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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6 Feb 2013, 06:55 am
speaking of work… it beckons…
great (but all too brief) chat bryce and bill…
have yourselves a good one…
till next time…
6 Feb 2013, 06:58 am
@ufo-1201:
Cheers boet! Have a good one too. The real rugby needs to start soon…
6 Feb 2013, 07:07 am
@skopdiekan-1187:
Much like their sporting brothers, Manchester United and the All Blacks, everyone has ambitions to be seen in the colours of the most talked about team in world rugby….The Sharks.
Love them or hate them…The Sharks!!!!!
6 Feb 2013, 07:13 am
@Heavens Game-1137:
I once had a drinking session with Mr Blakeway…..the bloke had the funniest habit of opening his mouth to the side and pouring the grogg in…kinda like a dispenser.
He had a sense of humour like you would not believe..at the time he was working for Conrite Walls in Pinetown. His mode of transport..a standard Toyota bakkie…no fancy car donations in those days.
6 Feb 2013, 07:15 am
that Kiwi is disguting.
6 Feb 2013, 07:17 am
@skopdiekan-1187: how many of those players actually played u19 and u21 rugby for their “birth” provinces – do the research you will note very few of them did. You will also note that the bulk of them learnt to become professional rugby players by coming through the profesional ranks at their chosen rugby union (meaning academy, u19 and u21) – where a player is born and goes to school means jackshit.
All those Buullies born in the Western Cape are Bullies from u19 onwards. Get it.
6 Feb 2013, 07:30 am
i like Frans Steyn but he doesn’t strike me as leadership material.
all the pressure’s on the sharkies this year, i hope they dont bottle it.
6 Feb 2013, 07:33 am
Local trainer Colin Nathan, who has worked with Botha, has the final word.
“Sonny Bill looks like a Hollywood movie star. The trouble is he fights like one too.”
6 Feb 2013, 07:41 am
@RL-1206:
Trying to rationalise with a sociopath is and always will be a waste of time.
6 Feb 2013, 07:50 am
Can we at least get one rugby story a day? It is rugby season with lots of news, yet nothing new to read. I have to go to other rugby sites for news…
6 Feb 2013, 07:50 am
The Crusaders appear to be preparing for a return by Zac Guildford sometime this Super Rugby season.
It had been thought Kurt Baker would be elevated from the wider training squad to permanently replace Guildford, who’s on indefinite leave following another alcohol-related incident.
Assistant coach Aaron Mauger told RadioSport they’re hoping Guildford can get through the next few weeks and potentially make a return.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10863775
6 Feb 2013, 07:51 am
@Predawn-1209: if he cleans up and stops taking tik for just one day he will learn that all those so called sons of the EC actually never played u21 or profesional rugby in the EC. Only Odwa and Aikona and one or two more would be the exception.
6 Feb 2013, 07:54 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-1211:
Thanks for the news Whitney!!!
Hey Mark appoint Bakkies…
6 Feb 2013, 07:59 am
Check this out, no words required…
http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/special-features/cop-out-over-driver-stopped-at-lights-1.1464837#.URHtSh3qmJc
6 Feb 2013, 08:00 am
I scheme the **** dreams about sharks…mostly in a perverted way of course.
6 Feb 2013, 08:09 am
@Gumboots-1213:
its not rugby but this gave me a larf. i dont know how people can do this sort of thing.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4780312/Embarrassing-parents.html
6 Feb 2013, 08:13 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-1208:
This bout is going to re-ignite Saffer Keewee hostilities with Poep leading the charge.
6 Feb 2013, 08:18 am
@gunther-1217: Not if a washed up old has been klaps his idol so the snot sits like a halo around his head.
6 Feb 2013, 08:24 am
Mark why did you take back the site if you can not run it properly?
6 Feb 2013, 08:27 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-1216: Some stupid, some plain farking idiots that shouldn’t be allowed to breed.
Much like poepie & snoekie
6 Feb 2013, 08:35 am
Keo? you need a hand ?? articles have dried up……..
Oh well atleast the Sharks are making the world go round lol.
6 Feb 2013, 08:38 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-1207: Well as nothing does strike you much unless it’s a Blue Bull, so not surprised.
6 Feb 2013, 08:38 am
@BrumbiesBoy-1214:
hahaha
snaaks
@gunther-1217:
it wont be easy for Poeps, Sonny’s a crassy, flashy good looking young PI who’s gonna have his arse handed to him by an old and ugly d.utchman.
expect multiple rugby statistics from 2000 to the present (barring 2009 strangely) to prove just why saffas are arrogant deluded crunts for taking sad pleasure in seeing a “Kiwoan” get his p0&$ kicked in.
its gonna be sweet
6 Feb 2013, 08:39 am
Is this the end of the road for keo.co.za?
