The danger of derbies

The danger of derbies

1 Mar 2011

RYAN VREDE believes the brutal physicality of the South African Super Rugby derbies have the potential to seriously undermine the Springboks’ World Cup campaign.

With the expanded Super Rugby tournament in its infancy, that appears to be a premature assertion. But you would have to present a convincing argument to alter my position, shaped by watching the controlled violence played out in Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Cape Town and Durban in the past fortnight.

South African derbies have featured more ruck cleans and counter rucks than in the Australian equivalent. Furthermore, South African derbies totalled 26 more tackles than their Australian counterparts and 241 more than the all-Kiwi contests (that figure is significantly higher because of the cancelled Crusaders-Hurricanes match).

However, those statistics fail to reflect the brutality of the collisions in South African derbies. I don’t have access to technology that could accurately measure force at point of contact, so my view relies on the experience of watching derbies live and from South African players in interviews consistently confirming that the physicality of matches against Australasian teams pales in comparison to those against their countrymen.

The Saffa player has always been driven by the primal urge to pummel his brother into submission. The Australasian teams don’t share that mentality, preferring to strike with the rapier rather than establish their dominance by wielding the bludgeon.

What’s more, South African players, particularly forwards, are bigger, stronger and faster than they have been at any point in the country’s history and so possess a greater capacity to inflict serious injury.

It is no surprise that with the forward-orientated approach that characterises most South African derbies a string of talented forwards have already been injured, with varying degrees of seriousness.

Bulls’ hooker Gary Botha injured his collarbone in the opener against the Lions and will be out for another fortnight. Schalk Burger of the Stormers is expected to miss between two to three matches with a knee injury sustained against the Lions. Bulls lock Bakkies Botha is doubtful for their match against the Highlanders as he is being treated for serious bruising to his foot.

However, the most significant injury is that of Cheetahs and Springbok blindside flank Juan Smith, who tore his Achilles tendon on Friday against the Bulls and faces a lay-off of between six and nine months, almost surely ruling him out of the World Cup. Smith, with the intense physicality of South African derbies, won’t be the last marquee Springbok to suffer this fate.

There are still 16 derbies to play in the next four months. Ominously the physicality will only increase the fitter the players get and the closer we get to the play-offs.

When the South African Rugby Union agreed to an expanded tournament they told us it was what locals wanted. Thousands of empty seats at those derbies thus far tell a different story. It speaks of the administrators’ greed and their lack of concern for the well-being of their prime assets.

In signing on for an expanded tournament they showed no appreciation for superior physicality of South African derbies when compared to those contested between Australasian teams. It was a shortsighted decision that has the potential to seriously undermine the Springboks’ World Cup defence.

COMPARISONS BETWEEN THE COLLISIONS IN DERBIES

SA derbies tackle stats – 1054 tackles made @ an average of 132 per game

Lions v Bulls – 70/203
Cheetahs v Bulls – 169/142
Sharks v Cheetahs – 56/110
Stormers v Lions – 152/152

Aussie derbies tackle stats – 1028 tackles made @ an average of 128 per game

Rebels v Tahs – 138/119
Rebels v Brumbies – 214/73
Tahs v Reds – 156/120
Reds v Force – 112/96

NZ derbies tackle stats – 816 tackles made @ an average of 136 per game

Landers v Chiefs – 147/184
Blues v Crusaders – 82/118
Canes v Highlanders – 121/164

SA derbies ruck cleans (own ball and counter rucking)

Lions v Bulls – 261 and 43/ 129 and 104
Cheetahs v Bulls – 251 and 103/ 271 and 69
Sharks v Cheetahs – 184 and 23/ 93 and 78
Stormers v Lions – 218 and 76/ 259 and 64

Aussie derbies ruck cleans (own ball and counter rucking)

Rebels v Tahs – 194 and 53/ 178 and 55
Rebels v Brumbies – 107 and 97/ 315 and 45
Tahs v Reds – 166 and 72/ 263 and 70
Reds v Force – 157 and 60/ 158 and 55

Kiwi derbies ruck cleans (own ball and counter rucking)

Landers v Chiefs – 313 and 108/ 201 and 116
Blues v Crusaders – 193 and 57/ 156 and 65
Canes v Highlanders – 236 and 77/ 217 and 108

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360 Comments

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  • 51.Pinky Kekana kills Beemer buys Merc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 11:44 am

    @Taahirah(Taahirah)-42:

    I think it will lead to a banning.

    It will certainly lead to a strongly worded missive from the Cape Spanish Embassy.

