CT at 6pm
And chilled red is relative mate. Depends on the room temperature, and when it’s hot outside, a little bit of chill can be quite nice.
21 Dec 2010, 14:37 pm
@bryce_in_oz : 337 – Bryce you a chef? Sounds kinda nice that braai.
I was in Oz on business in Oct. One restaurant served Shiraz very chilled, for me it was wasted, just far too cold, took the lovely taste away. But never put me off, tried it a few times again while there not chilled and was probably the best Shiraz I have had. So does depend on ones taste I suppose.
21 Dec 2010, 14:39 pm
@cane :
Variety is fine bud. But unfortunately you need a lawyer with that Christmas list. Even Santa can’t help you with *any* of those wishes
21 Dec 2010, 14:42 pm
@TheTackler :
When are you going to stop talking through your ***?
She is not rated in the top 5 wine critics in the world according to Wine magazine, that would be Parker from the States. Robinson is merely regarded as a top wine journalist.
And for the record, SA is among the top 10 in both the world’s leading wine producing countries, and the top 10 wine exporting countries.
21 Dec 2010, 14:43 pm
@>^..^< katman :
look after your face and your face will look after you.
I never take longer than ten.
@Puma :
actually, when I make my annual hajj to provence there is nothing I like more than bruisingly chilled, flinty rose.
I may even pop an ice cube in.
Quelle Horreur…
21 Dec 2010, 14:44 pm
@JockBok :344 – Hearts, You support them? Okay if you say so…lol. Most of my mates are either Celtic supporters (most are) but also have quite a few Scot mates supporting Rangers. Often have a mix of all of them over here. Believe it or not they all get on well. lol.
Good you on your way home buddy. You sure will be looking forward to the break.
I know red wine can be served chilled, I am just not keen on it at all. That is if it is like fridge temp, far too cold. You get it also like that in some restaurants in France. Got a Shiraz served to me very cold in Oz and it was not great. Tried it another time not chilled and enjoyed it far better. BUT Rose?? No ways, not for me..hehe.
21 Dec 2010, 14:46 pm
It is like Gavin Rich winning the top SA rugby journalist award.
Sure as **** does not make him a rugby expert…
21 Dec 2010, 14:47 pm
@gunther : 348 – Gunther, Rose is far too sweet for my taste buds…hahaha.
21 Dec 2010, 14:51 pm
@Puma :
that’s because you are drinking the wrong type of rose.
a rose worthy of the name should be as dry and astringent as any sauvignon blanc.
it’s not your fault.
21 Dec 2010, 14:51 pm
@Puma :
Gotta fly Puma, have a few things to do this afternoon.
If I don’t catch you before the weekend though, have a great Christmas mate.
21 Dec 2010, 14:53 pm
@JockBok : 353 – JockBok, Enjoy your Christmas and have a great New Year too, if I don’t see you about here.
21 Dec 2010, 14:56 pm
@gunther :
Yep, I’ve been surprised drinking this French Rose. I always thought it was too sweet and stayed away from it, but I’ve now learnt otherwise after taking a glass at dinner one night. I’m almost ashamed to say I’m quite ‘into’ it.
Any advice on good pink t-shirt brands where the collar won’t flop after an hour?
In for a penny……..
21 Dec 2010, 14:56 pm
@gunther : 352 – Gunther, Only ever had Rose twice and both times far too sweet for me. I mean sickly sweet, just put me off.
21 Dec 2010, 15:00 pm
@JockBok : 355 – Okay JockBok, You and Gunther have convinced me. I will try a Rose tonight just for the sake of it. Gunther which one should I buy? Going to the bottle store soon for beers.
21 Dec 2010, 15:01 pm
@>^..^< katman : Post 339.
As ever,
there ain’t no one……….,
quite like……
Katmandu.
No other Tongue with such a twist.
And no Razor Sharper.
21 Dec 2010, 15:04 pm
@Puma :
Hehe, you know it makes sense. No idea of the decent Saffer brands, as I said, I’ve steered clear of them. But I’ll check back later for a recommendation.
Who’d have thought it. Discussing Rose on a rugby forum
Anyway, really outta here.
Now where did I leave my moisturiser, this afternoon sun plays havoc with my crows feet….
21 Dec 2010, 15:08 pm
@Puma :
like I said Puma.
you have been drinking the wrong ones.
it must be DRY.
ask the man in the store nicely.
try for something french.
make it VERY cold.
@JockBok :
Turnbull & Asser in Jermyn Street.
Tell them Gunther sent you
21 Dec 2010, 15:11 pm
@JockBok : 359 – JockBok, It is the festive season after all.
No rugby or cricket we get bored and talk poop…hehehe 
Good fun all the same.
Now waiting for Gunther to recommend a good Rose. Have plenty red on stand by if I am not happy with the Rose..hehehe.
Okay talking a whole load of nonsense now. Going to pack up for the day too.
Cheers everyone. Catch up tomorrow.
21 Dec 2010, 15:13 pm
‘No, if anyone orders Merlot, I’m leaving. I am NOT drinking any f ucking Merlot!’
21 Dec 2010, 15:13 pm
@Puma :
Cheap **** fashioned on the Yank ‘blush’ market in the 70′s and 80′s… most decent brands offer well priced, drier and more savoury varietals particularly with all the worldwide wine gluts…
Unfortunately RSA doesn’t have many of the Italian varietals now so predominant here in Aus being used for ‘meatier’ Rose’s (like Sangiovese)… but a good start would be any of the Shiraz or Syrah blends (usually with Merlot… even Pinotage Rose should be around in well priced quality brackets for a sampler away from what you have experienced… look for savoury strawberry/berry/watermelon notes…
21 Dec 2010, 15:16 pm
@gunther : 360 – Gunther will do.
Will let you know tomorrow the verdict.
Oh, I will have it CHILLED
Maybe throw in 10 ice cubes too..hehehe.
Okay just kidding.
Cheers buddy. Catch up tomorrow.
21 Dec 2010, 15:22 pm
@John Galt : @bryce_in_oz : We sure got everyone one the wine route here today…..hahahaha.
Bryce, What about Pinot Noir?
21 Dec 2010, 15:22 pm
Okay out of here now. Cheers all.
21 Dec 2010, 15:27 pm
@Puma :
Delaire
made from cabernet franc.
Diemersdal
made from cab sauvignon and sauvignon blanc.
later.
21 Dec 2010, 15:27 pm
@cane :
Turkey, gammon, roast potatoes, veggies, gravy.
With a nice sauvignon blanc or another white
Then some port just cause i like it
21 Dec 2010, 15:31 pm
How about a good old beer?
Got a few favourites:
Lager: Amstel, Heineken
Weissbier: Erdinger,Rothaus
Pilsener: Krombacher, Urquell or good ol’ Hansa
Ale, Bitter or any of that catpiss: Sweetfarkall
21 Dec 2010, 15:34 pm
@Puma : For a real bargain, try the Raka Rose (from the Stanford side of Hermanus) – I think the ’09 is on the shelves at the moment. Delightful little summer wine and at under R30 a bottle you can afford to knock it back like Fanta.
21 Dec 2010, 15:36 pm
The worst catspiss I have ever tasted is Spitfire and a Belgian excuse called Rodenbach Grand Cru (Yes, it is a beer)
21 Dec 2010, 15:37 pm
@Heavens Game : I seriously can’t understand why people drink anything else now that Windhoek Draft comes in bottles.
21 Dec 2010, 15:40 pm
@>^..^< katman : lol. Not a terrible quaff but contrary to the old propaganda they threw out – a nightmare hangover.
21 Dec 2010, 15:43 pm
@Heavens Game : 373. All Windhoeks bulldust about conforming to the “Reinheitsgebot” – making their beers “purer” was just that – bulldust. (German beers don’t conform)
But definitely drinkable.
21 Dec 2010, 16:08 pm
@Heavens Game : good day mate . glad to see ur back to normal ,
21 Dec 2010, 16:25 pm
@sharks_lover : 375. Hi SL. Yeah, it feels good not to have any association with WP or PdV whatsoever. Has to be said it was my fault and JB, especially had his wicked way but good on him.
I hope you’re having a good Christmas period and not too busy… Maybe leave and enjoying family time…
Either way I hope you have a good one…
21 Dec 2010, 16:44 pm
@cane :
Are you dissing our Christmas menus.
21 Dec 2010, 16:48 pm
@Dawn : He’s explaining how they have their loved ones for Christmas.
21 Dec 2010, 16:50 pm
@Dawn :
he’s confused.
up until very recently kiwis didn’t know that you could breed sheep for meat and wool.
21 Dec 2010, 16:53 pm
I will invite him to Christmas lunch.
Then we’ll see.
Biltong indeed.
21 Dec 2010, 16:54 pm
@Heavens Game :
Shame.
Vermin WP supporters are still here.
Feelgood is short-lived.
21 Dec 2010, 16:56 pm
@Dawn : 381. Yeah, ‘spose prawns are vermin of sorts…
Merry Xmas to you too
21 Dec 2010, 17:06 pm
@Heavens Game : hg….dawn….just a quick hi from me….if i dont catch you okes before the season really kicks in have a good one! Dawn….we must do a keo firemans in the new year….jinxs wake was a fitting reminder that life is short and should be enjoyed….fark me i arrived home past 2 am….what a session…now off to a friends 40 th…bloody liver hating me.
HG….we save the energy for next year….then we brawl again….till then…keep well my man!
Outta here
21 Dec 2010, 19:32 pm
@grant10 : Grant, thanks for that. I hope you have a great, merry Christmas and an excellent New Year… Good to see you back on Keo, but yeah we will fight good and proper next year
Have a good one. Cheers.
21 Dec 2010, 21:18 pm
For those –like the SA pseudo “scientist” and amateur pharmacologist, Rent-a-Quote Noakes and all who scoff at the effects of the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine as taken by Bjorn and Chiliboy — here’s a cautionary tale. (This substance is openly sold as a “legal high” party-pill in NZ.)
“A Canterbury man suffered a brain haemorrhage after taking legal party pills and was in a brain injury rehabilitation unit for 15 days.
The 21-year-old had severe memory problems along with impaired speech and right-hand co-ordination.
A new article in the New Zealand Medical Journal is the first in medical literature to detail a serious complication of the synthetic stimulant dimethylamylamine (DMAA).
Co-authored by Christchurch emergency specialist Paul Gee, it said the man bought legal party pills identified as 99.9 per cent pure DMAA.
DMAA mimics the effects of amphetamine and Ecstasy.
He took the recommended dose of two tablets about 11.30 pm along with a 150 milligram capsule of caffeine.
Within 30 minutes he had a severe headache and went home.
He later became confused, unable to control his bladder and vomited for two to three hours.”
(Methylhexaneamine and dimethylamylamine/DMAA are one and the same, identical, thing. Not only does it mimic the “upper” energy rush of amphetamines and the mellow love-me-drug, ecstacy, but it also masks the muscular exhaustion you get from gym workouts or hard partying.)
And, as you can see, it’s a dangerous drug. It’s not just a harmless placebo with a negligible effect as your rent-a-quote Noakes makes out.
21 Dec 2010, 21:24 pm
@TheTackler : How much longer are you going to smart from that time the prof slapped you down?
21 Dec 2010, 21:24 pm
To all bloggers on keo and the writers, Hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas, am doing this now as we celebrate on the 24th and i start with all the cooking tomorrow and guests arrive tomorrow as well so
H A P P Y C H R I S T M A S
21 Dec 2010, 21:33 pm
@>^..^< katman : In the last annual tri-nations of wine, NZ won the prize for the best red, the best white and the best overall wine. SA’s burnt-rubber reds fared as well as the Springbok team by coming last. Big, heavy, blunt, burnt-rubbery (again) and lacking any subtlety or nuance.
21 Dec 2010, 21:59 pm
@TheTackler :
Noakes has a superb international Sports Science reputation.
Naturally in all his years he may have made the odd mistake but his reputation is in tact.
21 Dec 2010, 22:05 pm
@TheTackler : Everyone knows SA wines are undone by their “good value” image. Snooty wine critics can’t take a $20 bottle of wine as seriously as their obscenely inflated new world cousins. And SA wine producers don’t believe in arbitrarily pegging prices at old world levels just for credibility. Their local markets are way too important for that. In blind tastings SA wines often come up trumps (remember Stellenzicht Shyrah famously beating Penfolds Grange when neither label nor price tag were known?) So enjoy your $50 bottle of Wooly Bum Pinot and I’ll stick to my R100 bottle of Raka Shiraz, safe in the knowledge that I wasn’t conned.
21 Dec 2010, 22:15 pm
I remember the Kiwi wines in East Timor, with their crew off tops…classy. Went straight for their richer cousins, the Aussie wines..with the corks..
Still nothing beats the ever popular South African wines…and that’s a worldwide fact. People I bump into overseas rave about our wines.
I just nod and smile…what can ya say. When you got it, you got it.
21 Dec 2010, 22:19 pm
A certain someone has to eventually face the Prof one day, as the challenge has be laid down….but one suspects that the day will never come.
Much safer to stay hidden and mouth off into cyberspace…
21 Dec 2010, 22:31 pm
SA wines are cheap. They’re sold in great quantity as a result — just like Chilean wine. People rave about the cheap price, not the good quality. Like a Tata car, really.
Screw-caps provide a superior seal to cork, and the wine is preserved infinitely better.
Snooty wine critics — of the seriously-taken and respected persuasion — perform blind-tastings, where they have no idea of the price or provenance of the various products they are comparing. And, while these tasting may occasionally produce an outlier surprise, the general tendencies of preferences are the norm.
And that’s why some countries earn a reputation for wine of top quality at any price while others have a reputation for making burnt-rubbery Chateau la Cardonnay plonk. And have a Tata under the lean-to.
21 Dec 2010, 22:37 pm
@Biscuit : Noakes is a laughing stock outside SA where, indeed, hardly anyone has ever heard of him and where nobody bothers to cite his decaying old theory.
And he’s a joke even inside SA, where hardly anyone ever pays any heed to his supposedly “expert” advice, much to his annoyance.
Legend in his own lunchtime, poor sod.
21 Dec 2010, 22:38 pm
@TheTackler :
it’s le chardonnay you horrible little pseud.
21 Dec 2010, 22:44 pm
@TheTackler : Either he is a laughing stock or he’s unknown. Can’t be both. Jy probeer te hard.
21 Dec 2010, 22:50 pm
Evidence of the dramatic upsurge in the quality of South African wine emerged with the release of the full results of the 2010 Tri-Nations Challenge, judged in Sydney Australia in early August.
At the awards function held on Friday night at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney, South Africa’s successes were celebrated with those of New Zealand (this year’s Tri-Nations Winner) and Australia.
South Africa won two class trophies – where the Kaapzicht Steytler Vision (a Cape blend) pipped all the Rhone-style and Cabernet Shiraz blends to finish top of class. In the dessert wine section Nederburg repeated its performance of a few years back taking the Trophy (for the Edelkeur 2005) and the runner-up slot with the 2008 Eminence.
As important as the top-of-class trophies was the wealth of medals garnered by the Cape’s producers. The Desiderius Pongracz and the J. C. Le Roux Pinot Noir Rose both won gold medals for South Africa in the sparkling wine class, while in the Chardonnay category Paul Cluver’s 2009 finished as runner-up with a double gold, and the Hamilton Russell 2009, the Tokara 2008 Reserve and the Jordan Nine Yards 2006 each took gold, beating such legendary Australian wines as Penfold’s Yattarna. Paul Cluver’s Weisser Riesling 2009 also picked up a gold in the aromatic class, while the De Grendel Koetshuis 2010, the Reyneke Reserve 2009 and the Quoin Rock Nicobar 2009 achieved gold in the Sauvignon category.
South Africa also pretty much dominated the other white wine class, with Beaumont’s Hope Marguerite 2009 Chenin Blanc, the Vergelegen Estate white 2008, the Tokara Director’s Reserve 2008, and the Strandveld Adamastor 2008 all getting golds. In the closely contested Shiraz class the 2008 Raka Biography and the 2007 Waterford Kevin Arnold were both gold medal winners, with Raka repeating its success in the Cabernet class with its 2008 joining the Glenelly The Glass Collection 2008, the Fleur du Cap 2007 and the Neil Ellis 2007 among the gold medallists.
In the Bordeaux blend class the 2006 Tokara Director’s Reserve was a double gold winner – and runner-up for the class trophy – while the KWV The Mentor’s Orchestra 2008 and the Vilafonte Series M 2007 also took gold. In the other red blend class, Waterford’s The Jem 2006 was runner-up to the Kaapzicht trophy winner, earning a double gold on the way, while Glenelly’s 2007 and Fleur du Cap’s Laszlo 2006 both took gold. The Anthonij Rupert Cabernet Franc 2006 was the only South African gold medal winner in the other red varieties class – and in fact the only Cabernet franc to win a gold medal. In the dessert wine class, Chris Mullineux’s 2009 Chenin Blanc Straw Wine won a gold medal, to share with Nederburg in South Africa’s domination of that category.
A more even spread of class winners and more double gold and gold medal winners than in any Tri-Nations competition in the past provides compelling evidence of South Africa’s 2010 Tri-Nations achievement.
21 Dec 2010, 22:52 pm
Speaking of wines…
Apparently it’s not that hard to make a Zimbabwean white whine.
You just take his farm away.
21 Dec 2010, 22:55 pm
@>^..^< katman :
ahem…
21 Dec 2010, 22:56 pm
@gunther : I can just imagine Tackler, beset with panic, thinking: “my god, they’re also on the google!”
21 Dec 2010, 22:59 pm
@>^..^< katman :
poor tickles…
the ivory towers fall one by one.
welcome to the interweb.
21 Dec 2010, 23:05 pm
Best Kiwi whine was the one about Wayne Barnes. Double gold, no question.
22 Dec 2010, 00:34 am
@gunther : Cardonnay, pilgrim. It comes in a cardboard box, hence the name “cardon”, hey?
22 Dec 2010, 00:44 am
“South Africa’s successes were celebrated with those of New Zealand (this year’s Tri-Nations Winner) and Australia. ”
———————————————————-
It’s pretty infra dig to “celebrate” when you haven’t won. Read the above again. See? NZ was the wine 3N winner. The other two loser nations lost.
22 Dec 2010, 00:51 am
@>^..^< katman : @ 402
*guffaw*
yeah, those Kiwis sure did whinge about Barnes, didnt they. Not like the Safas tho huh…
After Brisbane, 2009, Naas Botha blamed Wayne Barnes for the loss. He was not alone. Heres a small, tiny, selection – of many
402. RUGBY LOVER :
September 5th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Wayne Barnes you f#ck1%g piece of **** cheat
502. QREST :
September 5th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Congrats to Wallabys but dont forget Barnes was your sugar daddy tonight. For any one eyed English git to say otherwise is abject stupidity.
409. KOBUS KITTY :
September 5th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Watch the replay, Wallabies were allowed to do anything they wanted by the ref.
198. SKOPSKIET :
September 5th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Barnes definitely in Aussie pocket, no question about it, the mandate is give the Aussie’s a break and don’t kill off the competition before next week. Pretty sure thats how the script reads.
264. SKOPSKIET :
September 5th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Barnes doing his utmost to give Aus a leg up
378. PUMA :
September 5th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Wayne Barnes allowed them to get away with murder here. The most useless ref on the planet.
282. WP TILL I DIE :
September 5th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Yech…Wayne Barnes not covering himself in glory here.
364. KOBUS KITTY :
September 5th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Wayne Barnes, hired by the IRB. Ignored every Wallaby player that entered the ruck illegally, dived in off the feet, coming in from the side.
Well done Wayne Barnes.
80. VETKOEK :
September 7th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Barnes was pretty poor, but then he’s a pretty poor ref.
91. STORMERSBOY :
September 7th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
#85 Vetkoek: I agree. Barnes deserves a great deal of credit for keeping us on the backfoot the whole game.
92. DUNX :
September 7th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
i agree with half but not hte other, Barnes was terrible. They are just allowed to play a certain game and yet again the boks were unable to play the ref so we couldn’t figure out what it was that the ref wanted from us.
03. SHAKES :
September 7th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Barnes seemed to allow side entry allowing Aus to seal off the ball and we did not know how to react.
Gold Coast – Springbok-coach, Peter de Villiers, says he is wasting his time by consulting with referees before Test matches.
In last week’ Test against the Wallabies at the Suncorp stadium in Brisbane, English referee, Wayne Barnes, also made some questionable decisions.
Asked if was going to send another email to ‘O Brein this week he said: “I believe life within your own country is sometimes a burden because you have to face it every day but when you go outside your borders, you see that its’ actually worse.
“People don’t want to see other teams being successful. That is my biggest problem at the moment. We can’t go public about certain things because we don’t have all the evidence, but the body language of certain officials when things went against us in that game made us worry.
“The officials were so happy when decisions went against us on the day. I am talking about the number one rugby team in the world. Shouldn’t they really get the other guys to that level?
“Or do they want to break things down so that the game can become mediocre and everyone has a chance to win it. We don’t want to dwell on that point, but if that is the case, them I feel I am wasting my time by talking to them. I will then have to reconsider talking to them.”
22 Dec 2010, 00:54 am
@>^..^< katman : He’s a laughing stock among the handful of people who’ve even heard of him and his archaic views. (So you CAN be both, see?)
