Volume 2, Week 4 | |
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Editors Note |
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Brilliant! Yes! The Super 12 competition is up and running and there
was no stuttering or farting about, the first round was exceptional with high quality displays and a try scored by every single team. Ok, the Chiefs and the Bulls were bad but the matches they were involved in were as exciting as the Crusaders and Brumbies clashes. The early prognosis: Super 12 rugby – fit, healthy and ready to thrill!
The coming weekend will be the turning point in the Six Nations competition when favourites England face the old enemy, France. Angleterre would like to wrap up the competition with a win over arguably their strongest opposition but a French side on home soil is never easy to beat, ask the Springboks, Australians and the Kiwis. Clive Woodward’s team will be with inspiring captain and chief enforcer Martin Johnson who miraculously escaped suspension through a myriad of vague rules surrounding appeals for a ban and his presence with the genius of Wilkinson could spoil any French dreams of a Six Nations title. France for a win, close but yes cigar. The focus in the Southern Hemisphere is now on 12 franchises willing and able to beat the living daylights out of each other, legally of course. Compared to last year’s shocking disciplinary records in the opening round most teams have realised that 14 men can rarely overcome the odds however the try of the weekend was scored by a side sporting only 14 men at the time, the Reds. Ben Tune displayed some amazing attacking skills and what a delight to see this wonderful player fit again, from a rugby co nnoisseurs point of view of course! Opposing sides do not want to see the back of this man… unfortunately his side was beaten by the reigning champions, the Brumbies. A week ago I reserved judgment on the final standings in this year’s competition until after the first round. Well here we go, my prediction for Super 12 2002: 1. Brumbies 2. Crusaders 3. Blues 4. Highlanders 5. Bulls, Cats, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Reds, Sharks, Stormers, Waratahs, (will make up the numbers so frankly who cares in what position?) That is correct, no South African sides in the final four, last year was an extraordinary year with the Kiwi sides in turmoil, this year they have hit the ground running. A new national coach with a no nonsense attitude makes a huge difference, players know that if they produce the goods an All Black jumper awaits, no politics, no names pure merit. The Brumbies are a well-drilled side and the history of the competition dictates – a first win guarantees a second. A few comments, it is extraordinary but not the first time a player announced his retirement at a relatively young age, Barry John springs to mind and now Andre Vos. His decision to leave the international game aged 27 is a sad day for the country, the man is a wonderful player and there were few more committed than he even in the direst of circumstances when stripped of the national captaincy. This is not a warning to administrators of the rigors of modern rugby schedules; it is a hard cold slap in the face! Danie Gerber, all time great and every schoolboy of the eighties’ hero underwent a triple bypass operation for a hereditary cholesterol disease, we all wish this brilliant player a speedy recovery and may he continue to part his phenomenal skills on young players in the country. A very strange thing has happened in New South Wales where a paralysed player took the NSW Rugby Union to court over the injury he suffered as a result of rugby. The incident took place 20 years ago! South Africa has through the Chris Burger and Petro Jackson fund been able to care for this unfortunate and ultimate sacrifice to the game, surely with the healthy state of world rugby’s finances a special trust can be created to cater for what is a real threat in the game. More players (and their parent s) at all levels will be able to play the game with some assurance that there is somebody out there to look after them. The new Springbok coach is down to two candidates and after another indifferent tactical display from the Sharks many pundits are looking towards the “wrong” Rudy, Joubert that is to win a World Cup for South Africa. The new coach will be known come Saturday and don’t be too surprised if the “wrong” choice is made. This was seen on the excellent Sharks website this week in a “chat” with Andre Watson, “My first trip to Aussie had me refereeing a club game the Saturday before the test match in Brisbane. I was overwhelmed by the amount of talking by the players. As we were fresh out of isolation I was willing to allow it in order to learn. After about 30 minutes, I was fed up with all the talking (to each other and to me) and I said: ‘Come-on guys, there are way too many referees on the paddock’. One mumbled a rep ly: ‘that's right mate, and you are not in the top 10!’ This weekend is another bumper rugby weekend, don’t forget to support the teams live at the park! Enjoy! Lucas |
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Political Agenda by Desmond Organ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At the centre of many debates around transformation in sport is the “means and ends” debate. Put simply the concept has it’s origins in the political philosophies of Karl Marx and the neo Marxist movements that followed him. |
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Join the SARUGBY news and discussion group for the fastest sarugby news and the most intense debates around the South African game. Send a blank email to sarugby-subscribe@yahoogroups.com |
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Ladies and Gentlemen: Round Number One by Mark Foster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
What a wonderful weekend of rugby, a cracker jack start to the Super 12 exceeded all expectation with tries aplenty and some dazzling display of skills, fitness and teamwork. The most impressive performances were undoubtedly from the New Zealand and Australian outfits, probably the reason why all the titles are shared between them! |
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Super 12 Log | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Week 1 - Opening Round Review |
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The first round of Super 12 action is history and after an exhausting 12-hour television marathon poring over every match there is plenty to write about! The general consensus was of a very successful beginning to the toughest and most exhilarating competition in rugby. It certainly provided spectators with great entertainment as they witnessed a record number of tries and the highest scoring opening round in the competition's history. With e
