Old and new a sign of good times
4 Feb 2013
MARK KEOHANE, in his Business Day column, writes that veteran Juan Smith’s performance was a reminder of a good Bok past and Jan Serfontein’s qualities are about a good future. Both are an asset to our rugby.
There is no such thing as a pre-season friendly in South African rugby. What was a supposed first hit out for the Stormers could easily have been a Super Rugby match played at the most critical juncture of the season. It was full on.
It was unrelenting and both teams were playing to win. Both teams kicked for goal at vital times and neither bought into the 10-try feasts usually associated with warm-up matches. Tries were at a minimum and both sides tackled.
The quality of the math was remarkable given it was the first week of February. The Cheetahs won with an injury-time penalty but the biggest winner was surely the sight of Juan Smith back on a rugby field and as imposing as ever.
Smith is one of the great loose forwards of the last decade. He is also one of the least spoken and written about, but every South African supporter would have kept an eye on his comeback in Bloemfontein.
Schalk Burger’s return is a week or two away and if Smith and Burger can make it to July with knees, hands, feet and head intact the Bok pack will again be the envy of the rugby world.
Smith was darn good given he has been out for 18 months with an Achilles injury that threatened closure on his career. What a wonderful view to see him rampant and playing as fearlessly as is his norm.
In Smith South Africa has a legend but watch centre Jan Serfontein of the Bulls. He will play for the Boks before the year is over. He was the world U20 player in the Baby Boks tournament-winning effort in Cape Town last year and he has been nurtured into senior rugby without haste and with plenty conviction.
Some players simply make the transition from juniors to seniors and Serfontein is one of those. He is a also a beast, physically the most imposing centre in South Africa and one of the biggest in the game. He’s just 20 years old but it’s his skill and natural feel for the game that is even more impressive than his physical presence.
Not since Danie Gerber weaved destruction has a player looked as capable of doing as he pleases from broken player. If Bok coach Heyneke Meyer battled with some positions in 2012 it won’t be the case this season.
There is so much new talent in the South African game and there is also massive changes to what paraded as Super Rugby in New Zealand and Australia.
It is heartening to see how the Lions have embraced their year out of Super Rugby. Johann Ackermann is bringing through another generation of player and the Lions have been committed in everything they have done on the field this year.
The year regrouping could be the best thing that has ever happened.. The core of the Super Rugby team is on loan to other South African franchises and there’s a very promising group being played in the season’s first month of matches.
Rugby in South Africa is strong and globally it is healthy.
The sevens in New Zealand was the best tournament I’ve watched and Kenya were 10 seconds away from a miracle win. The Africans had beaten the Boks, beaten hosts New Zealand and were leading England 19-12 with 10 seconds to go. They turned over the ball, England scored and in the sudden death scored again to win the tournament.
But what a display from the Keyans who have benefited from the structure and intelligence of English coach Mike Friday. Kenya now play the game like they understand it and not just on natural feel. They understand defence, thrive on it and they were the most physical of teams at the tournament. A coach does make a difference.
The Boks have opted for more agility and players blessed with a step but not with size. There is no substitute for physicality in rugby. When the Bok Sevens have had more bulk than balanced runners they have been effective.
Paul Treu is currently trading on goodwill as coach as the Sevens has been in free fall for some time now. It can’t be a fait accompli that he is the best there is. Result don’t make a convincing argument.
Finally the Six Nations delivered on the promise with Wales diabolical against Ireland and England ruthless against Scotland.
The global game needs seven to 10 teams to be a factor in between World Cups and England and France most definitely are the equal of South Africa and Australia with New Zealand still out in front, but not by a lot.
The rugby season will run until December but the break over the last two months has been too long. Just like Juan Smith’s performance on Saturday it is full on from hereon in and be confident that South Africa’s Super Rugby challenge can deliver a winner this year.
1,605 Comments
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4 Feb 2013, 19:20 pm
@RL-450: Al the yhave to do is win one game…..only one game, and they avoid the shame the Lions carry…(and the Bulls lest we forget….)
4 Feb 2013, 19:20 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-447:
And this group are true marketeers as well – being able to download their shows for between usd 10 and 12 which is not massive.
Have a blast!
4 Feb 2013, 19:23 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-448:
And one of the band members got Carmen Electra to be his “in-flight” entertainment!
4 Feb 2013, 19:25 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-451: most teams will rotate and field thgeir reserves against the entitled rubbish – still they will lose everything.