22 Dec 2010, 00:57 am
Treble gold-class uber-whining goes to the yarpies whenever they encounter the rugby world’s leading referee — the IRB chief referee, Paddy O’Brien.
22 Dec 2010, 00:58 am
This bickering amongst the brothers under the Southern Cross is unseemly, and unmanly.
There’s good wine from everywhere now. Thanks be to god.
Happy Christmas, happy new year. Have a few bottles, from anywhere.
22 Dec 2010, 00:59 am
@Black Panther : 405. Did you just transform in to Transformation.
22 Dec 2010, 01:29 am
fck me dandy its no wonder ‘Ol JC has distanced himself well and truly as far away as possible from this heathenous Pagans festival they call Xmas, which to all intents and purposes is ostensibly supposed to be a celebration of the simple saviors birth.
What with stuffed turkeys geese cows lambs chicken licken and goats, patted and rolled, diced n spiced on the Bbq and the chardenays and shiraz’ shaken and stirred not served too hot or too cold mind you for that dumbfucked delinquent of a stiff upper lipped ponsified pratassed poephols nasal wine bibbing connoisseurs notoriety.
And these fckwits have the audacity to consider themselves to be ‘civilized’
Ghosts of Xmas past its time you heathenously fckoff fast as your paganism pretension can huff and puff into the mists of your obnoxious pretentious debauchery
22 Dec 2010, 01:41 am
Poor old tackler still pulling prof Noakes’ pigtails. Internationally renowned and acclaimed scientist vs internationally despised and humiliated plonker. Mismatch of the century.
22 Dec 2010, 01:42 am
yeah Jinx sorry I didn’t make your send off where we celebrate death with the contempt of the illusion that life provides for our longevity, but at least now you can safely say you can see clear as day the illusion for what it exactly is. Good on ya keep on trucking and bon voyage.
22 Dec 2010, 01:46 am
@SodaJoe : @ 409
Ive been spending far tooooo much time with Transie lately, must be rubbing off on me.
@SodaJoe :
aiii, and i was speaking to my Lebo barber tonight about their lovely juicy vino rosso. Ive written down a couple he recommended.
Cant believe I read here earlier that pinot noir is a ‘bit-girly’. Strewth, Ruth, now there is a complex grape that deserves more credit. Im guessing those explosive pinotages have corroded the Safa taste buds, thats 1 uber-strong grape there.
Merry Christmas to 1 and all. Yes, even you Boy George.
22 Dec 2010, 01:49 am
@stormer in a teacup : @ 411
‘Internationally renown’ ?!
We have a soda drink in NZ called L&P (lemon and Paeroa) – the ad says its “World famous in NZ”.
Snap !
22 Dec 2010, 04:55 am
Noaksie’s the L&P of sports pseudo-scientists.
Hey, does ANYONE ever follow his advice? Even in SA?
I don’t think so!
22 Dec 2010, 05:16 am
He’s about as unimpressive as a carton of cheap yarpie Chateau de Cardonnay, I’d say. Redolent with notes of burnt rubber and wet leather saddles that fat prop forwards have farted into all day on a full day’s outride after a feast of baked-beans for breakfast…
22 Dec 2010, 05:40 am
@Black Panther :According to Who’s Who Noakes has the following Bona Fides to confirm his status of “international Renown”….
- Member of International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Science Academy
- Editor of the British Medical Journal
- Member of the 1995 Selection Committee – International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.) Olympic Science Prize
- Fellow of and Keynote Speaker to the American College of Sports Medicine
and Road Runner to Tackler’s Wily Coyote.
22 Dec 2010, 05:57 am
@TheTackler : Robinson is a long long way from being the world’s lesding wine expert. However if you are going to attempt to quote her try to at least get close to what she said.
Here from her own website is her own writing on the subject….”Is what I describe as a ‘burnt rubber’ aroma or flavour in SOME – MAINLY LESS EXPENSIVE – South African red wines a figment of my imagination?”
Your pathetic attempts to constantly belittle anything South African has gone so far beyond pity. You are the Coyote who cried wolf.
22 Dec 2010, 08:38 am
“2010: A year to forget for Boks
2010 will in South Africa be known as the year of Ayoba! (The marketing person who latched on to that one should either be stoned or applauded.) The Soccer World Cup came to the shores of the Republic, and for once, the country didn’t descend into its usual cynicism to host a tournament that was successful for all the right reasons. It was a triumph for South Africa, and deservedly so.
Springbok rugby in comparison would have been expecting another fine season, and they weren’t alone in doing so (guilty as charged). Perhaps we made the mistake of thinking about international rugby as an extension of the Super 14, where the Tri-Nations teams simply give the players a different coloured jersey above and beyond what they wear during the Super season. South Africa was represented by both of the finalists, so surely the Springboks would by extension dominate the Tri-Nations, right?
Oh, how silly we were.
Peter de Villier’s side was white-washed by the All Blacks (the Kiwis never forget years like 2009), and beaten by Australia on the Highveld for the first time in 47 years. They lost to Scotland in Europe but afterwards slapped around an English team that fancied their chances because they beat the Wallabies the week before. If a word can describe the Springbok’s 2010 season, inconsistency would be the bookies favourite.
First half collapses, second half rallies and fighting talk from the coaching staff continued throughout the season and frankly I was quite glad when the European adventure came to an ignominious end against the Barbarians. The same headlines have been everywhere since June, and enough is enough. A break was indeed called for. Peter de Villiers isn’t the best coach the Springboks have ever had, and he should be questioned about some of the decisions he has made during his tenure, along with some of the colourful statements he has made, making the media manager’s role folly. However it isn’t unrealistic to suggest that there are certain voices within the South African media landscape that have always had it in for De Villiers since he was chosen for a position that many thought was Heyenke Meyer’s by right. Those who call for his head are showing a lack of pragmatism, wanting to wreck a trip that though could end badly, will at least end in some form of a definable result. Who knows, it could end in profitable circumstances.
To have removed De Villiers would have equated to the build-up of the 2003 World Cup, and we all know what a load of Kamp Staaldraad that turned out to be. A change of management isn’t going to radically alter the Springboks fortunes or ensure they defend their world title. Ironically, consistency is what is needed. Will the Springboks play the sort of rugby we expect from New Zealand or Australia? No. But that hasn’t stopped them from etching South Africa on the Webb Ellis trophy twice in four attempts.
While they haven’t tactically been as dynamic as their Antipodean rivals, it’s too late to turn back. Besides, a World Cup tournament is a very different beast in comparison to a typical Test match. Seasons offer players chances to atone for their sins, and to set a high watermark. The World Cup doesn’t offer that comfort and as we’ve seen before, the fear of losing can become crippling. Just ask the All Blacks. If there is a style of rugby built for substance over style, the Springboks have it imprinted into their DNA. They know how to cross the finish line. There will be eight players, barring injuries, which will start the 2011 tournament with the 2007 final being their previous World Cup fixture. The line-up would be close to something like this:
15. Frans Steyn 14. JP Pietersen 11. Bryan Habana 13. Jaque Fourie 12. Jean de Villiers 10. Morne Steyn 9. Fourie du Preez 8. Pierre Spies 7. Juan Smith 6. Heinrich Brussow 5. Victor Matfield 4. Bakkies Botha 3. Jannie du Plessis 2. John Smit 1. Tendai Mtawarira.
22. Gio Aplon 21. Juan de Jongh 20. Ruan Pienaar 19. Schalk Burger 18. Danie Rossouw 17. Bismarck du Plessis 16. Guthro Steenkamp.
John Smit isn’t the best hooker in the country, with Bismarck du Plessis’s rampant performances in Europe proving to be a tour de force. But his experience in the tight situations, as he demonstrated against Fiji in 2007, will outweigh or at least equal what the Springboks lose with Bismarck du Plessis on the bench. Some may argue against that, but the question is this: would you rather have John Smit or Victor Matfield manning the helm with four minutes to go and a one-point lead to protect? Playing Smit at tighthead or loosehead was in retrospect a very silly thing to do, stifling a player that was the best hooker statistically at the 2007 tournament.
The All Blacks also reminded us that they are as scary as ever, and this wasn’t surprising to some. Their victory over South Africa at Soccer City was the year’s most deserved, since that Test match should be rated as the best of the year. No other fixture this year in the international calendar matched Soccer City for intensity, physicality and balls-to-the-wall grit. South Africa played their hearts out, and if it wasn’t for the All Blacks showing us why they are so special, that would have been one of De Villiers’ finest victories (or tacit “successes”). After the match the TV cameras went into the All Blacks dressing room, where they were ecstatic about their victory, and when asked by the media, rated it as their finest performance of the season.
And Australia? They have the easier route to the final, and all things considered, could go all the way.
Next year will be interesting for two reasons. One, the Super 15 will get under way. Will the conference system work? Second, will the Tri-Nations sides be more battle-hardened as they enter the World Cup having concluded a shortened Tri-Nations just weeks before?
The Springboks didn’t perform that well on the pitch this year, but next year begins afresh with new opportunity and if the injury devil is exorcised, if key players stay fit, the Springboks should be facing the All Blacks in the semi-finals next year. In a one-off like that, anything can happen. If this season has proven anything, it would be that.”
22 Dec 2010, 08:55 am
@stormer in a teacup : Nobody in the ranks of MW has ever tried to contradict Jancis — she’s the undisputed doyenne and go-to person of the world wine connoisseur business.
And she says SA reds all have a burnt-rubber character.
Tough luck. That’s what she says, and others agree.
Burnt rubber it is. Like “necklaced wine”.
Ha ha ha…
22 Dec 2010, 08:59 am
Wallabies to open 2011 against Samoa
The Wallabies will play their first afternoon Test on Australian soil for six years when they host Samoa at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium on July 17.
The return to a daylight Test, with a 2pm kick-off, was announced on Tuesday as the season opener in a year when the Wallabies will also campaign for a third Rugby World Cup title in New Zealand over September-October.
ARU boss John O’Neill said the early kick off initiative for the Samoan Test was aimed at ensuring the rugby community could welcome the start of the international season in a family-friendly atmosphere.
“Having a Sunday afternoon kick-off for the first time since 2005 is designed to give families a real opportunity to enjoy a day out at a Test match, the first in a World Cup year, he said.
“With just three Tests to be held in Australia before the Rugby World Cup, it is important that grassroots supporters have a chance to see and interact with their heroes.”
Samoa have contested the past five Rugby World Cups after missing out on the inaugural event in 1987 when Fiji and Tonga represented the Pacific Islands.
Samoa made the quarter-finals in 1991 and 1995 only to lose to Scotland and South Africa respectively.
Next year, Samoa is in pool D alongside South Africa, Wales, Fiji and Namibia.
The Samoans recently completed a tour of Japan, the UK and Ireland that delivered one win and three narrow losses.
A number of Samoa’s players are either current or former Super rugby representatives or boast experience in New Zealand’s NPC.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said the match would be a good starting point for what is going to be a massive campaign.
“The Samoans will be building to the Rugby World Cup themselves which will ensure they field a strong side,” Deans said.
They are capable – their recent results in the northern hemisphere show that.
“They are in a position to field an experienced group, a lot of who have played in the southern hemisphere and against a lot of our players in Super Rugby so they wont be overawed by the occasion.
“They’ll be looking forward to it.”
In 2005, the Wallabies powered to a 74-7 win over the Samoans in a game which saw 22-year-olds Rocky Elsom and Stephen Moore make their Test debuts in a Nathan Sharpe-led side.
22 Dec 2010, 09:00 am
The plonky cheap SA reds are more burnt-rubbery, and the overpriced flagship ones are less burnt-rubbery, but they’re all burnt-rubbery to a greater or lesser extent.
(Bet you’ll smell that rubber next time you sample a Delheim Grand Reserve! Puts you right off!)
22 Dec 2010, 09:01 am
RugbyHeaven picks the best XV for 2010 with the top challenger and the best from each hemisphere.
15. Mils Muliaina (New Zealand)
Top challenger Kurtley Beale (Aus)
Best from the north: Ben Foden (Eng)
14. James O’Connor (Australia)
Top challenger: Cory Jane (NZ)
Best from the north: Tommy Bowe (Ire)
13. Conrad Smith (New Zealand)
Top challenger: Adam Ashley-Cooper (Aus)
Best from the north: Brian O’Driscoll (Ire)
12. Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand)
Top challenger: Jean de Villiers (RSA)
Best from the north: Jamie Roberts (Wal)
11. Hosea Gear (New Zealand)
Top challenger: Chris Ashton (Eng)
10. Dan Carter (New Zealand)
Top challenger: Quade Cooper (Aus)
Best from the north: Johnny Sexton (Ire)
9. Ben Youngs (England)
Top challenger: Jimmy Cowan (NZ)
8. Kieran Read (New Zealand)
Top challenger: Pierre Spies (RSA)
Best from the north: Imanol Harinord0quy (Fra)
7. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
Top challenger: David Pocock (Aus)
Best from the north: Lewis Moody (Eng)
6. Jerome Kaino (New Zealand)
Top challenger: Rocky Elsom (Aus)
Best from the north: Thierry Dusautoir (Fra)
5. Victor Matfield (South Africa)
Top challenger: Nathan Sharpe (Aus)
Best from the north: Alun Wyn Jones (Wal)
4. Brad Thorn (New Zealand)
Top challenger: Courtney Lawes (Eng)
3. Dan Cole (England)
Top challenger Adam Jones (Wal)
Best from the south: Owen Franks (NZ)
2. Keven Mealamu (New Zealand)
Top challenger: William Servat (Fra)
1. Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
Top challenger Andrew Sheridan Eng
Best from the south: Tony Woodcock (NZ)
22 Dec 2010, 09:05 am
@TheTackler :
Have you tried the delicate Kellerprins?
22 Dec 2010, 09:07 am
@Mighty Horua : What a crock of sh*t. RugbyHeaven clearly doesn’t know its gluteus maximus from its olecranon.
22 Dec 2010, 09:08 am
@stormer in a teacup : – Member of International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Science Academy
- Editor of the British Medical Journal
- Member of the 1995 Selection Committee – International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.) Olympic Science Prize
- Fellow of and Keynote Speaker to the American College of Sports Medicine
And nobody even in his own native SA really gives a rat’s backside about what their own pompous rent-a-quote science-poseur has been warning them about. Why? Because he’s parroted the same old hackneyed piffle since — what’s that? — 1995? Or even earlier. Anyway, blimmin’ ages ago!
22 Dec 2010, 09:10 am
@Mighty Horua : Yarpie fighting wine? Put a drop or two in your goldfish bowl and turn wee Finny into a piranha overnight.
22 Dec 2010, 09:15 am
@>^..^< katman :
Missing Guthro
22 Dec 2010, 09:20 am
Zara Phillips, the grand-daughter of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, is to marry England rugby player Mike Tindall, the royal family has confirmed.
No date was given for the wedding of 29-year-old Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne and her first husband Mark Phillips.
The announcement comes a month after Prince William, the elder son of heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles, said he would marry his long-term girlfriend Kate Middleton in April.
Phillips was considered something of a “royal rebel” when she was younger, having her tongue pierced as a teenager.
However she went on to follow in her mother’s footsteps enjoying a successful horse riding career. In 2006, she won an individual gold on her horse Toytown at the World Equestrian Games in Germany, helped Britain win a team silver and was voted BBC sports personality of the year.
“I was really shocked when Mike proposed but I am very happy,” she said in a statement.
Tindall is also a well-known sportsman. The 32-year-old has played more than 60 times for England and was part of the England team which beat Australia to win rugby union’s World Cup in 2003.
“I am delighted that Zara has agreed to marry me. We are both very excited about the next stage of our lives together,” he said.
Princess Anne rode in the 1976 Olympics and was European Champion in 1971, while Mark Phillips won an Olympic team gold in eventing in 1972. They divorced in 1992.
22 Dec 2010, 09:22 am
Keo, the kiwi’s have taken over your blog mate. ALl the saffa’s are on the beach dreaming of the world cup.
22 Dec 2010, 09:32 am
Manny Pacquiao will fight Shane Mosley, a former champion in three divisions, on May 7 in Las Vegas.
The fight, to be held at the MGM Grand, will be contested at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds, Top Rank promoter Arum told Reuters in a telephone interview.
“Mosley is very dangerous, he’s a very slick fighter, very experienced,” said Arum. “Manny’s style is made to order for Shane. It should be a very, very interesting fight.”
After considering a choice between Mosley, lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez and WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto, Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs) informed Arum of his choice last week in the Philippines.
“He (Pacquiao) liked Mosley because Mosley is better known than the other two,” Arum said of the choice. “It is a name selection. He picked the guy that is known to more people because that is going to generate interest in the fight.”
Arum said finalized the bout on Tuesday.
The 32-year-old Pacquiao, the current WBO welterweight champion and widely considered the world’s best pound-for-pounder fighter, would have preferred a bout with undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr., said Arum.
“We made no secret that Mayweather was our top priority,” said Arum. “All Mayweather had to do was signal to us that he would have been available pending his court situation and we would have waited, but we heard nothing from him.
“Nobody has talked to him, he hasn’t talked to anybody.”
Mayweather, 33, was arrested at a Las Vegas casino last week on a misdemeanor battery charge after he allegedly assaulted a security guard at his gated community.
The 39-year-old Mosley, a Californian, is 46-6-1 with 39 knockouts but has a loss and a draw in his last two fights. He dropped a unanimous decision to Mayweather in May and had a draw with Sergio Mora in September.
Marquez fought Pacquiao to a draw in a 2004 featherweight championship fight and lost a split decision in a 2008 junior lightweight title fight.
22 Dec 2010, 09:36 am
@Mighty Horua : The Pacman is going to donner this hasbeen Mosley. Pity it’s not Mayweather. I would have sat up till late to watch him cop a beating.
22 Dec 2010, 09:40 am
Mayweather to fast and flashy for the Pacman!
I would’ve loved seeing Prince Nasheem or Hasheem getting abused by the Pacman.
22 Dec 2010, 09:43 am
England were blindsided by the intensity of paceman Mitchell Johnson’s swing during their third test defeat to Australia in Perth, but would not be caught out again in Melbourne, batsman Kevin Pietersen warned on Wednesday.
Johnson ripped apart England’s top order in the first innings with a match-turning six wicket haul that propelled Australia to an emphatic 267-run victory that levelled the five-match series at 1-1.
“(It) Definitely took us by surprise, for sure, but he bowled well, bowled really, really well, he bowled a really good game of cricket, Pietersen, who was trapped lbw for a duck by Johnson in Perth, told reporters.
“Obviously we’re going to prepare ourselves for that swinging ball. We knew he was going to swing it, but we didn’t think he was going to swing it that much.”
Johnson said he had enjoyed taking Pietersen’s wicket and described him as a ‘smart-arse’ after the South Africa-born batsman had asked him teasingly for his phone number so they could be ‘best mates’.
Johnson declined to give it, and Pietersen, who remains firm friends with Australia’s retired legspinner Shane Warne, confirmed the players were far from being on good terms.
“I don’t have a relationship with Mitchell Johnson,” Pietersen said, repeating himself when pushed to clarify.
Australia’s bowlers credited their improved performance at Perth in part to a renewed aggression that saw them exchange heated words with a number of English batsmen amid peppering them with volleys of furious short-pitched bowling.
Pietersen denied England had been unsettled by any verbal attacks and said he had heard worse when facing the likes of Australias Warne and retired paceman Glenn McGrath during England’s last Ashes tour four years ago.
RED MIST
“I haven’t seen or heard anything different to anything that’s happened in the first two test matches let alone last year in England,” he said.
“There’s not really any big chirpers or big sledgers.
“It’s just England versus Australia, it’s an Ashes series. Blokes get a bit of red mist occasionally.
“It’s historic, it’s huge, but there’s nothing that’s been overboard and if things go overboard, match referees deal with stuff like that.”
Pietersen also shrugged off controversy over the choice of pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground where the fourth test gets underway on Sunday.
Pitches for the MCG are dropped into the oval and English media have cried foul that the head groundsman would choose a grassier wicket more suited to Australia’s quicks rather than a drier track that might favour England and particularly, spinner Graeme Swann.
22 Dec 2010, 09:50 am
@Mighty Horua : Mayweather is scared of the Pacman. Does everything to avoid facing him. He knows he’ll get clobbered. All his handspeed won’t save him against the most accurate fighter in history. The Pacman must have the highest rate of punches landed vs punches thrown. No wasted energy there. Just relentless, brutal blows.
Prince Naseem in his prime wouldn’t stand a chance against the Pacman either.
22 Dec 2010, 09:53 am
@>^..^< katman :
Do you think the Golden Boy in his prime would stand a chance against the Pac?
22 Dec 2010, 09:59 am
@Mighty Horua :
Player.
22 Dec 2010, 10:00 am
@Mighty Horua :
Are you bored?
Please be advised that no-one is reading these lengthy tomes.
All we want to know is was Jacques pissed.
22 Dec 2010, 10:02 am
@Mighty Horua :
We SO don’t care about Pietersen.
All we want to know is when did Australia get so hondkuk at cricket.
22 Dec 2010, 10:03 am
Suddenly the weather is **** here.
WTF.
22 Dec 2010, 10:04 am
Where is that doos Tackler.
22 Dec 2010, 10:08 am
@Mighty Horua : Hmmm, not sure. A De La Hoya / Pacquiao fight would probably have been the best bout in history. I’m calling it a draw.
