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
Pages: « 1 … 14 15 16 17 18 [19] 20 21 22 23 24 … 33 » Show All
5 Feb 2013, 15:42 pm
@stormersboy-895:
Ahem.
5 Feb 2013, 15:44 pm
@Taahirah-896:
Naa! I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted the money.
5 Feb 2013, 15:45 pm
Sharks team to take on the Leapards in PMB.
. Allan Dell
2. Kyle Cooper
3. Wiehahn Herbst
4. Pieter-Steph du Toit
5. Franco van der Merwe
6. Jacques Botes
7. Jean Deysel
8. Lubabalo Mtembu
9. Charl McLeod
10. Patrick Lambie
11. Lwazi Mvovo
12. Francois Steyn (Captain)
13. Tim Whitehead
14. Odwa Ndungane
15. Riaan Viljoen
Replacements
16. Craig Burden
17. Tendai Mtawarira
18. Jandre Marais
19. Anton Bresler
20. Keegan Daniel
21. Cobus Reinach
22. Meyer Bosman
23. Paul Jordaan
24. Louis Ludik
5 Feb 2013, 15:46 pm
@the curse-900:
Laugh at your problems, everybody else does.
5 Feb 2013, 15:46 pm
@Nikita-902: There are easier ways of making money……
5 Feb 2013, 15:46 pm
lol I see nothings changed around here. The usual insults flying about and people getting riled up and arguing about who´s dingalang ling long is bigger.
If no-one replied to the trolling Kiwis then they would soon leave.
Serfontein wont be warming the bench this year – the Bulls would be stupid not to include him in the squad – he is miles better than the so called Bok JJ Engelbrecht.
5 Feb 2013, 15:47 pm
@Nikita-904: yawn… do keep trying though scrubber, you may just get funny at some stage..
5 Feb 2013, 15:48 pm
@gunther-901: “Frank Drebin- Naked Gun 2&1/2″
5 Feb 2013, 15:49 pm
@stormersboy-905:
I know! That is the reason I left.
By the way: Does this rag smell like chloroform to you?
5 Feb 2013, 15:50 pm
@the curse-907:
If winning isn’t everything then why keep score? Chill bro.
5 Feb 2013, 15:57 pm
@Nikita-909: You are almost as beautiful as my sister. But well, you know, that’s illegal……
5 Feb 2013, 15:59 pm
Must be really sad to stay up all night just to insult SAFFAS on a SAFFA blog. Must be too broke to afford hookers…
5 Feb 2013, 16:03 pm
@John Galt-903:
Looks a good side they will give them a proper hiding.
Surprised they look at Frans Steyn as captaincy material. One of our very best, but doesn’t come across as the greatest leader. Just a warm-up I suppose.
5 Feb 2013, 16:03 pm
@the curse-892:
Nah there are Aussies, Brits and even Kiwi’s also laughing at you today on Keo…
5 Feb 2013, 16:05 pm
@hendrikp-913:
Interesting indeed…
5 Feb 2013, 16:05 pm
@skunk-912: nah, its good fun actually..
do you talk Saffa funny as well?
@bryce_in_oz-914: cool, glad I can bring you all together… some of you think way too much of yourselves..
5 Feb 2013, 16:12 pm
@the curse-916:
Listen man,
Might be time to look in the mirror and decide whether this is what you want to be.
Grow up hey.
5 Feb 2013, 16:12 pm
@gunther-899: ” Maybe Poep is in the extreme makeover
business.”
too q.ueer for a maori guy.
5 Feb 2013, 16:12 pm
@poppa
point made. ulale kahle…
5 Feb 2013, 16:14 pm
@Transformation-918: thats funny coming from a xhosa warrior like yourslef trans..
Did you know I just got Cluedo, the South African edition.
apparently the striking miners did it.
5 Feb 2013, 16:14 pm
Super Rugby Top 6:
1 Sharks
2 Reds
3 Highlanders
———————————————–
4 Stormers
5 Bulls
6 Cheetahs
Heard it here first.
5 Feb 2013, 16:16 pm
There’s a fine line between love and loafinelineve.
5 Feb 2013, 16:16 pm
@Transformation-918:
How many pall-bearers do you think we’ll need at his funeral?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Only takes one person to push a wheelie bin.
5 Feb 2013, 16:19 pm
@hendrikp-923: thats almost as funny as your self grandiose perceptions about your rugby knowledge..
5 Feb 2013, 16:23 pm
@the curse-924:
Is this when I lose the plot, drop some racist remarks & then decide to spend my nights trying to seek revenge?
Just trying to emulate you is all.
5 Feb 2013, 16:26 pm
@hendrikp-925: be your own person Hendrik..
its that ingrained sense of racism that comes naturally to you all, just ask your dad how he approached it and Im sure you’ll become a natural soon enough..
how is NZ at the moment?
5 Feb 2013, 16:29 pm
@the curse-926:
My dad passed away 25 years ago on the Border. Just for future reference….
New Zealand has been great actually. Had about 2 weeks of sunshine before a big storm on Monday but it’s looking like more sunshine now! Thanks for asking.
5 Feb 2013, 16:39 pm
Poeps: no parents!
come on it is disgusting when the likes of Fern do it..
5 Feb 2013, 16:45 pm
oooppsss….that taste of dogs.hit under your sole must be nauseating, eh Poeps?
5 Feb 2013, 16:50 pm
trams. was I mocking his fathers passing? no, do you know the difference?
dilligafrican. yep. I should really stop standing on SAs huh ?
