James’ boot gives Bath hope
17 Apr 2011
GARETH DUNCAN looks at the Saffas who impressed in Europe over the weekend.
Lions-bound flyhalf Butch James kicked 14 points in Bath’s 19-15 victory over Harlequins to keep the former’s slim play-off hopes alive. James delivered an impressive all-round performance in a match that was crucial for both teams as the loser would effectively be ruled out of a chance of finishing in the top four with only two rounds remaining.
James, who has been struggling with poor form recently, converted scrumhalf Michael Claassens’ try before slotting four penalties, including two from long range. He only missed one attempt in a good outing with the boot at the Rec.
In other results in England, Saffa-laden Saracens took advantage of and log leaders Leicester’s 41-41 draw against Gloucester as they beat Exeter Chiefs 33-13. Inside centre Brad Barritt, hooker Schalk Brits, lock Mouritz Botha, No 8 Ernst Joubert started for Sarries while reserve prop Petrus du Plessis came off the bench. Sarries now trail Leicester by two log points.
Tighthead prop Brian Mujati’s Northampton Saints continued their good run with a 22-15 triumph over wing Gcobani Bobo’s Newcastle Falcons while replacement prop Faan Rautenbach came off the bench in London Irish’s 34-20 win over Sale Sharks.
In France, No 8 Joe van Niekerk’s Toulon put themselves back in to play-off contention with a 21-9 victory over table-toppers Toulouse. Van Niekerk picked up a yellow card in the 30th minute, but his team still managed to pull of a win in Marseille.
Inside centre Frans Steyn, lock Francois van der Merwe and No 8 Jacques Cronje’s Racing Metro failed to capitalise on Toulouse’s defeat as they also lost to Perpignan. Inside centre Gavin Hume and wing Rudi Coetzee started for the victors in the 23-16 win, with Coetzee scoring the decisive try in the second half.
Replacement flanker Gerhard Vosloo’s double couldn’t help Brive as they were thrashed 52-26 by loosehead prop Eduard Coetzee’s Biarritz. Brive also fielded fullback Scott Spedding, lockRetief Uys, flanker Antonie Claassen and replacement prop Pat Barnard in the defeat.
Wing Sam Gerber scored a try and fullback Joe Pietersen and lock Rob Linde started in Bayonne’s tight 22-17 win over Montepellier while reserve prop Michael Coetzee’s Castres beat centre Piet van Zyl, tighthead prop Ruaan du Preez, flanker Wessel Jooste and lock Coenie Basson’s Bourgoin-Jallieu 33-22.
Agen flyhalf Conrad Barnard won the kicking battle against La Rochelle fullback Greg Goosen as his 19 points with the boot helped his team to a 29-19 win. Goosen’s 14 points was not enough in the ill-tempered clash that saw locks Dewald Senekal and Cobus Grobler yellow carded.
In the Magners League, hooker Richardt Strauss and loosehead prop Heinke van der Merwe crossed the whitewash in Leinster’s 34-26 win over scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar, No 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, flanker Robbie Diack and tighthead prop BJ Botha’s Ulster. Pienaar booted seven points and Wannenburg scored a try 20 minutes after being sent to the sin bin. Leinster now jump Ulster into second place in the standings.
Flyhalf Willem de Waal kicked 14 points in Treviso’s 19-16 win over wing Daniel van der Merwe’s Glasgow while Edinburgh beat wing Danwel Demas, lock Quintin Geldenhuys and flanker Gareth Krause’s Aironi 32-15.
29 Comments
17 Apr 2011, 18:04 pm
Poor form from James recently? But I thought Keo had pencilled in his RWC involvement come hell or high water…and he knows doesn’t he?
James is too old and too slow, end of. He was just about ok in 07 but seriously, what’s the point now? Had the kiwis not been shocked by France he would have been shown up rest assured.
If we had to play the Kiwis in that coming RWC semi this week here’s my team (assumes Juan out):
Beast
Bismarck
JdP
Bekker
Bakkies
Brussow
Alberts
Burger at 8!
FdP
Grant
JdeV
Jacques
habs
JPP
F Steyn
bench: Brok Harris, John Smit, Matfield, Francois Louw, Sarel P, Lambie, Juan de Jongh
Remainder of squad: Steenkamp, vd, Flip, Kanko,Spies, Pienaar, Basson, Aplon, Hougaard
We might actually have a chance with that lot, and in that pecking order..
17 Apr 2011, 18:47 pm
@Marino(Marino)-1: FDP has also had it. Sarel should be first choice Bok scrumhalf.
