Sharks get fresh ideas
29 Jan 2013
Springbok defence coach John McFarland and former All Blacks flyhalf Carlos Spencer have helped the Sharks to prepare for Super Rugby this season.
Coach John Plumtree told the Sharks’ website that McFarland’s input, which is part of a new initiative by the Springboks to help and share ideas with South African franchises, had been invaluable.
‘He has had a lot of experience coaching at a top level for a long time, he’s a specialist in defence and we wanted to pick his brains, to make use of his knowledge this week. It’s a good change for the boys with some fresh ideas.
‘It’s important that we adopt the philosophy of sharing information from the Springbok management to us which will also give John a better idea of our players by working with us. We’re able to open up the working relationship with the Springbok coaches, starting with him.’
Plumtree said his players had also enjoyed having Spencer, the ex-Lions backs coach, in Durban.
‘I’d like him here a little longer – he’s not here for the whole tournament as he has family back in Joburg – but he will help us through the course of the season, he’ll see how we go and he’ll come down periodically.
‘He will be good for not only our flyhalves but also our backs, he’ll also be working on our kicking game. But really, he’s just touched the surface of what I want from him.’
360 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 [7] 8 » Show All
29 Jan 2013, 14:44 pm
@charo-297:
At a quick glance, I’d say 2 or 3 supporters have done what you said there.
Did you count correctly?
29 Jan 2013, 14:45 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-282:
29 Jan 2013, 14:49 pm
@gunther-294: http://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2011/08/14/da-aides-in-contract-row
the DA stood firm that the Public Protector was wrong in her reading on the law and referred to the PP report pronouncing the contract invalid as “misdirection”
the Guptas want some of that…
29 Jan 2013, 14:50 pm
@Sheriff-300:
Isn’t there another website somewhere for your conspiracy tripe
29 Jan 2013, 14:50 pm
@Stawm-301:
Yep
He’s a bit slow on the uptake
Asked and answered in vile style already
29 Jan 2013, 14:58 pm
@Stawm-301:
it would be easier to count how many stormer fans don’t have a bi.tch about mercenary players.
29 Jan 2013, 14:59 pm
@Dawn-305:
huh?
29 Jan 2013, 15:01 pm
@charo-306: None of us are bitching about it. That’s the point. Unhygienix decided to throw a wobbly about it, bless him.
29 Jan 2013, 15:07 pm
@stormer in a teacup-308:
Fresh fish, get your luverly fresh fish here………
29 Jan 2013, 15:10 pm
I write the way I do because time -and life for that matter- is so precious.
I learnt with shock and horror of the death of Elton Jantjies’ dad. It brought tears to my eyes as this man was not even 50 and he played such a key role in Elton’s life to motivate his achieve his best.
They live here in Pta – I was not aware of it – but saw a newspaper article some time ago showing the 2 lads with their dad.
You read the newspapers and see a family of 3 holiday cut short as they fell to their death in Sabie, Mpumalanga. You read these daily and ask yourself: why, how?
Now I’m certainly not the type that like to use scare tactics to get my point across, but I feel at times it is necessary.
29 Jan 2013, 15:12 pm
@Sheriff-310: Yes, a truly sad event.
29 Jan 2013, 15:23 pm
@Sheriff-310:
How will the conspiracy theories lengthen one’s life?
29 Jan 2013, 15:28 pm
And so, the busy little Stormer bees buzzed and buzzed and buzzed…
29 Jan 2013, 15:32 pm
@Heavens Game-313: Poor taste.
29 Jan 2013, 15:37 pm
@stormer in a teacup-314: Oh dear… ! Was not reference to recent tragedy…
Will change to
And so, the busy little Stormers fruit flies buzzed and buzzed and buzzed…
(Not quite the same, but for once I shall be PC)
29 Jan 2013, 15:41 pm
@Dawn-312:
I would not call it conspiracy theories to start with.
I’m raising questions, concerns in my capacity as rugby fan. Life is so hectic that we seldom get a chance to explore a certain thought or idea. As a social observer I ask questions, often I get a bit more info and share it where approp.
If you want to live a long life Dawn, then do as it is written: Honour your father and mother; now I can unpack that for you but I think you’re smart enuff to that yourself. I’m not suggesting it’s the only way but I certainly try to it…
Things are not as they seem. Israel has just had their elections and Netanyahu must now choose allies/partners which could make things swing more secular or Biblical. That’s NB to keep an eye on.