22 Dec 2010, 10:29 am
@TheTackler : @ 426
“blimmin”
yep, youre a naturalised Kiwi now alright.
22 Dec 2010, 10:32 am
@Mighty Horua : @ 433
even Naz’s Mum would have stayed up to watch that. Vile little piece if sh*t. Are we 100% sure he’s not from Pretoria ?
22 Dec 2010, 10:44 am
@Dawn :
Its a boring day? Nothing new on Keo – Even Keo’s twitted 48 hours ago!
22 Dec 2010, 10:44 am
Jaq Kallis was dikgesuip!
22 Dec 2010, 10:46 am
@Black Panther :
In Pretoria they dont play/jump/blow kisses, they kill you pappa!
22 Dec 2010, 10:47 am
Shane Watson and Lee Furlong
22 Dec 2010, 11:32 am
SIMON
Who are the two players (if players) on your SA Rugby Mag?
22 Dec 2010, 11:48 am
New Zealand army releases UFO files.
Now it begins to make sense.
2011 is going to be one heck of a ride, SA be ready
22 Dec 2010, 12:04 pm
@TheTackler : @ 418. Your are so far in credibility deficit. Jancis has been challenged and by no lessa personality than the world’s leading wine critic, Robert Parker. They differed in their assessments of several wines and a tasting between the two was arranged,to be judged by their peers. Parker won hands down. The fine wine column concludes
“Well this was obviously nothing close to a scientific or controlled experiment – just a bit of fun with some friends, and so the results should be ‘judged’ accordingly. It did indeed seem that a large part of the discrepancy was down to the personal palates of the critics. Mr Parker did, true to reputation, seem to favour the larger and fuller bodied offerings, with Jancis Robinson marking up the purity and finesse of the Pontet Canet 2001 but marking down the unmistakably fuller and sweeter 2003.
But I was certainly not alone in awarding the prize overall to Robert Parker for consistency and coherence.”
This from Jancis’ countrymen.
Contradicted ? Tick.
Not the worlds number one wine critic ? Tick
Still misquoted by Tackler ? Tick.
Stay in the Witless Protection Programme, Pilgrim.
22 Dec 2010, 12:22 pm
SA wine unleashes nearly £1m
13 Nov 2009 by Jancis Robinson
I did tweet about this at the time but I would just like to thank all those South African wine producers who supplied wine for our gala dinner at Le Café Anglais in London last Tuesday night in aid of Room to Read – and Martin Krajewski of Ch de Sours in Bordeaux who offered the opening lot in the live auction in the form of a harvest stay there.
Thanks to the efforts of wonderfully energetic auctioneer David Elswood of Christie’s and founder John Wood’s extraordinary ability to induce a crowd to back Room to Read’s programme of establishing schools, libraries and scholarships in Asia and Africa, this one dinner raised very nearly £1 million.
This was helped significantly by a generous pre-dinner promise on the part of an anonymous donor to match what was raised on the night up to £500,000, but I’m sure that the quality of the South African wines played their part. Julia also played an important part in steering me towards wines that had particularly impressed her on her visit there last May. Wines of South Africa co-ordinated the whole thing and Sensible Wine Services took charge of storage and delivery in the UK.
Here’s what Rowley Leigh and his team served us:
Cheese Straws, Anchovy Palmiers, Radishes
Quoin Rock, Simonsberg Oculus 2007 Stellenbosch
Scali Pinotage 2005 Voor Paardeberg
Scallop and Salmon Pate en Croûte, Fines Herbes Beurre Blanc
De Morgenzon Chenin Blanc 2007 Stellenbosch
Ataraxia Chardonnay 2008 Western Cape
Stuffed and Braised Breast of Veal with Ceps, Pommes Mousselines
Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2007 Franschhoek
Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards, Syrah/Mourvèdre 2005 Tulbagh
Montgomery Cheddar and Vacherin Mont d’Or
Morgenster Estate Wine 2004 Stellenbosch
Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2004 Stellenbosch
We were lucky to have such crème de la crème wines and they went down very well with the generous crowd. You can read Julia’s tasting notes on many of these wines here.
22 Dec 2010, 12:27 pm
Ataraxia Sauvignon Blanc 2006 Western Cape
19 Jun 2007 by Jancis Robinson
Find this wine
The Kiwis are busy talking up their 2007 vintage so Sauvignon Blanc lovers should look out for Marlborough’s best offerings from this year, which should start to arrive in the northern hemisphere just as summer starts to fade. To keep you going, however, think seriously about South African Sauvignon Blanc.
It’s different from the NZ version – less strident and pungent, generally less sweet in overall impression and often with a bit more minerality and complexity. I shall be writing this Saturday about some of South Africa’s best white wines and this recommendation is by way of an aperitif. It’s from a very new but very promising outfit established only in 2004 by Kevin Grant, ex winemaker at Hamilton Russell. He is also based in the cool, marine climate of Walker Bay and put his first vines into the ground only in 2005. He does not expect to be self sufficient in fruit until 2010 or 2011 at the earliest so at the moment is making wine from carefully-scouted vines belonging to others. This Ataraxia Sauvignon Blanc 2006 Western Cape, only his second vintage, comes mainly from a neighbour in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley in the hinterland of Hermanus, with a bit of fruit from the upper Helderberg from a Stellenbosch grower who used to supply Rustenberg’s Brampton label.
The result is a remarkably complex 13 per cent wine with a very fine, mineral nose with a really lovely, palate-caressing texture and completeness. It’s rewarding on the nose – aromatic but with several keynotes rather than one, and also has notable persistence. It’s far from the cheapest South African Sauvignon Blanc but perhaps the way out of Cape wine’s woes is to make more of these arresting, obviously top quality whites and start charging a fair price for them. (Pause while I dismount from this particular hobby horse.)
I was also impressed by Ataraxia Chardonnay 2005 Western Cape, which apparently comes from the only ungrafted commercial vineyard in South Africa, 1,000m up in the Agter Witzenberg Valley’s apple country well north of Paarl. This wine, a 14 per center, is still very tight, but shows every inclination to develop impressively. It is almost defiantly dry and concentrated. I’d love to see it in three years time – and there aren’t many Chardonnays anywhere one can say that about.
22 Dec 2010, 12:28 pm
Merry Christmas everyone. Enjoy a good wine, no matter where it comes from.
22 Dec 2010, 12:58 pm
f’ng wine bibbing become a notorious dedication of imbecilical connoisseur snooty nosing then we really know this human animal is well and truly one foot over the preconditioned precipice over the rails. When a fermented fruit starts ******** men’s brains to the delusional dedicated emphasis that it does then its a true reflection of how far from sanity this homogeneous sapien has devolved to.
Keep sniffing those fermented fumes and declaring your emphatic superiority over such abysmal bunkum, such is the state of your so called ‘civilization’ when a fermented fruit denotes your illusions of highfalutin illustriousness.
22 Dec 2010, 13:13 pm
Pissed again, I see.
22 Dec 2010, 13:13 pm
@stormer in a teacup : @stormer in a teacup : Two nices posts. Thanks enjoyed reading them.
To you and your family have a great Christmas and all the best for the New Year.
22 Dec 2010, 13:14 pm
@Puma : meant – nice
22 Dec 2010, 13:18 pm
@skopiskoobidoo : He Skoobidoo, Don’t Worry Be Happy..lol. That song keeps going round and round in my head today.
Remember leaving about this time on a ferry from De Hoek in Holland to speand Christmas and New Year 1993 in Scotland. They played that song non stop (almost) all the way over.
So for you old timer, “Don’t Worry Be Happy” This is the festive season Skop. We all enjoy it. Hope you do too.
All the best to you and your family over the festive season. Wine or no wine just enjoy it.
22 Dec 2010, 13:20 pm
@Puma : Sorry for some typos up there.
he = Hey
speand = spend
22 Dec 2010, 13:29 pm
It HAS to be said that if Keo has now come down to whose vino is better than whose, then this is taking DESPERATION to all new levels.
It’s wine, ladies. Squeezed grapes !
I’ve tasted great wines from every Old World country. And sh*t ones too. I’ve gurgled **** wines from NZ. And savoured plenty of sensational ones too. I personally can’t say I’ve ever tasted a decent SA white wine but Ive had SA pinotage that has knocked my socks off, albeit I simply find it too powerful for more than 1-2 glasses.
But this desperation to 1-up each other simply over a matter of taste, literally ?!
Perhaps Gunther can come along and explain how this, by extension, converts in to which nation is now Morally Superior. Then we really would have to acknowledge that you’ve all been suckered in to the point of no return.
22 Dec 2010, 13:31 pm
@stormer in a teacup : Awesome post and reply Stormer. You burnt Tackles properly.
He is such a doos and blimmin’ NZ bum-licker.
22 Dec 2010, 13:32 pm
@skopiskoobidoo : Hahaha – thats Pure poetry Skop!
22 Dec 2010, 13:37 pm
@TheTackler : Dammit! I joined this too late to remind Tackles how Prof Noakes totally made an @rse of Tackles in this very site.
For those newer bloggers on this site, it was a beautiful day. Tackles had to retreat with his tail between his legs and was basically in tears.
Im surprised to see he is even daring to mention the Prof again.
Hopefully there will be a round 2 and Prof can tear you a new one Tackles
22 Dec 2010, 13:38 pm
I’m a whiskey person meself.
22 Dec 2010, 13:40 pm
@Transformation : Aaaah well done Transie! The truth shall set you free!
22 Dec 2010, 13:40 pm
@THEBokFan :
Tackler is a disturbed individual with sociopathic tendencies.
He will murder Noakes if he comes within earshot, or gunshot range.
22 Dec 2010, 13:43 pm
@Black Panther :
Our wine is better than your wine.
22 Dec 2010, 13:46 pm
@Dawn : @ 468
Sure, Peaches, you whin(e).
22 Dec 2010, 13:46 pm
@stormer in a teacup :
Would it surprise you to know Skop is a teetotaller
22 Dec 2010, 13:52 pm
@Black Panther :
Gunther is off to the fair village of Arniston.
No time to pander to panther.
22 Dec 2010, 13:53 pm
@Black Panther :
Trotzdem … our whine is STILL better than your whine.
22 Dec 2010, 13:54 pm
Why they fussing over all the cricket centurions and ignoring my man Chris Gayle who made 333 against Sri Lanka.
22 Dec 2010, 13:56 pm
our bloody red wind nailed me big time this morning.
Moer of a party at a restaurant last nite then a 9 am brekfast meeting this morning…..the okes thought my speech was as rousing as Braveheart….little did they know i was still totally pissed!
22 Dec 2010, 13:57 pm
wind is wine….LOL…still seeing a bit double.
22 Dec 2010, 14:03 pm
@grant10 : 474 – Grant…hahahahahaha. Good one.
22 Dec 2010, 14:05 pm
@Dawn : Our EVERYTHING is better than theirs Dawn
Tackles might try and murder Noakes if he saw him, but Noakes would give him the Eye of Steel and start telling him what a dork he is, Tackled would start shaking and his bottom lip will start trembling, and then he will collapse crying and asking Noakes for forgiveness… just like last time.
Jislaaik that oke is sad
22 Dec 2010, 14:05 pm
@Black Panther : 461 – Howzit BP, Well I personally don’t care where the wine comes from as long as it is a good wine.
To you and your family have a great Christmas and all the best for the New Year.
22 Dec 2010, 14:08 pm
@Dawn : And his boyfriend “Black Panther” is not far behind (if ever there was a nickname that screams unfulfilled boyhood dream of being a superhero its that one).
Maak my lag hoe hulle almal lekker met jou flirt. Die kans om met n ware SA meisie te gesels en nie die lelike dinge op hulle eiland is net te veel van n verlei. Jys n supermodel op hier blad
22 Dec 2010, 14:10 pm
@Black Panther : 461 – BP, Also when you visit the Cape in Feb, think you will change your mind about our white wines. We have some really great white wines here, but it is our reds that are brilliant. I too don’t like Pinotage, but we have plenty other superb reds, far, far to many to mention here. Enjoy it, so many wine farms to visit in the Cape. You will be busy. Also hope you get to see a rugby game at Newlands.
22 Dec 2010, 14:18 pm
bp….you ever come to CT you get hold of me my man….we will go huge.
22 Dec 2010, 14:25 pm
@Puma : @ 478
@Puma : @ 480
Yeah, of course they could bottle it up in a Disney packaging and as long as it tasted great noone would be turning their nose up at it would they ?! It all comes down to our taste buds. Im partial to Aussie reds – I saw your comment about chilled Shiraz and did chuckle; chilling reds just completely takes away the taste and depth of red wine in my humble opinion. Whereas a room temp white wine almost has the reverse effect. My wifes best mate here is a Safa and she will only drink SA reds, whereas we drink primarily Kiwi whites. And yet we have a friend that has warned us NOT to bring Kiwi Sav-blancs to dinner, “only French whites thanks”. Its just what tastes we get used to I suppose.
I had a similar exchange with BokiNZ about Kiwi wines – he lives in Gisborne, which is well known for chardonnays – and he said “all” NZ wine was horrible. Maybe he was just trying to rile the Kiwi, but I did think this said more about him than it did about me, let alone NZ wines. What I do know is that in UK, NZ white wines are now no1 seller, more than French or Aussie wines. So someone is doing something right. I suppose New World countries like NZ or Chile or Argentina have an advantage of sorts in that soils and climate change the character of varietals and the winemakers dont feel bound to follow conventional routes bound up in centuries of old-school techniques, and therefore we are blessed with different tastes from the same grape. Thats pretty exciting to me !
And dont be surprised if the exciting wines of the future come from Engl (sparkling wine) or even a stamp that we are already familiar with
‘Made in China’. – theyre planting vines everywhere !
22 Dec 2010, 14:27 pm
@grant10 :
That would be great, G10. I may have to get thru customs under disguise first but Im absolutely salivating at the prospect of exploring your country.
And you know, as does Puma, that the barbie will be on at Chez Panther if you ever make it to RWC’11.
22 Dec 2010, 14:30 pm
@Dawn : @ 472
I knew you had it in you to talk sense, for once, Peaches.
22 Dec 2010, 14:34 pm
@Black Panther : thanks BP…appreciate that.
22 Dec 2010, 14:41 pm
@THEBokFan : @ 479
“if ever there was a nickname that screams unfulfilled boyhood dream of being a superhero its that one”
?!?
Ah yes, I recall Gunthers grand entrance here too when he waded in with his own assumptions that my nik was somehow a racial-slur on a SA site given the ‘Black panther’ movement in the USA decades ago. In fact, Black Panther was the nikname of Waka Nathan – an AB star of the 60′s – and also a reference to Michael Jones, my favourite AB.
Rugby players on a rugby blog – who would have thought.
Atleast your own nik makes your own intentions clear. For a minute there I thought you must have had unfulfilled aspirations of being an Australian. Silly me.
22 Dec 2010, 14:43 pm
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨?
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¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨*?*o*
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨***o***
¨¨¨¨¨¨**o**?*o*
¨¨¨¨¨**?**o**o**
¨¨¨¨**o**?***?*o*
¨¨¨*****?*o**o****
¨¨**?**o*****o**?**
¨******o*****?**o***
****o***?**o***o***? *
¨¨¨¨¨____!_!____
¨¨¨¨¨\_________/
22 Dec 2010, 14:44 pm
Okay, that Christmas tree bombed out. But you get the idea. Have a good one.
22 Dec 2010, 14:45 pm
@Black Panther : 482 – BP, Exactly it is what we enjoy, we all have our own tastes. I personally hate red wine that has been chilled, any kind for that matter not just Shiraz. Cause like you I think it takes away the lovely flavours of the wine.
I believe the NZ whites are superb, all the Aussies that I do business with rave about it. I will get to try them sometime. I much prefer a red wine, but I do have white wine sometimes.
I will take you up on your offer if I come to the WC. Here we call it a braai.
Take Grant10 up on his offer to tour Cape Town. He knows the place well and you will be in for a great holiday mate. Cape Town in Feb is magnificent. You in for a treat. One of the most beautiful cities in the world. You have to go around with Grant to enjoy it. A local will always show the places a tour guide will miss.
22 Dec 2010, 14:46 pm
@grant10 :
Can we all come look at him too?
22 Dec 2010, 14:47 pm
@>^..^< katman :
actually I thought that was bloody good. I only assumed you copied this off the net somewhere but if youre conjuring these up on your own then youre not only patient but rather artistic. Complimenti !
Hope Santa leaves you something under yours that puts a smile on your face.
22 Dec 2010, 14:48 pm
@>^..^< katman : Katman, All the best to you and your family. Have a great Christmas and a brilliant New Year. All the best to your Lions too. Think they gonna do very well next year.
22 Dec 2010, 14:48 pm
@>^..^< katman : Baie mooi – dankie Katman, alles van die beste vir jou ook
22 Dec 2010, 14:48 pm
@Black Panther : I tried to improve one off the Net, but perhaps this is not my forté.
22 Dec 2010, 14:49 pm
@Black Panther :
Can we come stare at you too in Feb?
22 Dec 2010, 14:50 pm
@Puma :
Puma you are the most honourable person here, ever!
And I wish you all the best too.
Genuine.
22 Dec 2010, 14:50 pm
@Dawn : @ 490
My wife will be there too, Peaches, wouldnt want to make her jealous now would we. I know how you are partial to Scots blood, so we wouldnt want a scene.
22 Dec 2010, 14:50 pm
@Black Panther : love the clueless assumptions you make. Never once said anything about racism or the Black Panthers.
I dont give a fark what your name means and which idiot player it references old man.
My nik SHOULD make my intentions clear! I am a proud Bok supporter on a site about Bok rugby, made for Springbok rugby fans. How amazing that someone should have a nik that proclaims this?
There are also sites for NZ rugby, Im sure, I havent visited them cos I couldnt give a flying fark. You should go check them out
22 Dec 2010, 14:50 pm
Thanks. I don’t want anything for myself for Christmas. I only want some silverware for the Lions. And it’s this kind of selflessness that often gets noticed by Santa. Here’s holding thumbs.
22 Dec 2010, 14:51 pm
@>^..^< katman :
And to the only person ever to touch my stuffed dog, you and your family have a brill festive season!
22 Dec 2010, 14:51 pm
@THEBokFan : should be: I never once said anything about racism or the Black Panthers.
22 Dec 2010, 14:52 pm
@Black Panther :
Fine then. If you have no time for your keo buds, except Grant, then so be it.
22 Dec 2010, 14:53 pm
@Black Panther :
I mean for goodness sake it’s just a drink with a whole lot of other muppets.
22 Dec 2010, 14:53 pm
@Dawn : Thanks Dawnie. You too. And pat that little puppy from me.
22 Dec 2010, 14:54 pm
Merry Christmas to all the Muppits (excluding Tackler, BP, Bokbaiter and Poppa) and all the best for 2011.
Undoubtedly there will be many great threads and comments next year
22 Dec 2010, 14:54 pm
@THEBokFan : @ 501
um neither did I – I said that only about Gunther.
The analogy I was trying to make was making-wrong-***’umptions.
22 Dec 2010, 14:55 pm
@Dawn : 496 – Dawn, You just made my day. Thank you very much. You are a sweetie pie, young lady.
Hope you have a Wonderful Christmas and may all your dreams come true in the New Year, all the best for 2011.
22 Dec 2010, 14:56 pm
@THEBokFan : @ 505
Merry Christmas to you too, good will to all men.
If the Germans and Brits can place down their weapons, then so should TheBokFan and TheABFan.
Peace, brother.
22 Dec 2010, 14:57 pm
@Black Panther :
black pants
I don’t think that it was me that accused you of being a militant black radical
and it is perfectly acceptable to chill your red for a few minutes when its 34 degrees outside.
you need to get out more
22 Dec 2010, 14:57 pm
@Dawn : 502 – Dawn, You have to take BP when he is here in Feb to the Firemans. I may be in Cape Town in Feb for a week too. I will come as well.
22 Dec 2010, 14:59 pm
Okay that is me off to a meeting. The last of the year. Then as from tomorrow I am on holiday until after the 5th of Jan.
Will post a bit but if I don’t see some here. To everyone on keo have a wonderful Christmas and all the very best for the New Year.
22 Dec 2010, 15:00 pm
@Puma :
His wife has him by the curlies.
He can’t come out to play!
22 Dec 2010, 15:01 pm
@gunther : 509 – Before I go, the Rose was not too bad, but I still prefer the red anytime
Cheers Gunther. Enjoy your Christmas and all the best for the New Year.
22 Dec 2010, 15:02 pm
Room temperature = the average room temperature in a place like Bordeaux. Not Durban. Or Brisbane. Or Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu.
Around 18 degrees Celcius is not a bad red wine temperature.
22 Dec 2010, 15:03 pm
@Dawn : 512 – Okay, but maybe make a plan..hahaha.
Cheers Dawn I have to dash. Catch up tomorrow or the next.
22 Dec 2010, 15:03 pm
@gunther : @ 509
please
please
dont make me embarrass you.
I will if I HAVE to, Gunther.
But its Christmas time and I dont really want to.
It was nearly as dumb as your ‘Moral Superiority’ line of argument (still struggling with the rugby connection there but if youre looking for a clue for the Answer to that particular Question, then look no further than para 3 at 498……scary !).
22 Dec 2010, 15:04 pm
@>^..^< katman :
precisely 15 to 18 celcius depending on the wine.
