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, 17:05 pm
@Dawn-392:
its all to do with the word “appearance”.. Trans is adamant a playoff appearance is more then one match, I disagree and say an appearance IS one match..
hence the 5 consecutive playoff losses is in fact wrong because the Saders won their semi final appearance in 2011..
understand?
4 Feb 2013, 17:08 pm
@the curse-401: does it change what keo wanted to say?
i.e …. they have lost their auro because they are now imminently more beatable – as witnessed through the their last 5 seasons – in the knock-out phase of the comp?
4 Feb 2013, 17:08 pm
auro/ aura
4 Feb 2013, 17:08 pm
they have lost their ora?
4 Feb 2013, 17:11 pm
@shooter-402: I think it does…
sure, theyve been knocked out in the playoffs for the last 5 years, but they have still won some of those playoff matches and even made a final, which they lost.
Keo made mention of the new era of players and how that had seen them lose consecutive playoff matches, but to still be consistently making the playoffs with new personnel is still a wonderful effort in my books..
maybe you see it differently?
4 Feb 2013, 17:12 pm
@Dawn-393:
4 Feb 2013, 17:16 pm
@the curse-405: nope. they did lose their oars.
4 Feb 2013, 17:17 pm
@shooter-407: brilliant. Andrew Oar would be proud of me.
4 Feb 2013, 17:17 pm
@the curse-401: the playoffs are not one match but a series…the saders starting from 2009 have appeared 4 times in the playoffs & lost 4 times at different stages.
it’s easy poeps
4 Feb 2013, 17:20 pm
@Transformation-409: so then why state the kings appearance as a single match?
surely if you were true to your point you would have mentioned the season(series)?
4 Feb 2013, 17:27 pm
did you not see my answer to your suggestion of a “contradiction” poeps?
4 Feb 2013, 17:27 pm
UJ leading Maties by 8 points to zero after 35 minutes at Stellenboach. Scrappy affair in windswept conditions- highlite of match so far is the music through the public address system, mainly ACDC.
4 Feb 2013, 17:28 pm
@Transformation-411: lets just leave it Trans ok?
4 Feb 2013, 17:28 pm
@shooter-408: then again… maybe that’s an honoar i don’t want.
4 Feb 2013, 17:29 pm
@the curse-413: you can have the moral victory you so crave..
well done..
4 Feb 2013, 17:33 pm
@the curse-415: be patient poeps…keo will provide you with ammo…you don’t have to be lus
wait for it
gym calls…
4 Feb 2013, 17:36 pm
@the curse-415: you mean m_oaral..?
4 Feb 2013, 17:42 pm
@the curse-415: oar not?
4 Feb 2013, 17:49 pm
two oar, oar not two oar. that is the question. but anyway. that canoe has no sailed >
4 Feb 2013, 18:19 pm
I
Think
I
Get
It
Now
4 Feb 2013, 18:20 pm
Maties running away with it now that they are playing with the wind. JP Lewis over for his second… 29-8 .
4 Feb 2013, 18:24 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-116:
Magic atmosphere from a high energy band. People were packed in like sardines – I think some it too full.
4 Feb 2013, 18:25 pm
@I am a stormer-422:
……some found it too full
4 Feb 2013, 18:28 pm
@I am a stormer-423: I can’t wait regardless
A squash never did anyone much harm…..ok, unless it’s a stampede type squash…
Maties rock on….29-8…..and possibly one play left
4 Feb 2013, 18:34 pm
@Robzim-421: Exactly as Chris Rossouw (old chicken legs 10 himself) said at half time. Maties have bamboozled most in their path in all warmups….so we know they have it in them
4 Feb 2013, 18:34 pm
@Robzim-421: So Lewis and Khumalo scored as well as Reniel Hugo. I’ve just walked in – bad timing but relieved with the result
4 Feb 2013, 18:39 pm
@Transformation-373: LOL… that rubbish team, aka the queens, filled with white journey men, oupas,, has-beens, sick notes and pygmy black players are in for a moering against a combo Lions 2nd/3rd team.
It is going to be a long “hard” 6months for Pukey and his boys – my advice to you and your team is to buy boxes of KY gel.
4 Feb 2013, 18:46 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-424:
As long as you’re not in the standing area. What’s cool is that you will be able to download their shows on RHCP.com/live. The latest show available is Melbourne on the 26th Jan. You’ll enjoy it – going to be a blast.
