Nothing blue about JK’s way
11 Feb 2013
After a fortnight of Super Rugby warm-up matches some patterns have emerged that offer the promise of change.
John Kirwan was one of the greatest All Blacks and one of my favourite players. Kirwan on the one wing and Carel du Plessis on the other meant I’d always pick David Campese at fullback in what I viewed as the most lethal back three the game has produced. I still haven’t changed that view more than 20 years after first being convinced the three, individually, and as a unit, had it all.
I’ve followed Kirwan’s coaching career closely and I’ve always been impressed with his desire to learn new things, to embrace different languages and cultures and to immerse himself totally, at times to his detriment as his battles against depression have been as much a discussion on his coaching career, as has his rugby ability.
Kirwan has always been a believer in the game being about the ball and about creating attacking platforms. His teams, by design rather than because of any coaching limitations, have all thrilled with ball in hand but have never had the pedigree of player to back up style of play with results.
Italy was always the team closest to Kirwan after the All Blacks because he played so much of his career in Italy, married an Italian, spent much of his life between Italy and New Zealand and he embraced the Italian culture, language and lifestyle with the same enthusiasm he never denies what makes him an Aucklander.
After spells with Italy as assistant coach and head coach, Kirwan took on the challenge of Japan and they played some sensational rugby leading into the 2011 World Cup and especially at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand where the Japanese side threatened to beat France in a Pool game only to be undone in the final 10 minutes.
Kirwan’s teams scored tries and played the game at a tempo that made for a spectacle. His only downfall has always been the quality of player available in selection.
He has taken on the responsibility to restore credibility to the Blues franchise and reignite Super Rugby in the region that initially dominated the competition. It is a fantastic appointment and having All Blacks World Cup winning coach Graham Henry as a support structure adds gravitas to the idealism associated with Kirwan and his youthful Blues squad.
I am not expecting the fairytale of a play-off position with the Blues but I am expecting to want to watch the side play this season. The Blues, in the two pre-season matches against the Reds and Tahs, blooded 20 previously unknowns in Super Rugby and the youngsters produced the passion and innovation for which they were selected. They lacked defensive intensity, discipline of more mature teams and could be criticised for lacking in key areas as much as blossoming in others.
But what they achieved without question was to get people talking about the Blues again. It was the first victory for Kirwan and Henry.
Jake White, with the Brumbies, adopted a similar approach. He told the youngsters he picked that talk was irrelevant as was asking the public for support. He said support was earned through performance and their Super Rugby season in 2012 would be measured by how they could increase the home crowd attendance as much as it would be by league results.
He did do his maths though and if people were starting to watch again it usually meant something good was happening on the pitch.
There is enthusiasm of a Blues campaign not suffocated with pre-season doom and there is equal energy coming from within Sydney when it comes to the Tahs. Even Campo believes there is reason to be enthusiastic and he has expressed the view of the squad being semi-final potential and with a bit of luck winning the competition in 2012.
The Blues and the Tahs have two attack-minded coaches and this should add a dimension to the tournament. White’s progress with the Brumbies is a campaign within a campaign, as is Dave Rennie’s challenge in sustaining, possibly even improving, what was achieved with the Chiefs in 2012.
For the Highlanders and Reds the expectations are bigger. Jamie Joseph will feel the pressure of turning promise into something with a greater punch and Ewen McKenzie, the probable successor to Robbie Deans as national coach in the next six months, will be determined to have a year more consistent with the title-winning 2011 than the injury-plagued whippings of 2012.
The Canes offer the most promise in New Zealand’s conference with the only question mark still around the menace of the tight five and the depth of those asked to stoke the fires that can make this franchise red hot.
Of the South African franchises the pre-season has asked no new questions and the biggest winner in the pre-season would be the Lions who are now building the platform from which to relaunch their Super Rugby history in 2014.
It is fantastic to see the approach of the Lions and their support base has supported a process that first gives birth to a cub and then hopes for the emergence of a roaring lion.
The Stormers look the most settled in player selection and continuity of picks but they also look the most conservative and it will need a bit more adventure, of the variety produced by Western Province in last year’s Currie Cup, to take them all the way in the competition.
I have picked the Sharks as my team to win the South African conference and win the tournament. I have also picked the Kings to evolve with each weekend because of the quality of the back room staff, especially the Director of Rugby Alan Solomons.
It remains disturbing but not unexpectedly so, that there remains such hatred for a squad of players who never selected themselves, never were a part of the politics that gained the Kings entry into the tournament and never asked for anything but the opportunity to play rugby.
These players are owed support for being South African players, which is not to say they will get it from within South Africa. I am guessing they’ll probably be more embraced overseas if they show a willingness to play the game with flair because the only expectation should be in how they play and improve and not in how many wins they get in year one.
Those who knock them will conveniently forget the Lions won 15 out of 90 matches and went two seasons without a win. Those who knock them will also never accept that the Kings was never meant to be a Super Rugby story at the expense of the Lions.