17 Apr 2011, 20:28 pm
@JR – The Real Make The Circle Bigger(JayDaFiveOh)-2:
Have to agree Pity he plays for the Cheetahs I dont think PDV and his coaches are even watching them
They seem to feel the squad will only come from Stormers Bulls and Sharks
And Bulls have only Hougaard and Basson really maybe Steenkamp who are playing at the high level expected
17 Apr 2011, 20:29 pm
@Marino(Marino)-1:
Also Habana not cutting it either.
17 Apr 2011, 20:32 pm
@JR – The Real Make The Circle Bigger(JayDaFiveOh)-2: the best alround scrummy right now in SA is ruan
remember in kiwi we will be playing in wet conditions
17 Apr 2011, 20:36 pm
@Marino(Marino)-1: Habana? Really?
17 Apr 2011, 20:38 pm
@Marino(Marino)-1: A team of has-beens with Bakkies, FduP, JdeV, Habs, etc. You should start writing for Keo – clinging on to has-beens certainly the flavor of the month.
17 Apr 2011, 20:38 pm
@Marino(Marino)-1:
Thank god were not playing the ABs this week
There regular ABs are playing well and they have a ton of in form back up players all playing well
Pdv has some big decisions if players like JS, VM, Bakkies Fdp dont pick it up
John Smit great captain but over the hill and he is no world cup prop
Spies should not even be considered
Kanko is playing better than him and is not the answer
Vermeulen should be # 8 or Alberts
Players like Adi jacobs and WO should not even have contracts
Fdp needs to get his confidence back He is holding back
Butch could be our 10 but Grant is playing very well.
M steyn is ok and when kicking form is good does may be considered
F steyn , stay in France
Aplon or maybe Lambie at 15
Just my opinion
17 Apr 2011, 20:39 pm
@kwas(kwas)-7:
Agreed
17 Apr 2011, 20:41 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-5:
I cant agree
I have seen too many average games played by Pienaar in a bok jersey
Pity has all the talent
Maybe N hemisphere is where he is best suited
17 Apr 2011, 20:47 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-8: Agreed, Coach, forget about the has-beens. Never understood Pdv’s blind fascination with Schalk, Spies, Kanko, etc. Not even to mention Barney.
Bring in Alberts, Elstadt, Sarel, etc, and burn the dead wood.
17 Apr 2011, 20:48 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-5: He could be bro, but Sarel is really good. Never watched the game with Cheetahs and Landers. But heard Sarel was brilliant there. That game was played in NZ not sure of the weather conditions. Landers are playing good rugby right now. Not what we saw last night with Cheetahs/Canes. I enjoyed that that game, but not much structure. No defence from both teams. But Sarel was very good, but he lost the game for Cheetahs with that daft pass. Should have kept possession and let Cheetahs wind down the clock. If we want a kicking game, think FdP still has it. Can’t just lose it. Needs more time to get back in. He has been out for a long time. But yeah, I rate Sarel. Would like to see him in another team.
We need to see Pienaar playing here as well I think. How good is his club? How good is the rugby up there? Not so sure. But yes, Pienaar could be our scrummie. Just want to see him play in the Tri-Nations. I think PdV has his team. FdP and Pienaar will be the scrummies.
17 Apr 2011, 20:59 pm
@kwas(kwas)-11:
Yeah its unfortunate that the focus stays on theses older players not because of their current brilliant form but because of what they did 3-4 years ago
Bottom line if they are done and not up to the level anymore (and they are been given opportunities to do it) then they are gone
Bismark at Hooker its obvious
Bakkies may still be ok VM very average right now
Spies I dont even want to go there. Kanko similar to Spies
if Juan is out ( and i think he will be) Brussow Alberts and Vermeulen step in
Even Burger is not the same player
Fdp Step up show us your world class form
Pretorius man what a spark great scrummie may not get a sniff he play for cheetahs sad
DD gets a look at becuase he is playing on winning team
same for Mc load
There is Ruan yes but classens too (plays with butch_
Grant in form 10 enough said Lambie yes the future. Maybe at 15 Butch maybe.
Centers Jf and Jdv and de jongh forget WO please???
Wings Basson and Jp Habana not in form, cant see the ball ( have his eyes checked)
15 Aplon lambie as i said above maybe ? Please no F steyn
17 Apr 2011, 21:07 pm
@Puma(Puma)-12:
Hey there
Crusaders or reds play Ulster they would put 50 plus points on them.