  • 52.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 11:45 am

    @Dawn(Dawn)-41: Tac’s ****(geneous) to the core, you’re better off flirting with the Jocks :D

  • 53.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 11:46 am

    @Pinky Kekana kills Beemer buys Merc(gunther)-51: :D
    Did you follow the reaction to the Kuli Roberts column?

  • 54.capo: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 11:47 am

    there is nothing wrong with saffa derbies in terms of physicality.there will always be intense rivalry between the provinces and rightly so nothing more or less than what you would find in aus or kiwi derbies.just looking at the aus conference there is no love lost between the reds and the tahs.just another nothing article from vrede.

  • 55.Pinky Kekana kills Beemer buys Merc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 11:47 am

    @John Galt(John Galt)-47:

    daniesour at 7

    steggers at 6

    spies at 8 with a rocket up his arse.

  • 56.iori Yagami: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 11:47 am

    @John Galt(John Galt)-47: Wouldnt you need pace for Thompson, seeing how quick he is off the mark? How about Derick Kuun too start in place of Potties or Stegmann to counter Thompson?

  • 57.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 11:50 am

    @iori Yagami(iori Yagami)-56: No please no Kuun. I beg of you.

  • 58.Pinky Kekana kills Beemer buys Merc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 11:51 am

    @Taahirah(Taahirah)-53:

    yep….

    what is wrong with these people?

  • 59.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 11:52 am

    Y’all jealous.

    Nothing wrong with a bit of * * * * * * * genousness.

    Besides … any team that still has Fudge can’t be all that bad.

  • 60.iori Yagami: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 11:52 am

    I think the derbies might favour the smaller teams….it will give them confidence and their form will be better throughout the tournmament. I expect the Lions and Cheetahs to give visting teams a hard time.

  • 61.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 11:53 am

    @Pinky Kekana kills Beemer buys Merc(gunther)-58: I honestly dont know.

  • 62.iori Yagami: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 11:54 am

    @Taahirah(Taahirah)-57: Why not? he is not half bad and quite quick around the park.

  • 63.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 11:55 am

    Provincialism is huge in South Africa – due to the many years of international isolation. We have grown up bashing each other up! Even today many guys rather support their provinces than the national side. They are rather punting players from their franchise rather than punting the best guy for the job.

    So franchise battering will continue until we all have a mind change.

    You read it here. My team is stronger than, will beat any All Black team, our players are big, faster, hurdle than any other, better etc. We are so blinded by our own franchise players that we don’t see the potential of others.

  • 64.capo: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 11:56 am

    the bulls empire is slowly crumbling!i believe that they can’t play any better than what they have done up to now.there will be no three in a row for the tswane bulls

  • 65.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 11:57 am

    @iori Yagami(iori Yagami)-62: The Kockott/Bismarck of the Bulls. To eager to partake in off the ball/ petulant stuff.

  • 66.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 11:57 am

    I spoke in tongues at the end there!!! :lol:

  • 67.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 11:57 am

    @Pinky Kekana kills Beemer buys Merc(gunther)-58:

    What people.

  • 68.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 11:59 am

    I’m in Cape Town today – my oh my this place is blazing!

  • 69.Pinky Kekana kills Beemer buys Merc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 11:59 am

    @Dawn(Dawn)-67:

    those people.

  • 70.John Galt: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:00 pm

    @Pinky Kekana kills Beemer buys Merc(gunther)-55:
    Yip. already looks better. You’ll immediately notice the difference in Spies and Steggers when you have a big, ball carrying 7.
    All you have to do is see the difference in Kanko and Daniels play over the last 12 months with Alberts there to see what I’m talking about.

  • 71.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:00 pm

    @Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-66: Inspired by your surroundings I see… :)

  • 72.iori Yagami: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:01 pm

    @Taahirah(Taahirah)-65: I see…..but still useful. @capo(capo)-64: I dont think so….with Meyer in charge that wont happen. They have great youth systems…they just maybe need to buy experienced players to replace the Boks that are leaving after this year.

  • 73.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:02 pm

    @Pinky Kekana kills Beemer buys Merc(gunther)-69:

    What those which people

  • 74.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:02 pm

    @Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-63: are you talking about the Sharks fans? ;)

  • 75.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:02 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-71:

    For sure! I’m sitting in an office looking at the mountain. You don’t get better than this mate! Flew in this morning…the pilot said it was 38 yesterday and 37 today. How do the Capies handle this heat?

  • 76.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:02 pm

    Have y’all chased Tac away now.

    Meanies.

  • 77.capo: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:03 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-67: the wannabe comedian is trying to get into the national past-time of mocking coloured people and especially coloured women but he is a bit of a coward to come out with it !

