‘Sharks can win Super Rugby final’
1 Aug 2012
Sports scientist Ross Tucker says the Sharks have a realistic chance of beating the Chiefs in Hamilton.
While there is still a Super Rugby final to be played on Saturday, many would agree that the Sharks have already exceeded expectations.
After a stuttering start to their league campaign (which included five defeats in their opening nine fixtures), a strong finish saw them finish in the top six. They did the job during the wildcard qualifier in Brisbane, powering to a 30-17 victory over 2011 champions the Reds. They defied odds in the semi-finals by travelling across the Indian Ocean for the second time in a space of week to give the Stormers their first defeat at Newlands this season with a 26-19 victory.
Astonishing.
So how do we rate the Sharks’ chances in the final? Sure, they’ve hit a purple patch of form, but how much does all the travelling really affect this?
Tucker’s analysis, which includes Super Rugby records from the past seven years, states that playing at home gives a team a five-point advantage, while travel overseas gives you a five-point disadvantage. This study puts the Sharks at a 15-point disadvantage, considering their travel to Hamilton was their third trip across the Indian Ocean in two weeks.
‘I don’t mean 15 points in the literal sense, which many people have interpreted it.’ Tucker told keo.co.za. ‘But theoretically … in the sense that the Sharks would have to perform that much better than they would’ve if they were playing at home. There’s no absolute rating as anything can happen on the day, but this study gives a fan some view to weigh the odds.
‘Guess the score for Saturday’s match, then guess it again, but this time, try to do the hypothetical exercise of imagining that the Sharks are not away from home and that they haven’t had to travel three times in two weeks. If your score is different, then you have factored in the travel effect. How much of an effect is found in how different your answers are. The history of the tournament says it is about 15 points. Think of it as a “cost” of traveling.’
Some pundits have already written the Sharks’ chances off as the Super Rugby title decider is seen as a step too far.
Seven-time champions the Crusaders fell short in a similar scenario last season, after they beat the Sharks in the wildcard play-offs in Nelson before downing the Stormers in the semis in Cape Town. They went on to lose the final 18-13 to the Reds at Suncorp Stadium.
However, Tucker believes the Durban franchise can defy the odds once more.
‘The win over the Stormers was a major psychological boost,’ he said. ‘The Stormers were favourites as they were playing at home and had rest, while the Sharks had the setbacks of travel. But you can never discount form. The Sharks’ players are playing superb rugby individually and their combinations are gelling really well. This will give them the belief that they can do it again … one more time… in Hamilton. The Super Rugby title will be a huge motivator.
‘But while form can’t be discounted, you have to admit that travelling back and forth and such great distances will take its toll. Players have to adapt to certain time zones, then re-adapt, and re-adapt again. It’s a tiring process. [Head coach] John Plumtree will need to manage his players really well and allow them enough rest. He will also need to focus on sleeping hours and diets – those 1% factors that can make a difference.
‘In terms of preparation, Plumtree doesn’t have to develop anything new heading into the final, so he shouldn’t use training drills that will drain his players during the week. With the correct management plan, the Sharks can surprise many people.’
However, Tucker stressed that a strong start to the match will be needed.
‘Against the Stormers, the Sharks began to tired in the last 15-10 minutes of the match. That’s when the Stormers started cutting the deficit and nearly came back. Against the Chiefs, the Sharks will need to build a lead. It will be a tough task, but it would put them in a strong position.
‘At the end of the day, the Sharks will know that they only need to get through 80 minutes. They might discard certain factors, but at the end of the day, this is what sportsmen live for. They can’t avoid the challenge, they can only overcome it. In the final, they’ll try and set the tempo early on and follow through with it.’
By Gareth Duncan
190 Comments
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1 Aug 2012, 14:26 pm
this ross tucker dragon is everywhere!
just read his column in the herald and now this…
1 Aug 2012, 14:29 pm
Well we got hope. So lets see what we can do : )
1 Aug 2012, 14:30 pm
Good luck Sharks.
We can do it. Only 80min or so left. Give it your all.
Bring it home boys!
1 Aug 2012, 14:38 pm
@Transformation-1:
He is indeed. He’s the new Tim Noakes it seems.
1 Aug 2012, 14:40 pm
I honestly think if the Sharks can stop SBW, they stop the Chiefs.
