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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5 Feb 2013, 07:47 am
@goodstuff-647: Do any Pacific Islanders feature in gridiron? You think they are suited to the game?
5 Feb 2013, 07:48 am
@Chico the Chihuahua-628:
Baie geluk Chihuahuatjie! Wat het julle toe gewen. A snotklap in NZ. Vooitog.
Het die WP 3rd spannetjie nie julle 1st spannetjie in Durban in ‘n eindstryd geklop nie? Ek vra ma net.
5 Feb 2013, 07:50 am
@Transformation-641:
Nou praat jy die waarheid.
5 Feb 2013, 08:06 am
@Transformation-648: The man is a racist biggot who supports the modern day KKK. (The NRA if you didn’t know). He held a bloody gun rally after the Collinbine gun masscre. The guy serves only the cash he gets from gun companies.
5 Feb 2013, 08:08 am
@Angostura-651: There a couple of Samoans in the competition. They are great athletes so of course they fair well in the game, but mostly defensive line or offensive line (those are the props of NFL basically).
5 Feb 2013, 08:10 am
@goodstuff-655: jeesh, that must be a great earnings opportunity for them … wonder why so few go for it
5 Feb 2013, 08:31 am
What happened to the days when you could expect a new article by 08h00 AM?
5 Feb 2013, 08:34 am
Is Charlton Heston still alive
5 Feb 2013, 08:34 am
@Angostura-656:
My estimate was wrong –
Jan. 14, 2010
WHY DO MORE NFL PLAYERS COME FROM A TINY GROUP OF SOUTH PACIFIC ISLANDS THAN FROM ANY OTHER PLACE IN AMERICA? “60 MINUTES” FINDS OUT – SUNDAY ON CBS
NEW YORK — 60 MINUTES goes to American Samoa to find out how a territory with a population less than the capacity of a pro-football stadium sends more players to the NFL than any similarly populated place in America. In fact, boys born to Samoan parents are estimated to be 56 times more likely to play in the NFL than other Americans, reports Scott Pelley in his story to be broadcast Sunday, Jan. 17 (8-9 p.m., ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
The Samoan people tend to be on the larger side and the islands’ six high schools have sent 10 linemen to the NFL in the last five years. One of those 10 NFL linemen who played Samoan high school ball is the Cincinnati Bengals’ Domata Peko, who says Samoans’ speed plays a role as well. “The combination of size and ability and speed, that’s kind of hard to find. Big dudes who can have nimble feet and are able to run and go sideline to sideline,” says Peko. Peko’s teammate, another Samoan named Jonathan Fanene, is a defensive end who proves Peko’s point with his six sacks and a touchdown this season. Says Fanene, “With the talent that we have, we have to take pride of it, especially when you have the opportunity to come to the mainland.”
Fanene’s little, well, not so little, brother, 17-yr.-old Aiulua, is poised to follow in Jonathan’s footsteps. At 6-5 and 280lbs., he’s considering offers from Arizona University and Oregon State. Like many other Samoans, he does a day’s worth of chores before school starts. His father, David, thinks the discipline has a lot to do with his kids’ football success. “That’s how he’s been brought up. Discipline. Obedience should be involved in this house and I am expecting our children to obey us,” Fanene tells Pelley
Jonathan Fanene built his family a palatial home in Samoa with the seven-figure salary his NFL career affords him.
Perhaps the most famous Samoan in the NFL, Pittsburgh’s Troy Polamalu – born in the U.S. to Samoan parents – says the island is lucky to have the option of football. Beyond a career in the NFL, Samoans have little opportunity beyond the military or work in a tuna canning industry based there that is threatening to pull out soon. “The beautiful thing about football is it’s allowed us to get into education,” says Polamalu. “Football is something that comes naturally to us,” he tells Pelley.
There are currently more than 30 Samoans in the NFL and another 200-plus playing Division 1 college football. There are just 65,000 people living on the islands. “What if there were 120 million Samoans,” wonders Polamalu. “How many Samoans would there then be in the NFL?”