5 Feb 2013, 16:51 pm
Joanne hit the “two for a penny” quotation website again.
5 Feb 2013, 16:52 pm
@hendrikp-927:
Where on the border Hendrik?
5 Feb 2013, 16:52 pm
robert ebersohn vs jan serfontein…
paul jordaan vs william small-smith…
5 Feb 2013, 16:54 pm
@the curse-930: you were making allusion that his dad was racist. not?
5 Feb 2013, 16:55 pm
Trans
isn’t every saffa though?
5 Feb 2013, 16:57 pm
@the curse-935:
Scuse me?
5 Feb 2013, 16:57 pm
Just picture my delight.
Finished a meeting. Now logging onto Keo, looking forward to some grown-up chat.
Not to be.
This is becoming a farce.
Keo – sort your site out. Ban “it”, now and forever. For the survival of your site.
5 Feb 2013, 16:59 pm
@the curse-935:
I’m not a racist
I hate everyone equally
5 Feb 2013, 17:00 pm
@willievz-937:
hahaha I do wish youd stop talking about me and live to the promise you made of ignoring me..
do you think you can manage that?
5 Feb 2013, 17:02 pm
@willievz-937:
> logging onto Keo, looking forward to some grown-up chat
Grown up chat?
Regtig Willie?
Op Keo?
5 Feb 2013, 17:02 pm
@the curse-935: that’s not very nice poepsie….someone take your skokstok away?
5 Feb 2013, 17:04 pm
Interesting article from stuff.co.nz…
NZ worst for domestic violence – UN report
The Government needs to immediately launch an inquiry into why New Zealand has such high domestic violence and maternal mortality rates compared with other Organisation for Economic Development and Co-operation (OECD) countries, the head of United Nations Women New Zealand says.
A report by UN Women was released in Wellington today and canvassed 22 developed nations about subjects including domestic violence and maternal mortality.
New Zealand was ranked either at or near the bottom of the countries in the study in both areas and UN Women New Zealand national president Rae Julian called on the Government to ”actively investigate the causes of New Zealand’s high level of maternal mortality and issues of partner violence against women”.
Initiatives needed to be implemented to address the issues highlighted by the report, she said.
The study found a third of the country’s women had reported experiencing physical violence from a partner during the period 2000 to 2010.
That puts New Zealand as the worst affected of the 14 countries which responded to the question.
In the past year, New Zealand rated 11th out of the 12 countries that reported violence against women, with only Finland rating lower.
Sexual violence from partners showed a similar trend, with New Zealand coming out worst of the 12 countries that responded to the question.
The closest ranked to New Zealand’s 14 per cent was Norway, at 9 per cent.
In the past year, 2 per cent of women reported experiencing sexual violence from a partner, ranking bottom of the list.
The report follows a Ministry of Social Development study released last month which found more than a quarter of the country’s children had witnessed family violence.
The survey was published in the latest social policy journal and interviewed almost 2100 children nationwide, the Sunday News reported.
Of those surveyed, 27 per cent had seen physical violence against an adult and most of those incidents had been in the home.
When adults children loved were involved in the violence it had more impact on the child and also affected how they coped, and their decisions about telling anyone, with most too scared to speak out, the report found.
Meanwhile, the UN report also found New Zealand as among the world’s leaders in providing skilled assistance at child delivery in 100 per cent of cases.
However, at 14 deaths per 100,000, New Zealand also we had one of the highest levels of maternal mortality within the OECD. It ranked 20th, with only the United States and Luxembourg lower.
5 Feb 2013, 17:04 pm
@Dawn-931:
It’s the same one Too Much Buggery uses.
Maybe they get a bulk discount?
5 Feb 2013, 17:05 pm
@Stawm-932:
I’m not sure. Based at Katima Mulilo but I think maybe Rundu?
Not in combat. Was driving military ‘bakkie’ and it flipped, broke his neck.
Was a lieutenant at the time of his death I believe. 2IC of Rifleman platoon. Played hooker for Army side (and Paarl Boys 1st XV).
5 Feb 2013, 17:05 pm
@victoriabok-940: Lol, nee nie regtig nie…
5 Feb 2013, 17:05 pm
@victoriabok-940: Veral nie op ‘n site waarvan die eigenaar self nie groter as ‘n 10 jarige is nie
5 Feb 2013, 17:09 pm
@willievz-942:
“The closest ranked to New Zealand’s 14 per cent was Norway, at 9 per cent. ”
Isn’t this where Duskeee is?
5 Feb 2013, 17:09 pm
@willievz-942: hahaha how adult of you Willie..
maybe its because NZ citizens still have faith in the police and judicial process in NZ, unlike SA were a murderer can basically pay a fine and escape prison..
good example though bru
5 Feb 2013, 17:11 pm
@Dilligafrican-946:
En ook nie waar Transie 24 uur per dag reselfdertyd post onder al sy verskillende name en dan lang gesprekke met homself voer nie
Hy’t al twee laptops en een Ipad so uit ge-wear
5 Feb 2013, 17:13 pm
@hendrikp-944:
Just checked, was a Cpt. at that time.
http://www.justdone.co.za/roh/main.php?page=View_Person&PersonNumber=1139
@the curse-948:
Fair point, but I tell you what – NZ cops are soft, and trained to be so hey! A tougher line would probably do some good.
One got fired just the other day for putting a girl who was being verbally abusive and took his hat into a hold and taking her outside (the pub).
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