He’s the glue in the team. The guy that gives everyone else their self belief.
1 Aug 2012, 14:48 pm
Who is Strauss?
If ANZAR doesn’t take blood tests in their drug screening then it’s simple: it called EPO which multiple the amount of red blood cells, the substance itselfe disappears within 19 hours
Trouble is it has to be injected so difficult to hide such a large scale operation especially when crossing foreign two border controls, I assume the Sharks won’t use it
Probably why the Ladbrokes betting house put them at a 2:1 payout to win
1 Aug 2012, 14:53 pm
The Sharks are on a roll and i think that is the motivator to focus on, for them and fans.
I agree with this Tucker fellow, the Sharks shouldn’t need to do that much training this week. They seem to know exactly how to play their game plan!!!
I wish them all the best!!
1 Aug 2012, 14:54 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)-5: oooooooooooooo if they leave aaron cruden, they’re dead, moer toe, doodpoes, file, kaput…
1 Aug 2012, 14:56 pm
@Hondo-6: just admit your anal-ysis was flawed and you lost money betting on the stormers
1 Aug 2012, 15:08 pm
Well,on paper the Sharks have more Springboks than the Chiefs have All Blacks I think so that should sort’ve even things out a bit..but go Chiefs..!
]
1 Aug 2012, 15:16 pm
Until I see a published paper on this then Tucker is just like any of us. Seems like to much guess work in here and at the end of the day what he is saying is that the form team will win. Now if he published a paper based on that then I want to go to that ‘prestigious’ school as well because they are clearly handing out freebies.
‘Against the Stormers, the Sharks began to tired in the last 15-10 minutes of the match’ Sure, but maybe the Stormers realized that they were ten minutes away from blowing their season therefore they lifted their game? Or perhaps the Sharks realized that they had done just about enough for a win and were conserving their energy?
See there Tucker, just like you I can also use speculation to get some column inches. Now where the hell is my other PhD?!?!?!?!?
And Gareth, for a journalist you really are pathetic. You must have finished stone last in your college (yes college, because there is no way you have a degree) Quoting people out of place, throwing in a Strauss (who the fk is that??) And then quoting fk knows who in your last paragraph. Pathetic guy
1 Aug 2012, 15:20 pm
who is strauss?
haha hilarious, professionalism at its finest
1 Aug 2012, 15:32 pm
Of course they can… But so can the Chiefs… Sharks need to dominate upfront and keep Cruden and SBW from getting front foot ball…
1 Aug 2012, 15:35 pm
My starting team for SAt with subs at around 45 to 50 minutes.
1. Beast
2. Craig Burden
3. Jannie Dup
4. Steven Sykes
5. Bresler
6. Botes
7. Deysel
8. Kanko
9. McCleod
10. Michalak
11. Lwazi
12. Lambie
13. Jordaan
14. Ludik
15. Riaan Viljoen
16. Wiehann Herbst
17. Bismarck (bring on fresh at 45 -50)
18. Willem Alberts (bring on fresh at 45 -50)
19. Marcell Coetzee (bring on fresh at 45 -50)
20. Daniels (bring on fresh at 45 -50)
21. Bosman
22. JP Pietersen (bring on fresh at 45 -50 and shift Ludik to fullback)
Guys like Burden, Sykes, Deysel, Botes, Ludik on wing can more than hold their own to at least keep the Sharks kneck and kneck with the Chiefs.
Beast and Kanko relatively less hammered due to their injuries this season.
Lambie and Jordaan fresh after injury and able to go the 80 minutes. Riaan Viljoen also limited game time making him fresher and with the boot to keep Chiefs pinned back in their half for the first half.
Bring on a slew of replacements at 45-50 with the bug guns like Bismarck, Alberts, Daniels, Marcell, JP Pietersen to give a massive last 30 minute boost to the Sharks. if they can can hang in till then the new energy should trump the Chiefs. Reckon its a worthwhile plan. Otherwise the above starting subs can all be valuable subs in the last 20 if Sharks have a small lead, but could be very close then.
1 Aug 2012, 15:53 pm
@Slumtown-14: That makes a lot of sense mate. LIKE IT.