@Puma :
next thing you will be wearing loafers with no socks like katman.
take care puma
22 Dec 2010, 15:05 pm
@Dawn : @ 512
What wife doesnt wish she did ?!
22 Dec 2010, 15:05 pm
@gunther :
Our whine is better than their whine.
22 Dec 2010, 15:06 pm
@gunther : Saves wash line space.
Not just a pretty face here.
22 Dec 2010, 15:07 pm
@Black Panther : Classic, now you try and take moral high ground. Typical cowardly behaviour.
There are no guns involved, nothing will be put down.
Fark you
22 Dec 2010, 15:08 pm
@gunther :
Now our of here for real. Catch up tomorrow.
22 Dec 2010, 15:08 pm
@Black Panther :
ok pants if you say so.
now fuckoff
22 Dec 2010, 15:08 pm
@Puma : typo – out
22 Dec 2010, 15:09 pm
@Black Panther :
I’ll let you get on with your pal Bokkie..
He seems hot for you.
22 Dec 2010, 15:19 pm
@gunther :
Come for drinks with us when he gets here in Feb.
Go on.
22 Dec 2010, 15:22 pm
@gunther : Gunther, dude, these Kiwis p1ss me off. They come onto what is basically a SA Rugby site, insult the Boks, South Africans, South Africa and so on and then try and make it seem they are now trying to make friends and be the “bigger man”? Its a joke.
22 Dec 2010, 15:24 pm
@Dawn :
Steady we don’t want to ruin his trip
Rather break pants in gently with some civilised company.
Puma and Grantie should do the trick.
Yourself included Princess.
Natch.
22 Dec 2010, 15:25 pm
@THEBokFan : @ 521
Actually I wasnt trying anything of the sort.
If wishing someone a Merry Christmas or Peace at this time of year is ‘taking the moral high ground’ or is, somehow, ‘cowardly’ (huh ?!?) then I think I understand Gunther a bit more now.
Take it as you wish, I was merely offering a hand of momentary peace. I dont know how that can be translated as me trying to make myself better than you given we are both anonymous bloggers here. As you wish.
22 Dec 2010, 15:28 pm
@THEBokFan :
Relax china.
He’s yanking your chain.
I’m sure his seasons greatings were in earnest.
22 Dec 2010, 15:30 pm
@gunther :
So your King ‘Carless’ is not the favourite poster boy for “Mothers against Drunk Driving” now after blowing out at least one tyre on a ‘gate’ at 60kph?
22 Dec 2010, 15:31 pm
@Black Panther : Easy to twist my words BP, youve done it all year.
@gunther : Totally relaxed, just not falling for fake sentiment, and definitely not looking to part of the kiwi-bum-licking gang.
@Dawn : Dawn, I will come with to the drinks – please let me
As I remember BP lives in London. I did offer for us to meet up once, but he never replied
22 Dec 2010, 15:32 pm
@E.T. :
I think his new hair got in the way.
One too many vitamin waters
22 Dec 2010, 15:33 pm
@THEBokFan : @ 527
I never said anything about ‘being friends’, I simply said “peace” in Christmas week.
I cant honestly ever remember “insulting South Africa” in the many years Ive been here. Ive made a few lighthearted “Safas have no sense of humour” jibes but thats about as much as it gets. I dont talk racism, crime stats, or politics. So if you think my talking rugby equates to analysing your Moral-fibre as a nation then you appear to have read a little too much in to it.
Anyway, enough already. Merry Christmas to everyone here. Normal service will resume when the RUGBY starts again in Feb.
22 Dec 2010, 15:36 pm
@Black Panther : Hey pipe down. We said happy christmas first. And besides, South African christmas is WAY better.
22 Dec 2010, 15:36 pm
@>^..^< katman : Hahahaha love you Katman. Is Beast really moving to Joburg?
22 Dec 2010, 15:37 pm
@gunther :
Don’t be so man.
You are avoiding us.
Why?
22 Dec 2010, 15:38 pm
@THEBokFan : Manie Reyneke seems to think so.
22 Dec 2010, 15:39 pm
@Dawn : I think he’s ashamed of his monobrow and his stutter.
22 Dec 2010, 15:40 pm
@Black Panther :
Our Christmas is better than your Christmas.
22 Dec 2010, 15:40 pm
@Dawn :
us?
22 Dec 2010, 15:40 pm
@THEBokFan : @ 532
I dont remember that. As a father of 3 youngins I dont get the chance to meet up with anon bloggers in my spare time, so dont take it personally. But given your response to a Christmas greeting then maybe it turned out to be a good thing ?
I have made an annual offer of a beer with Big Hit after every AB vs Engl fixture and he never accepts it. Surely we are all a bit voyeuristic with our posts here that would disappear face2face.
Enough already, As you were.
22 Dec 2010, 15:40 pm
@Dawn : And after I berated him yesterday for his pink popped collared polo shirts, he’s got nothing to wear.
22 Dec 2010, 15:41 pm
@>^..^< katman : Ja he does – it will be a great coup for the Lions and a bit of payback for the Sharks hijacking of Alberts and Ludik (was it?).
Although the move has seemed to helped Alberts career which is good for SA Rugby. Better than Kankowski taking up space on the Bok bench. Until Vermeulen and Alberts are in the Boks, they will struggle for a real #8 – especially when Spies has a (all too often) bad day…
So will Kockett kick for poles? Or Elton?
I met Elton at Twickenham before the test, he is a great guy.
22 Dec 2010, 15:41 pm
@>^..^< katman :
Hunchback? Squint? Pilates ball glued to his back? Closet Kiwi? Steve Hofmeyer?
22 Dec 2010, 15:41 pm
@>^..^< katman : @ 535
nah – UK Christmas is brill but I’ll take a Safa Boxing Day if given the option as long as it includes sun and surf.
22 Dec 2010, 15:42 pm
@gunther :
Yep us. Katman, me, Justrugby, Slappes, Grant, WPTID (when he deigns to appear), UFO.
Us.
22 Dec 2010, 15:43 pm
@Black Panther :
Never mind Big Hit.
We welcome you with open arms in Feb.
We will make you dronk.
22 Dec 2010, 15:44 pm
@THEBokFan : Kockott is going to struggle to kick for poles from the bench. But when he replaces Vermaak with 20 to go, he and Elton can ching for it.
And yes, we’re still bitter about Alberts. I was bitter about Ludick too, but now that I see what we have in Jaco Taute, I realise that was a blessing in disguise. Perhaps Alberts leaving will unearth a new star too.
22 Dec 2010, 15:44 pm
@Dawn :
snow white and the seven dwarves?
22 Dec 2010, 15:45 pm
a href=”#comment-1782619″>gunther :
From what i read here is there still such a place as “the poor fishing village and community of Arniston”?
In the early ’90s i still had to ride on dirt roads to get to the wonderful beach facilities of just sand and salt water?
What have your developers(more interlopers) done down there?
22 Dec 2010, 15:45 pm
@Black Panther :
Our country is friendlier than your country.
If you do not possess a firearm, one will be issued to you upon arrival.
22 Dec 2010, 15:45 pm
@Dawn : @ 548
That sounds mighty fine. Question is, Peaches, what will I make you in return ?!
22 Dec 2010, 15:46 pm
@gunther :
Dwarfs?
Not quite.
They big buggers.
22 Dec 2010, 15:47 pm
@Black Panther :
Nothing
I am OK as is.
We just get together for drinks now and again and we always invite visiting bloggers.
22 Dec 2010, 15:48 pm
@>^..^< katman : Hahahah well said, I was being a bit sarcastic – I also dont see how Kockott will be picked over Vermaak.
Good point about Taute and good to stay positive, seems there are quite a few unknown gems popping up.
Whats happening with Mjkevu (spelling?)? He was great. With him on one wing and Mapoe on the other, Lions will be dangerous indeed.
22 Dec 2010, 15:48 pm
@Black Panther :
We meet at 17h30, you will be home by 19h00.
22 Dec 2010, 15:49 pm
@E.T. : Yes, the fishing village is still there. Serves as a vaguely interesting curio snapshot detour on arrival in Arniston before getting down to the serious business of braai and dop. Quaint.
22 Dec 2010, 15:49 pm
@E.T. :
we have built big houses with swimming pools and large driveways for our luxury cars.
as well as sumptious accomodation for Maevis.
22 Dec 2010, 15:50 pm
@THEBokFan : He’s still there. As is Killian. And Chavangha (I think). So we suddenly have options out wide, where two season ago we were to ashamed to mention our wings.
22 Dec 2010, 15:51 pm
Dawn likes an early night.
If she isn’t in bed by nine, she goes home.
22 Dec 2010, 15:51 pm
@>^..^< katman :
There’s a kwaai quaint hotel there where I had my honeymoon before my marriage crashed and burned!
22 Dec 2010, 15:51 pm
@Dawn :
the Arniston hotel?
22 Dec 2010, 15:52 pm
@Dawn : Your marriage crashed and burned on your honeymoon? Eish.
22 Dec 2010, 15:54 pm
@gunther :
You know me so well.
Now come for drinks.
We will overlook any deformities and speech impediments as we are lekker people.
22 Dec 2010, 15:54 pm
@>^..^< katman :
Marriage.
22 Dec 2010, 15:55 pm
@>^..^< katman :
Not on the honeymoon man!
Afterwards!
Magtag.
22 Dec 2010, 15:56 pm
@gunther :
So is anything still called pristine along any cape coastline?
Is nothing vaguely sacred?
Even a township for your ‘Maevis’?
22 Dec 2010, 15:56 pm
@gunther :
Have you demolished all the fisherman’s houses?
22 Dec 2010, 15:57 pm
@>^..^< katman : Ja very true! 2 seasons can make a huge difference in rugby ne?
@Dawn : Sorry to hear that Dawn.
22 Dec 2010, 15:57 pm
And the embers thereof still smolder!
22 Dec 2010, 15:57 pm
Where’s panty?
22 Dec 2010, 15:58 pm
@E.T. : Yes, the Arabella Golf Estate is considered pristine.
22 Dec 2010, 15:58 pm
@THEBokFan :
S’ OK.
We remain friends through rugby.
22 Dec 2010, 16:00 pm
@>^..^< katman :
ET is on verge of writing the sequel to Cry The Beloved Country.
“It’s All Gone!”
22 Dec 2010, 16:00 pm
@E.T. :
the coastline is still beautiful.
Maevis is accomodated in the main compound of chateau gunther.
she refuses to stay with the cullarts.
I have tried to explain the error of her ways but she just tells me to shut up and that the whites are not in charge anymore.
anyway Maevis is taking a mini-break in the skei.
I will be ironing my own shirts.
still, probably for the best.
22 Dec 2010, 16:02 pm
@Dawn :
perhaps if you had sprung for a suite with a sea view things would have worked out better?
22 Dec 2010, 16:04 pm
@gunther :
We had that.
But we also had that most over-used of courtroom reasons : Irreconcilable differences.
Nuf said.
Now come for drinks in Feb. You are allowed to wear a paper bag over your head, if you like.
22 Dec 2010, 16:07 pm
Is it lunchtime in London?
Where is panty?
22 Dec 2010, 16:09 pm
@Dawn : Well thats at least good – doesnt rugby keep all of us friends?
Speaking of which, when do I qualify for an invite to a Muppits drinks evening?
@Dawn : hahaha classic Dawn. He is looking out of his grimy Shepherds Bush window hoping I dont track him down
22 Dec 2010, 16:11 pm
@gunther :
Thank goodness your are just a sophisticated scream.
How do you read the Kingsmead encounter? Another green top?
I have to concede that any Indian bowling attack looks incapable of twice bowling out the Proteas with or without King ‘Carless’ playing.
22 Dec 2010, 16:13 pm
@Dawn :
irreconcilable differences can lead to divorce?
I need to lift my game.
22 Dec 2010, 16:14 pm
@THEBokFan :
You qualify anytime you are here!
22 Dec 2010, 16:16 pm
@E.T. :
There has been lots of rain there.
I’m not sure how bouncy or quick the wicket will be.
Hopefully Parnell in for lopsy.
22 Dec 2010, 16:17 pm
@Dawn : @ 572
I dunno – where did you take them off ?
22 Dec 2010, 16:18 pm
@Black Panther :
Back from lunch?
22 Dec 2010, 16:21 pm
@Dawn :
This conversation is as thrilling a prospect as being-home-by-7.
22 Dec 2010, 16:21 pm
@Dawn : Ok shot!
I should be in the Cape again soon so will let you guys know.
Do you guys just stick to papsak or does it get crazy like dagga? I stick to my Windhoek Lights personally
22 Dec 2010, 16:22 pm
@Black Panther :
Whatever
I am considering your family requirements.
Your booze-up will have to be short.
22 Dec 2010, 16:23 pm
@gunther :
Good change as there is during a game there always a chance for some swing with the tides coming and going.
What about England and the bombastic noise KP is making for the 4th test?
22 Dec 2010, 16:23 pm
@THEBokFan :
Hooliha.
We are very civilised.
Even I behave impeccably.
For a cullart.
22 Dec 2010, 16:26 pm
@E.T. :
Personally I would like oz to take them.
the poms get right up my nose.
22 Dec 2010, 16:27 pm
@Dawn : Hahaha sies Dawn, we dont say cullart anymore, we say “currently disadvantaged”
So no dagga then, just tik?
Im sure you okes will teach me a thing or 2
22 Dec 2010, 16:33 pm
@THEBokFan :
Relax
I’m the only one there.
You will be in the company of your peers.
No tik, nothing of the kind.
22 Dec 2010, 16:34 pm
@gunther :
Agreed.
Their damn cricket shirts are always so blindingly white.
Aussies have never heard of Omo.
22 Dec 2010, 16:36 pm
@Dawn :
I have sent you a message.
22 Dec 2010, 16:37 pm
@Dawn : Ja I know that Dawn, was just carrying on with your joke.
I definitely would count you as my peer, and better, amongst the Muppits Dawn.
22 Dec 2010, 16:37 pm
@gunther :
Where?
ESP?
22 Dec 2010, 16:37 pm
@Dawn :
the aussies have a strange cream vibe going on.
it makes me think of porridge.
not pleasant at all really.
22 Dec 2010, 16:39 pm
@Dawn :
espfacefuck
22 Dec 2010, 16:46 pm
@gunther :
Dunno about that.
They look more “human”. Not so sanitised.
Does Aus have Omo?
22 Dec 2010, 16:49 pm
@Dawn :
I’m not sure.
We should send them a care package.
22 Dec 2010, 16:54 pm
@gunther :
Actually that Tremlett fills his shirt very well for a Pom.
22 Dec 2010, 17:07 pm
wow
check out all the losers…
maybe,just maybe
Santa will bring you “A Life” for christmas.
wouldn’t that be nice.
and maybe….he’ll give WP a “trophy” for christmas.
…they sure as hell can’t get one any other way.
22 Dec 2010, 17:22 pm
and what does that make you then, Piet ?
22 Dec 2010, 18:59 pm
this Brigadier Van Zyl is a right real pompous snotty nosed pomfaced sot ain’t he just, the likes of him and our resident Mr Pommie pom Pompousness himself, The Tackler, would function much better in tandom like two pompous pommie faced ponses in a pod, almost identical twins the pair of em swapping confessions of Charlatan chardenay connoisseurs concord..
22 Dec 2010, 20:25 pm
Do you want a side of green beans with that aggro?
22 Dec 2010, 21:53 pm
@stormer in a teacup : Robert Parker — an American — is a poseur. He isn’t even a MW. Only Americans pay him any attention. Jancis’s knowledge is, quite literally, encyclopaedic. She IS a MW. She’s taken seriously everywhere — including SA, NZ, Oz, France, Italy and elsewhere in Europe. And she’s taken seriously by serious connoisseurs in the USA.
And, even if she likes the odd yarpie wine here and there, her comment about the reds having “burnt rubber” notes is the pithiest thumbnail summary of the entire industry there.
Suck it up, pilgrims. Your reds suck as much as your rugby.
22 Dec 2010, 22:54 pm
Late candidate for best quote of 2010.
Retired English prop Phil Vickery, recalling in The Independent his embarrassingly bad performance for the 2009 Lions against the Springboks in Durban: “You know you’ve had a **** game when your wife and your mother text you to tell you that they still love you.”
23 Dec 2010, 03:19 am
Heres to a merry Christmas to all bloggers here on Keo.The first thing i do every morning is log in to see whats been happining over night.Although im a Kiwi(please dont hold that against me)Im also a closet Bok supporter.To me ,when Bok rugby is strong World rugby is strong.Love reading all the comments,dont always agree,but appriciate the different points of view.So to BP,Dawn,Tackler,Grant 10,Brigadier and all the Regulars,have a safe one and see you all in the new year.
23 Dec 2010, 03:21 am
Looks like the news of those poor burnt-rubber SA wines is spreading in its biggest market…
“Exports of South African-packaged wines to the UK have dropped by 29 percent in volume over the past 11 months, Business Day reported on Wednesday.
Wines of SA, the industry body responsible for promoting South African wines abroad, attributed the drop in sales to a shift to bottling and packaging by some of the bigger supermarket brands in the UK. The supermarkets are opting to buy only the wine and then to package it themselves.
Jo Wehring, the organisation’s UK market manager, said “tough economic times” had forced the biggest retail stores to choose to bottle South African-sourced wines in the UK.
Wehring noted that these retail stores were importing bulk, unpackaged South African wine in an effort to cut costs.
Research by consulting firm ACNielsen shows the value of South African wine sales has dropped by 3 British pounds a bottle in the UK in the year under review.
This figure translates into 48.5 percent of lost revenue for wine exporters, the research indicated.
Despite a drop in sales and exports, Wehring remained optimistic that trading conditions would improve .
The UK is South Africa’s largest trading partner in the European Union and is also the largest buyer of local wines.”
(news24.com, 23.12.10)
23 Dec 2010, 03:41 am
@Dawn :
Nutjobs should not drink on top of their medication!
23 Dec 2010, 04:54 am
@TheTackler :
and you made that deduction from the article posted? mmmmmmm, good reading between the lines………not
23 Dec 2010, 05:49 am
If wine is not your bag, daddio, try this KEO cocktail. It is called The Tackler.
One part imitation kiwi (not the cordial kind).
One part u-noaked Chardonnay. (Avoid anything with depth, balance or clarity).
Fill to overflowing with bitters.
Stir.Stir.Stir
23 Dec 2010, 06:22 am
@whatever : A 29% drop in volume, and a 48% drop in value is pretty conclusive proof that the largest single market is definitely rejecting the product. It means that even though you’re selling at huge bargain-basement discounts, the buyers are STILL turning away.
That’s not “reading between the lines”.
It’s reading the screaming banner headline in 40pt type.
23 Dec 2010, 07:55 am
@LITELOCK : thanks….and to you and yours as well…..have a great festive season.
23 Dec 2010, 08:13 am
Who pissed rubberised wine on the Brigadier’s battery!!!!!!!!
23 Dec 2010, 08:14 am
@TheTackler :
‘Looks like the news of those poor burnt-rubber SA wines is spreading in its biggest market…’
‘Jo Wehring, the organisation’s UK market manager, said “tough economic times” had forced the biggest retail stores to choose to bottle South African-sourced wines in the UK.
Wehring noted that these retail stores were importing bulk, unpackaged South African wine in an effort to cut costs.’
Nice Tackles, in an effort to prove a point you have just disproved your theory.
There is a difference between a drop in volumes due to quality and a drop in volume due to the current economic climate which is forcing people to cut costs at all, well, costs.
23 Dec 2010, 08:16 am
@TheTackler :
Magtag
I went home, had food and whiskey, watched several hours of TV, slept for 7 hours, and you still blathering on about whine????
23 Dec 2010, 08:18 am
@TheTackler :
Come home man.
All is forgiven.
You’ll be happy here.
23 Dec 2010, 08:22 am
i dont want to see or hear anything about evil wine ever again…..well at least not till about lunch time.
23 Dec 2010, 08:47 am
@TheTackler : Allow me to add a little context to your desperately twisted “facts”.
Yes, SA’s wine export volume has declined, but not only ours. The UK is importing less from everyone. And here’s the real clincher. Even with those declines, SA is still the fourth biggest wine exporter to the UK, after Australia, France and Italy. SA accounts for more than 12% of the UK market, and is virtually on par with France.
NZ, on the other hand, is languishing way down in the chasing pack. From “your” very own New Zealand Trade & Enterprise website:
“Although the UK is New Zealand’s second largest export market, New Zealand wines represent only 4.4 percent of the total UK wine market by value (3.2 percent by volume).”
To run with the big boys, NZ has to first leapfrog the likes of Argentina and Chile.
23 Dec 2010, 08:47 am
@TheTackler : I should probably remind you again that we’re also on The Google.
23 Dec 2010, 08:59 am
@>^..^< katman :
He always vanishes like mist before the morning sun when I appear.
Poof. Gone.
23 Dec 2010, 09:08 am
@Dawn : He’s waiting for New Zealand’s Ministry of Computers to switch on the Internet so that he can outgoogle us. The north and south islands have to take turns.
23 Dec 2010, 09:13 am
@>^..^< katman :
Is Simon’s cover a sort of a black/white hybrid?
23 Dec 2010, 09:14 am
@Dawn :
Are they even rugby players?
