Blitzboks lucky to be in Cup play-offs
4 Feb 2011
GARETH DUNCAN reports on the Springbok Sevens’ inconsistent performances on day one at the Wellington Sevens.
The Blitzboks will have to thank Canada for their place in the Cup section. After their 31-5 win over the latter, they suffered a 14-12 loss to France in their second group match. All France had to do to confirm their Cup spot ahead of South Africa was to beat the lowly North Americans.
A French victory was expected against Canada, who also lost 38-0 against Fiji. However, Canada upset France with an 19-14 win, handing the Blitzboks a Cup play-off lifeline. South Africa followed with a draw against Fiji, confirming second place behind the Pacific Islanders in Pool D. But it was a match South Africa should have won.
Fiji were far the better team in the first stanza and rightfully took the lead after speedster Seremaia Burotu ran in the corner for the first try of the game. In reply, the Blitzboks couldn’t build any momentum on attack because of poor passing and handling while their defence was easily penetrated. South Africa were lucky to be trailing 7-0 at the break.
In the second half, the Blitzboks produced an improved performance. They camped inside Fiji’s red zone for most parts of the half but could only score one try through Branco du Preez to level matters.
Bernado Botha had the opportunity to dive over for the match-winning try, but he lost the ball forward over the line. South Africa were then awarded an injury-time penalty in a kickable position to clinch the match, but they went for the try and failed.
The Blitzboks will now face Australia in the Cup quarter-final on day two. In the other Cup play-offs, England face Argentina, Fiji play Samoa and New Zealand take on Wales.
Blitzboks results (Day 1):
South Africa 31 Canada 5
South Africa 12 France 14
South Africa 7 Fiji 7
Blitzbok fixtures (Day 2):
South Africa vs Australia (04:17 k/o)
For all fixtures and results, click here
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988 Comments
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4 Feb 2011, 07:17 am
blitzed dragons…
4 Feb 2011, 07:24 am
More like losing dragons but yes!
40 people signed up so far, surely there must be a few more…
Come join my Super Rugby prediction game on SuperBru! It’s free and loads of fun. Just click here:
http://www.superbru.com/superrugby/pool.asp?p=147708
Pool name: Keo League
Pool code: pairmink
4 Feb 2011, 08:24 am
Is the name BLITZboks really appropriate?
4 Feb 2011, 08:45 am
Die Wellington Sevens is nog nie verby nie maar ons moet elke keer **** hoe goed is hulle voor die toernooi dit raak nou al so afgesaag.
4 Feb 2011, 08:47 am
Our little 7′s bokkies are in a steady decline. Watch them if you want to see quota players being muscled off the ball and falling off tackles
4 Feb 2011, 08:49 am
@Lemoen(Lemoen)-4: Ja, niemand kan hierdie spul ernstig opneem nie – praat, praat, praat en op die veld val die wiele af. Ek doen nie eers moeite om te kyk nie.
Net jammer dat ons 15 kode se afrigters ook ‘n goeie game praat
4 Feb 2011, 08:52 am
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-5: are bsevens players quotas?
4 Feb 2011, 08:56 am
Why worry, tis like 20/20 cricket…just not the real deal.
Excellent opportunity to drink but not much more…
4 Feb 2011, 09:15 am
Looke like the Trolls have come out from under their cyber sewers….
Sounding to me like the 7′s Boks are nowhere near the team of 2009.
We’re heading towards being slightly competitive for the Bowl Cup. Viva transformation viva!!
4 Feb 2011, 09:16 am
Best Tony Johnston comment ever…..intoducing the teams at the 7′s walk past……… “South Africa….not a good day …fanncy losing to France”….. what a doos comment, you would think the memory would at least retain some humility re France, being a Kiwi??
4 Feb 2011, 09:19 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-8: At least 20/20 cricket is exciting, sevens rugby isn’t.
4 Feb 2011, 09:33 am
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-5: @Great White Shark(Predawn)-9:
Come out and say what you’re implying. Both of you. Say the words out loud so that we know exactly what you are. Don’t ***** foot around.
4 Feb 2011, 09:48 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-9: “Sounding to me like the 7?s Boks are nowhere near the team of 2009.”
In sevens rugby terms 2009 is almost as long ago as the Pleistocene Age. It’s like dog years, only worse.
4 Feb 2011, 09:58 am
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-12: Started to put composing a post linking the racial make-ip of the 7′s team with their results, proving that results improved as the hue of the team darkened over time but aborted as I realised its a futile exercise. These guys are what they are. God’s water oor God’s akker. And all that.
4 Feb 2011, 10:10 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-14: well said, maybe what they mean is that ALL the sevens players are quotas because goodness knows neil powell would not make any team on merit, so he chose sevens as he would definitely be a quota in 15-man rugby.
funny though the cheetahs lured rayno benjamin back into their team.
