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, 22:19 pm
@cab-347: Oh well good on you.. its a lesson well worth 6 years of nonsensical nonentity of education…
I ain’t learned nothing.. but perhaps somebody else learned something from all my vloekery.. perhaps.. perhaps not .. only they in the deep denial driven reaches of their own snooty nosed self righteous snottery will ever own up to being educated about anything worth while on a rugby blog.
19 Nov 2012, 22:21 pm
@cab-349: watse soort kak is photons…
the only thing worth learning anytime ever is who’s right and who’s wrong about the big cheese in the sky behind the veil of stupid snot nosed fake arse illusions of self made stupefied grandeur…
19 Nov 2012, 22:22 pm
@skopdiekan-351:
yes, truly mind-expanding, speaking of which should you not be preaching from a mountain top or iets?
something epic where they break bread and write this stuff down…you should chronicle what its like travelling on a photon from one end of the universe to the otehr.
19 Nov 2012, 22:23 pm
ja lekker, we talking photons now, photons and bob martins, and u dismiss this blog?
19 Nov 2012, 22:25 pm
The last time the Boks played a style of rugby the nation could be proud of is under Nick Mallet, so bring the guy back as coach! Meyer must go! Boks are nowhere at the moment. We may have one good win, but we will have many shocking games win or lose after with the style we are playing at the moment. We should be the most feared team in the world instead we have the 10th team in world rugby thinking and believing they have a good chance against us… Pathetic!
19 Nov 2012, 22:26 pm
@skopdiekan-333:
@skopdiekan-338:
Sometimes I may change a word or two to so that readers who are not necessarily Monty Python fans do not miss the point. No slight on their character at all, please understand, as Monty Python is not everyone’s cup of Twinings.
I also think Lewis Carroll was a literary genius and his social commentary and insight are wonderful and as relevant today as they were well over a hundred years ago. He forces us to look into the mirror of our innermost being if we are brave and honest enough to accept his challenge to our egos.
I also love the writings of Theodor Geisel – Dr Seuss. I am in awe of such perspicacity and the ability to record it is such a revealing and entertaining manner.
Thank you for your comments.
19 Nov 2012, 22:26 pm
@skopdiekan-346: @cab-347: jammer nee wat.. I meant this little punk here is the grandson of Hendrik Verwoerd.. @katman-350: not you sorry that was a case of mistaken identity I got the arrow press button wrong
19 Nov 2012, 22:26 pm
@Sandytoes-355:
good point. why is mallett not offered the job, no-one been close since.
19 Nov 2012, 22:28 pm
@katman-302: Hey,Salinger is me
19 Nov 2012, 22:29 pm
@skopdiekan-357:
no u were right the first time, i am related to one of them, i think its blackie swaart.
u wrong about katman, but then again u reckon u got the special eyesight, siener van der rabbinowitz.
19 Nov 2012, 22:30 pm
@skopdiekan-357: Ha ha, that’s funny. I am actually the great great grandson of a famous politician, but you’ll sht your adult diapers if you knew who. Doesn’t sit very well with your fcked up take on me.
19 Nov 2012, 22:30 pm
@ryecatcher-359: Ja sorry, I should have written Kahil Gibran.
19 Nov 2012, 22:31 pm
@cab-353: who needs a mountain top when you got dumbasses by the dozen all collected together on keo.co.za.. all clamoring to be taught the lesson of Life ala Humurous Biggus Dickus
where the self opinionated multitude are gathered together for a lesson of untold snot bedraggled education and learning….
19 Nov 2012, 22:35 pm
@katman-361: Or we will all crack up laughing because you already set ourself up for a fall – famous, bahambug, I am sure your sht stinks and your so called famous family member messed up on a few occasions
19 Nov 2012, 22:36 pm
@MaximusLudicrusHumorus-356:
A good Lewis Carroll quote for a blogger…
“Always speak the truth,
think before you speak,
and write it down afterwards” !!
19 Nov 2012, 22:37 pm
@katman-361: Smuts and Verwoerd weren’t that far apart .. supremacy rankling rankings are part and parcel of the self styled intelligentsia educated snot noses of who you are the ultimate self righteous punk bar none…
@cab-360: I know a self righteous piece of garbage when I see one.. and this little punk is the outright epitome of what a pompous snot nosed piece self infatuated trash is
19 Nov 2012, 22:38 pm
@JL1-364: It’s not like I was going to tell you who anyway. So I guess it will remain part of my mystique.
19 Nov 2012, 22:38 pm
@skopdiekan-366:
oh do you? so you reckon it take one to know one, of hoe?
19 Nov 2012, 22:39 pm
@skopdiekan-366: You got the time frame all wrong, old timer. How would Smuts be my great great grandfather.
Think, Skoppie. Just think before you post. It will do you a world of good going forward.
19 Nov 2012, 22:40 pm
gotta go, my nephew talking up a gdam storm – pharts like a 2-stroke too.
19 Nov 2012, 22:41 pm
@cab-370: You could be describing our Skoppie there.
G’night cab.
19 Nov 2012, 22:43 pm
@cab-368: when they don’t wanna recognize it.. then that is how it always goes… the mirror is the best place for self reflection.. and this mirror here is the perfect place for snot noses to take a good look into.
