Would a loss against the Irish make this year a disappointing one for the Springboks?
This is a question that I hear many rugby lovers ask in the wake of a disappointing tour of Europe. Let’s firstly have a look at the results of tests played this year.
SA 26 – Lions 21 (H)
SA 28 – Lions 25 (H)
SA 9 – Lions 28 (H)
SA 28 – NZ 19 (H)
SA 31 – NZ 19 (H)
SA 29 – Aus 17 (H)
SA 32 – Aus 25 (A)
SA 6 – Aus 21 (A)
SA 32 – NZ 29 (A)
SA 13 – France 20 (A)
SA 32 – Italy 10 (A)
This gives us a winning record so far of 73 % which could become 67% if we lose to Ireland or 75% if we manage to win this weekend. These results gives us an aggregate score against everyone of 24 – 21.
The third test against the Lions was played with an inferior team, and had we played our top players in that game, a win was possibly on the cards. The game against Australia that we lost this year was the most disappointing one for me. We where outplayed that day, and looked like a shadow of the team that won every Tri nations game up to that point.
The test we lost against France was on the cards, and I called the French to win by 8 before kick off. The signs that the players where tired was to be seen in the Currie Cup Semi finals and to some extent in the second half of the final. And to make matters worse for the France game was the fact that we missed some key players.
So in my humble opinion, this was a great year for Springbok rugby, win or lose this weekend, and if we can manage the players better next year, we can have an even better year.
#89 probably only tomorrow, waiting for certain niggles to calm down before they announce
All waiting. Want to see if Ireland win by 9 or by 6. Have to run to my bookie later.
#89..Just before kickoff Iriah..We are pulling a Rassie on the Irish..going ti fly in some backups from SA and go and fetch JDV at Munster!..
#66 Vanstraaten
Boks = one hit wonders? Damn broer – you’re a hard man to please!
You don’t think that this exceptional 2009 has been in the making for quite some time now?
Ooh..da fingers are sloppy today!
#93 If only (sigh)
#92 Brave little lad aren’t you hehehehe
#92..Your bookie is gonna smile again this weekend Irish!
@ 93 – Oh
#94 wonder ek ook nou so myself, hulle was awesome gewees
#92 Irish,
Speaking of bookies: what are the odds on a Bok win over there?
@96 & 97 – LOL
#94 Fender..You playing at that bluefest at Bloemendal on Sat?
Fark, I thought I made some profound observations in Comment # 11, but it zipped past all of you farkers… it’s all Oirish’s and R_P’s fault!
Betfair has Boks 1.75 to win
#103 Hey GBS..you used to many big words for Irish and AB supporters to understand man!…lol
@103 GBS – I humbly apologise 😉
#94 Polla
Damn, jy druk my nou inne blik, my broer! Ko ek stellit so: ko skud blad backstage so 3uur se kant.
Hoe klink daai?
Back later gator
Back to the Rugby..Never Mind the percentages, The Boks won the Tri-Nations, The Lions Series and was No 1 at one stage. Not to shabby I would say and successful despite what is happeing now at EOY tour.
#104 Irish,
Thanks. So that makes Ireland the bookie favourites to win, right?
#94 Ek het kaartjies en hoop om later daar uit te kom…Laaitie speel nog eers vir Boland krieket innie Paarl Saterdag!…Sal hard probeer om 3-uur daar te wees!
@94 – Repeat in 2010 then they can call themselves legends. Fail in 2010, and that would put 2009 in perspective.
#112 I think you are way to harsh on them VanStraaten. The bulls had a succesfull year and with the core of those players the Boks had one as well and thus SA Rugby as a whole had one of our better years. Next year is next year…If WP wins the CC next year what does it say about the bulls season this year?..nothing!..The bulls still had a great season!
#111 Polla,
Kwaai en veels geluk mettie Boland kleure, Polla! Dan sien ons mekaar hopenlik da…
#113 – Like the 2007 Super 14 campaign said nothing about the Bulls. The New Zealand sides were weakened for most of the season and their players were not game fit when they came back. 2009 Bulls played the strongest teams and won. There’s no question about them.
This season New Zealand had such a big injury list its not even funny. The Springboks needs to repeat 2009’s results in 2010 if they want to be taken seriously (and I’m excluding the poor end of year results).
I’d be happy with at least one win in New Zealand, and a win at home against New Zealand, and three wins against the Wallabies. Nothing less. If you want to be great you’re standards have to be great. No place for complacency.
#114 Kwaainannies Fender…Hopelik kan ek vroeg genoeg daar uitval!
Ek moet nou eers weer hol. Praat later
#115 VanStraaten
There is a cricket saying that reads “Any hundred is a good hundred”. So, I can’t agree with 2007 not being a great season for the Bulls. They played against what was put before them in the S14 and they came out tops. It was a major breakthrough for the Bulls and SA rugby and played a large part in the Boks WC 2007 triumph.
Injuries will always be part of the game and it is unrealistic to believe that all sides will have their best 15 out on the park at all times.
And if Tim Noakes is to believed, injuries will play an important role in how our domestic teams fare next year. So, if you’re consistent you will have to ignore next year’s results if in fact, our teams and our Bok team is decimated by injuries.
In my opinion, nothing and that includes next year’s performance, can diminish what SA rugby has achieved this year.
A great team doesn’t last one season. They build on what they’ve achieved the previous season. How do you think the All Blacks built their aura? They consistently beat the other teams. A lot of years they would finish the year having lost 1 – 2 games (Usually in the Tri-Nations a freak loss here or there). They were also competitive in every facet of the game. This Springbok side is not competitive in every facet of the game. They are superb in certain facets and lack in others.
I agree with what Campo said. He said that South Africa could field 3 (perhaps a 4) international competitive sides (one from overseas based players, and three from South Africa). We have the depth to do that. Boks should rest during the Currie Cup (except the bench players), and the Currie Cup should be expanded and there should be a salary cap so that more talent in South Africa gets exposure.
A hundred against Zimbabwe doesn’t say much about a player, where a hundred against Australia on the fifth day with a deteriorating pitch says a lot. Performances needs to be taken in context. The Springboks have such depth that no excuse would be good enough.
JP Duminy wouldn’t have been rated as a batsman if he scored his runs against Zimababwe and couldn’t stand up to Australia…
I too have a feeling that South Africa could do much beter,
BUT to really put the achievements of the Boks into perspective, We are a 3rd world country in Africa!!
Unbelievable aint it?
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