Should we have a farewell ceremony?
6 Feb 2013, 08:40 am
@Sharks_are_gonna_get_you-1222:
Wrong there
He’s a closet Shark
6 Feb 2013, 08:41 am
@Dawn-1224:
I will be making a last stand inside the Hore.
6 Feb 2013, 08:43 am
Never mind Keo what happened to his latest wingman TankMan.
Surely it hasn’t gone sour so k@k vinnag?
6 Feb 2013, 08:43 am
@gunther-1226:
I’ll light a few candles.
6 Feb 2013, 08:44 am
Lets ride this ***** out and say our farewell. Keo is dead. Well almost.
6 Feb 2013, 08:46 am
@gunther-1226:
But seriously.
This is unusual.
I think it’s over.
6 Feb 2013, 08:47 am
@wpstormerbok-1227: Tankman is very busy on Frontrowgrunt.co.za, twitter and Superbru, not sure where he is gonna get time with Keo.
6 Feb 2013, 08:53 am
The lack of new articles is only Keo’s way of getting us back because we ignored all the fresh articles for weeks and only posted on the Hore thread (Like immature juveniles if i may quote Skopskiet).
6 Feb 2013, 08:54 am
@Dilligafrican-1220:
its gobsmacking.
@Sharks_are_gonna_get_you-1222:
look, i like Frans Steyn… a lot…
he just doesn’t seem like a team leader to me, that’s all.
i do think he would be good in a leadership group though.
6 Feb 2013, 08:55 am
@Sharks_are_gonna_get_you-1231:
He was posting quite a few a couple weeks back, most felt he was a breath of fresh air after years of dribble served up by Ryahn & co.
Bring back Tank.
6 Feb 2013, 08:55 am
@Sharks_are_gonna_get_you-1231: No hits or comments on front row…..maybe milking the dwarf to catch a following.
@Robzim-1232: They were mostly kuk articles…
6 Feb 2013, 08:57 am
@wpstormerbok-1234: I will give him your message lol
6 Feb 2013, 08:58 am
@Robzim-1232: From what i have read so far? you are quoting a man that is most juvenile and immature.
Never let that rub off on you Rob!!!
6 Feb 2013, 09:00 am
@Dawn-1230:
all good things come to an end…
6 Feb 2013, 09:04 am
@Dawn-1230:
I don’t think so.
It’s the bloggers that make this site.
It’s never been about the writers, the Hore is testament to that.
6 Feb 2013, 09:04 am
a problem for Poeps is that other websites dont as easily allow for abusive codependent relationships, punctuated with tons of offensive, racist & other language, with saffas.
6 Feb 2013, 09:04 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-1238: ja, I mean the sponsors have gone from decent providers of grog to 2 power tool operations.
6 Feb 2013, 09:04 am
Ek sal die site run. Al wat ek vra is a cut and paste fooi.
6 Feb 2013, 09:06 am
@Robzim-1232:
Speaking of immature juveniles how is the hairyoldlesbian?
6 Feb 2013, 09:06 am
@wpstormerbok-1242: kry ‘n sker en ‘n stok Pritt
6 Feb 2013, 09:08 am
@Sharks_are_gonna_get_you-1237:
This place would not have been the same without him…. if there is a poll today to determine the most well known blogger in keo’s history i am fairly sure he will win it. I mean the man has created a whole new language amongst other achievements
He will win a few other polls here too, lol, but let’s rather not speculate about it seeig that he is not here.
6 Feb 2013, 09:09 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-1240:
You mean free therapy?
Agreed it’s very rare.
Probably not covered by the Security Guards of Australia Union health plan.
6 Feb 2013, 09:10 am
My eerste submission is free Keo…
Clyde Rathbone, The Roar, 4 Feb 2013
Post-game travel days vary little and usually involve lots of sore bodies, packing, long flights, aeroplane food, being annoyed by Nic White, flight delays, buses, punching Nic White, airport terminals and lost luggage before finally arriving home to the comfort of love ones and a familiar bed.
As I write this I’m sitting on a plane heading from Darwin to Brisbane after which I’ll hop on a connecting flight to Canberra.
Yesterday we managed to get a narrow victory over the Force in Darwin. I’ve never been to Darwin much less played rugby there. Labelling Darwin as ‘hot’ is to hopelessly fail to convey the oven-like conditions in the Top End.