Sarel yes he may have lost it possibly but he nearly won it with 3 tries
I dont know if pienaar is the answer
I just have this picture in my mind when he plays where he has been average
17 Apr 2011, 21:10 pm
Things may change in may and leading up to Tri nations
Just looking at the talent and form of some of the NZ players right now the boks will have their hands full
17 Apr 2011, 21:14 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-14: Yip, said Sarel was outstanding but he also lost it for his team. Then without his 3 tries they would not have been in it. So have to weigh it up. But he should have just held onto the ball. No need for another try at that stage. Just to win it. Cheetahs could have won it had he not made that daft pass. Pity. Enjoyed the game, but defence was missing from both sides. Can’t see Canes doing that to Sharks. Heck hope not….hahaha.
Anyhow have to see Ruan once he plays in the Tri-Nations cause he will. I rate Ruan though Coach, just have to see where he is right now after playing overseas for awhile now.
17 Apr 2011, 21:16 pm
Catch up tomorrow. Cheers Coach.
17 Apr 2011, 21:19 pm
@Puma(Puma)-17:
Cheers
Pienaar was he a shark? lol
17 Apr 2011, 21:52 pm
FDP is finished. He built a huge reputation on one thing and one thing only’: his box-kicking. It’s not enough. Joost was a better scrummy by far.
17 Apr 2011, 22:21 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-19: His sniping break against the Crusaders last year to score would disagree with you, but hey,why let facts get in the way of your opinion
17 Apr 2011, 22:40 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-13: Mc load?!! Huh?!
17 Apr 2011, 22:43 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-13: One thing I will say in Kanko’s defence is that he’s putting in the hard work and making the hard yards. At least he’s trying unlike Spies who is the biggest show pony around.
18 Apr 2011, 00:53 am
@JR – The Real Make The Circle Bigger(JayDaFiveOh)-22:
Yes he has been
His defense has improved and yes makes a lot more effort than Spies
They are similar type players Kanko needs to lower his body a bit , still runs too upright
18 Apr 2011, 00:56 am
@JR – The Real Make The Circle Bigger(JayDaFiveOh)-21:
Ok sorry Mc Leod You knew who I ment
18 Apr 2011, 01:42 am
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-24:
Guthro
Bismarck
JdP
Bekker
Matfield
Brussow
Alberts
Vermulen
FdP
Grant
JdeV
Jacques
Basson
Aplon
F Steyn
bench: Brok Harris, John Smit, Flip, Burger, Ruan, Lambie, Juan de Jongh
18 Apr 2011, 03:20 am
Life fortunately still has for some a few small, pleasant surprises and two(2) of them were dealt my way on Saturday.
The first was that I fortuitously missed the “ugly” game of rugby between the Lions and Stormers after I had the privilege of earlier witnessing the immaculate, scintillating at times, performmance of the masterful, brilliant Q.C.ooper ands his REDS taking the Bulls apart. They were not ever in it despite the final score.
The second was simultaneously missing that ugly, dirty, filthy, vulgar and yes, RACIST thread. For that I am eternally grateful to FATE.
18 Apr 2011, 03:33 am
To come back to that filthy, vulgar, rotten, racist thread of Lions versus Stormers, when will some fools realise that in exposing racism you simply have to take the moral highground and not respond to something rotten wiith a retort that is equally rotten and just downright vulgar?
But then again I was not there to set that standard for the miserables.
What was amusing, to an extreme, though and utterly stupid and desperate, was the constant reference to “philly……” , the City of Brotherly Love yet there was no love or understanding at all shown by most.
The more you lot debase the more you are debased but that is par for the course when most do not understand what the hell is swirling around them.
All of this filth came down in the 40, or more hours that Edot Tdot was nowhere near this thread. He was on the moral high road.
18 Apr 2011, 03:45 am
So even when E T is swimming the Atlantic as he will again tomorrow it seems his absence here does not free up some poor souls’ minds.
He conjours up spooky, scary stuff in their minds as they see goblins and fairies and tokos. and ghosts and words and nicks that are never there.
So much so that “aping” becomes “blacks are a p e s” instead of just mimicking of an action. But they know that all that “bulls hit” is just the LIES of the desperados.
Desperados why don’t you come to your ‘senses’ ? Can you hear that mournful tune and can you give melody to those words? I have my doubts.
18 Apr 2011, 17:58 pm
@ET.(ET.)-28: @ET.(ET.)-27: @ET.(ET.)-26: yaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwnnnnnnnnnn
go away
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