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, 16:07 pm
Taahirah you’re quite a Pac stan hey…
6 Feb 2013, 16:07 pm
@nama1-1491: No he was obviously cagey about punting one player over another, Bryan mentioned that having the other guys there put a lot of pressure on the existing players and that it would hopefully raise everyone’s game.
I’m personally a big Joe P fan. He has the best flat pass in the country IMO. His timing is usually perfect and can put guys into space brilliantly. I’d like to see him do more of that.
Bryan did say that Jaco’s natural playing style meant that he would run the ball up more and that it meant that he and Gio would have to come back in support more.
6 Feb 2013, 16:08 pm
@ufo-1493: Exactly mate. How you doing?
6 Feb 2013, 16:10 pm
@Taahirah-1494:
cool… and from another place and time…
here’s a bit from the marshall tucker band… country/rock/jazz band… from the 70s
I like simple things in life
Like a prairie breeze
A good stout horse between my knees
Just bein’ alone, just bein’ me
And when I die let me die
With a dream in my mind
A smile on my face and no trouble behind
And no cross on my grave
To show my restin’ place
So I can listen to the wind blow
Let it blow let it blow
Sand over my trail
I got my saddle on the ground
And that ol’ moon he can still be found
Hidin’ in the desert sky
Won’t you bury me with my chaps on
And my six-gun strapped to my side
So I can watch the moon a hidin’
In the desert sky
6 Feb 2013, 16:10 pm
@Transformation-1501: Westside till I die!
6 Feb 2013, 16:12 pm
@ufo-1504: Lovely. Will google it and have a listen.
6 Feb 2013, 16:12 pm
@stormersboy-1503:
always good thanks bud… you…?
chuffed for you to see the rugby writing taking off so well… you’re a natural at it…!!
i was suggesting yesterday that keo hire pissant and you… and a few others…
6 Feb 2013, 16:16 pm
@ufo-1507: Id love to see Gunther and Katman have a go.
6 Feb 2013, 16:17 pm
@stormersboy-1502:
Jip, Joe was brilliant in the 1st half of the S15 last year. I hope he’ll be able to replicate that kind of form.
Seems as if Brian thinks highly of Taute.
6 Feb 2013, 16:18 pm
@Taahirah-1506:
cool…
but may not quite be your cuppa tea…
if you do… try and listen through to the jazzy link… quite ground-breaking back in the day fusing country rock and jazz…
here’s a link for the original…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfuM1w_28KY
and a later live version…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJz5v5K4AKw
6 Feb 2013, 16:19 pm
@ufo-1507: I’m good thanks. The writing is just a bit of fun really. On the plus side i have media accreditation so i have access to the system as it were, plus the facilities at Newlands which is a bonus.
6 Feb 2013, 16:20 pm
@Taahirah-1508:
indeed…
you can be sure of one thing… they’d never be boring…!!
6 Feb 2013, 16:20 pm
@ufo-1510: lol.
You’d be surprised as to what constitutes my cup of tea.
I own CDs ranging from Pac to Bob Dylan to Fokofpolisiekar to Radiohead to Jan Blohm.
6 Feb 2013, 16:21 pm
@stormersboy-1511:
yeah… all very cool… very envious is me…
you know who you just gotta go interview don’t you…?
6 Feb 2013, 16:22 pm
@nama1-1509: It’s hard to tell. In an interview situation none of the players are exactly going to throw anyone else under the bus so you will always get the usual “well you know what Jaco/Elton/Joe etc brings to the party, they are great players and we are happy to have them here etc. etc…..”
6 Feb 2013, 16:23 pm
@ufo-1514:
I most certainly do!! 
6 Feb 2013, 16:24 pm
@Taahirah-1513:
impressed taahirah…!!
yeah… marshall tucker was not the most well known band even back then… cause a lot of people didn’t know where to place them….
sorta like lynyrd skynyrd… but only waaaay much better…!!
6 Feb 2013, 16:25 pm
@stormersboy-1516:
good man…
i look forward to that…!!
6 Feb 2013, 16:30 pm
@Transformation-1492:
saved for posterity.
naaice.
6 Feb 2013, 17:00 pm
Bob Marley would’ve been 68 today.
If he was still around the world would have been a much better place.
6 Feb 2013, 19:37 pm
@1520 jeraldjay
Hear hear.I never knew Bob’s father was a white man of English descent… Only found out on Monday and I’ve been listening to his music since I was a laitie!
6 Feb 2013, 20:30 pm
@Rage-1521:
Yes he was ridiculed as a youngster because of his “light” skin.
His father was Capt. Norval Marley and was in his 60′s when he made Bob’s teenage mother pregnant.