1 Aug 2012, 16:01 pm
@Slumtown-14: Not so sure about that bud. We had Bissie and Alberts on the bench for the Chiefs game and we had to play catch up. We did once Bissie and Alberts came on. We fall behind like that against the Chiefs we will be a gonna. We have to go in withour best side possible and try and get a lead first. Then let the bench come on later in the 2nd half when the legs will tire no doubt.
I feel we definitely need a lead early on like we got against Reds and Stormers to hold on later.
1 Aug 2012, 16:02 pm
@Transformation-8:
Cruden leeches confidence from his big brother at 12. Take out the big fella and AC will battle.
1 Aug 2012, 16:04 pm
@Slumtown-14:
Mmmm, nice idea, but you need your big guns for the full 80. Else it’s gonna be catch up.
Bismark is fit enough to go the 80, as is Beast, Kanko and JPP.
Alberts can go off after 60.
1 Aug 2012, 16:06 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)-18: they were tiring in the last 10 to 15 against Stormers so possibly the Chiefs game could be one too much for them? Guess we´ll find out on Sat. Dont think they can all last the full 80.
1 Aug 2012, 16:08 pm
@Puma-16: Sorry typo there. NOT Chiefs meant Cheetahs game.
1 Aug 2012, 16:08 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)-17: no, cruden is an under-rated phenom…overlook him at your peril…when he fluffs it the chiefs faulter, when he’s on song, jy moet skrik wakker!
1 Aug 2012, 16:09 pm
@Slumtown-19:
Maybe the Stormers upped their game while the Sharks took their foot of the gas a bit. Hard to tell.
The Sharks need to play for corners too. There’s no better way to save on energy than smart tacticle kicking.
1 Aug 2012, 16:10 pm
@Puma-16: Yeah tend to agree with that – but in a way this game plan is that in reverse. And if the guys can at least hold them out so we dont have to play catch up then it can work. Burden might struggle at scrumtime a bit but in the loose he will be a big asset when you need rabid energy in the first half. Who knows he might even score a breakaway try? Sykes has been there before and is a decent enough player – if their captain Clarke is injured.
Like I said I agree with you but not going to be much use having a bit of a lead at 60 minutes and then flaking as the Chiefs are an 80 minute team. Tough one.
1 Aug 2012, 16:11 pm
@Transformation-21:
Yeah, the kids good. But he’s a confidence player (IMO). With the Chiefs pack going forward and SBW dominating the gain line, Cruden is brilliant.
But like any 10, you take away his support and the cracks start to appear.
1 Aug 2012, 16:12 pm
Only two teams can win…the two teams in the final…of course the sharks can win it!
1 Aug 2012, 16:13 pm
@Slumtown-19: I don’t think they will all last the 80min either. Then who knows adrenalin could be in over drive and they just may. Doubt it though. So rather we get a lead first. Well if we can that is. By that we have to start with our best and bring the bench on later when we tire. We can’t play catch up against a team like the Chiefs. We had to do that against the Cheetahs and we only caught up once we brought Bissie and Alberts on.
1 Aug 2012, 16:13 pm
Has SBW ever been hurt?? Seriously, 2 years of rugby, the guy hasn’t even tweaked a hammy.
1 Aug 2012, 16:14 pm
@wallabie.-25: Howzit Walla. How you doing mate? Jeez you up late?
1 Aug 2012, 16:20 pm
@Transformation-1:
He sounds full of it.
Travel fatigue is worth give points.
Wait no it’s isn’t.
Maybe it is.
Sound like we have another Nokesy.
1 Aug 2012, 16:28 pm
Sports scientist Ross Tucker can confirm that the Sharks and Chiefs both have a chance of winning the 2012 Super Rugby title, while the other 13 sides do not
1 Aug 2012, 16:29 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)-27:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/4575403/Sonny-Bill-Williams-downplays-leg-injury
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/5007049/Sonny-Bill-Williams-joins-Crusaders-injury-list
1 Aug 2012, 16:31 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)-27: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/5139264/Hip-keeps-Sonny-Bill-off-Ma-a-Nonus-radar
1 Aug 2012, 16:32 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)-27: he was hurt, he hobbled off at half-time in bloem last year after several crunching tackles form barry geel.
1 Aug 2012, 16:33 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-29:
He confuses people when he mentioned motivation and form and should have concluded that based on the statistical history of the tournament there is a “cost” to overcome when a team plays away from home and overseas.