ach side scoring at least one try who said rugby has become defence orientated? Hurricanes: 7 Blues: 60 The opening match or more accurately mismatch was an incredible reminder of the unpredictability of sport, the Hurricanes with All Black superstars in the backline were thumped 63-7 by a rampant Blues side in Wellington. The two-time champion’s problems due to the loss of key personnel and coaching staff a few seasons ago seem to be a thing of the past and other teams better beware. The Hurricanes need as usual, forwards to do the job and discipline - it is difficult for the likes of Umaga, Cullen and Lomu to do it all without enough quality ball. They will however upset a few teams along the way. Sharks: 18 Stormers: 25 The Stormers once again pulled the wool over the eyes of their Durban based archrivals, the Sharks. The premier South African derby was a very exciting affair although riddled with some basic errors – not to worry, as far as first serious games of the season go this was an acceptable display. Unacceptable and palpably frustrating for the legions of Sharks’ fans was the recurrence of the “squander-litis” disease also diagnosed in last year’s Currie Cup final. An 18-8 lead at halftime did not prove eno ugh for Corné Krige and his band of Springbokless-men, inspired by a fine display from Pieter Rossouw and Johannes Conradie the Stormers hauled in the Sharks and gained a valuable away victory. Chiefs: 25 Waratahs: 42 The Waratahs was too strong for the Chiefs and Bob Dwyer’s side played some excellent football, last year’s young guns will be far more formidable and the presence of Matt Rogers inspiring. Burke at centre may ultimately prove a disaster for Australian rugby but his experience and team commitment is beyond doubt. The Chiefs are strong on the counter attack and in Roger Randle they possess a lethal finisher but without John Mitchell and an injured Dion Muir the going could be tough. Crusaders: 30 Highlanders: 28 Undeniably the highlight of the weekend was the South Island derby between the Crusaders and Highlanders, the teams played magnificent attacking football and the mercurial Mehrtens displayed fine form early in the season. Both teams can take heart from solid forward displays combined by excellent three-quarter skills from the Mauger brothers, Paul Steinmetz and Geoff Wilson who finished off one of the best tries of the day. The two Kiwi sides are destined for the play-offs and with excellent coaches in Deans and Mains, All Black rugby stand to benefit immensely this year. Brumbies: 29 Reds: 19 The all-Australian affair between champions Brumbies and the Reds was another scintillating display of quality Super 12 rugby. The Brumbies played their trademark organised phased play and the loss of key players Kafer and Roff was hardly felt. The forwards led by Jeremy Paul are multi skilled and were superbly driven by Gregan, the guvnor. Larkham kept the defences guessing and the return of Mortlock and his combination with Howard will make this backline a dangerous threat in the weeks to come. The Reds played very good rugby and Larkham’s try scored after a brilliant counter attack initiated by Steve Kefu and conceptualised by Ben Tune was of the highest order. The big whoa, Wendell Sailor is nothing but an oversized speedy wing who are two a penny in the Kiwi teams, he tackled well and ran well but in this match did nothing special to warrant his “superstar” tag. Bulls: 31 Cats: 44 The final match of the day between the Bulls and the Cats was a bit of a shocker, the Cats surprised a lot of pundits with their play and the Bulls surprised nobody with theirs. Individuals shone and in a match where there were countless errors and breakdowns a few players stood out; the star of the show was undoubtedly Gcobani Bobo, with three tries and more enterprise than a teenager on his first “sure thing” date he reminded many a spectator of how a centre should play the game. Willem Stoltz was a pleasant surprise and the big man can develop into a classy lock, Danie Rossouw looked the business, with loads of speed and great hands (this does not always translate to safe hands, ditto Bob Skinstad) one wonders why he began the match on the bench. The Cats won and that short statement just about sums up the play. Rugby Forum Super 12 XV 1. Bill Young (Brumbies) 2. Jeremy Paul (Brumbies) 3. Willie Meyer (Cats) 4. Justin Harrison (Brumbies) 5. Willem Stoltz (Cats) 6. Corné Krige (Stormers) 7. Owen Finnegan (Brumbies) 8. Paul Miller (Highlanders) 9. George Gregan (Brumbies) 10. Carlos Spencer (Blues) 11. Pieter Rossouw (Stormers) 12. Aaron Mauger (Crusaders) 13. Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies) 14. Doug Howlett (Blues) 15. Matt Rogers (Waratahs) 16. Dave Hewitt (Crusaders) 17. Lukas van Biljon (Sharks) 18. Simon Maling (Highlanders) 19. Scott Robertson (Crusaders) 20. Johannes Conradie (Stormers) 21. Paul Steinmetz (Highlanders) 22. Chris Latham (Reds) |
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Quotes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Physically I am no longer up to Springbok rugby.
Andre Vos They are so used to this sort of thing happening I should think they train with 13 men. Murray Mexted on the Hurricanes The Naas Botha Rose 'grows into a neat compact bush covered with healthy leaves and soft pink buds with a silvery reverse'. It's hard to read the writing on the wall when your back is against it. Phil Pretorius |
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Letters to the Editor (letters@rugbyforum.co.za) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dear Ed.
I can't believe that Australia and South Africa are pushing for a Super 14. New Zealand has the depth of players to field 5 complete sides, but South Africa clearly doesn't. That would explain why almost every year a South African side finishes at the bottom of the log. Australia is also a slightly different case because the three sides they do field are all competitive and almost never finish near the bottom, but Rugby Union is not even close to being the
national sport in a nation with only 18 million inhabitants. The number of sides in the Super 12 should not be based on even numbers, but representative of the number of registered players per country. |
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Dear Ed
When are the so-called rugby brains of SA (and Natal) going to realize that Gaffie is a waste of time. He may show potential at training but on match days he plainly sucks...no match temperament. |
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Geagte Red |
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Copyright 2002 Rugby Forum. All rights reserved. This e-mail may be freely distributed, provided that the document is left in its original form. Submissions are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect that of the editor or owner. |