23 Dec 2010, 09:15 am
Looks like the Sport Illustrate Models
23 Dec 2010, 09:16 am
@Mighty Horua :
Wait
Lemme go look again.
23 Dec 2010, 09:17 am
@Dawn : @Mighty Horua : I think it’s that rugby player called Blokkies.
23 Dec 2010, 09:17 am
@Mighty Horua :
They look nothing like the Sports Illustrated models.
Looks like they need a shower
Maybe it’s Cardinelli and Vrede.
They don’t look like any players I know.
23 Dec 2010, 09:18 am
IS THE LATEST SA RUGBY MAGAZINE OUT?
23 Dec 2010, 09:19 am
The half pic of Victor below that looks like something surprised the hell out of him. In a nasty way. Like that wasn’t just a ****.
23 Dec 2010, 09:19 am
**** = f.a.r.t
23 Dec 2010, 09:20 am
you okes must go see that trilogy at the movies….the girl with the dragon tatoo….the girl who played with fire….and the girl who kicked the hornets nest…..amazing stuff from a great author in sieg larsson…..1 dark bloody swede that oke…
23 Dec 2010, 09:21 am
@grant10 :
Magtag!!
No more wine for you.
The article is about the mag!!!!!
23 Dec 2010, 09:23 am
@grant10 : A colleague just said the same thing to me (but she’s Swedish, so I reckoned she was biased).
Apparently the Labia has a deal with the local pizza joint in Kloof Street where you get a free pizzas with your movie tickets. I could be tempted.
23 Dec 2010, 09:23 am
@grant10 :
Yep. I have moved my focus to Sweden.
Assange and all.
Bugger these dik rugby players.
They produce authors like Herman Mankell.
What could go wrong.
23 Dec 2010, 09:25 am
@>^..^< katman :
You have to go to Nouveau in Cavendish.
23 Dec 2010, 09:25 am
@Dawn : Why?
23 Dec 2010, 09:26 am
@grant10 :
Have watched Liefling?
23 Dec 2010, 09:29 am
@>^..^< katman :
Cos Grant said the movies were showing there?
Are they also at the Labia?
23 Dec 2010, 09:31 am
@Dawn : The first one is showing at the Labia on Kloof, and the other two are at the Labia on Orange. But Cavendish is closer for me, and the seats are more comfy.
23 Dec 2010, 09:33 am
@Dawn : oh….thought it was about p enis envy from the tackler oke….ja..been going hard at it for a while now….such fun
23 Dec 2010, 09:34 am
@>^..^< katman : go to nouveau cavendish….do all 3 mate…brilliant stuff…seriously.
23 Dec 2010, 09:35 am
@grant10 : That poses a very tricky babysitting situation.
23 Dec 2010, 09:36 am
@Mighty Horua : i thought liefling was injured?
23 Dec 2010, 09:38 am
@>^..^< katman :
Moenie worry nie baas.
Ek sal na die kinners kyk.
Ons weet hoe kultural ons baas is.
23 Dec 2010, 09:39 am
@Mighty Horua :
What are you talking about
23 Dec 2010, 09:43 am
Crikey!
Cinema Nouveau?
Talk about light in your loafers.
23 Dec 2010, 09:43 am
@Dawn : All three movies run to about 7 and a half hours. You’ve never gone more than 3 hours without a drink. I think I’ll make another plan.
23 Dec 2010, 09:44 am
everytime i go to the labia, i expect to see a porno. i don’t know why.
23 Dec 2010, 09:45 am
@>^..^< katman :
Meneer weet mos ek drink net as die donker is.
Ek kyk goed na die kinners.
23 Dec 2010, 09:46 am
@>^..^< katman : @Dawn : @grant10 : hey there! also seen all three, very good. looks like the hollywood edition is coming out soon?
The inconceivable Robin Wright is in talks to join David Fincher’s adaptation of Swedish crime thriller The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. The Princess Bride actress, who recently finalized her divorce from actor Sean Penn, is being considered for the inconceivable role of journalist Erica Berger, co-worker and lover of Daniel Craig’s Mikael Blomkvist. Actress Lena Endre played the role in the original inconceivable Swedish film, which was released in the US earlier this year.
23 Dec 2010, 09:46 am
@the peanut gallery :
I didn’t wanna say that myself.
I wonder who named it Labia. Next thing they’ll cap it off with Majoris.
23 Dec 2010, 09:47 am
@BuckT :
Dog forbid.
Why do they use the word inconceivable so much?
23 Dec 2010, 09:48 am
@Dawn :
Liefling – The first ever Afrikaanse musical
With the likes of …… i think Bobby van Jaarsveld and Emo
23 Dec 2010, 09:48 am
@Dawn : i went there the other night. a friend asked me for directions to the labia – needless to say, i couldn’t resist.
23 Dec 2010, 09:48 am
@>^..^< katman : ask dawn?
23 Dec 2010, 09:49 am
@BuckT : Hey Buck, long time no hear. All well on that side of the BWC?
23 Dec 2010, 09:50 am
@Dawn : she can’t fall pregnant
23 Dec 2010, 09:51 am
@the peanut gallery : Easy to find. You just head up Kloof.
23 Dec 2010, 09:51 am
yanks cant make those kind of movies….plonkers
23 Dec 2010, 09:51 am
@>^..^< katman : all well this side, how’s life in the flats? didn’t you move recently? more rooms for more kids?
23 Dec 2010, 09:52 am
@the peanut gallery : the land down-under?
23 Dec 2010, 09:52 am
okay….i am off to buy the sa rugby magazine….bloody off season killing me…
outta here
cheers
23 Dec 2010, 09:53 am
@>^..^< katman : smiley
23 Dec 2010, 09:55 am
@BuckT : Yep, I’m a Claremondian now. But we actually have much less space, but better schools. Go figure.
And no more kids. Two keep you on your toes big time. How about one more for you?
23 Dec 2010, 09:57 am
@>^..^< katman :
Upper?
23 Dec 2010, 09:57 am
@>^..^< katman : be careful not to mount nelson on the way
23 Dec 2010, 09:59 am
dawn….check out the ‘walander ‘ series re Mankell….on dvd….brilliant!
23 Dec 2010, 10:00 am
Below the railway line.
23 Dec 2010, 10:02 am
@>^..^< katman : no 2 next year for sure! how are the terrible/tranquil two’s going?
23 Dec 2010, 10:03 am
@grant10 :
Seen it!
23 Dec 2010, 10:03 am
@grant10 :
Ek raid die baas se DVD cabinet as hy by die werk is en die kinners slaap.
23 Dec 2010, 10:05 am
@BuckT : He’s great. No real sign of the terrible twos. Fussy eater though. And we started potty training last week. So far so good.
23 Dec 2010, 10:07 am
@>^..^< katman : you taking any leave? heard from sondebok lately?
23 Dec 2010, 10:08 am
@gunther : True. But that puts the entire Rondebosch (apart from the University) “below the railway line” too. And don’t try to tell a Golden Mile property owner that. They drive around with “Proud Rondebosch Family” stickers on their cars.
Mind you, they wear popped polo collars. And they knot their sweaters over their shoulders. You’d absolutely love them.
23 Dec 2010, 10:09 am
@BuckT : Going away for a week in January, and have the in-laws at home for Christmas.
No sign from Sondebok for ages now. Daddyhood must have hit him bad.
23 Dec 2010, 10:11 am
@>^..^< katman : you must be quietly confident about the lions prospects next year? found some Raka Quinary on special the other day, couldn’t resist!
23 Dec 2010, 10:13 am
@BuckT : I love that wine. Have one bottle left, and I’m saving it for Christmas lunch.
Yes, Lions look to be in a good space. Don’t think we’ll win the S15 next year, but I think we’re going to give the big three or four a scare.
23 Dec 2010, 10:21 am
@>^..^< katman : try popping more than one polo collar at the same time, now that’s cool
23 Dec 2010, 10:22 am
no new articles on keo? everyone on holiday?
23 Dec 2010, 10:24 am
@BuckT : In the words of Leonard Cohen, the place is dead as heaven on a Saturday night.
23 Dec 2010, 10:30 am
The year in rugby union: Mick Cleary chooses his best (and worst) moments of 2010
Another year has gone past, and while some things have stayed the same in the rugby world – Richie McCaw being the globe’s pre-eminent star, England’s inconsistencies and Gavin Henson courting the limelight – plenty has changed, and not all of it for the better.
Player of the year…
Richie McCaw. The most capped All Black, most capped captain, most prolific cheater at the breakdown to escape censure from referees, McCaw holds every accolade. Forget the sour grapes about getting away with grand larceny in the loose, that’s what great openside flankers are supposed to do. McCaw, 30 at the year’s end, joins the pantheon. He is the heartbeat of the All Blacks who won 13 from 14 tests this season, completed the first clean sweep of the Tri-nations series, recorded their fourth Grand Slam of the British Isles and, well, made the game look so damn simple.
Runner-up of the year…
Maggie Alphonsi, the hard-tackling, irrepressible England women’s flanker, the standout player among many at the Women’s World Cup held in Surrey in August-September. That the Black Ferns of New Zealand won, 13-10, ought not to detract from the acclaim that Alphonsi received. Any patronising postures struck with regard to the women’s game were well and truly blown away by the standard of play throughout the event.
Unsung hero of the year…
Phil Vickery. Given that the one-time inseminator from the farmlands of Cornwall has an MBE to his name, not to mention a World Cup-winner’s medal from 2003, Vickery might not quite fit the unsung billing. However, he has slipped off the scene without much of a fanfare, shunted into retirement after yet another neck injury, one blow too many. For his good grace, for his humanity as well as his humility, not to mention his Raging Bull charges, Vickery deserves to be saluted.
Best thing that happened this year…
Argentina joining the Four Nations. There has been so much head-scratching and soul-searching as to how best to accommodate the Pumas on the world stage that it’s a blessed relief that the authorities have finally been moved to take the decision to add Argentina to the Tri-nations from 2012. Now that the move has been made, it’s up to everyone to make it work. Rugby’s base is shallow. The Pumas need to be nurtured, as do the Pacific Island sides.
Worst thing that happened this year…
Friday night rugby in the Six Nations and staggered kick-offs to suit TV. Wales and England are due to launch the 2011 tournament on Feb 4 at the Millennium Stadium. Yes, there will be a huge buzz round that fixture, and a TV audience well into the millions for a prime-time slot. But how will it play with regular fans, those who travel, those who provide the din and the colour? It’s a short-term ploy with long-term repercussions.
I want to see more of…
Gavin Henson in rugby kit – and Danny Cipriani, too. Henson has been on self-imposed sabbatical for 20 months, taking time out to mend a wounded heart, repair a battered body and refreshen a stale mind. Absence can often distort a player’s worth, for better or for worse. If anything, Henson’s reputation has been enhanced. Time now for him to deliver in the new surroundings of the English Premiership with Saracens and then, if all goes to plan, for Wales. It would be good, too, to see Cipriani shake off his celebrity-gadfly status and wow the Aussies for the new Super 15 franchise, the Melbourne Rebels.
I want to see less of…
Faffing about at the scrummage. The ‘crouch-touch-pause-engage sequence, or cadence as the aficionados call it, was well-intended from rugby’s lawmakers who hoped to reduce injuries through controlled engagement. The drawn-out instruction from referees is in danger of undermining the scrum as an elemental part of the game. Some refs get it just right, controlling the engagement, others put intolerable pressure on the two packs of forwards to hold the strain. It’s as if referees are waiting for one side to infringe by jumping the gun. More sympathy for the players, please.
Argument of the year…
There’s only one contender here – Brendan Venter. The Saracens director of rugby admits to being opinionated. What he doesn’t say is that he is incapable of dishonesty or duplicity. Ask a question and you’ll get an answer. Unfortunately those responses do not always find favour with the authorities. Hence Venter’s disciplinary spats with the RFU and ERC, culminating in the wacky interview he did with Sky.
Match of the year…
England taking it to the Aussies at Twickenham is a major contender. Who were these guys in white? Yes, England 35 Australia 18 was sweet on the eye but it’s not the year’s high-point. Nor, for all its merits, is the pulsating Premiership final between Leicester and Saracens, the Tigers nicking it 33-27 with a last-gasp try from Dan Hipkiss. The pick of the bunch, though, was the last Bledisloe Cup Test in Hong Kong, Australia winning it with a nerveless conversion from the touchline by James O’Connor, who had also scored the clinching try in the corner, long after the hooter had sounded for the final play. Australia 26 New Zealand 24 ended a run of 10 straight defeats for the Wallabies against their cross-Tasman neighbours.
Lesson for 2011…
More tries, more even contests for the ball. The game has to ensure it continues with precise, enlightened refereeing at the breakdown. The switch of emphasis earlier this year, which effectively shifted the initiative from defence to attack, had a dramatic, liberating effect. It was as if a great big stopper had been removed. Dull kick-fests became a thing of the past as sides no longer feared being turned over or penalised. The 2011 Rugby World Cup might yet be the best ever.
23 Dec 2010, 10:33 am
@>^..^< katman : speaking of good music, did you see that Rob Zombie’s Hellbilly Deluxe 2 has been released! you going to any of the U2/Kings of Leon/Rammstein concerts?
23 Dec 2010, 10:35 am
@BuckT :
Baas Katman is all grown up now.
Niks meer konserte nie.
Anners moet ek non-stop na die kinners kyk!
23 Dec 2010, 10:36 am
@BuckT :
Crouch touch pause engage is a ponderous paraphanalia.
Make it stop.
23 Dec 2010, 10:39 am
Katman
Rondebosch has basically become Athlone Upper.
Will the katminis be going to sacs?
23 Dec 2010, 10:45 am
@>^..^< katman : NZ wines command the #1 spot in terms of high prices paid for New World wines — they concentrate on top quality rather than quantity or those fuzzy “value-for-money” plonks.
Which, incidentally, is why NZ wiped the floor with their Oz and Yarpie opposition in the annual 3N of fine wine competition.
Rather like rugby — SA has far more players, but NZ has far better quality players, so they smoked the Boks 3-0 into last place yet again in the 3N of rugby.
Quality above quantity. That’s the winning ticket.
23 Dec 2010, 10:47 am
@Dawn : @gunther : what has happened to the real Upper Athlone?
23 Dec 2010, 10:50 am
@TheTackler : Whatever suits you.
23 Dec 2010, 10:51 am
@TheTackler : the NZ wine sellers must be really hoping for a NZ loss at the world cup then! Sales will soar!
23 Dec 2010, 10:51 am
Poor tickles.
Come Christmas he will be necking a bottle of KWV in his bedroom staring at his Danie Gerber poster and weeping softly into his orange and blue flag.
23 Dec 2010, 10:52 am
@BuckT : Not U2 or Ramstein, but possibly Kings of Leon. Wouldn’t mind catching Cirque du Soleil if there are still tickets left.
23 Dec 2010, 10:59 am
@gunther : wait until he hears that tweede nuwe jaar has been cancelled, he might dip into his collection of Graca
23 Dec 2010, 10:59 am
@gunther : True, Crawford has become Rondebosch East and Rondebosch East is fast becoming Rondebosch. And this raises a nasty little truth which my wife pointed out to me the other day. Muslims bury all their medical and cosmetic waste on their properties. Everything from toenails to amputations and tumours. So the pokey little 450 sq/m Rondebosch erfs are fast filling up with enough material for 1200 seasons of CSI. I’ll never buy a house from a Slaam because I find it fcking repulsive. Discovering the previous owners’ gerbil in the bottom flower bed is one thing. But Aunty Janis’s leg from above the knee alongside Oupa Shakeel’s lymphoma and little Kashief’s foreskin is literally not kosher.
23 Dec 2010, 11:02 am
Match of the year…
The pick of the bunch, though, was the last Bledisloe Cup Test in Hong Kong, Australia winning it with a nerveless conversion from the touchline by James O’Connor, who had also scored the clinching try in the corner, long after the hooter had sounded for the final play. Australia 26 New Zealand 24 ended a run of 10 straight defeats for the Wallabies against their cross-Tasman neighbours.
or, a slightly different version….
RYAN VREDE reports on Australia’s 26-24 victory over the All Blacks in Hong Kong achieved through a last gasp conversion by James O’Connor.
For most of the 80 minutes it was a scrappy and uninspiring affair, but it exploded into life in the dying minutes and O’Connor showed the temperament to go with his prodigious talent.
However, the finish plasters over the cracks in what was essentially a poor Test. It was always expected to be an exhibition rather than an arm wrestle, but what was served up was utter garbage.
The locals wanted a free-flowing Test. What they got was a bad advertisement for the game, marked by numerous fundamental errors, tactical naivety and a defensive effort that was well below the known potency of the combatants.
New Zealand, conversely, for the most part exhibited an attitude that suggested this Test was an unnecessary distraction before their European assault.
Richie McCaw’s run down the touchline featured more woeful defence – most notably from Cooper, who, for all his dazzle on attack, has been consistently exposed as a incompetent defender against the very best – and after the recycle Nonu rounded Stephan Moore for a converted try.
Then more video game stuff, Wallaby winger Drew Mitchell rounding off a first phase move birthed on his 10m line. It was farcical to watch a team that conceded just nine tries in six Tri-Nations matches unlocked with such consummate ease.”.
yes, thats right….through the 2 eyes of many, it was the best match of the year. Through the 1 eye of another it was “woeful…utter garbage….a bad advertisement for the game…incompetent…video game stuff….farcical…”.
Thats what you get with ‘balanced journalism’ I suppose.
23 Dec 2010, 11:06 am
@>^..^< katman : Winning suits everyone.
23 Dec 2010, 11:07 am
Except, inevitably, the loser.
23 Dec 2010, 11:09 am
@Black Panther : i see Ryan was spot on!
23 Dec 2010, 11:09 am
@TheTackler : No, by “suit” I mean cherry picking the “important” facts to substantiate your petty one-upmanship. If NZ had topped the export volume stats, you would have been touting this as the important one. Same reason you reckon an ’87 Pulsar is the best car ever built. Because your mom drives one.
23 Dec 2010, 11:18 am
@>^..^< katman : i can picture him in the back seat, with his cabbage patch doll under his one arm and his Ken doll under the other
23 Dec 2010, 11:42 am
Panache and Aplomb’s 2010 Keo Awards
Wit Award
Winner: Katman
Runner Up: Gunther
Rugby Acumen Award
Winner: Pissant
Runner Up: Staal
Ombudsman Award
Winner: Rangerman
Runner Up: Transformation
Crank Award
Winner: Grant10
Runner Up: Skopskiet
Groupie Award
Winner: Puma
Runner Up: Dawn
Blinkers Award
Winner: Tacitus
Runner Up: Staal
Keo Journalist Award
Winner:
Runner Up:
As no nominations were received and although not technically correct I suggest we give this award to Pissant in the absence of ‘professional journalism’.
Endearing Award
Winner: The Tackler
Runner Up: Qudeni
Cocooned In Delusion Award
Winner: Skopskiet
Runner Up: Askanaz1
23 Dec 2010, 12:01 pm
No doubt who is the Parody Journalist of the year 2010
step forward Ryan “Im disgusted” Vrede.
In comparing 82-cap 1st-Offender Mealamu with serial offender (5th ban and counting) BaXXies, Ryan attempted his best like-for-like analogy
BaXXies:- “in more extensive interactions with Bakkies Botha, the Springbok lock, so poisonously dubbed ‘the enforcer’ of the pack, is equally pleasant, more likeable and exudes a non-threatening aura. However, regular acts of plain impetuosity, often unbridled stupidity, have cemented his reputation as rugby’s biggest thug.”.
On his DEBUT Test BaXXies was YCed for foul play. He has injured opposition players out for 6 months (A.Jones). He was encouraged to continue the intentional filth through the pathetic Justice4 campaign. And only AFTER the victim was a Safa (Aplon) did the locals see the light.
but
he was only being ‘impetuous…..stupid’. Nice choice of words, notice the complete lack of INTENT ?
and, yet, in the same article Ryan describes the offense by Mealamu as “cowardly and dangerous”
and get this one
“maniac surrogate crushing Moody’s cerebellum”.
Emotive words clearly painting a picture of INTENT.
And this nonsense is paraded here as ‘journalism’.
23 Dec 2010, 12:04 pm
Jake backs Paddy
Former Springbok rugby coach
Jake White has come to IRB
referees’ manager Paddy
O’Brien’s defence in the wake of
recent criticism.
O’Brien was accused of being in
cahoots with All Blacks forward
coach Steve Hansen and scrum
guru Mike Cron over scrummaging
interpretations by former
Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer
recently.
White was asked on a South
African rugby website
rugbyxv.co.za if there was cause
for concern over Dwyer’s
accusation.
White responded: “I know Paddy
well and he’s one of the most
transparent guys around.
“I remember at the 1999 World
Cup when France played Fiji,
Paddy refereed the match and his
mistakes actually cost Fiji.
“France went on to reach the final
after famously beating New
Zealand in the semi-final.
“If he really had bias, as a New
Zealander he would have
preferred to see the All Blacks
face Fiji, but made the calls and
lived with them.
“He’s definitely not biased,” White
said, “he’s just an open rugby
guy.”
White said O’Brien also been
involved in the World Cup four
years ago when South Africa won,
under White. He asked why there
was suddenly paranoia around
him from a South Africa
perspective?
“If New Zealand use him as a
sounding board, it would be just
like us using Andre Watson who
officiated in two World Cup finals
and has great experience,” he
said.
