Brendan Venter
While the atrocious weather conditions played a significant role in a low-scoring affair at Loftus Versfeld, I believe Argentina underlined their notoriety as the most negative side in world rugby in every single area of play.
Not only were they cynical in conceding a plethora of penalties, the way they scrummed, contested the line-outs and mauls, and the number of off-the-ball incidents – in my view the most cowardice of acts – was infuriating to behold.
I would suggest that the underhand tactics employed by the visitors during the match were entirely pre-planned, with talk of embracing a new era and playing “more rugby” a well-rehearsed ruse.
Moreover, the Pumas, who are nothing short of a bunch of bullies, were aided and abetted by an average referee in John Lacey who was simply not sharp enough to penalise the culprits in question.
First and foremost, if we examine the scrum, public opinion will suggest that the Springboks struggled at the set-piece, with tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis destroyed by his opposite number.
However, upon closer inspection and analysis, I would argue that loosehead prop Marcos Ayerza in fact scrummed inwards – and thus illegally – all game, with the relatively green Lacey overlooking said indiscretions. As a result, Ayerza was transformed from a mediocre player into a world-beater.
In my book, trying to cheat as much as you can and then hoping to get away with your actions, is tantamount to anti-rugby.
It invokes my ire when a team resorts to tactics contrary to the spirit of the oval game in order to simply prove competitive.
Argentina serve as irritating opponents in that they pick a fight at every single breakdown, hold players back, push them into the floor and shove them in the face.
Reserve scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli’s skirmish with Eben Etzebeth in the 47th minute of the match, serves as a case in point.
People will say that Etzebeth should mind his temper, but the fact of the matter is that the Pumas have a history of off-the-ball misdemeanours, which points towards premeditated thuggery.
While I believe the Springboks can expect similarly surreptitious tactics from the Pumas in Salta, Heyneke Meyer’s men must continue to rise above immature baiting and maintain their discipline.
That said, I have no doubt that Meyer and Chean Roux, in particular, will spend most of their time this week outlining the aforementioned concerns to Steve Walsh who will be in charge on Saturday.
Based on past performances, Walsh has shown to be unbelievably influenced by a partisan home crowd, which serves as a valid point of concern for the visitors who are physical yet fair.
Ultimately, the onus rests with Walsh, his assistant referees and the TMO to protect talented players whose sole intention it is to play productive rugby and thereby entertain the viewing public at large.
As a spectator, are you equally frustrated by the prevalence of thuggery in the modern professional era, and what do you believe can be done to remedy the scourge?
Yoh, Brendan giving the Pumas both barrels
Quite right.
The lineouts in particular were a misery.
That won’t stop Nortiers Ghandi style protest fest from continuing.
Forgot to add that Willie was held back after giving a chip kick and still got fingertips to it…had he had that extra 5 inches he would have slid over for the second try after 22 minutes.
gunther wrote:
Let the Anti Brendan propaganda start 😀
2 @ gunther:
Quite an inane comment seeing as I found it interesting enough to post here.
If I wanted to feel vindicated in my opinion, surely I could have ignored placing this? 😆
It’s his opinion, and a well made one at that
@ nortierd:
Indeed it is a very well thought out opinion.
We will assume it was an accidental discharge in your part.
😆
@ gunther:
You must make up your mind Gunther, yesterday you asked that I stop bleating, today you want to open up the debate again?
He has some points, but we should adapt on the field.
Hopefully we do this weekend
@ nortierd:
Sorry man I thought the point of cut n pastes was to stimulate debate.
My mistake.
😆
If a team with a budget of next to zero and/or very few players of international standard play against a team with all the resources in the world then it is to be expected that the “lower” team will do whatever it takes to contain and frustrate the opponent.
It happens in all kinds of sport and it is up to the stronger/richer team to counter such tactics. No use to whinge about it.
But Dr Venter knows it…..
I don’t know what it is, but i always find Brendan Venter very entertaining and interesting. Thanks for the article, Nortierd.
Coming back to officiating, was it the Sharks game where the ref used the TMO to check for a simple forward pass, (a debatable one in fact).