1 Aug 2012, 16:34 pm
@Transformation-33: Come on Transie, cite your sources – up your game pal
1 Aug 2012, 16:34 pm
@Golden Boy-11:
Gotta Love Google …..
http://www.essm.uct.ac.za/ross_tucker.htm
1 Aug 2012, 16:35 pm
Wow this Tucker guy sounds like a genius going by this quote “Against the Chiefs the Sharks will need to build a lead. It will be a rough task but it will put them in a strong position” what an astute analysis. Where did u dredge up this rent a quote Gareth?
As for the Guppies. Of course they can win. The motivation of winning the trophy and to be called the best champions ever should be more than enough to make up for the travel fatigue.
1 Aug 2012, 16:38 pm
@Robzim-34:
We know this.
So what’s new?
1 Aug 2012, 16:38 pm
Jarre, why couldn’t the Stormers play in the final on Saturday at Newlands.
The team was so convincing during the league phase.
It would’ve been so lekker.
1 Aug 2012, 16:43 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-38:
The only new thing is that he tried to quantifiy it based on historical results (5 points for an away from home game, 5 points for overseas travel). It is only hypothetical though.
Bradley Wiggins is doing some serious low flying at moment in London.
1 Aug 2012, 16:45 pm
@Jeraldjay-39: Because they were not good enough?
1 Aug 2012, 16:46 pm
@Transformation-1:
Yes. It seems he is building up his profile nicely.
PA mentioned his name two years ago already if I remember correctly.
Wanted PdV to draft him, along with Cheryl Calder, into the Bok management team or at the very least, use them as consultants.
1 Aug 2012, 16:51 pm
@kaksioek-35: why should i cite sources when i can vividly remember watching the game and sbw hobbling off?
1 Aug 2012, 16:52 pm
And this, a letter to the Stormer fans, from Jean de Villiers. Even the Stormers haters have to admit he is a class act as a captain and person.
To the Faithful.
Having ridden the high of taking the Conference trophy for a 2nd consecutive year as SA’s top side and finishing top of the overall log, we were devastated not to make it through to the final, even more so given the exceptional support we have enjoyed this season. The change-room was a dark place after the game and there huge emotion from even the most senior players and coaching staff. Such was the desire and belief. On reflection, we gave it our all and left nothing on the park. Whilst we are still hurting, we understand the disappointment out there and that you are hurting to.
That said, it has been a good three years at all levels, with undoubtedly the best run of any Stormers team bar winning the main trophy. A trophy that Allister, myself, all the players and all involved, remain totally committed and focussed on winning. This year everyone believed and to fall just short again was heart-wrenching. It is however undeniable that major strides have been made at every level and that the structures and plans in place are bearing fruit – just that final step. Without destroying the plan, it is evident that tweaks are required. We recognise this and will make the changes deemed necessary.
Through all of the emotion, thank you for your unwavering support, through all the highs and the lows. That is what makes the Faithful special. We will be back to fight another day together! Thank you for the season.
Jean De Villiers
Your DHL Stormers Captain.
1 Aug 2012, 16:55 pm
Alle sportoë is tans op die Olimpiese Spele gerig – die mededingendste sportarena wat die mensdom ken.
Suid-Afrikaners hou uiteraard duim vas vir ons eie deelnemers, veral in die lig van die SA Olimpiese Komitee se teiken van 12 medaljes.
Of dié teiken hoegenaamd realisties is, is debatteerbaar. Die realiteite van Olimpiese mededinging en die ongelooflike wedywering vir die drie top-plekke laat dit dalk ’n bietjie optimisties klink.
DIE WAARSKYNLIKES
Sunette Viljoen: Spiesgooi is onvoorspelbaar, maar Viljoen was tot dusver gereeld onder die beste ter wêreld. Haar beste gooi kan ‘n medalje in Londen wen.
Burry Stander: Dié bergfietsryer is iemand om mee rekening te hou. Hy is buitengewoon goed voorberei en het die vermoë en die selfvertroue.
Cameron van der Burgh: Die enigste negatief is dat sy sterkste nommer, die 50 m-borsslag, nie ‘n Olimpiese item is nie. Hy neem in die 100 m deel.
Amerika se Olimpiese Komitee het onlangs ’n insiggewende ontleding gepubliseer van die gemiddelde verskil tussen die wentyd en die tyd van die deelnemer wat vierde gekom het. Dertig jaar se Olimpiese rekords is nagegaan en daar is gevind in baannommers is die gemiddelde verskil tussen ’n goue medalje en ’n vierde plek slegs 0,5%.