Meanwhile, Nick Pearce of The
Daily Telegraph listed the Black
Ferns as the team of the year in
his review of the rugby year in the
London newspaper.
“The All Blacks lost only one Test
and Lithuania set a new [sic] world
record for consecutive Test wins,
but the Black Ferns showed a
steely edge that deserves
recognition. England had the home
crowd and the momentum, but the
Ferns refused to roll over and won
yet another WRWC [Women's
Rugby World Cup].”
He also rated Mils Muliaina as his
player of the year.
“Richie McCaw may have won the
IRF’s top gong but for me the All
Blacks fullback was more of an
example of consistent quality.
Think how reassuring it must be
to have him at the top of every
team-sheet.”
And in their review of the 10 best
tries of the year, Muliaina’s try,
courtesy of wing Cory Jane’s
infield kick, makes the list at No.7
while Israel Dagg’s solo effort
against South Africa at Westpac
Stadium was at No.5.
23 Dec 2010, 12:07 pm
@Black Panther : 1st offender? Are you in the glorious arms of a Tik euphoria as you type this?
Isn’t this the same Mealamu that got Brendon Cannon so incensed with his ever-bloody-present niggle that Cannon biffed him proper on the shnoz in front of the ref?
And I seem to remember this very Kevin upending Brian O’Driscol and driving him collar-bone first into the turf, thereby ending his Lions tour.
But there may be more than one Mealamu. In which case I humbly apologise and recognise Kev as the cleanest player on the planet.
23 Dec 2010, 12:08 pm
@>^..^< katman : I choose the important facts — the top quality products consistently command top prices and win top awards. That’s important.
Quantity really is rather irrelevant.
But even on the quantity tally, SA products are slipping backwards. And the reason they’re slipping backwards (by almost 30% in only a year) is because of poor quality. Even prices close to halved couldn’t prevent the steep drop-off in demand due to poor quality.
NZ vintners sell every exported case they produce and they don’t even bother selling bulk wine in bladders, barrels or tanks — it’s all exported in cases of pre-labelled bottles. The origin is a potent selling point, not a mark of shame best kept hidden.
23 Dec 2010, 12:11 pm
@TheTackler : Three times more Brits enjoy SA wines than NZ wines. Those are the facts, my google-eyed little friend.
23 Dec 2010, 12:17 pm
@>^..^< katman :
1. I have no idea what ‘tik’ is. In NZ they are bed-bugs.
2. I agree and repeated here many times that Mealamu got away with the BOD spear tackle. However the SAFA citing officer, ridiculously, thought otherwise.
3. However, that does not negate the fact that Mealamus headbutt on Moody was his FIRST offense. Unless, Katman, what you are telling me is that BaXXies has been caught for the ONLY 5 offenses he has ever committed on a rugby field.
No need to apologise, Katman, after all BaXXies took 4 offenses and butting someone in the BACK of the head before he did.
23 Dec 2010, 12:18 pm
@Panache ( òó /) Aplomb :
How very bloody dare you.
Groupie indeed.
23 Dec 2010, 12:20 pm
@TheTackler :
Oh shut up you big green overgrown grinch.
23 Dec 2010, 12:21 pm
@>^..^< katman :
Exhibit 1.
YouTube ‘BaXXies…..Mortlock’ and tell me how on Earth “more likeable…. non-threatening” BaXXies got away with that one and whether it was a just a non-intentional act of “stupidity”.
23 Dec 2010, 12:23 pm
@TheTackler :
The origin is a potent selling point, not a mark of shame best kept hidden.
that’s a bit rich even by your standards my ersatz kiwi chum.
23 Dec 2010, 12:24 pm
@Panache ( òó /) Aplomb :
Who the heck are you anyway.
23 Dec 2010, 12:27 pm
@Black Panther : You’re the only one repeatedly mentioning Botha here. I never said he was an angel and Mealamu was a thug. I’m simply saying that you guys love to paint the picture of an honest, likable, working class, god fearing, family respecting Kev like it’s some marketing stunt, while the evidence doesn’t quite support this. But fck the evidence, right? It’s the perception that counts.
23 Dec 2010, 12:36 pm
@>^..^< katman : They cook with it rather than drink it.
23 Dec 2010, 12:37 pm
@>^..^< katman :
“you guys” ?!
Um, no. Im clearly referring to Ryan Vrede and the picture the Keo journalists are painting; nb the “quotation marks”.
23 Dec 2010, 12:44 pm
a drunken doug howlet arrested at munster christmas party after fighting with a munster fan.f okkin scumbag kiwis!
23 Dec 2010, 12:44 pm
Smaak nou a lekker Gatsby
23 Dec 2010, 12:44 pm
@>^..^< katman : 716 you won’t get him off his hobbyhorse…retreat wuth ur sanity still intact katman
23 Dec 2010, 12:49 pm
At this time of year you always seem to get one or two bloggers you’ve never heard of before hitting us with their “blogger awards” for the year… bit weird if you ask me… they’ve been silently watching and appraising all year…
23 Dec 2010, 12:58 pm
@wooden spoon : Morning Spooner, it is ‘kinda spooky’…..!!!!
Like when someone says “I have been following this blog for 3 years and have decided to comment”……That too is a bit spooky!!
It’s not THAT scary here!!
23 Dec 2010, 12:59 pm
@capo :
“….Howlett, the current All Black try scoring record holder, was released some time later without having any charges laid against him”.
Nothing like reporting the full facts, huh Ryan.
23 Dec 2010, 13:00 pm
@>^..^< katman : Congratulations, someone we have never heard of thinks you are very funny!!
It does not take a genius to work that out!!
23 Dec 2010, 13:17 pm
@Panache ( òó /) Aplomb :
Come back and face the music, twat.
23 Dec 2010, 13:18 pm
@Black Panther :
Is this Capo guy Ryan?
Then this Panache Aplomb doos must be Simon.
23 Dec 2010, 13:19 pm
@carol : post 725.
Panache and Aplomb are Katmans cousins.
Conjoined Twins on his mothers side.
The awards are a sham.
Rangerman and Transie got their Awards after gold watches where exchanged.
And Pissant and Staal only got theirs because Popps was served a mickey finn.
23 Dec 2010, 13:21 pm
@Dawn :
Groupie aye……….
8)
23 Dec 2010, 13:22 pm
@cane :
it’s true that poops was heavily sedated.
but it was for his own good.
23 Dec 2010, 13:23 pm
@cane :
Go on then
Let’s have your awards!
23 Dec 2010, 13:27 pm
@gunther :
I see you got Gong as well cunther.
23 Dec 2010, 13:29 pm
@stormer in a teacup : LOL – that is BRILLIANT
@LITELOCK : Wow mate, from that post I could almost (ALMOST) like you. You differ to your compatriots on this site.
@Dawn and @Dawn : Hahahaha that is so funny. He is beyond help that one
@>^..^< katman : HAHAHAHAHA man you okes are funny today – killing me here
23 Dec 2010, 13:31 pm
@Transformation : Ja read that too Transie, what I found interesting, was one of the comments from “Marco”:
•From WikiLeaks “The IRB’s referees boss Paddy O’Brien sent a series of emails to friends claiming the constant controversial law changes to rugby union in recent years were the result of a forfeit he had to perform after losing a drunken game of ‘rock, paper, scissors’ in a pub late one night.”
•He also once accused the coach of the United States team,Peter Thorburn,of lying when Thorburn stated that there had been a pre-tournament directive that touch judges shouldn’t interfere in issues like forward passes.O’Brien later apologized to Thorburn for what he said.
•In November 2009,O’Brien took the rare step of publicly apologizing to a team with regards to the performance of a referee,Stuart Dickinson,during an international match between New Zealand and Italy,but then subsequently issued a public apology to both Dickinson and the Australian Rugby Union for his breach of IRB protocol in making his comments public rather than going through official channels for commenting on referee performance.
•In 2007 Worldcup Quarterfinal Match,O’Brien,in his capacity as Rugby World Cup Chief Of Officials,defended criticism of the refereeing of Wayne Barnes in the controversial France versus New Zealand saying among other things…”people have to grow up.”
“So yeah Jake White I guess like so many other twisted freaks out there like yourself you all probably saying in your sleep out loud “Paddy O’Brien is clearly the best thing to ever happen to the IRB Referees association”.For ****sakes grow a pair of brass b**ls.”
If those points are true, then all the “paranoid” Saffa “whinging” is basically proven to be justified
23 Dec 2010, 13:32 pm
@Transformation : And just under that on news24 was: “Jake’s business goes belly up” – so is there a connection in Jake’s comments coming at the time that his company is bust?
It does suck that Jake and Keo couldnt make it work – the standard of coaching in SA can be improved.
Cape Town – A business deal between former Springbok coach Jake White, local publishing business Highbury Safika Media, and rugby writer Mark Keohane has turned sour, ending up in the Western Cape High Court.
Aeysha Kassiem of the Cape Times reports that Highbury and Keohane have applied to place the venture with White under provisional liquidation.
Keohane, employed by Highbury Safika as the publishing director, said in court papers that the application was in fact a “last resort” after “every endeavour to resolve the dispute” over the joint company, Jake White’s Winning Way (PTY) Ltd, of which they are all shareholders.
Former Australian coach and assistant to White during the Rugby World Cup in 2007, Eddie Jones, has also been listed as a shareholder. The dispute, said Keohane, has since seen the shareholders reach “deadlock”, particularly over the division of shares and other monetary matters.
The papers say that there is “no prospect” of it ever being resolved.
Keohane said that both he and White had agreed that there was a lack of coaching of coaches in the country, especially at schools level and White felt he was an “outstanding identifier” of talent at junior level.
“(White) felt this could be maximised by virtue of a player agency in which the youngster’s future could be guided professionally by White and (Highbury), with White providing the rugby intellectual capital and (Highbury) the business expertise, both from an intellectual point of view and because of access to existing resource,” he said.
The company was called “Jake White’s Winning Way”.
Jones’ involvement was to be beyond a consultancy level as their intention was to “explore the Japanese emerging rugby market” as the country was due to host the Rugby World Cup in 2019.
23 Dec 2010, 13:33 pm
@Panache ( òó /) Aplomb : 704 – Bloody hilarious…..hahahahaha. GROUPIE award…
Have been called many things in my life but never a groupie…hehehe.
At my age I finally become a groupie………..LOL.
23 Dec 2010, 14:01 pm
@Puma :
Puma, at your age you would probably be the youngest groupie for the Rolling Stones.
23 Dec 2010, 14:03 pm
@Dawn : post 731.
My Awards would only be a list The Old Timers.
Times have changed.
To each their own.
But ……………………….Katman’s *** Award is just reward for quality and humour over a prolonged period.
Very classy poster.
Mishwanni (spelling).
Black Panther.
GoYouGoodthing.
David.
Several of the Fire Station crowd.
Skoppie has plenty of personality. And when he puts his mind to it……………………………few can string together words like him……………………not the fukkaddily words. real ones.
If I see a post by cab. I read it. Always.
Tickler. He keeps you Okes on your toes. He may not be ALL CLASS. But he ain’t all arrse either.
And the Ladies of course: We all love you. Dawnie, Carol, Lilly, Gunther and Capo.
And I do miss Dr Ruck and Rugby Princess.
Great Posters too many to mention………..Puma,…………………………………
BUT…………………….POSTER OF THE YEAR.
AND …………………….POSTER OF THE DECADE.
Goes to Jinx.
Who else.
(I feel bad about hitting the “submit comment”, because I know I have missed so many who deserve, if not an Award, then a broadside.)
23 Dec 2010, 14:10 pm
@Puma : If you got it, flaunt it china
23 Dec 2010, 14:19 pm
I’d just like to thank my agent, my publicist and my life coach as well as my parole officer and, of course, everyone at the Golden Lions Rugby Union. Without all of you this award would have gone to someone like Cane, god forbid.
23 Dec 2010, 14:20 pm
@cane : And it’s The Fireman’s Arms. Get it right, old man.
23 Dec 2010, 14:22 pm
@Black Panther : 737 – BP…hahahahaha. That kinda makes me feel young..hehehe.
23 Dec 2010, 14:22 pm
@cane : Furthermore, thanks for the kind words. I think you’re the one makwerekwere we’d like to buy a beer at the FA.
23 Dec 2010, 14:24 pm
@cane : 738 – Cane, 100% Jinxie greatest poster on keo ever.
23 Dec 2010, 14:24 pm
@THEBokFan : 739 –
23 Dec 2010, 14:25 pm
@cane :
the firestation crowd?
oh dear.
well they are on top of a greasy pole I’m afraid.
so long as he is on his lunchbreak.
23 Dec 2010, 14:27 pm
and to my fellow ladies on keo.
perhaps you would like to join me for a celebratory sauna later?
23 Dec 2010, 14:35 pm
@cane : @ 738
Best Use of a Teachers Stamp:-
Cane.
Best Rugby Analyst and Least Affected by Nationalistic Nonsense:-
Pissant
Most Affected by Nationalistic Nonsense:-
the Blues brothers
(apologies to TheBokFan – your late entries on this very thread @ 498 & 527 only highlighted your opportunism)
Biggest Waste of Keo Space:-
Boy George
(apologies to Whatever – highly commendable effort nevertheless).
Calling a Peach a Spade Award:-
Dawn.
Lest We Forget Award:-
Jinx, notwithstanding his superb thought-provoking entries here but, principally, also achieving the impossible in uniting Keo bloogers cross-border.
shared with
Bill McLaren. What did you have to go and leave us with Muzza, Budda and Booby like that for ?!
Sherlock Holmes meets Stevie Wonder Award:-
Transformation.
23 Dec 2010, 14:38 pm
@cane : 738 i didn’t know Capo is a girl
23 Dec 2010, 14:39 pm
@gunther :
Are you a lady?
23 Dec 2010, 14:39 pm
@Dawn : He’ll be whatever you want him to be.
23 Dec 2010, 14:45 pm
Dawn
Apparently.
23 Dec 2010, 14:47 pm
the Idi Amin “King of Scotland” Award:-
Black Panther
23 Dec 2010, 14:47 pm
@Dawn : @ 750
She was just about to ask the same question of you, Peaches.
23 Dec 2010, 14:52 pm
@gunther :
If you tits ‘n *** why call yrself Gunther!
@Black Panther :
Course I’m a lady.
23 Dec 2010, 14:57 pm
Dawn
I think cane uses a broad definition.
It improves his strike rate.
23 Dec 2010, 15:01 pm
@Transformation :
Forest Whittaker!
23 Dec 2010, 15:05 pm
@Dawn : @ 755
Its unlike Cane to be blase with his choice of words, Im sure he meant ‘female’.
23 Dec 2010, 15:06 pm
@gunther : A so-so falsetto combined with a Peugeot 206 ticks enough boxes for him.
23 Dec 2010, 15:10 pm
@Black Panther :
Sigh.
What’s your point.
I am female.
Not male.
Have manners
Not onbeskof
Have a bit of decorum
Except when I come across people who really piss me off
Can use knife and fork
Can read
23 Dec 2010, 15:16 pm
@Dawn :
Just pulling your t*t
oops
I meant ‘leg’.
come on now, Peaches, dont come across all lily-livvered on me now.
(nb – thats the longest post Ive ever seen from you. Must remember to get first jab in next time).
23 Dec 2010, 15:17 pm
@>^..^< katman :
Caner didn’t strike me as much of a box tickler.
23 Dec 2010, 15:18 pm
off topic
just watched a classic clip on YouTube
search ‘An Irishman abroad tells it like it is !!
’
surely there is a post in the Irish Govt for this chap ?!
or maybe its Skop doing his best Paddy impersonation ?
23 Dec 2010, 15:20 pm
“Wheels24 Alternative Car of the Year Awards”
Everyone please go vote.
23 Dec 2010, 15:26 pm
Butch joining the Lions…
There goes Elton’s career…
23 Dec 2010, 15:31 pm
@Panache ( òó /) Aplomb :
Bunny Boiler Of The Year award:
Panache ( òó /) Aplomb
I Have To Get My Point Across Even If I Got It Completely Wrong And Now I Feel Like A Tool award:
Tackler, Black Panther, Skopskyt
23 Dec 2010, 15:31 pm
People please take note of Skop’s best ever post.
“• 753. askanaz1(askanaz1) :
December 3rd, 2010 at 12:54 am
That win against England had as much if not more to do with PdV as with the players, and halfarsed 2nd grade non supporters like you are just too f’ng cowardly and prejudiced and fckd up in the head to actually admit it
IRB awards mean absolutely diddly squat fckall, just another toffee nosed pratassed ivory tower prejudiced preamble of whitearsed oldfart schmoozy woosie f’ckall.
PdV don’t need nor want no rewards or awards buttering up his lily white @ss, all he wants is for his players and his team to go out and bust a gut and Win , which is exactly what they been doing 65% of the time so far.
So Go get f’ckd with your halfarsed underhand downward spiral negativity, like I told you a thousand times already, Boks most certainly don’t need two faced pieces of trashassed garbage conniving second grade excuses for Bok supporters such as you, or Mr. Seven or Mr. Twobitcowardly expatriated whitearsed prickface jumping jelly beans from Pomerania or Aussieauschwitz or anywhere else on this planet.
get lost,, we way better off without punkeyed pratassed enemies who pretend to be friends, two faced pieces of trash non supporters such as the likes of you are far better off supporting the Enemy, get lost, we don’t want you nor do we need you, get lost and stay lost, in other words just Fck off forever, turncoat schmuckeyed nonentity of a non supporters paranoid pretentious poodle pumping pratass.”
23 Dec 2010, 15:50 pm
@Great White Shark : @ 766
says PreDawn
23 Dec 2010, 16:00 pm
Look At Me Look At Me Cos I Act Grumpy In a Cute Way To Get Attention award
Dawn
23 Dec 2010, 16:04 pm
@Great White Shark :
“turncoat schmuckeyed nonentity of a non supporters paranoid pretentious poodle pumping pratass.”
23 Dec 2010, 16:21 pm
the keo award for greatness ….love all you okes…..but Skop still my main man…
i just cry with his manic ramblings….
23 Dec 2010, 16:21 pm
@Great White Shark : Excellent Awards there Shark – perhaps even Poppa can be added onto that 2nd one. But Tackles walks it.
@Great White Shark : hahahaha, careful, Dawn is danger.
@Dawn : Wel nou wat verwag jy van daai spul?
Hy skryf gereeld aan jou asof jy n poppie is of n speelding, blerrie chauvinis.
23 Dec 2010, 16:24 pm
Keo Legend Award
Skoppie
(he retains it year after year).
23 Dec 2010, 16:32 pm
@Great White Shark :
“So Go get f’ckd with your halfarsed underhand downward spiral negativity”
23 Dec 2010, 16:33 pm
Viva Skop!
Viva!
23 Dec 2010, 16:33 pm
wish Butch James was coming to Stormers….still the only 10 in SA worth his salt!
Bloody M Steyn sit 10 m behind the advantage line and skop till the cows come home not the answer….
Hope Butch turns it on and gets the 10 bok jersey back….
Now for bj and Frans Steyn to come home…..then its game on.
well done Lions, a quality acquisition.
23 Dec 2010, 16:34 pm
let’s see Prof Noakes take on Skop
where do I buy frontrow seats ?
23 Dec 2010, 16:35 pm
#Mr. Twobitcowardly expatriated whitearsed prickface jumping jelly beans from Pomerania or Aussieauschwitz or anywhere else on this planet.”
23 Dec 2010, 16:36 pm
@Black Panther :
you will need a raincoat.
there will be spittle.
and some bile.
23 Dec 2010, 16:36 pm
@Great White Shark :
You are ………. “just another toffee nosed pratassed ivory tower prejudiced preamble of whitearsed oldfart schmoozy woosie f’ckall.”
Yaaay!
23 Dec 2010, 16:40 pm
and the nazi shark thread my favorite classic…..
23 Dec 2010, 16:44 pm
Dr Hunter S Thompson has nothing on Skop.
23 Dec 2010, 16:56 pm
Ag puhleease, skoppie is just plain nuts. Nothing more, nothing less.
23 Dec 2010, 17:13 pm
@Dawn : 767. The man is gifted. A complete nutjob, but his prose is easily one of the highlights of this blog.
The King Of The Simile.
Simile Simon.
23 Dec 2010, 17:14 pm
@Dawn : 760. Unfortunately I am happily married. If I wasn’t I would hop on a plane now.
If I was you I would use that on RomanticallyInclined.com, or WinningWays.com.
23 Dec 2010, 17:15 pm
Gunther
y’see, that’s where we differ (again)
where you/others see “spittle/bile” I see only tears. Of laughter.
Humour, such as yours, is not solely of the canned-laughter type. For a funny man, you should try taking life a little less seriously
(yea, I KNOW you DGAS what I say. Nevertheless….).
23 Dec 2010, 17:18 pm
@wooden spoon : Don’t be churlish. The stuff is brilliant, more akin to Jackson Pollock than One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest.
If you dig deep you will find cigarette butts embedded in the prose.
Wear this badge with pride:
“Mr. Twobitcowardly expatriated whitearsed prickface jumping jelly beans from Pomerania or Aussieauschwitz or anywhere else on this planet.
get lost,, we way better off without punkeyed pratassed enemies who pretend to be friends, two faced pieces of trash non supporters such as the likes of you are far better off supporting the Enemy, get lost, we don’t want you nor do we need you, get lost and stay lost, in other words just Fck off forever, turncoat schmuckeyed nonentity of a non supporters paranoid pretentious poodle pumping pratass.”
