Demanding more from awful Boks
19 Nov 2012
MARK KEOHANE, in his weekly Business Day column, says this has been a desperate end-of-year tour for the Springboks, and to criticise them does not make one unpatriotic.
From a distance this Springbok tour has only depressed me. Does that mean the Springboks depress me? No. Does this mean there is no hope? No.
Forget what next year could hold. Let’s deal in real time with the considerable disappointment for those of us who appreciate the potential within South African rugby and the quality of player that makes up South African rugby.
Each to his own, be it in acknowledgment or denial, but I find it an insult to South African rugby that so many are so willing to call a win a win and dismiss any dismay as disparagement of the Bok coach, management, players and just anti-South African.
Why is there such irrational and ignorant investment of energy? I can’t explain the conservatism of the Springboks’ approach — and I am referring to the coaching staff.
I expected more and rightly so. I’ll take an ugly win in the World Cup final and I’ll take an ugly win every time if it is against the All Blacks. There are times a team will win ugly, but very good teams with aspirations to be great teams mostly win with a swagger more than a stagger.
I know the Bok players have character and that they take seriously the responsibility of playing for South Africa and excelling as national players. If you have to applaud them for this then they’re in the wrong profession. It’s a given.
I understand that among the goals of the Boks between this year and 2015 is to concede the least points in world rugby and to concede the least tries. Nowhere is there talk of scoring the most points and scoring the most tries.
Christmas can’t come soon enough, and I hope the gift of introspection comes wrapped with whatever else makes its way to the home of Bok coach Heyneke Meyer and his support staff. Nothing has been gained from this tour. The Boks can tackle. The Boks can maul. The Boks have character.
I don’t want South Africa to be New Zealand. I want them to be South Africa. Good Springbok teams have always played rugby. The good ones have had more than just character, a desire to tackle and an effective mauling technique.
The good, very good and great Bok teams have trusted their basic skills and believed that the true expression of their talent is in scoring tries and points — and not in how few are conceded.
I have never understood the flippancy with which the words ‘negative’ and ‘positive’ are used within the Bok context. To condemn the Springboks’ performance in Dublin and Edinburgh is apparently a negative. To applaud the win is to be patriotic, passionate and positive. Again, each to their own.
I prefer ‘accurate’ and ‘inaccurate’ when assessing the Boks. Is it accurate to laud a win fashioned by an intercept try and supposedly brutal defence in the last 20 minutes against a side ranked 10 in the world who a week earlier conceded 50 points against the All Blacks?
To talk of being the best requires more than a PowerPoint presentation and a Vince Lombardi quote.
Heyneke Meyer, my preferred choice as Bok coach, seems convinced 2012 was always going to be a struggle and survival was a more appropriate ‘go to’ than sensation. I haven’t been floored by this defeatist attitude but I have been dazed and deflated.
Apparently to tackle is to care if you are a Bok. Apparently to attack is to risk despair.
Where’s the cheer been in this tour? Where’s the evolution?
A week ago I wrote of the fear of failure within the Boks and the restrictive approach that rewards no risk and the possibility of a mistake.
The Boks, regardless of who coaches them, should have beaten Ireland and Scotland. Both teams are inferior in every aspect. Both teams currently don’t have the pedigree of player to threaten a side with the player resource of South Africa.
I will always have an expectation of a nation with two World Cup titles. To demand anything less is to not care; alternatively not to know.
The players know it has been an awful tour in performance and quality. Perhaps more applicably it has been a desperate tour.
I won’t apologise for demanding more from the coach and the players.
A week ago I said the players should embrace the adventure. Some pounced on this as results not meaning anything. Of course they mean everything, otherwise there wouldn’t be a score and there wouldn’t be a winner. But to accept the post-match virtues of character and player pride for the Bok jersey is to accept being second best.
I won’t, and the optimist in me thinks neither will those who assess the Bok performance instead of excusing the lack of performance.
427 Comments
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19 Nov 2012, 21:34 pm
300..
19 Nov 2012, 21:35 pm
@McAwesome-297: Actually, he bores me to death. Each post is just a randomly re-arranged version of the previous paragraph of garbage. You can only dine out for so long on nonsense alliteration and creative ways of spelling naughty words so they go through the auto-moderate. Take that away from the old fool and all you have left is a dog-eared Salinger novel and the very best of Joe Cocker on local press LP.
19 Nov 2012, 21:35 pm
I wish I were a glow worm
A glow worm’s never glum
‘Cause how can you be grumpy
When the sun shines out your bum!! ?
19 Nov 2012, 21:37 pm
@carol-303: That’s good. Here’s one that I like – a kind of Ode to a Cow:
The cow is of the bovine ilk,
The one side moo, the other milk.
19 Nov 2012, 21:39 pm
@Dusky-300:
Stop winding him up, he is actually nice!
Glad you had a marvelous day…..!!
PS
(Sorry Skop, I am ruining your reputation here)!