4 Feb 2013, 19:30 pm
Blah blah blah fake little guppy
4 Feb 2013, 19:35 pm
@RL-454:
The Lions – my little guppie – were also rotating their players. But to no avail.
It was like rearranging the deskchairs on the Titanic!
4 Feb 2013, 19:35 pm
@Transformation-416:
You were right. Nemantandani confirmed that Igesund will stay on as Bafana coach until after the SWC next year.
I liked the analogy he used: “We tell our children we want A’s and B’s but when they come home with C’s and D’s, we don’t chuck them out onto the street.”
Good decision by SAFA.
4 Feb 2013, 19:35 pm
It is blub blub you papbek brokeback.
4 Feb 2013, 19:38 pm
I see our Communications Minister’s boyfriend scored a nice payday for four days work.
Nom nom nom.
4 Feb 2013, 19:38 pm
Papbek brokeback.
That all you got?
4 Feb 2013, 19:38 pm
@I am a stormer-456: I. Blame **** Muir and **** Muir alone – but that is in the past my fine feathered friend – furture history is about to be made. Stay tuned for the live rapings.
4 Feb 2013, 19:39 pm
@I am a stormer-452: Cheers!! Will report back, hopefully with glee and delight
@RL-454: I don’t think anyone is under any illusion as to the King’s chances in terms of tournament success. Most fans are incredibly realistic, unlike Lionsfansfromyearspast…..(you know the type of Lions fan I refer to of course: 10 years of false hope and false new dawns…..) The Kings fans are just happy their team is able to compete, and why shouldn’t they be? They deserve top flight rugby just as much as anyone else…..and I’ve a feeling their stadium numbers will outshine the Ellis Park’s. Fuckinghellinahandbasket, there were 17 000 folk watching Maties at the Danie Craven stadium this evening….pfffft, Ellis Park.
They just need to win one game…….one game….
4 Feb 2013, 19:40 pm
@Dawn-460: don’t need more than the truth.
4 Feb 2013, 19:40 pm
@RL-450: imagine that wishing we surpass your ignominous records
the Lions are the perennial benchmark for kakness in SA….
4 Feb 2013, 19:40 pm
Rapings!
Obsessed!
4 Feb 2013, 19:41 pm
@nama1-457: Bloodygoodnews. I reckon without this AFCON pressure he was under, he is going to be able to do quite a bit….
He’s started something good….would be stupid to throw it away now.
4 Feb 2013, 19:42 pm
@I am a stormer-456: Replacing one blown lightbulb with another….not only players…coaches 2
4 Feb 2013, 19:42 pm
Papbek brokeback the “truth”?
4 Feb 2013, 19:43 pm
@RL-454: you think teams played the full strength teams against your surrendermonkeys? what a joke…
4 Feb 2013, 19:44 pm
Well done to the Proteas on an emphatic victory. A special salute to the following players:
Greame Smith for equaling Ponting’s record as the captain with the most test victories (48 each)
Dale Steyn with his best test match figure of his career.
AB Div for equaling the world record for catches in a test (11)
Amla for becoming the no. 1 test batsman in the world.
What a team taking into consideration that you still have Kallis and Vernon in the line up as well.
4 Feb 2013, 19:44 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-462: dog food – Lions had on average 23000 Lions for their matches – I don’t think many queens will pitch up to see 100 point hidings.
4 Feb 2013, 19:45 pm
This is the truth
You are an obnoxious name-calling rooi leeu who has suddenly started humping shark leg.
And it’s not surprising. You are nicely at their maggot level.
4 Feb 2013, 19:45 pm
@Dawn-468:
He worships at the altar of truth.
The empties return counter at Macro.
4 Feb 2013, 19:45 pm
@RL-461:
You blame one man. And he didn’t even make it onto the field. Interesting.
4 Feb 2013, 19:46 pm
@Transformation-469: well the guppies and states fielded their full strenght teams – and lost (yes/no)
4 Feb 2013, 19:47 pm
@nama1-470:
An awesome group of players.
Shame we aren’t playing many more tests this year.
It would have been nice for the boys to go and manshame the Windies in April.
4 Feb 2013, 19:49 pm
Leave my Windies out of this
4 Feb 2013, 19:51 pm
@nama1-470:
And AB
First man to take 11 catches and score a 100 in the same test. Unfuckingbelievable. And yet he misses out on the MOM. This test team is slowly becoming something special.
4 Feb 2013, 19:51 pm
@nama: it would’ve been a travesty…SAFA are clueless buffoons but even this was clear to them…they appointed GI in july & he has secured our first playoff appearance in more than a decade.
