Henry puts pressure on Boks
19 Aug 2011
Graham Henry says the Test in Port Elizabeth on Saturday is a must-win for the Springboks.
The All Blacks coach was happy to play mind games in a recent press conference, but what he said was true.
Henry picked a second string squad as nine players, including Dan Carter and Richie McCaw, were left behind in New Zealand. The All Blacks will field unsettled combinations in this weekend’s game, with several players returning from injury. The Boks also have home advantage.
Bok head coach Peter de Villiers downplayed last Saturday’s 14-9 defeat to the Wallabies, adding that ‘they only lost on the scoreboard’. However, with this their final Test before the World Cup in September, Henry believes the Boks need to pick up a victory to add confidence to their tournament preparations.
‘I think it’s hell of an important [for the Boks to win]. I would think Peter [de Villiers] and John [Smit] and the team will be desperate. It would just give them the little kick they need going into the World Cup. They haven’t got another game so I would think it is vital for them to win,’ argued Henry before pausing then saying with a smile that he was ‘adding a little bit more pressure’ on the hosts.
‘The South Africans are due for a win and they will be on the edge of the edge, I’d imagine,’ he continued. ‘They have picked a side that is obviously going to be very physical and carries the ball well. They have also got kicking ability, so I think it is going to be a major contest for this group [All Blacks team to play in PE].’
385 Comments
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19 Aug 2011, 13:22 pm
@Black Magic(Black Magic)-340: Respect the Jersey indeed! It should be like soldiers carrying their Colours into battle. That is how rugby games should be treated.
19 Aug 2011, 13:28 pm
@Black Magic(Black Magic)-340:
Completely agree…WC is way too overrated. It’s not only PdV though – remember the hammering we got at the hands of Aus and NZ in the lead up to the 2007 WC?
49-0 vs Aus at Suncorp in 2006…45-25 vs NZ at Loftus…it’s a disgrace. Those scorelines would never be acceptable in isolation, but every coach/management team gets to hide behind the WC excuse. I’m not blaming them for doing so – their bosses and the rugby public in SA seem so obsessed with WC that they find themselves with no choice.
I’d rather be like NZ who lose a WC as favourites, but preserve the dignity of their jersey. I’m not so impressed with SA’s WC victories…the 97/98 Boks beat all-comers, home and away, by some massive scorelines too. I don’t care if we didn’t win the ’99 WC. THAT was a mighty Springbok team.
19 Aug 2011, 13:35 pm
If we were out to target people then Quade Cooper would be in hospital now – he is our biggest threat!
At present the Boks don’t really need our help to destroy their chances; the coach and geriatric leadership group are doing it pretty well themselves..
19 Aug 2011, 13:37 pm
Never underestimate the Boks.
19 Aug 2011, 13:38 pm
@devin_hester_is_blitz(devin_hester_is_blitz)-352: For sure – will never forget that game in Durban in ’98 when we were so heavily down at half-time and we came back and beat the All Blacks. That was an epic encounter and in my opinion, the epitome of Sprinbok Kampfgeist. Krynauw Otto got moered in that game.
19 Aug 2011, 14:00 pm
Lord Ted is playing mind games with P duh V! He thinks the duh has a mind?
19 Aug 2011, 14:04 pm
@devin_hester_is_blitz(devin_hester_is_blitz)-352: @Esoteric(Esoteric)-355:
What your opinion on our national cricket team?
19 Aug 2011, 14:19 pm
@heboric(heboric)-357: Both are Proteas and the Silver Ferns are chokers, but I don’t think one can compare the two in this regard.
Regarding the cricket WC, the Proteas were only really hands-down favourites in 1996, and maybe 2011. Whereas the ABs have been favourites before every single WC.
19 Aug 2011, 14:19 pm
@willievz(willievz)-358: are = the
19 Aug 2011, 14:46 pm
@willievz(willievz)-358:
heres the times 2010 list of greatest chokers in world sport ever, proteas run the ab’s second but the ab’s get two mentions…
The 40 greatest chokers in sport
40: Andy Murray, 2010
39: Barcelona, 1986
38: Lewis Hamilton, 2007
37: England rugby union team, 1991
36: Bernhard Langer, 1991
35: Alex Bogdanovic, take your pick
34: Frank Bruno, 1996
33: England cricket team, 1987
32: David Bedford, 1971
31: Tony Romo, 2007
30: New York Yankees, 2004
29: Europe Ryder Cup team, 1999
28: Roberto Duran, 1980
27: England cricket team, 2006
26: Tim Henman, 2001
25: Paula Radcliffe, 2000
24: Gareth Southgate, 1996
23: Devon Loch, 1956
22: England football team, 1970
21: Jana Novotna, 1993
20: New Zealand rugby team, 2007
19: England football team, 2010
18: Gavin Hastings, 1991
17: Newcastle United, 1995-96
16: Scott Norwood, 1991
15: Colin Montgomerie, 2006
14: Jimmy White, 1992
13: Chris Waddle, 1990
12: Dustin Johnson, 2010
11: Don Fox, 1968
10: Houston Oilers, 1993
9: Doug Sanders, 1970
8: Guillermo Coria, 2004
7: Somerset cricket team, 2010
6: Jean van der Velde, 1999
5: Scott Hoch, 1989
4: Asafa Powell, 2007
3: Greg Norman, 1996
2: South Africa cricket team, 1999
1: New Zealand rugby team, 1999
19 Aug 2011, 14:57 pm
@we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-360:
Interesting that Jana Novotna is at 21, that was an unbelievable choke against Steffi Graf and certainly in my top 10.