19 Nov 2012, 21:39 pm
@katman-302: lol agreed.
It seems to really grate him when we back your corner which I find hillarious after he swore at my wife who made the mistake of posting on here.
His posts dont make sense. Theyre just a series of insults wrapped in clever sounding words which altogether add up to a load of nonsense.
19 Nov 2012, 21:41 pm
@McAwesome-306: He’d never do it in person though. That would require a spine
19 Nov 2012, 21:43 pm
@McAwesome-306: He’s not even worth getting worked up about. Just a weedy little man whose only smattering of masculinity is the rubbish he posts here. In real life he’d tuck tail and run sooner than you can say “soya burger patty on pumpernickel bread”.
19 Nov 2012, 21:43 pm
@Atreides-307: lol
19 Nov 2012, 21:44 pm
@katman-304:
Limmerics and odes are great fun, however do you remember Soda Joe coaching us in the art of Haiku?
I never quite got the hang of them!
The Orientals are quite hard to fathom, actually I could probably make a Haiku out of that!
19 Nov 2012, 21:46 pm
@carol-310: I must admit, I don’t know the first thing about the Haiku. The Hayibo, a little. But the Haiku is Japanese to me.
19 Nov 2012, 21:46 pm
@Atreides-307: @katman-308: why don’t you little snot nosed arseholes come try your hand at reality face to face.. how about it.. I bet you don’t have the cahoonas for it .. after all I got everything to lose and you got everything to gain… the lesson that needs learning here is yours … not mine..
19 Nov 2012, 21:46 pm
@katman-308: No doubt later he will be on here replying to all these posts with his usual trademark charm.
19 Nov 2012, 21:47 pm
@skopdiekan-312: lol, I posted too soon.
19 Nov 2012, 21:48 pm
@carol-303:
Tiny Chihuahua
Humongous Great Dane
The difference between them
Is really quite plain
Feisty Chihuahua
Will yap-yap and yip
If he doesn’t like you
You may get a nip!
Gentle Great Dane
Has a powerful bite
But never would nip you
She’s much too polite
Great Dane finds the carpet
A fine place to nap
Chihuahua loves curling
Right up in your lap
Their owners would have
Some cause for dismay
If each dog behaved
In the opposite way!
We each are what we are
and will be what we will be
everyone their own bright star
why is this so hard to see…?
19 Nov 2012, 21:48 pm
@McAwesome-314: yeah you did so which poor gullible fool was your wife.. did you not inform her that to come stick a gullible nose in here was not a very wise idea?
19 Nov 2012, 21:49 pm
Skop I would love to stay and chat, but we are having friends over tonight.
Note: “Friends” are people who you get when you are actually liked.
Cheerio.
19 Nov 2012, 21:50 pm
Is Bakkies retired from International rugby or not?
19 Nov 2012, 21:50 pm
@MaximusLudicrusHumorus-315: I followed some of your Life of Brian posts and some others.. I reckon whoever you may be you are the ultimate literary genius to grace this blog with true insightful relevancy.
19 Nov 2012, 21:52 pm
@skopdiekan-316:
If you were to call my wife a “gullible fool” in person, I would break your nose.
Luckily for you, you are safe behind your computer… So I wont get worked up.
19 Nov 2012, 21:52 pm
@McAwesome-317: like I already said.. to be liked is for the likableness club.. it don’t fit with either my persona or my less liked honesty.
19 Nov 2012, 21:53 pm
@McAwesome-320: its no sin to be gullible.. which is what your wife was if she came here hoping to expect sensitivity or sanity
19 Nov 2012, 21:54 pm
@MaximusLudicrusHumorus-315:
There was no sting in the tail!!
19 Nov 2012, 21:54 pm
@skopdiekan-292:
oh thats a pity, 2+2 = 22.
dont say u dont learn anything on here.
19 Nov 2012, 21:55 pm
@skopdiekan-319:
19 Nov 2012, 21:56 pm
@skopdiekan-322:
I give you ET for sensitivity and as for sanity, that is very tricky!!
No one leaps to mind!
19 Nov 2012, 21:57 pm
@skopdiekan-319:
I thank you Sir, but a genius I am not. The geniuses are the Monty Python team.
I find it more than a little fascinating how relevant so many of their writings are that they could have been written specifically with this blog in mind. The absurdity of both are frighteningly close to the truth.
Perhaps the trick is finding quotes appropriate to the current conversation.
19 Nov 2012, 21:59 pm
@Hurricane-318:
He has gone ‘Huntin’…. He prefers to follow critters with and without horns, shoot em’ and turn them into biltong!!
Beats hugging Mike Phillips and telling him he has beautiful eyes!
19 Nov 2012, 22:00 pm
@cab-324: nope actually I haven’t learned anything on here.. have you.. I have wasted almost 6 years of valuable time talking the biggest load of garbage with a bunch of imbeciles I could never really comfortably associate with in real life.. so actually if any one is really honest about it.. wtf is the real benefit of blogging in this realm of irrelevancy?