6 Feb 2013, 20:36 pm
This thread make me all teary with the funerals and parties and songs and all
6 Feb 2013, 20:46 pm
@Jeraldjay-1522: jeez…capt couldn’t resist the yung nubile gal…he sed “GAL step into me YUTH”
6 Feb 2013, 20:56 pm
Nou toe nou…Bob Marley is actually Kallit!
But seriously now,I remember Musica had a killer Bob Marley tv ad back in the early 2000s when the country went from one drama to another (Hansiegate,etc).
Their slogan was “we could all do with a lil bit of Bob right now”,while 3 Lil Birds played in the background.They sold a truckload of Bob cds during that time and re-introduced his songs to a whole new generation.
6 Feb 2013, 20:57 pm
@ 1524 Trans
Hey its ONE LOVE after all
6 Feb 2013, 20:58 pm
@Jeraldjay-1520:
If he was still around he could have gotten Righteous Chronic on a prescription all legal
6 Feb 2013, 21:09 pm
@Transformation-1524:
Fark Transie I can pick up most accents with their mixture of slang but the Jamaican accent I can never seem to grasp.
6 Feb 2013, 21:46 pm
@Jeraldjay-1528: it is indeed intricate, you onlu have to listen to dancehall legends like buju or yellowman to get how crazy it is…
6 Feb 2013, 22:05 pm
@Transformation-1529:
I see Snoop has become Rasta and has changed his name to Snoop Lion.
But the Rasta’s are up in arms ’cause they say his joined just because of the good ganja they smoke.
6 Feb 2013, 22:58 pm
@Jeraldjay-1530: lol they must take toke from a bong & calm down. the S N double O P has been puffing good ganja for AGES – since his career began. this is a guy who blew up of “Nuthing but a G-thang” off Dr Dre’s aptly named seminal album “The Chronic”
Snoop smoked a whole gang of top weed when he was here in SA, High as a mofo @Kruger National Park…ncncnc
6 Feb 2013, 23:00 pm
@Jeraldjay-1530: http://global-4-lvs-hopper.opera-mini.net/ha10-03-06/27564/0/-1/upload.wikimedia.org/220px-Dr.DreTheChronic.jpg
if anything they should be up in arms about his content & music cos he is bound to commercialise whatever it is he touches…
7 Feb 2013, 03:48 am
Uhmm yes…
A year-long government investigation has reportedly found widespread use of banned drugs and links to organised crime in Australian professional sport.
The government will hold a press conference this morning to detail the extent of the crisis.
Jason Clare MP has revealed that an investigation by the ACC found that the use of prohibited substances is widespread in Australian sport.
“The findings are shocking and will disgust Australian sports fans,” Mr Clare said.
“We have found the use of prohibited substances including peptides, hormones and illicit drugs is widespread among professional athletes.”
Mr Clare also revealed that drugs not safe for human use were administered to players, often through the teams sports scientists.
“Drugs are being facilitated by sports scientists, coaches, support staff, doctors and pharmacists,” Mr Clare said.
“Some cases sports scientists are organising doping of entire teams”
“In some case players being administered with drugs not yet approved for human use.”
Links with organised crime and match-fixing were found in the government’s investigation with Mr Clare asking athletes to come forward if they are involved.
“We have also found organised crime involved in the distribution of drugs,” Mr Clare said.
“It is cheating, but it is worse than that. It is cheating with the help of criminals”
“Don’t underestimate how much we know and if you are involved in this come forward before you get a knock at the door.”
Match Fixing revelations
The ACC report notes increasing evidence of personal relationships of concern between professional athletes and organised criminal identities and groups. This may have resulted in match fixing and the fraudulent manipulation of betting markets.
“The Australian Crime Commission has found that professional sport in Australia is highly vulnerable to infiltration by organised crime,” Mr Clare said.
John Lawler CEO of the Australian Crime Commission said the government’s job was to stop criminal organisations from forging a deeper involvement in Australian sports.
“It is one thing to look at what organised crime has already done, our real challenge is to harden the environment so they don’t get a foothold in the future,” Mr Lawler said.
“What we are dealing with here is a serious threat of organised crime and it is pervasive.”
AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou echoed Mr Lawler’s sentiments on the power of organised crime.
“Organised crime is very pervasive, they find vulnerable players and infiltrate and today is a day we draw a line in the sand and collectively address that,” Demetriou said.
MEDIA RELEASE: Organised crimes and drugs in sport
Senator Kate Lundy revealed ASADA’s struggles with identifying prohibited substances where organised crime are involved.
“There are new substances out there in the market that a can’t be tested for and and aren’t know to the testing authorities because they are so new,” Ms Lundy said.
“Point being we have to be forever vigilant to find out what is being used and how it is being used”
“One way to do that is increase the investigative powers of ASADA”
“There is no one solution to fixing this problem, there is no single test that can stamp out drugs in sport.”
7 Feb 2013, 04:09 am
And the backlash is quick…
The repercussions of the report are already being felt, with NRL naming rights sponsor Telstra saying it may reconsider its financial support for Australian sport.