4 Feb 2011, 10:20 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-15: No white player can ever be a quota until they insist on a minimum number of whites in a team — and the Pope will fall pregnant before THAT happens.
4 Feb 2011, 10:40 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-16: A quota for black players translates into a quota for white players. A qouta of say 2 for black players means a minimum of 2 players in the team need to be black. A minimum qouta of 2 black players then. It also means a maximum of 13 (or 5 for Sevens) players in the team need to be white. A maximum qouta of 13 (or 5) white players then. Whether minimum or maximum, he’s still a qouta.
So when are you and the Pope making the annouuncement?
Congrats man! I know you guys were trying really hard for a long time now.
4 Feb 2011, 10:50 am
It’s going to be much of the same in 2011 with our quota coach…
4 Feb 2011, 10:55 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-18: You’re so predictable.
4 Feb 2011, 10:56 am
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-19:
Wait till HG gets here.
Insults will fly.
4 Feb 2011, 10:58 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-16: white players are quotas by default…there can only be so many whites in a team that has to have a quota of black players!
in any case since you left SA, the word “quota” has now morphed to mean ANY player/coach regardless of colour that is in a team for any other reason other than merit, eg naka drotske, stephan dippenaar, earl rose, danwel demas etc
4 Feb 2011, 11:01 am
What happened to the quarters Gareth?
4 Feb 2011, 11:04 am
The people that complain about colour and quotas are the ones most obsessed with it … I even reckon Malema, Stofile and Cheeky Watson discuss quotas less than some people on this site. Laughable.
4 Feb 2011, 11:10 am
Scrape through to semi’s, isn’t there a 1/4 final first?
4 Feb 2011, 11:15 am
@kevin w(kevin w)-23:
In your dreams. It’s their bread and butter.
4 Feb 2011, 11:17 am
@kevin w(kevin w)-23: hey, they’re immune to playing the so-called “race card”
it is the reserve of the inept & non-merit brigade 
4 Feb 2011, 11:18 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-26: “preserve”
4 Feb 2011, 11:18 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-25: well at least they get paid to be obsessed with it then … whereas you guys on the other hand …
4 Feb 2011, 11:19 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-25: swallow before talking mate
talking about bread & butter hehehe
4 Feb 2011, 11:24 am
A mate in SA was telling me about the launch of the ABSA Springbok sponsorship last night.
John Smit spoke very well….then Snor and the captain of the ‘Springbok’ women’s team came on and spoke…apparently it was cringeworthy…
4 Feb 2011, 11:28 am
Quotas killing our sport … At least it is still @ 7′s level.. but with ABSA the new Bok sponsor the boskokkorot Ramos will have a say in the quotas, bye bye Bok rugby! please change the Bok emblem now …
4 Feb 2011, 11:30 am
@Boo_Habana(suffer_guy)-31:
“the boskokkorot Ramos “
4 Feb 2011, 11:31 am
What is going on here? Is nt Grant Ball one of keos journos?? Seems like he is saving his good work for “rugby” websites.Pulled this of 365 and must say after reading this i was really ashamed of WP management.
Throughout the Stormers’ pre-season Allister Coetzee and Rassie Erasmus’s mission has been to find a back-up flyhalf to Peter Grant. Coetzee and Erasmus have three talented flyhalves in Cronjé, Gary van Aswegen and Elgar Watts to rotate, and admittedly it’s a tough task.
But the way Coetzee’s gone about it has been poor. He told the media last week the former SA U20 Player of the Year, Cronjé, would get his chance to start against the Sharks, but he’s again opted for Van Aswegen for Saturday’s match.
After the Stormers’ 15-0 win over the Lions, Coetzee even admitted Cronjé needed more chances to start at pivot.
“Lionel has not had enough opportunities and I would like to provide an opportunity for him,” said Coetzee.
“The player that grabs his opportunity and makes the best decisions under pressure will be our second choice at flyhalf.”
It would seem Van Aswegen already has that back-up spot sewn up, and Coetzee changed his tune again and said Cronjé would now get his chance against Boland. There can be no qualms with Van Aswegen’s performance against the Lions and he’s set a marker, but now Cronjé should have got his chance to prove whether he can make the correct decisions.
This is not the first time such deception has happened. Cronjé was promised a start against Boland at the first rugby game at the Cape Town Stadium during last year’s pre-season, but instead Coetzee opted for the laboured Willem de Waal.
In last year’s Currie Cup Cronjé was treated similarly poorly. In 13 matches off the bench, Cronjé played just 136 minutes, at an average of 10 per game, while he wasn’t used in both matches against the Bulls and had little opportunities against the bigger unions. He was then thrown in during the final to play 12 minutes and try steal the trophy for WP.
Cronjé was poor on that occasion, but there was no way he could be expected to perform with so little game-time and no starts throughout the campaign. The WP management have also been concerned about Cronjé’s lack of communication, but again it’s difficult to improve that aspect when afforded little opportunities.