Van de Velde’s choke at Carnoustie was a classic choke too. Perhaps Tom Watson’s missed putt at the British Open two years ago needs a mention somewhere too.
Not surprised the ABs are no1, but surprised that SA Cricket is no2.
19 Aug 2011, 15:38 pm
@willievz(willievz)-361:
sshitballs! if you think back to that wc man..donald getting run out in the semi needing just one run to win it…that was a major choke…
19 Aug 2011, 16:04 pm
@Esoteric(Esoteric)-355:
That was an absolutely awesome comeback! Wow that team had some confidence…they never really seemed to get too panicked. Definitely our Tri-Nations high watermark IMO!
19 Aug 2011, 16:11 pm
@heboric(heboric)-357:
I guess you’re saying the Proteas are the All Blacks of rugby? There’s merit to that view IMO if that’s what you mean.
But I don’t think the Proteas have ever been considered quite as formidable as the All Black rugby team. I also find (I’m going to pick up some flack here) that the Proteas play pretty boring, safe cricket. Anyone else differ in this view?
I think the Silver Ferns always punch above their weight in Cricket WC.
19 Aug 2011, 16:31 pm
@we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-362: Right on
Still hurts till this day.
I was furious to see Donald and Klusener laugh it off in the Toyota add that came straight after the tournament.
19 Aug 2011, 16:49 pm
@devin_hester_is_blitz(devin_hester_is_blitz)-364:
Maybe, but they arent terrible and dont deserve the abuse they get thrown at them. Boring cricket I disagree with you there though
19 Aug 2011, 19:22 pm
In my opinion it was only the 2007 All Blacks who really chocked. In ’91 Australia were the best team in the world in ’95 the All Blacks lost a very close game to us IN South Africa (not really chocking), In ’99 they made the mistake of playing a lot of players out of position (Cullen at centre for one) and they just hit a talented French team who could now and then click and run any team off its feet. In 2003 I do not think it was a great NZ team (they had already lost to England at home that year) so the Aussie defeat was not that big an upset. In 2007 however they definately chocked against a pretty poor French team.
19 Aug 2011, 20:09 pm
@heboric(heboric)-366:
Agree that the abuse can get out of hand…SA is not a particularly patient sporting culture. Soon players will just prefer to ply their trade in IPL, Big Bash etc.
I just meant we’re really orthodox in our selections…a guy like Chris Gayle would never even get picked up in the provincial scene because his style is too unorthodox.
19 Aug 2011, 21:14 pm
Helen of Coy
loving all those cherry-picking theories of yours based, based on some fairly loose RWC assumptions.
It seems you overlooked the last time your BMT-Boks met the Choking-Blacks at a RWC.
*cough*
19 Aug 2011, 21:28 pm
@black magic :where were you when black panther held every saffa accountable for the death of a black baby who died in a containter filled with water.i don’t hate nz but i support the fight of truth-seeking and right-minded kiwis who wants to expose to the world nz’s ills.
19 Aug 2011, 21:29 pm
CODE RED NZ ‘Ministry of Truth’ Imposes News Blackout. Sources known to the Moderator have confirmed that one of the pillars of New Zealand’s ‘Ministry of Truth,’ namely New Zealand Press Association, NZPA, a Zionist organization that is responsible for the censorship and control of news flow in New Zealand, has imposed a total ban on reporting incidents of murder, road death, rape, robbery and assault on tourists (and foreign nationals) in the country.
19 Aug 2011, 22:17 pm
@Tecumseh(Tecumseh)-370:
EXCUSE ME ?!?
19 Aug 2011, 22:29 pm
@Tecumseh(Tecumseh)-370:
I have 3 young kids, you moronic fkwit. Borrow a spare braincell to rub together with your other one and come back here with an Unconditional Apology, you regurgitated chunk of puke.
19 Aug 2011, 23:11 pm
I understand, now, that we are not dealing with a sane person.