5 Feb 2013, 08:45 am
@Jeez-657: keo took his website back from HSM, so it’s only him & the Tank writing…Vrede, Cardinelli, Gareth prolly stayed at HSM..
5 Feb 2013, 08:47 am
@goodstuff-659:
those lads can eat as well.
they chow meat like fernley chows chicks.
5 Feb 2013, 08:54 am
@gunther-661:
But nothing like skop and his veggie platter…
5 Feb 2013, 08:55 am
@Transformation-660:
One quick way to cut the dead wood…now we just left with two dead trees!
5 Feb 2013, 08:58 am
@Transformation-660: So are they writing for another blog? HSM?
5 Feb 2013, 09:00 am
@Jeez-664: launching SARugbymag.co.za soon.
5 Feb 2013, 09:02 am
@Transformation-660:
Aaa got it – Highbury Safika Media… They’re probably going to set up a new website for HSM….? Whey did Keo.co.za leave HSM?
5 Feb 2013, 09:05 am
@goodstuff-659: goodstuff, that’s greatstuff for the Samoans … kinda thought the Merkans would’ve latched on to a goodthing
5 Feb 2013, 09:07 am
@Transformation-665:
Should be good, hopefully with some new writers/reporters. Wouldnt be a bad idea to get in some Afrikaans reporters too… There arent any real decent Afrikaans rugby websites/blogs out there… Big gap in the market…
5 Feb 2013, 09:08 am
@Transformation-660:
Indeed.
That copy won’t paste itself.
5 Feb 2013, 09:10 am
@Jeez-668: TooMuchRugby to maybe write in Latin … ook?
for the so fisticated pal ate … only
5 Feb 2013, 09:13 am
i see the farmworkers are to get R105 a day.
ffs, how is this not fair?
as long as we keep our people on menial wages and without hope for their children we will reap the whirlwind so why dont those anc c u n ts stop stealing everything that isnt nailed down and building palaces for that pig zuma and a tuck shop for his elephantine wife and get back to business with a bit of subsidised farming?
because they would rather steal and lie and cheat and pillage like pigs.
thats my rant over, have a pleasant day all you worker bees and get those tax returns in because the pigs need feeding.
5 Feb 2013, 09:13 am
664.
Keo will not be happy.
Wonder if he will take legal against them
5 Feb 2013, 09:17 am
@Jeez-666: ***-and-drugs-scandal-20120602/" rel="nofollow">http://www.citypress.co.za/sport/keohane-quits-amid-***-and-drugs-scandal-20120602/
5 Feb 2013, 09:17 am
@Jeez-668: You will hurt Xkreni WP’s feelings with this heartless comment. His voelmyhoring.com website is right up there with the best of Afrikaans journalism…..
Today is redhotday.
5 Feb 2013, 09:19 am
@goodstuff-659:
The American Samoans are in to the gridiron, whilst the Western Samoans are somewhat more traditional and stick to rugby and league.
5 Feb 2013, 09:19 am
@Jeez-666:
***.-and-drugs-scandal-20120602/" rel="nofollow">http://www.citypress.co.za/sport/keohane-quits-amid-***.-and-drugs-scandal-20120602/
remove the dot after s.ex
5 Feb 2013, 09:21 am
so i need a bit of advice guys.
i am off to mozam in three weeks to a beautiful spot with the spearfishing club for 8 nights.
now we are rapidly gathering school stuff like pens, paper, pencils, exam pads etc so we can present them to the local school but now xai xai is really in trouble with floods and farms washed away. diseases like malaria and cholera will flourish as well as hunger so we could switch to mozzie nets and water purification tabs for the people of xai xai?
gift of the givers are doing wonderful work in xai xai whereas the kids of the area we are going to dont have much outside assistance if any so who do we help?
will read your comments later shotalot.
