It’s interesting to note that certain rugby journalists – particularly those who have an association with a certain blog site, seem to love taking pot shots at Sharks players, with those whose achievements far outstrip anything the journalists in question have managed singled out for particular attention. In this light, Grant Ball’s latest musing about John Smit on Rugby365 is not really all that surprising.

There’s a lot of Smit-bashing going on in the media at the moment, of course, in no small part thanks to the fact that Peter de Villiers has again made some or other inane statement in the media that should probably rather have been made behind closed doors. Fact is, if the national coach is concerned about where or how a player is being used, it would probably be a better idea all round to discuss those concerns privately with the parties involved, before creating a big stir in the press. That’s by the by now, though, with Smit once again target number one in the eyes of the bored rugby scribes of the world.

So what has Ball come up with now? He alleges that an ongoing feud between Smit and Bismarck du Plessis was the sole reason behind the Sharks’ run of 5 losses in last year’s Super 14. He goes on to say that there was a “training field bust-up” of some sort between the two on tour, which I found quite interesting indeed, given that I’d heard no mention of this incident before, despite it supposedly taking place more than a year ago. So I did what any right-minded person would do and started asking people who were actually there…

The conclusion I’ve come to is that Ball made the story up. People close to (and even within) the team that I spoke to thought the story was quite funny, because they simply couldn’t imagine anything more outrageous taking place between two guys whose levels of professionalism, but also personal friendship based on mutual respect, would never allow it. The consensus was that if John and Bismarck did have some sort of a problem between them – of which nobody else has ever seen any signs – they would have sorted it out in private and NEVER in front of the whole team.

So, in short, Grant Ball is talking smack and once again starting rumours based on accusations that have no foundation in fact. Pretty standard fare for a guy who learned his trade at the knee of the master of such journalism. I’m just a little saddened that Jan de Koning, a guy for whom I have a huge amount of respect, allows unsubstantiated nonsense of this sort to sully his great website.

The two of you made me want to cry, thank you so much for caring for the ******* and understanding that they need to feed to survive and we have encroached on their territories, they never move off to find different territory but stay and try to adapt. What i am dealing with right now is people out here where i live wanting the m*nkeys poisoned or shot, they dont care how, because they taking nuts from trees and such and dont understand that if i was not a feeding station they would not pilfer every now and then but would raid and feed constantly on what they have.

I border a private game farm and we have a few in the area so why these people want to live out here if that is their attitude is heart breaking, but have now got KZN wild life involved and will try and educated them even though they dont want to know. Puma you have a feeding station on the estate where you live, go to them for advise on what to plant, ask for Carol or Steves phone number, though right now i know they down Toti way trying to catch a m*nkey that has an arrow through its body and is somehow still alive.

So many hugs to both of you.

15 Gio Aplon / Louis Ludik / Conrad Jantjes
14 JP Pietersen / Lwazi Mvovo / Lionel Mapoe
13 Jaque Fourie / Juan De Jongh / Waylon Murray / Andries Strauss
12 Jean De Villiers / Doppies La Grange / Meyer Bosman
11 Bryan Habana / Bjorn Basson / Francois Hougaard
10 Peter Grant / Butch James / Patrick Lambie / Morne Steyn
9 Fourie Du Preez / Sarel Pretorious / Jano Vermaak
8 Willem Alberts / Duane Vermeulen / Ryan Kankowski
7 Schalk Burger / Dewaldt Potgieter / Joshua Strauss
6 Heindrich Brussouw / Francois Louw / Keegan Daniel
5 Andries Bekker / Victor Matfield / Alistair Hargraves / Anton Van Zyl
4 Danie Russouw / Rynhardt Elstadt / Bakkies Botha
3 CJ Van Der Linde / Jannie du Plessis / Brok Harris
2 Bismark Du Plessis / Tiaan Liebenberg / Adriaan Strauss / Badise Maku
1 Tendai Mtawarira / Gurthro Steenkamp / Coenie Oosthuzyen

you are nothing other than the bottom-feeding deluge of pondlife bottom-feeders

Doos comment by a doos!

“but then again, one can make statistics say whatever they want..”
did you not understand this sentence Kevin? its called sarcasm, but you knew that right? look, there it is again..

SA sides dont seem to win too many of their first up games when they go overseas

well, considering the Cheetahs only had their first win overseas THIS year, and the lions havent won one overseas since heaven knows when… lets analyse the 3 “good” SA sides.. we’ll start from 2006 season…

Sharks –
5 April 2008 Hurricanes 13 – 13 Sharks Rd. 8
26 February 2010 Crusaders 35 – 6 Sharks Rd.3
25 February 2006 Crusaders 22 – 20 Sharks Rd 3.

Stormers-
24 February 2007 Highlanders 35 – 24 Stormers Rd 4.
8 March 2008 Reds 16 – 34 Stormers Rd 4.
28 March 2009 Crusaders 11 – 7 Stormers Rd 7.
02 April 2010 Western Force 16 – 15 Stormers Rd 8.

losing 4 from 5

Bulls
15 March 2008 Reds 40 – 8 Bulls rd 5.

1 from 5, so only really the Bulls on the positive side of the ledger huh? but then again, one can make statistics say whatever they want..

poppa69: So why are SA teams so kak useless?

or does he chew like le Roux ?

Catch up tomorrow.

@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-609: That is still hot…hahaha. Cooler here but very warm still. Just hope it stays like this for Saturdays game. Think rain is forecast. So hope that stays away. If our Sharks played last Saturday it could have been called off. The rain was torential for over a day.

Anyhow out of here now brudda, catch up tomorrow.

For the Stormer supporters, you know all it was banter. But it was good……hehehehe.

Cheers all.

Cheers S_L , Ranger and Kaksioek.

Catch up tomorrow.