“I would argue that loosehead prop Marcos Ayerza in fact scrummed inwards – and thus illegally – all game, with the relatively green Lacey overlooking said indiscretions. As a result, Ayerza was transformed from a mediocre player into a world-beater.” ~ Venter
Wasn’t Marcos Ayerza a Saracens player with Venter the coach? 😆
Seemed to me that Venter feels obliged to support HM in his time of a need, 😉
That implied sentiment sentiment that the heavy rain wrecked the Boks’ game but hardly affected the Argies has become a legit argument by HM and his honchos and now is getting old 😆
Ya, right; poor Bakkie, Bissie and Etzbeth, bunch of mild manners choir boys were ruthlessly harassed by the Argie villains
@ robzim:
9
And I thought some several ruck and scrum decisions by Lacy went the Boks way despite being clearly the Argies’ calls?
One may call it a ‘Home field advantage’, still, nothing like Joubert and Peyper kind of swindles
@ gunther:
I see you have been a Naughtie Boy…………………………..again.
I am so glad Brendan Venter has aired his views in this regard.
For years and years I had a soft spot for the Argentinians, as an upcoming Southern Hemisphere rugby nation, ever improving at their craft, with very few real resources and even less money.
That was till 2 years or so ago when I became very, very frustrated at their spoiling tactics, thuggery and general intent to just keep scores against them down to acceptable levels against the world’s better sides.
I now find myself disliking them for these spoiling tactics and they have slipped hugely in my estimations… and the feeling is an ever increasing one.
By applying these severely negative tactics, they often seem better than what they really are, but these same tactics will never see them rise significantly in the world rankings or beating the world’s top tier one nations on a regular basis.
These severely and blatantly negative tactics will make them sink deeper and deeper in the mire of international rugby, as was witnessed in the past 3 or 4 years where they have had a steady decline on the world rankings.
Last Saturday, as a result we had 2 levelling factors at play, firstly the attroucious weather conditions and secondly these spoiling tactics. Argentina only started playing real positive rugby towards the end of the match, when they thought they had a chance to perhaps draw level with a converted try.
This does not mean to say that I choose to look past the fact that the Springboks did not play very well or that they employed the wrong game approach and failed to alter the game approach during the game… for that the Springboks are squarely masters of their own inability to put these pretenders to the sword.
I ask you to closely observe how negatively the Pumas play this weekend against the Springboks, how they intentionally go out to rile players like Etzebeth, Francois Louw, Bismarck du Plessis with plain niggle and thuggery.
At the same time I expect the Springboks to be able to adapt better in a game and not to get riled to the point of being super silly… like Etzebeth again proved this past weekend, he has a weakness ingrained.
I expect much better captaincy from Jean de Villiers too, and I truly hope he obliges.
@ cane:
Moi?
What now?
I miss the glory days of the battle of Tucaman when we showed those farking Argies who was boss.
I think it’s time to take the gloves off with these mothers and sink their Belgrano again.
@ grootblousmile:
15 AMEN
gunther wrote:
Really?
And what makes you so sure to think South Africa will be able to beat the Argies when it comes to the rough stuff?
The only nation who ever really succeeded in doing so was the Poms and that was only during the battle of the Falklands.
@ robzim:
Please man we will take those mothers down to funkytown.
Bakkies Eben Juan Smith.
Ask anyone who was at Camp Staldraad about Jusn Smith in the ring.
The poms could never take the Argie heat in the pitch I can remember a 21 year old Mendez putting ackford out cold.
😆
@ gunther:
20
That was Wade Dooley, not Ackford,
Turned your ignorance into a profession?
😆
@ Hondo:
No it was Ackford read his article in the telegraph.
Where wade teases him for having a glass jaw.
As you were dipshit.
😆
Sorry Hondo
It pains me to say this 😆 but Gunther is correct.
Gunther wins tickets to all the remaining Bulls matches and will be forced, ala Clockwork Orange style, to watch them.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NHqt7LTJRLA
And, it was a hell of a cheap shot from Mendez as well, totally blindsided Ackford
Here is the Battle of Tucuman
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WbJDDSLqfEM
That’s very embraboer for you Hondkak.
I suggest you pass the time with some quiet introspection.
@ nortierd:
24 As blindsided as Etzebeth on Bismark
@ nortierd:
Hahahah I’m sure it was like passing a kidney stone for you.
FARK those Argies !
😆
So Juan Smith is back.
Guthro for Beast Eben for Bakkies.
Mvovo into the squad.
Nortier you are welcome.
Probably busy having sherry with the other prefects in the headmasters study.
Time to pound the pavement.
😆
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