The Kings are as much the victims as the short-term victors of SARU’s administration bungling in mixing agendas of race, politics, World Cup hosting campaigns, transformation and Super Rugby participation.
The Lions, the victims in 2013, will be long-term victors because in a pressure-free environment of friendly encounters they are building a player base they never had in Super Rugby.
By Mark Keohane
157 Comments
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11 Feb 2013, 11:27 am
great article mark…
seriously… one of your best ever…
echoes many of my own thoughts and feelings about jk… (and carel and campo…)
blues are definitely going to play exciting rugby… with jk at the helm that is a given…
only difference is I expect them to make the play-offs… purely because many will take them for granted… but then again as a fan i can be purely idealistic…
but really cool article.. and not just the jk blues…
11 Feb 2013, 11:29 am
RT @keocoza: Nothing blue about JK’s way: After a fortnight of Super Rugby warm-up matches some patterns have emerged that… http://t.c …
11 Feb 2013, 11:38 am
yes, a good article
11 Feb 2013, 11:55 am
Quality article ,MK. Great take on Kirwin’s ability as coach. He is absolutely pure class. The Blues will show great improvement under his leadership .
11 Feb 2013, 11:58 am
Campese, out of position, over Cullen?
Big call.
I’d go for a Cullen, Wilson (ok, maybe Kirwan), Lomu back 3.
11 Feb 2013, 12:01 pm
@willievz-5:
to be fair….it is a tough call to leave out habs as well, the SA player with the greatest strike rate. His career is reaching nearly 10 years long now.
11 Feb 2013, 12:07 pm
jk sounds like pdv…expansive with no D hence the foil in the form of GH & Mick Byrne.
” I have picked the Sharks as my team to win
the South African conference and win the
tournament.”
you hav been picking the Guppys since 2009 mark & they have returned with zilch.
11 Feb 2013, 12:08 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl-6: It is.
But, unfortunately, he plays on the same wing as Lomu.
And Lomu is the first name I’d pen down in an All-Time XV.
11 Feb 2013, 12:09 pm
personally i’d go for jk, campo and cullen…
11 Feb 2013, 12:11 pm
@ufo-9:
I’m with you on Cullen.
11 Feb 2013, 12:12 pm
@cane-10:
but not jk and campo…?
who would your wings be…?
11 Feb 2013, 12:14 pm
Anyway,
1.Greyling
2.Chilli
3.Kruger
4.Flip
5.Kruger
6.Potgieter.D
7.Potgieter.J
8.spies
9.Hougie
10.morne
11.Basson
12.Olivier
13.Mapoe
14.JJ
15.Kirchener
16. Weepener
17. Frik Kirsten
18. Willemse
19. A.Botha
20.Stegmann
21. Venter
22.Pollard
I’m quite comfortable the bulls will do okay. Tough getting a balanced 16-22 though with a 5/2 split. 4/3 split as it looks like it will be because you need to get vermaak onto the bench but means either a.botha or stegmann loses out.
11 Feb 2013, 12:16 pm
Nice work Keo and thanks for those kind words directed to the Lions. Keep it up because you some stiff competition from those fiction writers – JC, Vrede and Gareth D.
Competition is always welcome.
11 Feb 2013, 12:16 pm
@willievz-8:
not so sure ….the longetivity of ones career must count for something?
11 Feb 2013, 12:20 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl-14: Perhaps.
But I am using Keo’s criteria as “the most lethal” back 3.
Lomu at his best beats Habana at his best.
11 Feb 2013, 12:22 pm
@cane-10: when are you guys coming to fetch Mitch? Do you want me to call home affairs and have him deported.
11 Feb 2013, 12:23 pm
@cane-10:
Sure I’m with you on Campo as a wing too.
JK……………………………….well there have been a lot of really really good wingers over the years.
Hard to say. But one of my all favourites was a Welshmen, and a 1971 Lion in NZ, John Bevan. Tough as leather and as slippery as a Saffa with an IBA contract.
11 Feb 2013, 12:24 pm
@willievz-8: Ditto. I think Dagg will become one of those players we’ll speak about in years to come. Thus far, Cullen is top of the pile. Chris Latham a short way behind.
11 Feb 2013, 12:24 pm
@RL-16:
Keep him RL. Please.
11 Feb 2013, 12:25 pm
@cane-17:
hehehe…
11 Feb 2013, 12:28 pm
I am so impressed with L Cronje at 10 for Lions…..class…plays like a Frenchman on juice…..that oke can go all the way..
11 Feb 2013, 12:30 pm
Campo, no way in hell. Habana is better for a start. Campo was good but there have been many better. Not convinced about Kirwan and Carel being the best either. Both class acts but cant say they were the best.
11 Feb 2013, 12:30 pm
@cane-17:
11 Feb 2013, 12:31 pm
@grant10-21:
ja, we all saw how Freddie the frog playing on juice worked out on the weekend.
You can keep him, but thanks anyway.