Just reading it makes me happy.
23 Dec 2010, 17:21 pm
having met the legendary skop….on a good few occassions….i can confirm the man is no looney….just class….and as engaging in the flesh as he is in cyberspace.
23 Dec 2010, 17:24 pm
@grant10 : butch is kaput boet, he won’t be turning anything on! In his first game of rugby for Bath this year what does Butch do? Get’s himself YELLo’d!
Just like he did for the Bokke’
23 Dec 2010, 18:07 pm
@Transformation : lets see …..i reckon Butch shows all these saffas how 10 play should be….under Mitchell i expect that lions backs to explode….with Butch calling the shots…
Transie…have a lekker festive season my man…
23 Dec 2010, 18:10 pm
Butcher ? It was the most innocuous YC this season.
23 Dec 2010, 18:50 pm
:green:
ROAR for Butchie the Lion
This is what King Carlos has to work with
10, Sir Elton
12, Butch
13, Murray
be afraid of me Lions.
23 Dec 2010, 18:52 pm
stupid xt9
23 Dec 2010, 18:57 pm
and when we get Bekker and the Beast we will will win our conference and then win the S15.
ROAR!
23 Dec 2010, 19:22 pm
sorry to break your heart but the Beast isn’t going anywhere.
Think about it. Why would he want to leave a team with a good chance of winning the trophy for a team with a LOT of work to do if they want to leave the Cheetahs alone in the basement?
23 Dec 2010, 20:09 pm
@wooden spoon : well the shorks are paying him a pittance compared to what he should be paid, and Beast only has a few years to secure his financial future … and there Sino guarantee that the Super chockers will win the big one. Need I remind you zero Super trophies in 15 years.
23 Dec 2010, 20:33 pm
@Redlion is doing pre-season conditioning : No one is replacing Doppies any time soon.
23 Dec 2010, 20:39 pm
@>^..^< katman : aaah Doppies my man – soon he will have to fight with Frans Steyn for the #12 jersey. The only person who is safe (for now) is Murray but that might change when the Lions expensive BEE lawyers take a closer look at de Jong’s contract.
24 Dec 2010, 00:26 am
@grant10 : may you and yours also have a merry christmas Grant, don’t be suprised if you get visitors dragging you to La Med sometime after christmas
as for Butch, it’s like New Zealanders hoping that Andrew Merhtens suddenly decides to leave Racing Metro to play super rugby and fills the deep chasm between – the lately – ankle injury prone dan carter and any possible substitute! It’s a useless exercise.
24 Dec 2010, 00:55 am
@Black Panther :
Not sure that will happen. Tackler already tried it and got served good and proper by the big man.
24 Dec 2010, 02:48 am
@Yetirat : Dream on! Noaksie spat his dummy, puffed himself up into a fluffball, did a big sulky brag which was partly-funny, mostly-tragic and then flounced off into oblivion.
The old fellow doesn’t enjoy being tackled much. Can’t blame him, really.
24 Dec 2010, 03:29 am
If you ever need your arse, Tackles, get Noaksie to hand it to you again. Beep beep.
24 Dec 2010, 06:05 am
In your dreams, pilgrim.
24 Dec 2010, 06:11 am
Face it Tackles, you’re his *****. His coyote *****. Beep beep.
24 Dec 2010, 06:13 am
B i t c h.
24 Dec 2010, 07:27 am
Johannesburg – Fishermen should avoid using live bait such as frogs because it is cruel and contravenes the Animals Protection Act, the SPCA said on Thursday.
“We urge the public not to support this cruel practice and rather use alternative non-live baits,” a statement said.
They drew attention to the sale of frogs which had been forced into 500ml plastic bottles then sold as bait around the Vaal Dam.
The SPCA asked that this practice stop as the frogs suffocate or suffer when a hook is pushed through their body.
24 Dec 2010, 07:37 am
@grant10 : 790Springbok flyhalf Butch James has
admitted that he is playing every game for
Bath as though its his last and has hinted
that his proposed move to the Lions could
still go ahead.
The Bath pivot is a target of the Lions, as
the Johannesburg-based side look to add
some big names to their roster ahead of the
new season.
James is believed to want a return to South
Africa to give himself the best fighting
chance of being selected for the Springbok
squad for the World Cup in New Zealand.
“I try and play every game as if it’s my last,”
James told the Bath Chronicle.
“Nothing’s confirmed yet [concerning a
move to the Lions]. I’d like to be playing at
home again so we will see what happens.
“But at this stage I’m still playing at Bath
until the end of the season at least.”
The 31-year-old returned to action for Bath
last weekend following a shoulder injury
sustained in the Tri-Nations.
James has had more than his fair share of
injuries having undergone five knee
reconstruction and admits he is just one
serious injury away from hanging up his
boot.
“If one of my knees went again I’d
probably be advised by the docs to give it a
break, so it’s living on the edge a bit,” he
explained.
The hard-hitting flyhalf is still just as
abrasive on defence as ever and doesn’t
hold back, he knows no other way to play
the game
. After his most recent injury left James on
the sidelines chomping at the bit for some
game time, he admit he got carried away
against Ulster last weekend and picked up a
yellow-card.
“Looking back, I think I have to rein myself
in a bit,” he said.
“It was so nice to be out there playing again
I think I got a bit over-excited.”
While the World Cup winning flyhalf isn’t
everyone’s cup of tea, his opponents think
twice before running into his defensive
channel and will be a strong contender for
the Springbok No.10 jersey.
24 Dec 2010, 08:09 am
Had laugh reading one of the columns in the new SA Rugby mag
Spanish football manager Javier Clemente (who has little time for journos) once when one journo tried to validate his opinion by saying he’d “seen a lot of football” Clemente savaged him by responding “the cows at there training ground watch football everyday and they haven’t a F…..ing clue”
24 Dec 2010, 08:14 am
Anyone got any update with the Beast/(lets buy our way into the light)Chelsea Lions saga ???
24 Dec 2010, 08:20 am
Goodness.
Still this thread?
24 Dec 2010, 08:38 am
What the Beast should know is that God forbid his knee has to go at some stage if he is with the Lions, cause they will just inject him full of Chloroprocaine an Local Anesthesia and run him on anyway, so long as the investors are happy there is the thin line between entertainment and war
24 Dec 2010, 08:44 am
@subliminal verses : The knees of the Beast don’t go. Ever.
They’re the Beast’s knees.
24 Dec 2010, 08:54 am
Motorist 32 times over alcohol limit
2010-12-23 22:40
East London – A drunk motorist was arrested near Queenstown in the Eastern Cape after allegedly being found to be 32 times over the alcohol limit, the department of transport said on Thursday.
The motorist was driving a Mercedes-Benz Vito at about 23:00 on Wednesday when he was stopped by police.
Blood tests were conducted on him and he was found to have an alcohol content of 1.6g/100ml.
This is 32 times over the limit of 0.05g/100ml.
Five boys and a woman, who were also in the vehicle with 15 sheep allegedly stolen from nearby farms, were also arrested.
- SAPA
24 Dec 2010, 08:54 am
How can you be that saturated with alcohol and still live?
24 Dec 2010, 08:55 am
if the Sharks want loyalty they must buy dogs! Go get that paper Beast.
24 Dec 2010, 08:55 am
At least they showed no favours and arrested the 15 sheep too.
24 Dec 2010, 09:08 am
@Transformation :
Not even a dog will be loyal to the Sharks!
Cause in no time they will shop another dog from the FreeState
24 Dec 2010, 09:42 am
Just spent an idle half hour watching a collection of Bulls clips on Youtube. Glorious stuff.
2009 Seni-final against the Crusaders – that really was the greatest performance I’ve seen.
2009 final against Chiefs – Total annihilation, but I still think the semi final was better.
Morne Steyn’s final minute kick at Newlands in the 2009 Currie Cup Final.
A collection of Pierre Spies rampages.
Morne Steyn’s 4 drop goals against the Crusaders.
Morne’s final minute penalty that won the Lions series.
Glorious stuff.
I’m just reminded again how much this Bulls team has achieved over the last 5 years. And I’m psyched all over again for the S15.
It is easy to criticize when they lose the odd game or don’t win the odd tournament, but if you look at the list of trophies and the number of amazing performances they have delivered, these guys will be remembered for ever.
Du Preez
Matfield
Morne Steyn
Those are three giants of SA rugby, and will remain so forever.
24 Dec 2010, 09:43 am
lions after Duane Vermeulen and A Bekker big time.
They leave and stormers in trouble…..and i will be a bit less enarmoured with the lions mercenary like stance. Beat up the sharks all you want, but los ons uit die saak asseblief simbas!
24 Dec 2010, 09:48 am
@Tacitus : true…..great era of bulls rugby….enjoy!
24 Dec 2010, 09:52 am
@grant10 :
As I said, what’s happening at the Lions isn’t good for our rugby. It was tempting for people to laugh at the Sharks misfortune with the Lions targeting Beast and others, but it was bound to spread to the other unions.
I have no problem with buying up young talent to build a team, I have always said so.
But I will always be against the buying of established high profile players who have become synonymous with a particular union.
Habana and Jacque Fourie moving to WP, Beast moving to the Lions or Bekker moving to Jo’burg. That type of stuff diminishes the sense of identity and uniqueness that fans build up in their association with their union.
It would be like Barack Obama suddenly anouncing that he wants to become the Prime Minister of Britain instead.
It leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
Ultimately, it erodes the separation between the provinces, and enhances the idea that one team is pretty much the same as another, apart from the colour of the jersey they’re wearing.
This musical chairs game of players rotating between provinces may be unavoidable, but it remains extremely distasteful.
24 Dec 2010, 10:00 am
@Tacitus : yes….in a Utopian world you are correct….but hell this is only the thin edge of the wedge…as the game goes more and more pro we will have to accept the inevitable changes, not enjoy them, but tolerate them.
My view on player acquisition is rather go fetch quality saffas back from overseas if at all possible, before nailing each others resources on the home front.
Gotta run, have a cool festive season Mr T…
outta here
24 Dec 2010, 10:00 am
It only leaves a bad taste in the mouth now that the Lions have a healthy cheque book to flash around. When everyone was doing it to us all those years, we were told it was the professional era and tough titties if we couldn’t make our players want to stay.
So if anyone has a problem with this, I suggest you implore your union to hand back all the Lions players you pillaged over the past two or three seasons. That includes Jaque Fourie, Willem Alberts, Louis Ludick, Ricky January, Conrad Jantjes, Willem Mostert, Jaco Pretorius, Anton van Zyl. And what the hell, I’ll even go back as far as Bryan Habana. We’ll have him back too thanks.
Alternatively you can all have a nice tall glass of shutthefuckup.
24 Dec 2010, 10:03 am
@>^..^< katman : LOL
Valid point.
Cheers k..
24 Dec 2010, 10:04 am
@grant10 : Ciao Grant. Merry merry and all that jazz.
24 Dec 2010, 10:05 am
@>^..^< katman : u 2 mate
24 Dec 2010, 10:14 am
Grant off to watch Binnelanders
24 Dec 2010, 10:29 am
@grant10 :
A Bekker & Vermeulen where did you hear that
you not just being paranoid are you ????
but if that is true what is the point of getting Vermeulen
they got
Rhodes
Minnie
Strause
Vikus
Whiteley
Baywatch
and now they want Vermeulen
24 Dec 2010, 10:39 am
@>^..^< katman : 823 straight up & down Katman! This is the nature of the threat, who still remembers that Wayne Rooney is a scouser who was nurtured at Everton’s academy but was swooped up by the glory hunters Manure?!
Tacitus’ amateurish romanticism with the ‘union’ is laughable.
24 Dec 2010, 10:44 am
@subliminal verses : The point is to have two quality options for each position. This was always Heyeneke Meyer’s strategy at the Bulls, and it seems to have worked for them.
6 – Grobbelaar & Minnie
7 – Van Heerden & Strauss / Rhodes
8 – Whitely & Vermeulen
And someone said the other day they thought Strauss might have signed elsewhere, so Michael Rhodes would be our second option at a big, ball carrying flank.
24 Dec 2010, 10:52 am
@Transformation : Correct. And it’s easy for Tac to talk about union loyalty, but that’s just another word for not being able to let go of mommy’s apron strings.
24 Dec 2010, 10:56 am
@Tacitus : Found any collections of Spies tackles??? Morne Steyn a giant of SA rugby forever??? Silly season getting to u Tact.
24 Dec 2010, 11:00 am
@>^..^< katman : 823. Jip. I second u on that one!
24 Dec 2010, 11:00 am
@>^..^< katman : Ja i think I heard that too about Strauss leaving. Michael Rhodes is a decent replacement.
The Lions are aiming a bit high with Bekker. They should rather try and get Flip on loan for next season.
24 Dec 2010, 11:03 am
@>^..^< katman : Which unions form part of the Lions? Is it the Pumas?
24 Dec 2010, 11:05 am
@iori Yagami : Why is going after Bekker aiming too high? I think he’d be a great buy. As would Flip. But the guy I wanted the Lions to buy is Juandre Kruger.
24 Dec 2010, 11:05 am
@>^..^< katman : What about Jonathan Moukena?
24 Dec 2010, 11:08 am
@>^..^< katman : Bekker wont leave WP just yet thats why I am saying its a bit ambition. Juandre Kruger also wont leave he is back up to Vic for next year. Where Flip is behind Bakkies and Danie Rossouw for next year. He is not going to see much Super Rugby next year.
24 Dec 2010, 11:10 am
@>^..^< katman : who was the Lions’ forwards coach in the S14 this season? Was Muir in charge of everything?
24 Dec 2010, 11:13 am
@>^..^< katman :
You do have a point regarding the unions buying players from the Lions before and them now getting their own back.
But there are certain iconic players that are synonymous with their unions. It is WRONG when they transfer to other teams. Period.
Although I don’t care two hoots about soccer or David Beckham, the fact is that his move to Real Madrid was an example of this type of WRONGNESS.
Backham’s iconic years will always be associated with Man United. I don’t care what they say about professionalism.
Same goes for Victor Matfield and du Preez as Bulls, John Smit as a Shark, Bekker, Jean de Villers as WP players and Jacque Fourie and Wikus van Heerden as Lions.
Guys who have become such a part of the brand they represent should not change to a rival union in my world. That’s Hunt for the Red October defector type of stuff.
24 Dec 2010, 11:13 am
Transformation I see you are still stirring with us poor Sharks fans, we do not want a dog just our very own Beast
How are you? After much deliberation I have given myself a Christmas gift and got myself the much wanted BlackBerry so I’m very happy 
24 Dec 2010, 11:20 am
@Sharksgirl : hey shorty
i’m very well thank you. How have you been? Enjoy your Blackberry 
rudolf straueli & brian van zyl have been looting other provinces of players willy nilly, now they must suck it up…hehehe
24 Dec 2010, 11:24 am
@Tacitus : And would you consider Beast, Vermeulen and Bekker such iconic untouchables? Because I certainly don’t. The Lions are doing nothing wrong here. Unless stirring up the S15 log is considered wrong.
24 Dec 2010, 11:26 am
@iori Yagami : Hmmm… forgot about Mokuena.
Hey, the more the merrier.
24 Dec 2010, 11:29 am
@Sharksgirl : Which Blackberry did you get?
24 Dec 2010, 11:32 am
@>^..^< katman : He will be a nice impact player from the bench.
24 Dec 2010, 11:33 am
@>^..^< katman :
Vermeulen – no, he is still fresh from the Free State.
Beast – well – the international cry of BEAAST which we heard even in the UK this December has its origin in Durban. I would argue that Beast is an iconic Sharks player.
Bekker – again, I would say he is WP through and through.
And you will note that I include the Bulls signing of Wikus van Heerden as something which in hindsight I would say also falls into this category of transfer.
24 Dec 2010, 11:36 am
End of day if the Lions scoop Beast then Cest La Vie, sharks will just have to develop more # 1 props
They can still go far with there dynamics and team ethics
just hope the Lions don’t scatter out like Real Madrid in the early mid 2000′s (IE a team full of talented individuals that cant find each other with a compass
24 Dec 2010, 11:42 am
The Lions should make Chabal an offer.
24 Dec 2010, 11:51 am
are the bookies taking any bets on the lions at least winning one s15 game next season?
24 Dec 2010, 13:42 pm
LOL Tac is mad … players should only play for one union once they become famous.
Lucky for the Bulls their 3 main stars (Bakkies, Matfield and FTP) are reaching the has-been stage of thier careers and are not worth buying.
Come Feb the 19th Mitches Lions are going to feast on blue cows.
24 Dec 2010, 14:02 pm
just also read that the Lion scouts have been given the green light to buy the best young school rugby talent anywhere in the country … Bulls Sharks the doors are closing on your poaching days.
24 Dec 2010, 15:55 pm
Merry Christmas to everyone. May it be blessed.
24 Dec 2010, 16:04 pm
@Redlion is doing pre-season conditioning : his chosen word is ‘synonymous’ rather than famous
24 Dec 2010, 16:17 pm
@PissAnt : cheers Pissant, a merry one to you & yours. All the best!
24 Dec 2010, 16:39 pm
@Transformation :
Have a goodie Trans.
24 Dec 2010, 17:13 pm
All the best to all over the silly season! May 2011 bring in many trophies, as well as the Bill Web Ellis!
Happy happy to all!!!
24 Dec 2010, 20:01 pm
Merry Christmas all, and here’s to a feast of rugby union for South Africa and its teams in 2011.
24 Dec 2010, 20:15 pm
Greetings All from a very snowy England, may you have a wonderful time.
Happy Christmas everyone, yes everyone!!!!
24 Dec 2010, 20:37 pm
Merry Christmas to All… and may you all become wiser and less fearful of the unfamiliar..
From the one and only Youknowwho
25 Dec 2010, 00:43 am
Just popped in to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, make sure you have a great time guys!
25 Dec 2010, 05:47 am
@Tacitus : #821
“But I will always be against the buying of established high profile players who have become synonymous with a particular union.”
This excludes Bjorn Basson… obviously. Did you BB bouys not buy Wickus also when Pretorius, an established Lions player, AFTER he became a Bok at the Lions? Do you remember Wayne Julies? Wasn’t he an “established high profile player who have become synonymous” with the Lions?
Btw… did you see that Bjorn Basson has a tatoo? Not part of the Bulls family culture, is it? You should talk to the Bulls management about that.
@>^..^< katman : #823
Well said.
After all this silliness from our dearest BLUE friend Tacitus, I wish each and everyone on Keo.co.za a very, very Merry Christmas.
May you and your family be blessed over this weekend and every day hereafter.
25 Dec 2010, 05:57 am
@nama1 :
“Did you BB bouys not buy Wickus also when Pretorius, an established Lions player, AFTER he became a Bok at the Lions?”
Sorry for this but I believe you get my point.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
25 Dec 2010, 08:49 am
Hey everyone. Merry Xmas to you all and may you have a day of peace in your hearts!
25 Dec 2010, 11:43 am
Happy Romans Pagan Solstice Festival day or Mithras Birthday or whichever other day they decided to confused ****** the saviors birthday with, not that any one day is any more auspicious to nature than any other day, but nevertheless this naked aapie has to have some or other reason or excuse for a p’ss up and a carnivorous collusion of carrion consuming collectiveness. So scoff it all up and make merry while the sun doth shine as we all know that winter turns to summer and back again and suns don’t always shine forever, so whatever the excuse go for it for as long as the illusion lasts.
25 Dec 2010, 11:45 am
can’t even call a savior by his own name, oh how fallible the confused consciousness of the morally obligated religious classes have become.
25 Dec 2010, 12:22 pm
Thank goodness Christmas only comes once a year, was in the kitchen cooking from 7.30 am to 7pm, exhausting. Scandinavian Christmas is 24th December, 4 roasts, 2 types of different potatoes, caramelized baby potatoes and roast potatoes. The veggies, holkol (a red cabbage dish), 2 gravies and the almond and cream rice pudding with strawberry sauce, oh and the frigging stuffing.
Why am i telling you this, I want sympathy from some one that also did all the hideous cooking in 34 degree temperature, then watch it all disappear in an hour.
Today i get to veg and alas no cricket or rugby for me to watch.
25 Dec 2010, 14:51 pm
@Treehugger : sounds great!
mine is coming up in about 45 mins and you’ve just made my mouth water.
@skopiskoobidoo : have a great day regardless skop, still read all your posts when I can, and hope 2011 is your best yet
25 Dec 2010, 14:53 pm
’til 2011 everyone, have a great one and be good!
25 Dec 2010, 16:43 pm
@Big Hit : lol thanks Big Hit, what i wanted to hear was you poor girl, slaveing away for the savages, hope you have a wonderfull Christmas dindins that you cooked and not your wife
26 Dec 2010, 13:24 pm
Australie, 98 almal uit!!! Engeland op 157/0!
O, my vaderland! Oupa Tackler, waar is jy? Het jy gesien wat JOU krieketspan nou weer aangevang het?
In the meantime the test between SA and India is nicely poised at lunchtime. Just the way a test between the two TOP nation in cricket, is suppose to be.
26 Dec 2010, 15:06 pm
gee how useless is p.harris just leaking runs all over the place!