19 Nov 2012, 22:00 pm
@carol-323:
Definitely not from the MPT. Just a little children’s poem that helps explain that it is okay to be different and being different is not a negative or bad thing.
19 Nov 2012, 22:00 pm
@MaximusLudicrusHumorus-315:
Ja, thats a great one- it says it all.
Here is another one, more simple than yours but it says a lot
“if you don’t like my fire
then don’t come around
cause I’m gonna burn one down
yes I’m gonna burn one down
my choice is what I choose to do
and if I’m causing no harm
it shouldn’t bother you
your choice is who you choose to be
and if your causin’ no harm
then you’re alright with me
if you don’t like my fire
then don’t come around
cause I’m gonna burn one down
yes I’m gonna burn one down”
Ben Harper.
19 Nov 2012, 22:02 pm
@skopdiekan-312: The urge to grease your zimmer-frame might be too much. Besides, shouldn’t you be preparing for Dec 23?
19 Nov 2012, 22:02 pm
@MaximusLudicrusHumorus-327: well you do that very well.. you aptness and correct application of the correct quote for the occasion is right on the button…
I thought some of that insightful ingenuity actually came from you.
19 Nov 2012, 22:03 pm
@Atreides-332: is that a cop out or what after all that bravado at who is going to teach who the real life changing lesson?
19 Nov 2012, 22:03 pm
@skopdiekan-333: Stop sucking up, you pansy dandy.
19 Nov 2012, 22:04 pm
@skopdiekan-329:
hey hey hey – speak for yourself, this esteemed blog has been a deeply moving and profound learning experience for yours truly.
19 Nov 2012, 22:05 pm
fk me, i hope they still sell salusa 45 in Sa.
19 Nov 2012, 22:06 pm
@MaximusLudicrusHumorus-330:
you see you do have the insight of wisdom.. so hide behind your nick is fine.. and the MP literary significance.. but it wouldn’t come to light if not instigated by some empathy of humaneness
19 Nov 2012, 22:07 pm
@cab-337: Skoppie has switched to Bob Martins. More bang for your buck. And you should see his wonderfully wet nose.
19 Nov 2012, 22:07 pm
@katman-335: get fucked fuckface who the fck little arsecreep cn’ts like you think you are telling people what to do and what not to do you pissarse little punk faced piece of trash skunk..
19 Nov 2012, 22:09 pm
so now let us contemplate what constitutes a great humanitarian?
Hendrik Verwoerd?
19 Nov 2012, 22:10 pm
@cab-336: well done.. you get enlightened at others expense… like this other little piece of garbage arse trash f’ng idiot punk right here@katman-339:
19 Nov 2012, 22:11 pm
@Robzim-331:
Thank you RobZim.
The simpler the truth the more profound it usually is but our penchant for entropy usually sees us overcomplicate everything to such an extent that any lessons are lost in the confusion.
I do like your Ben Harper quote. He is a very talented and honest songwriter. It is no surprise to me that you like him.
19 Nov 2012, 22:12 pm
@skopdiekan-334: hmmm no, with 1 exception, I generally don’t threaten people on the internet. That’s more your thing.
But hey, you never know. Wouldn’t faze me either way
19 Nov 2012, 22:12 pm
@skopdiekan-340: Not people, just you. I’m just telling you to shut the hell up because you are such a godawful little man with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Your behaviour here is beyond cringe-worthy. It’s downright unpleasant and uncalled for. So I’m telling you to either tone it down or bugger off. And I’m well within my rights to do so. In fact, it’s more like a duty than a right. Are we straight on this?
19 Nov 2012, 22:13 pm
@cab-341: this little cn’t here@cab-341: is Hendrik Verwoerd’s grandson.. so what they say about the apple not falling too far from the tree is actually true.. as exhibited on a rugby blog in cyber space right here in make believe self entitled intelligentsia wannabe land.
19 Nov 2012, 22:14 pm
@skopdiekan-342:
yep i been enlightened by vrede and keo’s wonderlikke tv episodes, but i aint spending money on that, no sirree, a fool and his geld are soon pharted.
19 Nov 2012, 22:15 pm
@katman-345: you don’t tell nobody fckall.. you little pompous snouted punk.. least of all me.. if anyone is to tell anyone else what to do and what not to do then I tell you to get fucked you hear me punk.. and hear it good you little snot nosed pompous prick faced little self righteous snooty nosed skunk…
19 Nov 2012, 22:16 pm
@skopdiekan-346:
yes i guess u right, oupa henrik, wonderlikke man, fk me these 6 years we been learning alot – what was it you were regailing us about being photons and stuff, wonderlik.
19 Nov 2012, 22:16 pm
@skopdiekan-348: No, I’m afraid you lost me there. Care to take me through it again? Who tells whom what exactly?
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