  • 78.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:03 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-74:

    Hehehe! Hmmm and some others!

  • 79.iori Yagami: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:03 pm

    @Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-68: Yip stay out of the sun buddy. I am cooped up in my office with the aircon on contemplating if i should go out for lunch.

  • 80.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:04 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-76:

    I hope i didn’t offend the man!

  • 81.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:04 pm

    @iori Yagami(iori Yagami)-72: I think capo is right to a degree, in that we cant replace Fourie, Vic, Bakkies. The likes of Hougaard, Kruger and Flip will take a year or 3 to come close to filling those massive boots. I thus foresee some pain in the future. For example: had we not had the Victor Matfields of this world these past 2 games you can bet your bottom dollar we’d have lost them.

  • 82.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:05 pm

    @iori Yagami(iori Yagami)-79:

    Thanks for the advice buddy!

  • 83.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:05 pm

    @Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-75: Yeah it’s been quite hot of late. Feb/March are our hottest months so no real surprise there, but it’s been quite something I can tell you.

    You at the Uni?

  • 84.capo: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:05 pm

    jeez but the cricket world cup is boooooooooooooooooooring!

  • 85.iori Yagami: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:06 pm

    @Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-75: By drinking lots of beer to cool down.

  • 86.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:07 pm

    @capo(capo)-77: on keo you can mock anyone except white folks, when you do that you’re “exposing what everyone suspected” .

  • 87.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:07 pm

    @capo(capo)-77: Dude. Have you ever been to a Marc Lottering., Riaad Moosa, Kurt Schoonraad, Joe Barber comedy show? Did you laugh?
    What?
    Only coloured people are allowed to make fun of coloured stereotypes?
    How boring.

  • 88.Pinky Kekana kills Beemer buys Merc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:07 pm

    @capo(capo)-77:

    you stupid arse creeping scumsucking douche :)

    I am talking abolut the stupid journalists who write this ****.

    now fokkof you mongril :)

  • 89.iori Yagami: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:08 pm

    This heat has creeped up on us….just suddenly it got hot again. Even in the morning at 6 it is stifling.

  • 90.Pinky Kekana kills Beemer buys Merc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:09 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-86:

    gatgabbas reunited

    :)

    we need to get you a special two-faced smiley

    :)

  • 91.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:10 pm

    @Taahirah(Taahirah)-87:

    Why oh why did you mention that article.

    Why.

    Why?

  • 92.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:14 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-86: aw shampies :lol:

    is widdle twansie a widdle sad that his suppor for bob mugabe wasnt seen as funny.

    grow a chin pal. the moment a black player is mentioned in a poor light you, rosso and a host of degenerates hop up and down and whine like pinky kekanas beemer engine just before….

    take the lambie thread yesterday as exhibit one :lol:

    haha, maybe rosso will have forced the bulls players to pass every ball to basson with her online fruitcake sale :lol:

  • 93.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:14 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-91: Was resisting it all morning.
    Sorry.
    :(

  • 94.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:14 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-91: definately something fishy about that article.

    Actually she should be fired not for racism but for writing such poor stuff. I mean really, it’s worse than high school level. Shocking grammar and all round poor effort,

    Subject matter wasn’t funny, if that’s what she was aiming for.

    If that wasn’t what she was trying to do well then it’s another story entirely.

    Problem is, David Bullard was fired for a similarly poorly conceived, but infinately better written article.

    What’s good for the goose must be good for the gander

  • 95.capo: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:15 pm

    @Taahirah(Taahirah)-87: why don’t you mock your own kind whatever that may be and btw i don’t find marc lottering funny!

  • 96.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:15 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-91: which article?

  • 97.Pinky Kekana kills Beemer buys Merc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:16 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-94:

    exactly.

  • 98.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:17 pm

    @rangerman(rangerman)-96:

    The Kulu one about the coloured people.

  • 99.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:20 pm

    @rangerman(rangerman)-92: it wasn’t meant to be funny hahaha…it achieved it’s intended purpose as all of you got your panties in a bunch objecting to my facetious convo with cab while Spooner gets no mention instead his provocative assertions about colonialism get blatant backing from the likes of you :D

    i got all you self righteous boys foaming at the mouth alright, now chew on that sh*t :razz:

  • 100.John Galt: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2011, 12:22 pm

    @rangerman(rangerman)-96:
    Ranger, off to Guinjata for 10 days of R&R this weekend. . (rest and recuperation not Rum and Rasberries)
    Going to be eating plenty crays and prawns.
    I got snapped up by a very large GT when I was there last so going back to try and catch the bugger this time.

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