5 Feb 2013, 09:24 am
@Te Rangatira-675: Yes, I also made that connection.
It’s American Somoa and Manu Samoa right?
5 Feb 2013, 09:25 am
@The Rangerman-677: Enjoy dude, soundsl ike fun.
5 Feb 2013, 09:25 am
So Keo, are we getting an article today or are you journos got writers block?
5 Feb 2013, 09:27 am
@The Rangerman-671:
especially as it turns out igovernment has been paying people R 60 a day.
@Jeez-668:
Big grap in the market
5 Feb 2013, 09:29 am
I see the new site launches the 11 Feb? The sarugbymag site.
5 Feb 2013, 09:29 am
@goodstuff-678:
American and Western Samoa
5 Feb 2013, 09:31 am
http://www.hsm.co.za/news/details/sa-rugby-magazine-gets-a-new-website
5 Feb 2013, 09:34 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-674:
Voelmyhoring…. classy site. I wouldnt write for that blog if I was a respectable rugby journalist.
5 Feb 2013, 09:36 am
@Jeez-685:
Class with a capital common…
SA Rugby magazine will be launching its new website in mid-February, just in time for the 2013 Super Rugby tournament. SARugbymag.co.za will be edited by editor Simon Borchardt, with senior staff writers Jon Cardinelli and Ryan Vrede, and junior staff writer Gareth Duncan, all contributing on a daily basis.
SARugbymag.co.za will provide rugby fans with the latest rugby news, informed opinion and analysis, video (in the form of SARugbymag TV), live score updates during matches, fixtures and logs, and much more. Readers will be able to comment on posts, and access the digital edition of the magazine for just R5.95 per issue.
5 Feb 2013, 09:41 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-686:
Thanks. This site is a sinking ship, good to know there will be a maiden voyage soon…
5 Feb 2013, 09:45 am
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SBW-v-White-Buffalo-live-in-SA-20130205
Sheez, I’m more excited about this than the RHCP’s gig….
5 Feb 2013, 09:48 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-686:
They could have called it http://www.keo-lite dot com.
I wonder whether the new site will also be Stormer dominated and if the sensitive bru’s (Puma and Sharkslover) will join or whether they will come back here as this site is now Nkita-less.
5 Feb 2013, 09:51 am
@Dawn-658: No, but his toupee is bravely soldiering on without him.
5 Feb 2013, 09:52 am
Has Tank tanked?
Only one article since he joined?
5 Feb 2013, 09:54 am
689.
The new site will charge.
5 Feb 2013, 09:57 am
@Robzim-689: @Brigadier Van Zyl-692: I also thought about that…… Some sort of subscription will have to be paid etc.
Maybe keo.co.za should encourage ‘bloggers’ to start writing articles? We could be mesmerized by a 1000000000 word piece mastered at the keyboards of Skop, ET, HG etc….
5 Feb 2013, 09:58 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-692: No it won’t.
5 Feb 2013, 10:00 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-693:
Quite frankly I’d be happy to pay them to keep quiet.
5 Feb 2013, 10:01 am
The bloggers are the main contributors to the site.
The articles are only the end to the means.
The journo’s contributions are secondary to the cause, it’s just a way to get us started.
Eg, this thread was about Juan and Nel and look how many twists and turns it has taken to reach this point, and let’s not even mention the “Hore” thread.
5 Feb 2013, 10:12 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-693: That’s happening already.
5 Feb 2013, 10:12 am
694
Thought i saw a subscription fee monthly somewhere?
5 Feb 2013, 10:13 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-693: Jojojo, Have just checked out voelmyhoringdotkom. Dis classy verby. En die ou kan mooi spel – ek hou veral van die Sprotprente-bladsy.
5 Feb 2013, 10:15 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-698: The digital edition of the MAGAZINE costs R5.95 per issue. All content on sarugbymag.co.za will be free, as it is on keo.co.za.
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