If you track what I say over time you will get a good impression of the things I keep an eye on which are tell tale signs of the times we live in. And they’re not my own ideas. Top (that is brave) biblical scholars agree on these themes.
29 Jan 2013, 15:49 pm
sheriff: is it the secular cats that are keen on bombing gaza or is it eybody in israel?
29 Jan 2013, 15:50 pm
ooookaaaaay
29 Jan 2013, 15:56 pm
Cheers – have to go to a meeting; will respond
29 Jan 2013, 16:24 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-232: hi lady and go sharks
29 Jan 2013, 16:25 pm
@Dawn-318: hi Dawn.Go well
29 Jan 2013, 16:30 pm
@charo-306: Hi Charo.Moving to DBN.Probably Crestholme Will still do area visit from time to time.You
welcome to join.
29 Jan 2013, 16:33 pm
@Sheriff-316: She Does.Believe me
29 Jan 2013, 16:41 pm
@charo-306: Will miss Winterton.Place and people.Watching local rugby team at country club(Now disbanded)
Best starlight & mountains in world.
Some friends of Dawn and Ped lady quite gutless today.Exclude UFO
29 Jan 2013, 16:48 pm
@ryecatcher-322:
that is a pity.
crestholme is quite close to me (+/- 5kms).
when is the move planned?
29 Jan 2013, 16:51 pm
@ryecatcher-324:
most genuine wp supporters are good blokes – you always get arseholes in any group.
ufo has high principles – more than can be said for some the bullshitberties who hang around here.
29 Jan 2013, 16:53 pm
@charo-325:
crestholme is a very nice area.
29 Jan 2013, 16:58 pm
@charo-325: @Fern-327:
I’m not close to Crestholme, and I don’t know if it is a nice area.
29 Jan 2013, 16:58 pm
@ryecatcher-324: yeah UFO would never refer to black women as ‘silverbacks’ – a reference to g.orillas.
29 Jan 2013, 17:07 pm
@Transformation-329: was talking about
lack of chivalry shown to ladies
29 Jan 2013, 17:18 pm
@Transformation-329: if the inference
is that i did,then I apologise
Can truly never remember saying this.
29 Jan 2013, 17:25 pm
@ryecatcher-331: no need to apologise, your nic is ryecatcher
29 Jan 2013, 18:58 pm
Crestholme is nice rye.
Just try to stay away from jocks.
29 Jan 2013, 19:04 pm
@The Rangerman-333: I,m old pal Whats a Jock? keep well.NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
29 Jan 2013, 19:13 pm
Right
Where’s Duskeee
(He only comes out at night)
29 Jan 2013, 19:21 pm
@Transformation-303:
The protector found the the contract was lawful.
It looks like the New Gae has been telling some porkies as the mouthpiece of government.
Have another go.
29 Jan 2013, 19:35 pm
@Transformation-303: pffft.
29 Jan 2013, 19:38 pm
I wanna see Tap Dogs
29 Jan 2013, 19:40 pm
@Transformation-329:
yes, ufo is classy, i am crass and non pc at the best of times.
spend a lot of my time apologising for crude comments.
should have apologised about the serena comment – she is a very nice lady.
but…. one thing i am not… is a bullshitartist.
that’s your territory.
and you can’t apologise for chronic bullshitism…
you have to keep bullshitting to keep your online persona going.
hey….sunshine?
29 Jan 2013, 19:41 pm
@gunther-336: Thuli inntially saud it should be scrapped, no?
Mail & Guardian
Michelle Pietersen
mg.co.za, Sat 12 May 2012 06:23 GMT+2
Mobile site | Desktop Site
Best of the mobile web
News | Sport | Weather | Celebs |
Entertainment | Magazines | Downloads |
Free Music | More
The multimillion-rand tender for
communications services put out by the
Democratic Alliance (DA) led Western
Cape provincial government has been
declared invalid by the Public Protector
Thuli Madonsela, who had provisionally
recommended that the agreement be
immediately terminated.
Madonsela’s investigation had also
provisionally ruled that the DA-led
administration’s failure to employ
proper demand management had
constituted maladministration and that
the Premier’s department had incurred
fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
Furthermore, the inclusion of DA leader
and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille’s
special advisers — Ryan Coetzee and
Gavin Davis — on the tender bid
evaluation committee was unlawful and
in violation of the Constitution, said
Madonsela in the draft report.