Telstra Chief executive David Thodey on Thursday indicated the company’s sponsorships could be threatened if doping or links to crime were confirmed.
“Our brand image is very tightly tied up with those who we sponsor so if there is untoward behaviour that we don’t agree with we make our position very clear, so we’ll always do that,” he told reporters.
7 Feb 2013, 04:49 am
@Slartibartfast-1533:
I remember reading a transcript of bugged FBI recordings of American mafioso and it was quite funny reading how they were complaining about some of the sports like basketball were too corrupt when it came to sports betting.
7 Feb 2013, 06:57 am
@Slartibartfast-1533:
very interesting, thanks.
my guess is at some point informatino will come out on the kiwis too. they’ll probably kill it and not allow any actual investigation but i’m pretty certain its there.
consider this very surreptitiously and quietly diseminated bit of information by the medical director of both the New Zealand Rugby Union and New Zealand Cricket regarding insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1) usage by sportmen:
———
Drug Free Sport New Zealand and the World Anti-Doping Agency have warned athletes be “extremely careful” of deer velvet supplements.
Chief executive Graeme Steel has released a statement saying in light of global controversy surrounding the products risks and risks to positive doping, no safety guarantees can be made and athletes risk prosecution if they test positive.
Drug Free Sport NZ confirmed the products “can contain insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1), which is prohibited in sport both in and out-of-competition.”
“Athletes who return a positive test will be prosecuted by DFSNZ and are unlikely to be able to fall back on any lack of fault provision given the warnings which have been issued,” the statement continued.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/8265653/Athletes-warned-over-deer-velvet-DFSNZ
7 Feb 2013, 07:01 am
@Te Rangatira-1535:
hi TR,
please understand these are only my opinions
i dont mean to offend you or any other Kiwi
7 Feb 2013, 07:11 am
@bakkies: this IGF-1 is readily available here in SA too at any Dischem, Sportsman’s Warehouse or Pharmacist in SA.
http://www.swiftsupplements.co.uk/image/cache/data/USN-Pure-Protein-IGF-1-2200g-500×500.jpg
7 Feb 2013, 07:18 am
@Transformation-1538:
the difference Transie is we are honest about these things if its being used openly and similarly open and forthright about drugs being used illicitly.
7 Feb 2013, 08:22 am
@Transformation-1538:
besides, many types of supplements are readily available, this does not make it permissible for players to use it.
7 Feb 2013, 08:37 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-1540: you page through any of the Men’s Health of the past 5 months you will see this stuff punted as the beesknees if a person wants to build muscles with a guy named gavin fagan as the posterboy…
it’s not far-fetched to say kids might purchase it. schools should have this as part of rugby tutelage…it is that serious.
7 Feb 2013, 08:51 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-1537:
Hi Houston….with regards to the deer velvet supplements, they are being used worldwide. Now that it has been tested and shown to contain,Growth Factor (IGF-1), then it should be a banned product for athletes, I have no problem with that.
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-1539:
Now its these types of posts with the innuendo re: Nz that come across not as an opinion but a low blow. Talking about low blows, did the White Buffalo declare his use of steroids before he was tested? Of course not….
7 Feb 2013, 09:49 am
@Te Rangatira-1542:
hi TR, will respond later.
really buy atm, sorry.
@Transformation-1541:
too busy atm, Transie
7 Feb 2013, 15:21 pm
Bring back Keo TV..
It made for a funny Friday!!
8 Feb 2013, 01:02 am
@carol-1544:
I understand Vrede took one of the legs of the tripod when he left
only he will know why?! And keo has nobody else to hold the camera to make the video…
8 Feb 2013, 01:27 am
normal post from Bakkies TR. he maintains it’s not to rile or a low blow but his continual insinuation is exactly done for that purpose
I see Spies is still trying to play rugby, 6 years after a “hereditary” pulmonary embolism at 21. do some research and see how rare that phenomenon is at tht age. steroids obviously.
I think we also need to investigate the supplements Brussouw uses, is this the real reason he hasn’t been selected for the bokkes anymore? smells like a cover up dont you think?
Bakkies assertion that thy are open with thier drug use is a laugh, how many crimes in SA go unreported due to te corruption in thier justice system? yet Bakkies think that they are on top and completely transparent with drug use in SA sport hahaha
8 Feb 2013, 01:37 am
the white buffalo used steroids?
how is he still allowed to box if SA are so transparent and honest with drugs in their sport?
8 Feb 2013, 03:59 am
@the curse-1547:
Aussie still play sport?
8 Feb 2013, 04:06 am
@Slartibartfast-1545:
hahahaha classic Koos
8 Feb 2013, 04:08 am
@the curse-1546:
run along little poodle, you sounding like a doos with no lubrication again!
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