After 4 Springbok losses in a row in a Tournament, the Tri-Nations, which lies very close to the hearts of South Africans and with the Rugby World Cup now exactly a year from now, the temptation is there to insist on taking the knives out and to cut some dead wood from the Springbok team and management.
… but we’ve been there before, remembering so well how we, me included, shouted from the rooftops that Jake White needed the axe.
However, this to me seems somewhat different, there has been a few too many incidents where we were within rights to be very critical about Peter de Villiers, his Assistant Coaches, our Captain John Smit and possibly a few Springbok players.
Let’s start with John Smit… was it mere coincidence that he missed the critical tackle on Ma’a Nonu, which saw Israel Dagg score the winning try on Saturday or is there justifyable critisism about John Smit’s general standard of fitness and ability to keep up with the rigors Springbok rugby requires in the twilight of his career.
To me it is clear that South Africa has an abundance of hookers who are right up there in International standards… there’s Bismarck du Plessis, Gary Botha and Adriaan Strauss who have all played for the Springboks with disctinction and additionally there is the form of Tiaan Liebenberg and Deon Fourie in the Provinces. Naming these 5 successors totally negates the availability of Chiliboy Ralepelle, well let me put it diplomatically, he does note rate, as far as I’m concerned, amongst SA’s top 6 hookers.
Pierre Spies has not been on form either and the voices are rising that alternatives for this talented athlete must be tried and that he should be replaced by real hard men, players like Duane Vermeulen or Willem Alberts. I tend to agree with them.
Victor Matfield is also coming in for some stern critisism, yet in his case I would still stay with the old grizzly, specially in the absense of Andries Bekker. Here’s hoping “Big Vic” still has a year and a bit of his best rugby waiting in the wings, for that to happen it is clear to me he needs a good break after the next 2 Tests.
Bryan Habana, what is wrong with you? Is it time to replace you with a hungry youngster like Lwazi Mvovo, a new hero to carry the candle and make us proud next year in the World Cup?
Then we move to ultra-sensitive ground… the Coaching staff.
I have personally had one too many excuses flung at me by Peter De Villiers, too many poorly worded media statements, a few too many poor diplomatic performances.. and quite a few too many tactical and substitution blunders.
The fish rots from the head, it is said, so cut the head off, replace the fish with a fresh one… do what is in SA’s best interests!
What about Dick Muir and Gary Gold? Can anyone give me a few, yes just a few, positives these two Assitants have brought to SA Rugby. I am battling to find any and I am constantly reminded at what they have given us in 2010 from a Super 14 and International perspective.
We are not a bunch op limp and forgiving supporters in South Africa, we set high standards, we expect nothing but the best.
Let me ask the question this way, would any of you out there employ Dick Muir in your business, or Peter de Villiers, or Gary Gold? I would not, they would not make it past the stage of sending CV’s, they would get no further interview and they would most certainly not get the position, not even to wash my dirty little car!
I have had enough of these clowns and I think there is time, a year out from the World Cup, to turn fortunes around.
Go Bokke rugby!
grootblousmile wrote:
Eina man klink my vanoggend daar by jou is alles styf behalwe dit wat moet wees. But hey two hours on the squash court is pretty impressive!
31@ Bullscot:
Ja, en ons speel nie tiddlywinks op die baan nie… ons jaag mekaar behoorlik, ons was 8 wat gisteraand heeltyd geruil het sodat ons met almal speel… 2 games, dan ruil jy.. 3 bane beset gelyktydig, met 2 ouens wat wag om op te kom.
5 van die 8 is jong manne hier in hulle early na mid-twenties en 3 van ons is over-forties… maar ons staan nie terug vir die jonges nie, ons jaag hulle mure toe, hoeke toe, speel drop shots, dan agter in die hoeke….
Daasie genade nie!