Dink ’n bietjie hieroor na: In ’n 100 m-wedloop is 0,5% die ekwivalent van 0,05 sekonde. In ’n 800 m-wedloop is dit 0,72 sekonde.
Die verskil tussen ’n sportlegende en die anonimiteit van ’n deelnemer wat “slegs” vierde kon kom by ’n Olimpiese Spele is korter as ’n oogwink.
Vierde is vergete. Dít terwyl die kleinste van foutjies, een misstap of ’n splitsekonde se verlore konsentrasie die hele prentjie kon verander het. As ’n mens só oor die Olimpiese Spele begin dink, besef ons wat ’n enorme taak op die skouers van ons deelnemers rus.
As ons nie in ons voorbereiding op dié nano-sekondes fokus nie, begin ons die wedloop met ’n agterstand.
Die belangrike vraag is dus: Het ons genoeg gedoen om daardie voorsprong van ’n splitsekonde te kry?
DIE HOOPVOLLES
LJ van Zyl: Hy sou een van die gunstelinge gewees het in die 400 m-hekkies as dit nie vir ‘n seisoen vol beserings was nie.
Caster Semenya: Haar verlede dui daarop dat sy ‘n medaljewenner in die 800m is, maar 2012 was tot dusver vol probleme.
Khotso Mokoena: Olimpiese ondervinding, medaljes op die wêreldverhoog en die feit dat enigiets moontlik is in verspring, gee Mokoena ‘n realistiese kans.
Richard Murray: Dié driekampatleet is een van die beste hardlopers in die sport. As hy ‘n taktiese goeie wedloop het, het hy ‘n kans.
Bridgette Hartley: Dié Pretoriase kajakroeier vaar goed oor 500m, maar sal moet uithaal wanneer dit die nodigste is.
Roei: Sowel die liggewig-vier mans en die vrouepaar is goed voorberei en kan die eindronde haal.
4x100m wisselslag: Goeie diepte en ‘n paar uitstekende individue beteken ons kan dalk net ‘n medalje hier wen.
4x400m-mansaflos: Hulle het verlede jaar op die Wêreldbekerkampioenskap gewen, maar die Olimpiese kompetisie sal waarskynlik baie sterker wees. Hulle sal goed vaar om die eindronde te bereik.
In Beijing in 2008 het ons enkele silwermedalje ons tot die skokkende besef gebring dat ons ons deelnemers oorlog toe stuur sonder enige wapentoerusting – met ketties eerder as masjiengewere.
Ons ding mee teen deelnemers van lande wat staatmaak op professionele, heeltydse stelsels wat massiewe hoeveelhede geld belê in die soeke na daardie ontwykende 0,5%.
Ons kom te staan teen lande soos Kenia en Jamaika wat ongelooflike langafstand- en naellooptalent het en wat voordeel trek uit sterk skolestelsels, uitstekende afrigters en ’n kultuur van sukses.
Brittanje se roeispan het in die vier jaar vóór Beijing R315 miljoen uitgegee. Dit beteken één Britse sport het vyf keer meer aan voorbereiding bestee as die hele Suid-Afrikaanse span! (Wat net R59 miljoen gehad het.)
Ons weet geld belê in ’n formele, goed georganiseerde stelsel lei tot medaljes. Daarom moet ons verwagting van 12 medaljes getemper word deur dít wat ons belê het.
By die Olimpiese Spele kry jy waarvoor jy betaal.
Voor Beijing het die Olimpiese reuse soos Australië, Brittanje en Nederland meer as R1 miljard elk uitgegee. Dit beteken elkeen van hul medaljes het sowat R64 miljoen “gekos”. In vergelyking het ons dus heel goed gevaar met een silwermedalje met ’n begroting van R59 miljoen.
Die versoeking is dus groot om te sê meer geld sal al ons probleme oplos.
Die probleem is egter dat die netjiese verhouding tussen geld en medaljes nét werk as jy ’n formele en professionele sportstelsel het.
Ek vergelyk dit altyd met ’n supermark. As jy R100 het, weet jy jy kan sê 14 brode daarmee koop. Maar jy weet dit net omdat daar ’n formele stelsel is wat die prys van brood bepaal. As jy egter jou brood op die swartmark moes gaan koop het, het daardie sekerheid verdwyn.