The Sharks and Lions showed the way throughout the Currie Cup by placing faith in their young flyhalves Pat Lambie and Elton Jantjies. They now have quality, exciting 10′s going into Super Rugby. Unfortunately Western Province conservatively stuck with the one-dimensional De Waal, and they have nothing to show for it, with Van Aswegen and Cronjé still unproven at this level.
It must be remembered that Cronjé is a quality 10 whose excelled for his country at age-group level, and he’s got all the attributes (size, handling, a massive boot and importantly the ability to take the ball flat) to transfer that pedigree to the senior ranks.
He’s in the top three fittest players in the Stormers’ squad in pre-season, and performed well against Maties and UCT in friendlies. If, and it would seem a big if, he does get a start against Boland, and then not surprisingly excels at pivot, Coetzee’s excuse may be that Van Aswegen performed against better opposition. That may be true, but Cronjé hasn’t been afforded the opportunities to achieve.
The mismanagement of Cronjé is a typical problem in South African rugby. Coaches don’t give flyhalves an extended run in their best position, with five minutes here and there. They also swap their positions, and now reports Coetzee and co also want to use him as a fullback could see that trend continue.
Conrad Hoffmann was treated similarly, and he’s now at the Sharks. If this continues with Cronjé, Erasmus and Coetzee can’t complain if they lose another quality youngster. Cronjé has done all he can to prove his worth, it’s now up to the coaches to place faith in him.Rugby365
4 Feb 2011, 11:32 am
@Boo_Habana(suffer_guy)-31: Yeah just like it was finished when de Villiers took over as coach and was going to make the team 80% non-white and Luke Watson would be captain …
Never happened and the clowns are still here and still spewing the same cr@p, just from a different angle.
I know i’ve heard BEEAAAASSSTTTT, but i never recall hearing JOOORRRIIIEEEE or JAAAACCCCCOOOO (not even after his monster drop goal attempt. There have been many quotas for many years and it hasn’t only been colour.
4 Feb 2011, 11:34 am
habana played like a A class quota in 2010. beast is there on merit! so is Mvovo ..zane and the rest are all quotas!
4 Feb 2011, 11:38 am
@Boo_Habana(suffer_guy)-35: so Habana out of form or a quota all the time? You seem a little confused?
4 Feb 2011, 11:40 am
@kevin w(kevin w)-36: Dude. Honestly, dont bother with this guy, he has no credibility. He’s received more beatings here than Tina Turner and Whitney Houston combined.
4 Feb 2011, 11:41 am
@kevin w(kevin w)-36:
You be wasting your time debating with this guy.
4 Feb 2011, 11:41 am
@k.camron(k.camron)-33: Grant Ball left when Keo’s relationship with Jake the Snake broke down irreparably.
4 Feb 2011, 11:46 am
@k.camron(k.camron)-33: Lcromje must come to the Kings, he won’t have tough time comoeting with Monty Dumond!
4 Feb 2011, 11:47 am
@kevin w(kevin w)-36: Kev. This guy is a A grade a$$hole of note. Not worthy of your time.
4 Feb 2011, 11:48 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-40: Yeah. Solly will know how to get the best out of this kid.
4 Feb 2011, 11:49 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-39:Is Grant Jakes illegitimate son or something? Why was his work contract tied to Jake White? Even noticed Vrede on one the UK sport websites and it seems he does not post as many articles anymore.
4 Feb 2011, 11:53 am
@k.camron(k.camron)-43: yep, go to http://www.rugbyxv, jake’s own blog and you will see grant ball’s work ther punting jake for the RFU job!
4 Feb 2011, 11:55 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-20: Yeah I know.
4 Feb 2011, 11:56 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-44: Shame man. And no amount of cheerleader articles from Grant Ball seem to be getting Jake the job.
4 Feb 2011, 12:00 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-40: My complaint is more about WP talent identification and subsequent management of it.Just of the top of my head around 07/08 F.Hougaard,C.Hofmann and Duvenage competed for the 9 jersey and who won the race Duvenage!!! any supporter can tell he is by far the most average out of the three! We have Nick Koster who they have really mismanaged.Juan de Jongh will probably sit on the bench this season despite being the best centre,Lionels case is just shocking too many lies and false promises,these are some really good talents we ******** around.
4 Feb 2011, 12:05 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-44:
only saru would employ a video analyst as coach! but give credit where credit is due he is a World Cup winning video analyst.
4 Feb 2011, 12:11 pm
@k.camron(k.camron)-47
F.Hougaard,C.Hofmann and Duvenage :
Ricky Bobby will circumvent the entire lot and walk straight into a Bok jersey…albeit a very tight fitting Bok jersey.
4 Feb 2011, 12:14 pm
@k.camron(k.camron)-47: Couldn’t agree more. AC and Rassie are messing about.
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