26 Dec 2010, 16:44 pm
@nama1 :
Perhaps they are the “Top 2″ nations in Test cricket, Mana1, but is there really any team that is dominating away from home these days like the Aussies of the Warne/Gilchrist/McGrath-era did ? Strong teams like SA & India will be incredibly hard to beat on home soil but they look quite different on foreign soil.
Anyways, just lovin’ watching the Aussies crumble at home – the MCG going from a near-record crowd of 90,000 in the morning, to vast empty spaces in the afternoon. Love it ! And, no, Im not an ‘England supporter’ its just, well, theres just something about watching the Aussies lose….
26 Dec 2010, 17:22 pm
kallis
has a new
woolly
head
26 Dec 2010, 17:56 pm
@Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster : he is now known as jake the rug
26 Dec 2010, 19:36 pm
@Black Panther : @873
Ali Bacher and his team
Pity about your Kiwi cricket team, or lack of one
26 Dec 2010, 22:25 pm
JL1
um, wasted effort trying to compare your ****’et with my ****’et. But no surprise on your flaccid effort tho, your usual vi’agro self.
26 Dec 2010, 22:25 pm
@k.camron : Harris “leaked” an average of 3.25 runs an over. That is more economical than either Tsotsobe (3.63) or Morkel (4.00).
26 Dec 2010, 22:27 pm
make that “d-ick’et”
26 Dec 2010, 22:29 pm
@JL1 : Well, NZ makes up for the indifferent cricket side by having world-beating rugby union, rugby league, netball, squash, rowing, triathlon… (etc etc) sides from its 4 million population.
26 Dec 2010, 22:31 pm
@JL1 : Ali Bacher’s team didn’t beat Australia in Australia.
26 Dec 2010, 22:54 pm
@k.camron : And Harris’s RPO rate was virtually identical (3.25 versus 3.26) to the overall team bowling performance — only 0.01 better than the team average.
26 Dec 2010, 23:31 pm
merry merry everyone!
26 Dec 2010, 23:34 pm
off to the cricket tomorrow morning.
because the proteas are simply awesome.
yes, they are.
26 Dec 2010, 23:36 pm
@Black Panther : shhhhhh.
27 Dec 2010, 01:01 am
@TheTackler : @880 Keep on saying it to yourself..
27 Dec 2010, 03:51 am
@JL1 : Just looks at the scoreboard.
27 Dec 2010, 04:53 am
@ Tackler. Highest ranked kiwi squash player Martin Knight is nbr 46 in the world. We have different ideas about world-beating.
27 Dec 2010, 06:47 am
Just looks at the scoreboard? Who just looks at the scoreboard?
Two months to go and it’s Super rugby time. Oh I forgot, Super rugby is not important anymore according to some bloggers because their teams aren’t shaping up.
Go Sharks!!
Bumbling Boks to blitz past the Blacks who’ll do their usual four year stumble in 2011.
27 Dec 2010, 09:47 am
The scoreboard is the only thing that matters.@stormer in a teacup : Female squash players, pilgrim. Successors to Susan Devoy.
27 Dec 2010, 09:50 am
Super Rugby? That’s the contest where NZ teams have won 9/14 titles and where one NZ team has single-handedly won more than half of all the titles ever put on offer?
27 Dec 2010, 10:41 am
@stormer in a teacup :
youre now talking squash ?!? WHY squash ? hardly NZs weakest sport either…..
Greatest female squash player who ever played the game is a Kiwi, 4 World titles, numerous British Opens (Susan Devoy).
Lelani Joyce, previous Womens world no2, now no3.
Jade Wilson was no1 World Junior late-90s before untimely death. Possibly best-ever Junior player.
1st player to beat the greatest player ever (Jahangir Khan) was a Kiwi (Ross Norman), who also won the World title.
Stu Davenport was World no 2 behind Jansher Khan
Bruce Brownlee also won titles, World no2.
NZ has hosted 3 World Championships in past decade, a reflection of their standing in the sport.
27 Dec 2010, 13:03 pm
@stormer in a teacup
ost 888.
Correction.
Highest ranking NZ Squash Player:
# 12 Jaclyn Hawkes NZL.
NZ incidentally, won a Gold and a Silver Medals for Squash Events, at the Commonwelth games in Dehli.
27 Dec 2010, 13:13 pm
@cane :
Hey fella
hope you had a good one.
2011 looming fast on the horizon……lets get ready to rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrR U M B L E !
27 Dec 2010, 13:24 pm
@Black Panther :
I’m too old to “rumble” Panther.
Just a little prick here and there.
8)
27 Dec 2010, 13:26 pm
@cane :
You write like a young man; always play the opponent not his reputation.
27 Dec 2010, 13:56 pm
@black panther. Tackles raised the subject of NZ world beating squash players. Correction Hawkes is 12 in the world. Hardly world-beating mind, unless you wish to live in the past where everyonehas been a world-beater at something at some stage.
27 Dec 2010, 15:28 pm
Stormer
soooooo, Gold & Silver at the Commonwealths 2010 – bearing in mind Commonwealth nations traditionally dominate squash, like rugby and netball – is now living in the past ?
NZ has a very proud history in squash, period.
27 Dec 2010, 16:21 pm
@Black Panther : 873
I get your point re “dominating away from home.” I was just getting at Tackler who said a couple of months ago that “a team ranked below 3, or even 2, in the world is an also ran” and can’t be taken seriously.
On the other hand SA won most of their test series’ away from home the last few years. In fact, SA last lost an away series against Sri Lanka way back in 2006. Since then they beat every nation they played against away from home apart from India.
SA’s away record since 2007/8 reads as follows:
SA vs Pakistan, 2007/8(1-0);
SA vs Bangladesh, 2007/8 (2-0);
SA vs India, 2007/8 (1-1);
SA vs Eng, 2008 (2-1);
SA vs Aus, 2008/9 (2-1)
SA vs India, 2009/10 (1-1)
SA vs WI, 2010 (2-0)
SA vs Pakistan, 2010 (0-0)
Not too shabby, hey?
27 Dec 2010, 16:59 pm
Mana1
I bow to your superior cricket knowledge any day. I confess to being merely a spectator in this sport, albeit one that has attended CWCs in 3 different nations. I enjoy it but don’t know my silly mid-on’s to my sticky wickets.
I, like u with Tickler, just amused at JL1s innate d’ick comparing comments. Silly stuff.
Now tennis, well that’s a different proposition – a sport I know better than others.
Right you are, Mana.
27 Dec 2010, 19:01 pm
@Black Panther : You do like to take the high ground
And no, I really do not want to compare anything with you, you are really full of yourself if you think or believe that
27 Dec 2010, 20:24 pm
JL1
taking the high ground with you is hardly an achievement I would consider worthy of mentioning, that would be like saying Slobodan Milosevic was a ‘better man’ than Hitler on the basis that he killed less Kosovans & Croats than Adolf did Jews. Hardly something to skite about.
27 Dec 2010, 21:25 pm
Still no Cricket thread.. lol. Herschelle Gibbs has certainly scared the s hit out of Keo and his adolescent scribes/scribblers. What power!!!.. from somebody that seemingly battled to apply himself academically. His insights and analyses is excellent..
Come guys.. lets have a chat… If you are brave enough
I had a great Christmas BTW…
27 Dec 2010, 22:07 pm
@youknowwho : His insights and analyses is excellent..
ARE excellent. Concord.
27 Dec 2010, 22:12 pm
@stormer in a teacup : NZ are far, far better at squash than SA.
As they are better at rugby, netball, hockey, triathlon/iron man, cycling, rowing… etc etc
27 Dec 2010, 22:46 pm
Kallis has hair, i mean a full head of it !
Arguments need 2 be sorted here and this is not something i can google, is it a wig , toupe . or hair implants ?
I am 50% sure he was baldish and short hair when he got his double ton.
HELP ! ! !
27 Dec 2010, 22:53 pm
@TheTackler :
1. Do you think Aus will be able to save this test match?
2. Do you think Ponting will retain the captaincy after the Ashes?
3. How come Harbahjan was able to take FOUR wickets in SA’s 1st innings on the 2nd day of the test match while Harris could not take one wicket when India batted?
27 Dec 2010, 23:21 pm
Ponting is history…..
Runs running out
The Series all-but gone
And the disgrace at the G.
a d i o s !
28 Dec 2010, 00:31 am
@tackler. Ah, goalpost shifter. We are not the world. We canjust as easily claim to bebetter than NZ at a variety of sports such as golf, soccer, track and field, swimming, etc. But what is your point, my desperate one-upping friend?
28 Dec 2010, 00:31 am
By Paul Ackford 25 Dec2010
New Zealand was the conservative choice, displacing Japan. The stadiums are small by today’s standards. Eden Park, which will stage both semi-finals and the final, has a capacity of only 60,000, small beer compared to Twickenham and the Stade de France which can cram in 80,000 plus.
The arenas in Wellington and Christchurch, where the quarter-finals will unfold, hold 40,000 and 45,000 respectively when full. Hotel beds will be scarce. The transport infrastructure will struggle to accommodate the 85,000 additional overseas visitors that are expected to arrive.
Nonsense. Every World Cup has its doubting Thomases. In 1995 in South Africa one newspaper predicted that matches would be played behind rings of steel because of the crime problems. Instead, the rainbow nation united in support behind the Springboks.
There were concerns before the Lions toured New Zealand in 2005. Again, they proved groundless, the only legitimate worry centring on whether any of the British and Irish rugby players would return home with their reputations intact as the All Blacks ran riot in the three Tests.
That’s what makes New Zealand the ultimate host country. From Whangarei at the tip of the North Island to Invercargill at the bottom of the South Island the games will be staged in grounds packed with knowledgeable rugby folk. Will Carling once said that one of the most intelligent deliberations on rugby he had ever heard was delivered by a white-haired old granny in a New Zealand chemists. They know their stuff.
Great sporting events work best when there is soul and passion allied to clever marketing. New Zealand will provide that. The experience will be authentic, unlike the tournament in 1999 which was based in Wales but where several matches were farmed out to neighbouring countries. And big is not always best.
In a sporting world fixated on the global powers, it is reassuring to know that Georgia’s fixture with Romania at Palmerston North will be accorded the same warmth as Ireland’s game with Australia in Auckland.
One of the more memorable experiences of Rugby World Cup 2007 in France was the welcome given to Portugal and Italy by the Parisians when the two nations clashed, a game of such visceral importance to the Portuguese that one of their props wept openly during his country’s national anthem. It matters that the minnows are treated with appropriate respect.
New Zealand believes it is on track to stage a memorable event. Five-thousand volunteers are preparing to ease visitors round the country. Householders have been urged to provide hospitality to strangers. Ticket sales have already reached £81 million compared to the £12 million sold for the Lions tour. They’ve even survived an earthquake in Christchurch where England will be based with no lasting damage.
Of course the World Cup is about which side is the best on the planet. Of course the tournament will be about whether the All Blacks can survive the debilitating strain which they will operate under. Of course the consuming interest, from this part of the globe at least, is on whether Wales, France, Ireland or Scotland can join England as a World Cup-winning country.
But for New Zealand to lay down a lasting legacy, the World Cup must be more than any of those things. It must enter the hearts of those lucky enough to attend.
28 Dec 2010, 01:01 am
@TheTackler : 904… and you choose to have a debate about grammar lol
.. I am putting together a definition for P-ussy… just in case I get accused of racism or sexism. I want to be sure that I can relate it to a specific human behaviour..
Here goes:
One who avoids competition by complaining about the colour of the oppositions underwear.
One who plays with himself and then claims superiority over those who paid for a real shag…
28 Dec 2010, 01:04 am
Arsenal 3 – Chelsea 1… Christmas prezzies still seem to be rolling in
GOONER FOREVER!!!!!
28 Dec 2010, 01:13 am
@Treehugger :
It is hair implants- I think he got it done before he scored the double ton.
I dont know why he had it done though- he spends about 80 % of his time wearing a helmet, cap or floppy hat so it does not really make much difference whether he has hair or not
28 Dec 2010, 04:04 am
@youknowwho : I don’t want any “grammar debate”. I simply insist on it being correct. And confusing singulars and plurals in a sentence’s concord is wrong. No debate is needed — simply correct the glaring error.
28 Dec 2010, 04:16 am
@stormer in a teacup : You’re not better at many these sports you’ve listed either — NZ returned home from the SWC undefeated; SA got heavily defeated on their home turf.
Track-and-field? Can’t separate these countries for their Olympic and Commonwealth Games medal hauls. SA has the current edge in golf, but it’s only a niche elite sport anyway.
But in the key traditional school-based sports — rugby, netball, hockey — SA lags well behind. And they routinely lag well behind on the key summer Olympics medals tables.
Disgracefully so for a nation with ten times the population base.
28 Dec 2010, 04:23 am
@nama1 : Harbajhan is a better spinner than Harris, just as how Warne was a better spinner than Harbajhan. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that Harris is provenly the best SA test spinner in the past 50 years or so. His test figures tell that story very clearly. (And the Indian batsmen are far better at playing spin than their SA counterparts owing to having years of practice at it. Harbajhan therefore has an easier job than Harris in beating batsmen with spin.)
28 Dec 2010, 05:24 am
@ tackler. Keep moving those Goalposts, sad sack.
Plenty to choose between us at track and field.
Golfis played by more people than rugby and certainly more than squash. By the way all sports are niche sports.
Your soccer world cup analysis is so embarassingly ****-eyed that even as shameless a fellater of facts like yourself must be wincing. Face it pilgrim. The motherland is doing just fine without you.
28 Dec 2010, 07:00 am
Golf is PLAYED, massively overwhelmingly, for social recreation and not for proper top-grade and international competition. It’s like fishing in that respect. It’s a tiny niche competitive sport at school, club and university level and a long, long way behind real team sports like rugby netball and hockey. Golf isn’t even an Olympic or Commonwealth Games sport!
At athletics NZ matches or narrowly surpasses SA at winning Olympic and Commonwealth Games medals.
At rugby, hockey and netball NZ blows SA away.
28 Dec 2010, 07:20 am
@TheTackler :
“Golf is PLAYED, massively overwhelmingly, for social recreation and not for proper top-grade and international competition”
Geez tickles, you were almost holding your own until you opined that Golf is not ‘proper top-grade or international’
Come to think of it… you are holding it!
Anyways, hows it hanging Tackles?
28 Dec 2010, 07:21 am
Cheers all, I sincerely hope your holiday season is as joyous as mine has been. I hope I survive New Year!
28 Dec 2010, 07:22 am
ROBZIM@ thanks Rob, i now have 2 suck it up and tell my father he is right, am not going 2 enjoy it lol.
28 Dec 2010, 07:30 am
@RugbyRulz : Golf IS played in very major competitions, you fool. But only by a very tiny, very select few.
99.9% of golfers play it just for fun and not for real competition in any shape or form — not even at the lowliest entry-level competitive club level. Just as a social outing with some mates. Like angling.
And there are millions of “participants” at that level with no real competitors.
(Leave the straw men alone if you seek to argue.)
28 Dec 2010, 07:34 am
@RugbyRulz : “Golf is PLAYED, massively overwhelmingly, for social recreation and not for proper top-grade and international competition.”
That’s MY statement. And it’s true.
“Golf is not ‘proper top-grade or international’”
That’s your straw-man statement/paraphrase/selective quotation. And it’s tripe.
28 Dec 2010, 07:42 am
@TheTackler : Oh dear Tackles, golf is not only top-grade, it is proper.
As for the recreational… golf is in the same class as a lot of woulda, coulda, shoulda, didn’t amount to anything wannabe stars. I’ve a household full-ov-em-me-included.
Life is about participation and so is sport.
28 Dec 2010, 07:48 am
Whats with Ponting puting his finger under umpires nose and haveing a hissy fit, he is really tarnishing the aus cricket team, think the vibes comeing off him are affecting the teams moral, hard enough 4 them getting a rogering from poms, but 2 have a petulant captain with no self control cant be easy.
28 Dec 2010, 07:48 am
I reckon I might just annoy the daylights out of the men in my family…
My news years resolution short list – in no specific order:
Learn to play golf
Hog the TV remote
Drink all the malts (tall order)
Invite my buddies over more often
Take up smoking
28 Dec 2010, 07:51 am
@TheTackler :
Lord Haw-Haw is still at it I see.
Giving a bad name simultaneously to all Saffers and Kiwis with his sycophantic, toadying ramblings against the country of his birth and education. Is there anyone not embarassed by this man?
Nauseating doesn’t start to describe this man, and pathetic doesn’t do him enough justice.
28 Dec 2010, 08:18 am
@Treehugger : Cricket (for me) holds as much interest as base-ball.
One gains perspective when enduring years of kids, sooking about their gear, their batting practice and ‘ME’ having to be on the scoring roster. Yep, here in Oz, we parents have to score the damn game too.
Geez, had my fill of our national sport and glad my boys moved onto Golf. My parental obligation was clear, pay for the hobby and taxi them around, until of course they could drive themselves.
Yep, if I take up Golf, bastions will crumble. I’ll be welcome at the 19th hole, maybe.
Onward Christian Solider >>>>>>>>>
28 Dec 2010, 08:20 am
Cheers folks,
May the new year, be that… New for us all.
Good luck and god bless.
28 Dec 2010, 08:48 am
RUGBYRULZ@ lol, like watching aus play cricket.
golf – been there done that from a teenager, father and hub big time in2 golf, 4 me takes up 2 much time and think the 19 hole is what they aiming 4 lol.
hogging remote – i get a 9 out of 10 4 that.
smokeing – hello malbora lights long time, one of my many vices, lurv puffing.
children – dont have, think i might just be a bit 2 self involved, never have known how 2 talk 2 them and babies have always scared the cr@p out of me.
hope u had a wonderful festive season.
28 Dec 2010, 08:51 am
oh 4got the drinking, not 2 big on that anymore, suppose i am just a social drinker, 1 glass and u would think i had a few lol.
28 Dec 2010, 08:59 am
@TheTackler :
Ours is bigger than yours.
Ours is better than yours.
Our sky is brighter than yours.
Fool.
28 Dec 2010, 09:01 am
@TheTackler :
Our golf balls are bigger than your golf balls.
28 Dec 2010, 09:15 am
@RugbyRulz : Nobody disputes that the wafer-thin elite part of the very top rank of golf is indeed proper and highly competitive.
But 99% of all golf isn’t.
It’s strictly social. Uncompetitive. Just for fun.
28 Dec 2010, 09:16 am
@TheTackler :
Bloody nerve to call a lady a fool.
And you must be the last person to talk about talking tripe.
28 Dec 2010, 09:17 am
@RugbyRulz : Solider?
Or looser?
28 Dec 2010, 09:21 am
@RugbyRulz : Sport’s all about playing to WIN. Satisfaction at mere “participation” really is for losers. Losers with one O.
28 Dec 2010, 09:22 am
@Dawn :
sky is brighter ?!
there aint no sky ‘brighter’ than in Godzone, Peaches.
Every time Tickler puts a maggot on the hook, you ladies gobble it up. Even the ones that have stopped wriggling.
~gulp~
28 Dec 2010, 09:42 am
@TheTackler :
Our cricket is better than your cricket.
28 Dec 2010, 09:43 am
@Black Panther :
God has nothing to do with this.
Who invited you.
Stayoutofit.
28 Dec 2010, 09:49 am
@TheTackler : 916
“…the fact that Harris is provenly the best SA test spinner in the past 50 years or so. His test figures tell that story very clearly.”
This comment is totally subjective and not based on facts whatsoever. I ask again, is Harris your brother’s son or what?
Compare Harris’ figures with that of Paul Adams and tell me again that he is “provenly” (sic) the best SA test spinner in the past 50 years or so. Adams’s figures are better than Harris’ in every department accept ER. He however still has an ER of less than 3rpo which, as you might know, is very, very good for a spinner.
You’ll just have to accept that Harris is not as good as you try to make him out to be. In fact, if one has to describe Warns as great, Harbhajan as good than Harris must be average.
Paul Harris: 2007-2010
Matches: 36*
Wickets: 101
BBI: 6/127
BBM: 9/161
Ave: 37.34
ER: 2.69
SR: 83.1
Paul Adams: 1995-2004
Matches: 45
Wickets: 134
BBI: 7/128
BBM: 10/106
Ave: 32.87
ER: 2.98
SR: 66.0
Wrt the last part of your comment. We saw the same thing last year when Swann took way more wickets than Harris. So that point, albeit it very true, does not hold much water in this case. Or do you also believe that “the (English) batsmen were far better at playing spin than their SA counterparts owing to having years of practice at it.”
28 Dec 2010, 09:52 am
@Dawn : Hmmm… in the respective trophy cabinets they’re exactly even stevens — one ICC Champions Trophy apiece.
NZ overachieved to win their one cup; SA underachieved by not having won any more.
28 Dec 2010, 09:53 am
@nama1 : Adams has played 9 tests more.
28 Dec 2010, 09:54 am
Warns = Warne
28 Dec 2010, 09:55 am
@nama1 : Swann’s a better spinner.
28 Dec 2010, 10:01 am
Warne’s exceptional, Harbajhan is very good, Harris and Adams are both about as good as any SA test spinner has been — which is not as good as any of the world’s legendary spinners, but still better than any of the yarpie spinners of post-war history, including Tayfield, McKinnon, Hobson, Chevalier etc.