Een dag kan jy 20 brode met R100 koop, ’n volgende dag sukkel jy om agt te kry.
Dis presies hoe sport in Suid-Afrika funksioneer. Soms is ons gelukkig om ongelooflike sportmanne en -vroue te ontdek soos Penny Heyns, Josia Thugwane of ons swemmers van 2004.
Ander tye is selfs die passie van ons beste deelnemers nie genoeg om daardie 0,5%-verskil te oorbrug nie – soos wat in Beijing gebeur het.
Die grondoorsaak bly ons onvermoë om doelgerig te belê in die administrasie van sport in ons land.
Ons s’n is steeds ’n vrywillige stelsel waar toegewyde (maar deeltydse) afrigters en bestuurders met beperkte hulpbronne moet klaarkom.
Hulle kom te staan teen mense van oor die wêreld heen wat die afgelope vier jaar net een ding geëet en geslaap het: Hoe kan hul deelnemers verder spring, vinniger fietsry, beter verdedig of sterker word?
Ons dring daarop aan dat net ons beste sportlui die groen-en-goud dra. Wat ons vergeet, is dat hul ondersteuningsnetwerk – die afrigters, bestuurders, medici en wetenskaplikes – óók van wêreldgehalte moet wees. Nie net moet hulle goed wees nie, dit moet ook hul heeltydse taak wees om maniere te bedink om die mededingers te klop.
In nie een van ons Olimpiese sportsoorte is dit al vermag nie. Ons bly ’n korttermyn-nasie wat in vierjaar-siklusse beplan met geen sekerheid of daar volgende jaar genoeg geld gaan wees om klaar te maak waarmee ons begin het nie. Met sulke beplanning gaan meer geld nie noodwendig meer medaljes beteken nie.
Wat ons nodig het, is ’n paradigma-skuif waar ons besef die ware deurbraak sal net kom as administrateurs, afrigters en deelnemers op één gemeenskaplike doel begin fokus.
Dr. Ross Tucker is ’n sport-fisioloog verbonde aan die Instituut vir Sportwetenskap in Kaapstad.
LET OP: Geen Chad Le Clos onder die WAARSKYNLIKES of HOOPVOLLES nie.
Dis wat gebeur as ‘n wetenskaplike voorspellings probeer maak. Jy slaan jou naam met ‘n vokken plank.
Los die voorspellings vir ons ploerte, Ross.
1 Aug 2012, 16:57 pm
@Slumtown-23: I think we are going to need Bissie for the full 80min. Don’t think Alberts will stay on for the full 80min though. Deysel is a good replacement. Though he won’t play at 4 lock where Alberts is playing right now for the Sharks.
Plum just has to be very smart with the subs. Subs cost us in 2007. Also Walsh cost us in the very end. We messed up by not getting the kick over and not kicking out but in the end it was Walsh that should have penalised the Bulls and he never. So he too could be a big factor. Just hope he has a good and fair game for both sides.
1 Aug 2012, 16:58 pm
@nama1-42: @nama1-42: yeah i know PA mentioned his 3 years back and he also blogged here once or twice as well, he was involved with the Blitzbokke the year they won the World Series
1 Aug 2012, 17:06 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-44: he gets no kudos from me when he is the one who said in a post match interview after they scraped a win against the cheetahs, that ” we won’t win this competition if we keep playing like this”
they never CHANGED anything! now he wants to speak about “tweaks”
look at the sharks team for example (and i hate making a positive examples of these guppys)…from where they started – belligerent forward dominated strategy, to where they are now – varied multi-pronged attacking team that mixes power with lethal backline width…
this is just PR designed to keep the “masses” coming.
1 Aug 2012, 17:07 pm
I strUggled with the Afrikaans but fully agree with the last bit. Scientists should stick to theory when it comes to sport. How the hell will they explain a 16 year old winning at the Olympics?
1 Aug 2012, 17:08 pm
I strUggled with the Afrikaans but fully agree with the last bit. Scientists should stick to theory when it comes to sport and not make wild predictions. In that case they just another lay man sucking their thumbs.. How the hell will they explain a 16 year old winning at the Olympics in the pool cOmpetition?
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