4 Feb 2013, 19:52 pm
@gunther-459:
Funny.
You haven’t said anything about the prize fixing by the big construction companies on here.
I wonder why seeing that you are so much against fraud on all fronts.
4 Feb 2013, 19:54 pm
@nama1-480:
Funny indeed.
How are they getting away with it.
Someone is getting paid neh?
My little apologist.
4 Feb 2013, 19:55 pm
@nama1-480:
What prizes are they fixing?
4 Feb 2013, 19:57 pm
@Dawn-472: To be honest Dawn. I feel we are the real winners here… Thesimplefuckingsalad could have decided to support the Stormers this season…
Think of it…. and then heave a huge sigh of peaceful relief
4 Feb 2013, 19:57 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-451: Bulls, Lions and Stormers. Remember – the Stormers won 0 games in 1997 as well on the back of the fact that they weren’t good enough to qualify for the competition. So – in fact, the Kings already dont carry the Stormers shame.
4 Feb 2013, 19:58 pm
@nama1-480: only the government are corrupt…jy weet nie?
4 Feb 2013, 19:58 pm
@RL-471: No you are wrong. I will not miss a queens match for anything in the world. It will be the most awesome thing to watch.
4 Feb 2013, 19:59 pm
@nama1-480: Hauw….eeee…so you are thinking that because one does it, it is ok for the other one ? Heh ?
4 Feb 2013, 19:59 pm
@RL-471:
On average 20 000 of those spectators were most probably supporters of the opposition SA teams like the Stormers and the Bulls.
@gunther-476:
True. Can you imagine how great that team will be if Morkel and Alviro can contribute more consistently?
Unstoppable.
They had a long test season since the England tour. They deserve a rest after this series.
4 Feb 2013, 20:00 pm
@Transformation-485: And only you are dumb.
4 Feb 2013, 20:01 pm
@RL-471: You underestimate the passion people have for their teams….That’s the problem, most feel it is their divine right to play super rugby.
All over the world, kakteams are being chucked out of competitions for woeful performances. For some unluckyfucks, this could mean only one season of woeful…..youbuffetbrekers had 10 years to perfect the art of going nowherefuckingfast.
Tis the way of the world = lowest ranking has the broom shoveduptheircollectivebuttcracks.
This might just pull your union right…
4 Feb 2013, 20:03 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-490: All over the world, kakteams are being chucked out of competitions for woeful performances.
Really ? Are you talking about the structured promotion/relegation scheme in European football ?
4 Feb 2013, 20:04 pm
uh-oh.
The Bulls Vodacom Cup side is getting their dingus handed to them.
4 Feb 2013, 20:05 pm
@nama1-488: Have you ever fallen for a 419 scam ? I think you are doff enough for sure.
I see the e-mails are still coming out so obviously people are still falling for it.
4 Feb 2013, 20:07 pm
@nama1-488: no they were mostly lost Lions who decided to support the visiting team for some weird reason.
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-490: what the hell are you talking about – you drunk on snoek wine or what. Lions are taking a break – that’s all. Just like the WP did in 2007.
4 Feb 2013, 20:07 pm
@Dusky-484: Also fine……but still doesfuckall to make 10 years of Lions shackledragging at the bottom disappear…..
If the Lions were your employees, you would have retrenched them 9 years ago. Yes? No?
Before you go on your regular tantrumade, remember this: The Kings only have one season to impress their employers…..not 10.
4 Feb 2013, 20:07 pm
@gunther-481:
Of course someone gets paid. We both know it. Some other people walk away with a much bigger profit than they would’ve, not so?
@Dusky-487:
Not at all. They should all go to jail and rot there afa I’m concerned. I would just like to see that Gunther also post fraud by others as well when it involves tax money since he made it his mission to let everybody know about government fraud.
He seems to be nitpicking what fraudulent activities he posts on here.
@gunther-482:
Prices
4 Feb 2013, 20:10 pm
@RL-494: @Dusky-493: A match made in American Horror Story heaven…..
4 Feb 2013, 20:11 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-497: The Asylum version….
4 Feb 2013, 20:14 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-497:
They deserve each other.
4 Feb 2013, 20:16 pm
@Dusky-489: hello daski
for someone who professes here every day to be sooooo intelligent, it certainly doesn’t come across in your posts AT ALL hahaha.
What is the Lions win-ratio since the break up of the Cats in 2005?
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