But the DA-run government has hit
back. On the advice of a legal opinion
obtained from advocate Geoff
Budlender, supported by a prior opinion
from another senior counsel, Zille
rejected the draft report as
“fundamentally incorrect in its
understanding of the law”, and the key
finding as “fatally flawed” and charged
that unless the public protector reviews
the findings that they would have no
option but to take up the findings on
review.
Zille on Saturday said: “Our legal advice
from one of South Africa’s most
respected senior counsel is that the
participation on the Bid Evaluation
Committee of two special advisors was
not unlawful”.
“Further, the draft finding that the
contract should be terminated is a
misdirection and that even if an
application were made to court to have
the contract set aside, such application
would not, on the advice received,
succeed,” said Zille.
29 Jan 2013, 19:42 pm
@charo-339: crude he says…
29 Jan 2013, 19:42 pm
@Transformation-340:
She’s changed her tune.
Must be all the Gupta money
Have we taken delivery yet?
29 Jan 2013, 19:43 pm
@Transformation-340: spelling gone to naught…typing while throwing cans…
29 Jan 2013, 19:45 pm
@gunther-342: yup…Gupta lifestyle
they want in.
29 Jan 2013, 19:46 pm
one has to give it to these Guptas, having both the ANC & DA in the pocket…smooth operators…
later fellas
29 Jan 2013, 19:50 pm
Seeing as Gnome HQ are maintaining radio silence over the Bulls
Matfield making an impact
The impact of record-breaking retired Springbok Victor Matfield as a coach is already being felt by the Bulls.
Matfield – who last year served as a line-out consultant in an advisory capacity at Loftus Versfeld – was appointed the forwards and attack coach for the franchise this season.
The 35-year-old, who led the Bulls to all three of their Super Rugby titles, is rated as “phenomenal” by head coach Frans Ludeke.
“It is great to have him back in the inner circle of the team, where the things are happening,” Ludeke told Rugby365 in an interview ahead of the Bulls’ first pre-season match – the Gauteng Challenge encounter with the Lions at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.
“It may be in a different capacity, but he is making a very big impact – the players are enjoying having him here.
“His knowledge is phenomenal and he comes across very strongly as a coach.
“He is a great teacher and his sessions are very interesting – there are lots of game-related things.”
Ludeke said one of the advantages of Matfield the coach is that he played for such a long time and worked under many coaches.
“He has a great feel for how to put a [training] session together,” Ludeke said, adding: “There is no doubt he is making a huge impact.”
Matfield, who retired from playing after the 2011 World Cup, featured in 110 Tests for South Africa – bettered only by John Smit’s 111 internationals.
Meanwhile, the Bulls head coach, Ludeke, said a number of frontline players will not feature in the Orlando showdown.
Players like Francois Venter, Zane Kirchner, Werner Kruger and Callie Visagie all suffering from minor strains.
Venter (groin), Kirchner (back), Kruger (back) and Visagie (hamstring) will miss the clash – as will Tony Jantjies (compassionate leave after the death of his father), Wilhelm Steenkamp (AC joint, five weeks), Marcel van der Merwe (knee rehab, four months), Dean Greyling (foot, three weeks) and Basil Short (AC joint, two weeks).
Grant Hattingh (ankle), Akona Ndungane (groin), Wiaan Liebenberg (hamstring), Dewald Potgieter (back) and Louis Fouchè (ankle) has been declared fit – although the two loose forwards, Liebenberg and Potgieter, will only train on Tuesday.
Ludeke said he will field two different line-ups in the pre-season matches against the Lions (this week) and the Cheetahs (in Polokwane next week).
Veteran midfielder Wynand Olivier will also not be considered for selection this week, although he returned from his stint in Japan without injury.
29 Jan 2013, 20:12 pm
@TooMuchRugby-328:
who cares?
29 Jan 2013, 20:13 pm
@Transformation-341:
no….
bullshitartist he says..
29 Jan 2013, 20:17 pm
@ryecatcher-334:
if you get lucky, your house in crestholme will overlook inanda dam.
quite spectacular.
and the fish eagles are in abundance there.
however, when you get bored, you and i can go to hillcrest rugby club for a chat and a beer.