Time I skedaddled outa here too
19 Nov 2012, 22:44 pm
@carol-365:
Very true Carol and a very good habit to keep.
I have things to do so will leave you with some classic Dr Seuss.
“Today you are You, that is truer than true.
There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”
“So…
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,
you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!”
19 Nov 2012, 22:45 pm
@katman-371: he ain’t your skoppie.. you don’t own fckall in spite of your insatiable self aggrandized pompous idiocy thinking that you do.
19 Nov 2012, 22:47 pm
@skopdiekan-374: You’re mine, all right.
19 Nov 2012, 22:47 pm
@katman-367: No mystery for me, could not care less who your Oupa was
19 Nov 2012, 22:48 pm
@JL1-376: Great. Happiness al round then.
19 Nov 2012, 22:49 pm
night night
@JL1-364: so long JL1 you been a little conspicuous by your absence round here recently
why can’t your coach recognize who his best tight 5 players are? specially his front row.
19 Nov 2012, 22:52 pm
@skopdiekan-378: Personal agendas, but hey how did CJ get 70 caps?????
19 Nov 2012, 22:52 pm
@katman-375: get fucked you little punk up your own arrogance for all the world to see, you even got stupid imbecilic kiwis believing your own infatuated idiocy… you stupid little pompous prick who needs to get your pathetic snot nosed fckface fixed.. I told you before I do it for you for free.. but you too chicken to come face to face with reality .. little snooty nosed piece of garbage arsed pisswilly fanny faced skunk.
19 Nov 2012, 22:54 pm
@JL1-379: I dunno.. this coach supposed to be such a fundie of forward play why can’t he select a proper tight 5?
he leaves Cilliers out for CJ and plays his locks all haywire wrong.. he still got plenty to learn by the looks of whats still to get undone.
19 Nov 2012, 22:54 pm
@MaximusLudicrusHumorus-373:
Well thank you for lifting the atmosphere on South Africas busiest blog!!
I must re visit Dr. Seuss!!
19 Nov 2012, 22:55 pm
@JL1-379: anyway I’m done here for now.. see you round perhaps some other time.
19 Nov 2012, 22:55 pm
@carol-299: Beware the Jabberwock girl
19 Nov 2012, 22:55 pm
@skopdiekan-380: Who do you suppose takes that kind of garbled garbage seriously, given that you’re a so-called senior citizen? Why can’t you muster a little dignity and self-respect when posting here? Are you beyond caring? Is this what it has come to?
19 Nov 2012, 22:55 pm
@katman-377: Well you make it sound like Dallas
19 Nov 2012, 22:57 pm
@ryecatcher-384:
One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
19 Nov 2012, 22:58 pm
@JL1-386: Dallas? Hardly. Maybe an episode of Generations, at the very most.
19 Nov 2012, 22:59 pm
@katman-387: That bit was actually written about my run-ins with Skoppie here.
19 Nov 2012, 23:00 pm
Very good article Keo… Enjoyed it. It pretty much articulates what must be said.
19 Nov 2012, 23:00 pm
It concludes:
“And hast thou slain the Jabberingcock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
He chortled in his joy.
19 Nov 2012, 23:01 pm
@ryecatcher-384:
‘Twas Brillig’!! Can you remind me what a ‘Slithy Tove’ is??
19 Nov 2012, 23:09 pm
@katman-387: It is said(on good authority)
that he was an opium addict
TWAS BRILLIG AND THE SLITHY TOVES
DID GYRE AND GIMBLE IN THE WABE
ALL MIMSY WERE THE BOROGROVES
AND THE MOME
RATHS OUTGRABE
BEWARE THE JABBERWOCK MY SON
THE JAWS THAT BITE,THE CLAWS THAT CATCH
BEWARE THE JUBJUB BIRD AND SHUN
THE FRUMINOUS AND BANDERSNATCH
ALWAYS BEEN A FAN.ALWAYS LOVED ECCENTRICS
19 Nov 2012, 23:13 pm
@ryecatcher-393: That was the drug of the time. Eugene Marais was addicted to opium and morphine too.
19 Nov 2012, 23:13 pm
Take me down to Paradise City…
Where the girls are pretty…
19 Nov 2012, 23:17 pm
@carol-392: Humpty Dumpty explains the first verse to Alice in Through the Looking Glass.
Humpty Dumpty says: ” ‘Slithy’ means ‘lithe and slimy’. ‘Lithe’ is the same as ‘active’. You see it’s like a portmanteau, there are two meanings packed up into one word.”
Humpty Dumpty says ” ‘Toves’ are something like badgers, they’re something like lizards, and they’re something like corkscrews. [...] Also they make their nests under sun-dials, also they live on cheese.”
19 Nov 2012, 23:20 pm
@katman-388: I have no idea what about Generations
@Heavens Game-395: …and the Shark flyhalves are shtty
19 Nov 2012, 23:21 pm
@katman-396: Humpty Dumpty explains HM’s gameplan perfectly.
Am I on the right track here?
19 Nov 2012, 23:23 pm
@JL1-397: Excellent post!
19 Nov 2012, 23:24 pm
@katman-396:
You have to love his creativity and original thoughts….. Nests under sun dials and living on cheese!
Inspired!!
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