Maar dis net my skouer wat gisteraand vol kak was, voel vandag baaaie beter na die Voltaren Gel… en na ek vanoggend na so sexy Chiropraktisyntjie toe was vir ‘n plukkie…. hehehe
grootblousmile wrote:
Ek is nie so seker daarvan nie…ek dink hierdie is die wake-up call wat die Bokke nodig gehad het…is op n manier goed dat dit nou gebeur het en nie gedurende die RWC nie…..ons sou rerig sleg gelyk het dan, en self Wales sou gate deer ons gehardloop het.Ek twyfel of of die volgende RWC sal wen, maar ek dink darem ons sal die finals haal.
Pool A
New Zealand
France
Tonga
Canada
Japan
Pool B
Argentina
England
Scotland
Georgia
Final place playoff winner
Pool C
Australia
Ireland
Italy
Russia
United States
Pool D
South Africa
Wales
Fiji
Samoa
Namibia
NZ always struggle against the French during the pool stages, things might get very interresting.
bos_otter wrote:
@ bos_otter:
aaag demit…sorry GBS…I’m having one of them days…
35@ bos_otter:
No problems
@ grootblousmile:
Klink rof maar lekker, maak my jaloers wens ek was half so fiks wat nog te se van al die verskillende houe speel. I’m just getting started after years (or more accurately decades)out and lucky if I can return the ball yet alone decide where to place it, but you do get a great work out on a squash court I find it an incredible stress reliever. Seems like nothing that a good ‘plukkie’ couldn’t sort out for you even if they are painful at the time, although I don’t like the sound of snapping bones so prefer the physio rather than chiro treatment plus didn’t enjoy the chiro getting so close while doing his bone cracking moves.
33@ bos_otter:
So, the final 8 should be:
NZ
France
Argentina
England
Australia
Ireland
SA
Wales
@ grootblousmile:yes…and if NZ loose to the French, they will have to play of against Auz or Ireland right?
@ grootblousmile and bos_ otter:
Well its a tough group but think on recent form there is not much to choose between England Scotland and Argentina, so if we continue our upward trend under Robinson and our best get back from injury I fancy Scotland’s chances to top the group. Can’t remember the rest of the draw bos_otter but I think that would place us in quarter final against 2nd place in Aus’s group which most likely Ireland so hey every chance Scotland could get to the semi again. But there is far too much rugby to be played between now and then.
37@ Bullscot:
Freegin hell, I am as stiff as a spoorstaaf when they start crackling the bones, but this little one is different… she is very talkative and relaxed.
Up until a month or maybe a bit more ago I had’nt played squash for about 9 years, must say the old bones adapted quickly and there’s more endurance in this temple of doom than I thought there would be.
Used to play a lot of league squash and one quickly picks up the game again, just hampered sometimes by unforced errors still and sometimes by picking up the balls well enough in the back corners, but as you age you play much more of a tactical game than the youngsters who feel the need to bliksem the ball as hard as they come… against them you play clever drop shots, then long… chase them to all corners, play tightly against the walls, the secret is to place the ball well and dominate the “T” in the middle of the court.
@ Bullscot: yea mate…I know it’s all just wishfull thinking at the moment, but it’s nice to dream 🙂
@ bos_otter:
One can only dream, but my mistake just had a look Winner of Scotland group plays Runner up New Zealand France group so considering Frances ability to beat New Zealand we may be better off ending 2nd in our group to face France in the quarters. Note the we today is my Scotland hat and not Bok one on.
@ Ashley:
Beste ding wat hy gedoen het was om vir Jones aan te stel. Meyer is strate beter as hy.
Flokkit ek het probeer om op voldy te chat, maar dis maar ‘n treurige spul daar.
45@ Die Valk:
Hello jong, lanklaas jou raakgelees!
@ Bullscot: would be nice to see Scotland getting furher in the RWC this year. Scotland will always have a very special place in my heart…love the place and the people.
@ bos_otter:
if we lose to the french in the pool game, we will in all likelihood (no major upsets) avoid SA until the final if both teams make it.. Winner of NZ/France pool will be drawn to meet SA in the semi.
2nd in the pool goes on the same side of the draw as Eng/Aus if all groups go according to strength..
@ grootblousmile:
Ja-nee, studies is ‘n wetter.
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