29 Jan 2013, 20:19 pm
Israel’s final election results show the following results:
1) 31 Likud-Yisrael Beitenu. Likud, the party of Benjamin Netanyahu and Yisrael Beitenu (the Russian immigrant party)
2) 19 Yesh Atid (there is a future). This is a secular centrist party, headed by former Israeli journalist Yair Lapid
3) 15 Labor. This is a socio-economic party headed by Shelly Yachimovich.
4) 12 Jewish Home. This is a nationalistic modern Orthodox party headed by Naphtali Bennett
5) 11 Shas. This is a Sephardic Ultra-Orthodox party
6) 7 United Torah Judaism. This is a Askenazi Ulta-Orthodox party
7) 6 Hatnua (The Movement). This is the party of Tzipi Livni. She is a strong advocate of peace negotiations with the Palestinians.
8) 6 Meretz (The Movement). Far left wing party.
9) 2 Kadima. This party is headed by Shaul Mofaz. He also advocates peace negotiations with the Palestinians.
In Israel, you vote for a political party. You don’t vote for a specific candidate. The leader of the political party which receives the most votes gets to form a coalition of parties to establish a government and become Prime Minister. As a result, Benjamin Netanyahu is in position to remain as Prime Minister of Israel. In realizing this fact, following the election results, Netanyahu said, “I’m proud to be your prime minister. I thank you for giving me a chance, for the third time, to lead the State of Israel. It is a great privilege and a great responsibility.”Then, he outlined five major principles of the next government:
1) Security. Stopping Iran from getting a nuclear weapon
2) Fiscal responsibility. Due to a large government spending deficit, cuts in government spending.
3) Political responsibility. Seeking peace with the Palestinians
4) Equal distribution of burden in society. This means drafting Ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students into the Israeli military
5) Social and economic responsibility: Cut the cost of living and housing prices
Based upon these guidelines, Netanyahu will attempt for form a government. Since there are 120 members in the Israeli Knesset, he needs at least 61 members to form a majority government. Ideally, he would like to form a government with about 80 members. This would prevent his government from being toppled if one of the parties in the coalition becomes unhappy with one of the domestic or foreign policy decisions adopted by the government. While this may be a goal, because of the competing political interests of the various elected parties, this goal will not likely be achievable.
It would seem that Netanyahu has three viable options to form a government:
1) Right Wing coalition: Likud-Beitenu joining Jewish Home and the Ultra-Orthodox parties. This would give him a coalition of 61. However, this government could easily be accused of being against the peace process. It could result in an international economic boycott against Israel for failing to negotiate with the Palestinians. With the Ultra-Orthodox in the coalition, Netanyahu would not be able to get approval to draft Yeshiva students into the Israeli military.
2) Center-Right coalition: Likud-Beitenu joining Yesh Atid (Yair Lapid) and Jewish Home. This would give him a coalition of 62. With this government, Netanyahu could better implement his domestic policies but would be weak against international pressure concerning the peace process. So, this also could result in an international economic boycott against Israel for failing to negotiate with the Palestinians.
3) Left Wing coaltion: Likud-Beitenu joining Yesh Atid (Yair Lapid), Labor (Shelly Yachimovich), The Movement (Tzipi Livni), Kadima (Shaul Mofaz). This would give him a coalition of 73. This would be the strongest government against international pressure regarding the peace process. It would also be a government which could implement Netanyahu’s domestic policies. However, Labor (Shelly Yachimovich) doesn’t want to be in government with Netanyahu. She also would like to topple his government so she could possibly be Prime Minister. With this government, Netanyahu risks the greatest chance of losing his political power.
Based upon the election results and the political negotiating that is going on to form a coalition government, I believe that Israel is at a historical cross roads where it must choose between secular Zionism or nationalist / religious Zionism. In Ezekiel 37, the dry bones coming to life comes about in 2 stages. The first is a physical return (secular Zionism) and this is followed by a spiritual return (religious Zionism). With the results of the elections, it seems that Netanyahu has a choice of embracing secular Zionism (a left wing government), religious Zionism (a right wing government) or a combination of the two. However, in seeking to achieve a combination of the two, the secular Zionists are rejecting the policies of the religious Zionists and the religious Zionists are rejecting the policies of the secular Zionists.
So, which government will Netanyahu choose? In the next several weeks, we should begin to know.
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 [7] 8 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.