11 Feb 2013, 12:33 pm
@v/Zyl…….Drop those two props they were sorely exposed last year. Mellett and Kirsten are better.
Mapoe is not physical enough for 13, leave JJ at 13 and play Mapoe on the wing.
No way in hell should Olivier play ahead of Serfontein and Frans Venter, its time to move on.
The Bulls could also do with moving on from Morne
Arno Botha is better than J.Potgieter
11 Feb 2013, 12:33 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl-24: wish I could keep him…alas he is a Lion…
11 Feb 2013, 12:36 pm
Best 15′s ever. In my living memory.
In no particular order: (except cullen, who is #1).
- Cullen.
- Serge Blanco. (fr)
- Andy Irvine. (Scotland)
- Ian MacCullum. (SA circa 1970).
- JPR Williams. (Wales).
- Joubert. (SA).
- Latham (Aus).
- Matt Bourke (Aus).
- Hastings (Scot).
- John Gallagher, (NZ).
11 Feb 2013, 12:36 pm
@RL-16: is he still alive? I thought he got stabbed?
11 Feb 2013, 12:37 pm
Id rather have Caucau in his prime on any wing rather than Campo anyday
11 Feb 2013, 12:39 pm
@grant10-21: Not so sure G10. Will be one of those players who are destined to be bridesmaids and never brides. I think injuries have robbed him building the necessary momentum and building a reputation. If he does well for the Lions this year, he might squeeze into a S15 squad next year if the Lions don’t make it themself. Currently Lambie, Goosen & Jantjies are vying for the Bok 10. Next year, new batch of 10′s will roll into S15 rugby.
11 Feb 2013, 12:40 pm
@g10: l.cronje has a loooooong way before i get excited the way i used to whe he was playing for Queens & when he ripped the Baby Bok jersey from Brummer & Sias
11 Feb 2013, 12:42 pm
“The Lions, the victims in 2013, will be long-term victors because in a pressure-free environment of friendly encounters they are building a player base they never had in Super Rugby.”
This “it’s good for the Lions” bs p!1sses me off.
You cannot seriously think that the Lions are better off without the players they lost last year. That was the group to build on. The Lions have been put back three years, back to 2010, when they had lost 15+ players the previous year
11 Feb 2013, 12:45 pm
that Camarque horse, Serge Blanco, & JPR Williams also deserve consideration
11 Feb 2013, 12:47 pm
@cane-19: specially for you cane!
http://www.2oceansvibe.com/2013/02/11/the-best-worst-sports-video-youll-watch-this-year-blue-bulls-sing-stand-by-me-video/
11 Feb 2013, 12:48 pm
@Angostura-33:
Camargue?
11 Feb 2013, 12:50 pm
@cane-27: your forgetting Calla Scholtz!
11 Feb 2013, 12:52 pm
@pompies2-30: @Transformation-31: My bolter and player to keep an eye on in 2013…..
11 Feb 2013, 12:53 pm
i had to laugh the other day, oh the irony!
• 27.the curse:
28 Jan 2013, 10:56 am
@RL-24: 1 Rand equals almost 8 NZ dollars
try and do the maths RL
if your SA education allows working with such big, meaningless numbers
11 Feb 2013, 12:54 pm
@BuckTrendy-34:
Such gees.
I’m crying right now.
11 Feb 2013, 12:56 pm
@BuckTrendy-36:
He made the Top 20. but not the top10.
11 Feb 2013, 12:57 pm
@BuckTrendy-34:
About 30 seconds was all I could take.
Nice to see them back in Blue though.
11 Feb 2013, 12:59 pm
I never understood why some rate Andre Joubert amongst the best of the game.
Was he really that good?
11 Feb 2013, 12:59 pm
@gunther-39: tears of joy? bet you had the foot tappeting under the table!!
11 Feb 2013, 12:59 pm
@BuckTrendy-38: it was comic irony – are you a guppy by any chance?
11 Feb 2013, 13:02 pm
@willievz-42: not only was he a solid defender, good under the high ball, he injected pace into the back line, read the game well and knew how to draw the defender, something we seem to have lost the ability to do…
11 Feb 2013, 13:03 pm
@BuckTrendy-45: But he had that annoying grondskoppie that only gained 5 meters but gave away possession…
11 Feb 2013, 13:05 pm
@gunther-35: The way Blanco played & ran conjures (for me) the spirit & imagery as contained in Horses on the Camarque:
http://allpoetry.com/poem/8560669-Horses_on_the_Camargue-by-Roy__Campbell
11 Feb 2013, 13:05 pm
@RL-44: sis man! weepee man!
11 Feb 2013, 13:06 pm
@BuckTrendy-38: I laughed too
the assumption that a Saffa player was the highest paid in the world still has me cracking up..
we all know every saffa player would spend half his wages on his daily intake of roids..
11 Feb 2013, 13:07 pm
@BuckTrendy-45:
He was the Rolls Royce of fullbacks.
Willie is being a devils avocado.
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