“274.Tecumseh:
19 Aug 2011, 16:45 pm Another Chinese Girl Murdered in New Zealand The body of Jiayi Li, also known as “Kiko”, was found in the boot of her car. The 18-year-old victim was gang-raped before her murder. She was the 1,844th foreigner to be killed in New Zealand since January guess what?..in the new plymouth area again and yet another chinese victim.seems that these kiwis hate foreigners and especially chinese females.”
Looks like we’ve found the author of Ferns much-quoted ‘expat in NZ’ website.
1stly, the tragic death of the Chinese Immigrant mentioned ? The NZ Police arrested and charge Honglin Yu, 20, and Yangxin Li, 18. They are both, like the murdered girl, Chinese Immigrants.
2ndly, “the 1,844th foreigner to be killed in New Zealand since January” ? REALLY ??!!!
“Updated at 6:20 pm on 1 April 2011
The number of murders in New Zealand dropped sharply last year – to 46 from 65 the year before, according to new police figures.
That’s a drop of 23.6%. The number of all recorded offences also fell – by 6.7%, compared to 2009.”
19 Aug 2011, 23:58 pm
@Tecumseh(Tecumseh)-370:
so, on more than one thread huh? fair enough, let me respond in kind…
where was your indignation at the “CONTRACT” killing of a baby in SA, thats right, a contract killing FOR A BABY?
but continue, I have plenty more of these I can post about, if you so want to carry on exposing the “truth”..
20 Aug 2011, 00:51 am
@malcolm(malcolm)-367:
Agree, I think for all those games we were beaten by better teams, even 2007 on the day. Problem with 2007 was sheer arrogance. The best AB team wasn’t on the park that day, the AB management were saving them for the big games. Once it’s a knock out, it must be the best 15 on the paddock and we didn’t do that and rightfully lost.
20 Aug 2011, 00:53 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-375:
He’s a douche of the highest order Poppa, nothing but a troll.
20 Aug 2011, 04:03 am
Who is Helen? Never seen such a blogger argue with such little substance behind his claims. Problem with you Helen is that you have obviosly never played the game, you are a poor judge of the form of both sides heading into the world cup. This is not like years gone by, the game itself has evolved if you analyse it, and to win the WC you need to do so in New Zealand.
My point? The Boks are poorly coached and have no tactical nouse, its easy for AUS and NZ to defend because you play to the same pattern each and every game you play. You wont win at Eden Park against us, it is a fortress for All Black Rugby. You have lost 4 in a row, soon to be 5.
Yep the world cup is still to be played, but if New Zealand don’t win it, Im sure it wont be South Africa that do either.
Good Luck Helen, you’ll need it.
20 Aug 2011, 04:16 am
@NZMaori(NZMaori)-378:
Spot-on in every respect… it’s a scandal Krusty is even being paid with all the new guys brought in!
20 Aug 2011, 04:27 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-379:
You know mos that’s how we roll.
Whatever happens you still get paid.
After all we have have cabinet ministers and a police chief accused of corruption I mean financial irregularities, and a head of intelligence services whose wife is guilty of drug dealing.
Talk about the fatboys club.
20 Aug 2011, 06:05 am
@Gunther(gunther)-380:
Beggars belief…
20 Aug 2011, 07:59 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-42:
hehehe… throwing in the old red herring and hoping for a some smoke n mirrows sleight of hand are you…??
jabbed a little nerve there did i…??
but i’ll humour you… because it humours me…!!
no bud…
what i’m saying… is that it may not be the wisest thing of the all black coach to talk about building pressure a couple of games before the world cup… in which new zealand are not exactly regarded as masters of handling pressure…!!
and do you think the pressure going top be less at your home tournament…!!??
but you know that…!
20 Aug 2011, 08:06 am
the truth is… very few people are seriously expecting the boks to win the world cup… so the pressure is not gonna be that great…
however… EVERYONE in New Zealand (and most of the known universe) EXPECTS the ABs to win…
Who do we think should be more worried about applying and handling pressure…?
NZinChina mate… I won’t have to… PdV won’t have… no one on keo will have to…
New Zealand as a country will apply all the pressure on their coach and team all by themselves…!!
it’s called “The Weight of Expectation”
which team is gonna be carrying the most weight???
certainly not the Boks…
what’s that…? who do you think…? can’t hear you bud…?
20 Aug 2011, 08:08 am
won’t be ignoring you…
just out to enjoy a last sunny day before a huge weather front brings rain for about the next 6 or 7 days from tomorrow…!!
enjoy the game today…
20 Aug 2011, 08:10 am
@ufo(ufo)-383: perhaps, but we seen how much a home crowd lifted the Bokke in 95, could it be possible that a home crowd may get the Abs over the line?
(and I am in no way saying the ABs are going to win it)
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