4 Feb 2013, 18:49 pm
keo
How can you compare Jan Serfontein with Danie Gerber? And so early in his career. No man. Danie is incomparable.
4 Feb 2013, 18:50 pm
@RL-427:
Wasn’t the Lions sponsored by KY gel. Transie should thank you for the advice.
4 Feb 2013, 18:52 pm
@I am a stormer-428:
I’m going tomorrow.
Really looking forward to it.
4 Feb 2013, 18:54 pm
@RL-427: Whatever you say….the Kings have yet to suffer the utterfuckingindignity of losing every game in the Super rugby tournie…..
As it currently stands, they are more successful than the Lions
4 Feb 2013, 18:54 pm
@willievz-397:
kaapse praat!
4 Feb 2013, 18:55 pm
@Jeraldjay-431:
One tip – buy your beer in volume – the clues were long. I missed Die Antwoord which was probably not a bad thing.
4 Feb 2013, 18:56 pm
@I am a stormer-434:
clues = clueless
meant queues.
4 Feb 2013, 18:58 pm
@I am a stormer-428: Awesome. Thanks. I just hope there isn’t this dreadful wind…….
It fuckedupLinkinPark to some extent…. (and caused the tragedy outside the stadium as well)
4 Feb 2013, 18:59 pm
@I am a stormer-434: I have seen Ninja and Yolande Vi$$er a few times….Not that worried about missing them.
4 Feb 2013, 19:00 pm
@Jeraldjay-430: no only some players were.
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-432: pleasw can you repeat that in kaapse taal dog food.
4 Feb 2013, 19:03 pm
@Jeraldjay-431: Must admit to being rather excited myself… Have you read Anthony Kiedis’s biography, ‘Scar Tissue’? Totallyfuckingofftehcharts. Can’t wait to see him ‘live’.
4 Feb 2013, 19:03 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-432:
> the Kings have yet to suffer the utterfuckingindignity of losing every game in the Super rugby
Yes, as I see it they have an important part to play, in breaking some Super rugby records
Here are a few they might improve on:
Most points – 96 Crusaders (96) vs Waratahs (19), 11 May 2002
Most tries – 14 Crusaders (against Waratahs, 11 May 2002)
Most points away – 72 Chiefs (at Lions, 19 February 2010)
Largest winning margin – 89 Bulls (against Reds, 2007 season) Final Score 92-3
4 Feb 2013, 19:04 pm
@RL-438:
Played 14 won not much.
Good luck at the guppietank.
4 Feb 2013, 19:04 pm
@RL-438: Djouspanwaspeoskakvijarrrre.Ditisnouannerspansebeurtompeoskaktewies.
4 Feb 2013, 19:06 pm
@I am a stormer-434:
Buying beers at concerts or rugby has always been an issue. Problem with buying in bulk is that when you get to beer no.3 its lukewarm.
4 Feb 2013, 19:07 pm
@RL-427: ” are in for a
moering against a combo Lions 2nd/3rd
team.”
you should’ve saved those for when the matches COUNTED!
#domsurrendermonkeys
4 Feb 2013, 19:07 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-439:
My mate at work told me about the book – have yet to get my hands on a copy. They’re rock n roll legends. RHCP couldn’t believe it took them so long to get here – reckon they’ll be back in a few years.
4 Feb 2013, 19:12 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-442:
No haven’t read the book.
I remember the whole band being in that fight scene in Point Break, with Keenu Reeves and Patrick Swayze.
4 Feb 2013, 19:14 pm
@I am a stormer-445: I think the size of the stadiums we had in the past had something to do with it. Bands like RHCP’s and Linkin Park are true stadium bands I guess, and need between 40 000 and 60 000 to make it worthwhile – cost wise?
I saw the numbers somewhere re: cost, and it’s unbelievable. I guess Soccer City and Green Point finally made if profitable to bring ‘em out?
4 Feb 2013, 19:15 pm
@Jeraldjay-446: Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sheez, (I don’t actually want to admit this…) but I also recall them performing in some skateboarding movie in the late 80′s……..
4 Feb 2013, 19:16 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-442: yesilikedogfood.
4 Feb 2013, 19:18 pm
@victoriabok-440: queens will beat all those records and some more.
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