The moment you step out of the airport terminal the humidity engulfs you in a way that makes finding air conditioning the sole purpose of one’s life. Training in these conditions gives new meaning to the words ‘cruel and unusual’ and yet our coaches seemed to enjoy it no end.
I shared a room with Dan Palmer. Dan is a hybrid, an interesting mix of new age and old school prop. Along with an intellectual curiosity rare among front rowers Daniel possesses a real passion for scrums, the kind of forward to whom every knock-on is a gift from the scrum gods, another chance to shorten somebody’s spinal column and destroy their confidence in the process. Lovely stuff.
Rooming with Dan I learnt he prides himself on being some kind of energy conservation guru. If sleeping were an Olympic sport Dan would long since have raised suspicion among anti-doping authorities. During the week I also learnt sauce is Dan’s favourite food and standing behind him at the buffet represents a poor option for the hungry.
Dan likes to list ‘professional athlete’ on his CV, but when we scratch the surface of these words they quickly translate into ‘pushing fat people backwards’. In a country where scrummaging is not prioritised in the same way it is in other parts of the world, we need props like Dan needs sauce on his steak – a lot.
It’s a real shame Australian rugby has failed to retain Dan’s services, he could well be the anchor around which the Wallaby scrum is built. Instead Grenoble will enjoy his services over the next few seasons.
News that current Wallabies are looking for contracts overseas is a concern when many of them are well under retirement age. This cannot be allowed to become a trend if the Wallabies are serious about becoming the best team in the world.
Speaking of retirement age, I’ve enjoyed getting back onto the paddock. To be honest I’ve been far less nervous than I expected.
Every player has some kind of emotional response to the anticipation of competition, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve begun to see rugby for what it is – a game. Results begin to matter less than the individual moments that go into chasing them.
Effort, commitment, team. These qualities never stop being important and ironically it’s been my experience it’s easier to give more to them when the focus is ‘the moment’ rather than ‘the outcome’.
In many ways game day preparation is a metaphor for life. The challenge is to not lose the current moment by worrying about the future. I try and treat game days as I would any other, by attempting to enjoy them as much as possible.
This might mean reading, coffee with mates, a swim, movie, writing, sightseeing or any number of activities I might find interesting.
By following the mantra of remaining in the now, I’ve managed to arrive at matches mentally focused but equally relaxed, stimulated but not frantic. I have a fairly flexible game day routine that becomes more scripted as the game nears.
From around 3pm my match day looks a little like this: Pre-game meal, foam-rolling, mobility warm up, stretching followed by team meetings and arrival at the ground. Unlike Sam Carter, who sports an ancient pair of offensive underpants on game day, I don’t have any pre-game superstitions or rituals.
I don’t care where I sit on the bus or in the change-room, but because I suspect many of my team mates prefer routine on game day I usually find myself on the same seat on the bus, wondering if perhaps it’s this collective sympathetic thinking that produces the order we’ve become used to.
Interestingly, once you’re into the game it’s easy to focus on the multitude of jobs at hand, run to cover a potential kick, make a tackle, run a line or hit a ruck. Playing the game requires the type of focus that does not leave room for introspection.
Recently I was required to explain the game of rugby to my very English, very football-orientated girlfriend.
It was only while detailing how my job involves running around with my mates, occasionally bashing into other people while trying to place a giant egg over some white paint that it dawned on me what a truly strange game rugby is.
Even the seemingly simple act of a scrum turns out to be a conundrum to those not familiar with the game.
My exchange with said girlfriend went something like this:
AK: “Why is it called a scrum?”
Me: “Because thicket was already taken. Actually I don’t know the answer to that.”
AK: “Why can’t they use their hands?”
Me: “They can but only at the back of the scrum, it’s really much simpler than it seems.”
AK: “Why would anyone enjoy smashing their head and necks into other people?”
Me: “Probably something to do with not being hugged enough as children. Why don’t we come back to scrums after I’ve explained the breakdown; quantum mechanics will seem simple after that.”
Despite how complex rugby might seem, I find myself enjoying playing again for the same reasons I first turned up at practice as a barefoot six year old. Because it’s good fun.
In many ways playing rugby allows me a bit more time to hide from the inevitable reality of becoming a grown up. And who wouldn’t appreciate that?
6 Feb 2013, 09:10 am
@Robzim-1245: Being well known for what?? stupidity, insults? lies, etc etc, in you eyes that maketh the man? ouch!!!
6 Feb 2013, 09:10 am
@gunther-1243:
All good , no complaints. Business as usual, thanks. Busy time of year
And you?
6 Feb 2013, 09:11 am
@Dilligafrican-1244:
Man het nie meer as dit nodig om a rugby blog aan die gang te hou ni.
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