Editors Note

 

Volume 3, Week 23

Editors Note
Brilliant!     Heck, what do you write? Ranting and raving did not work… the “let’s be positive” discourse is like convincing a 20 year old there really is a Father Christmas… the history, pride and passion troika fires up the supporters (also thanks be to SAB!)… what happened to our rugby players? Springboks, Springboks wherefore are thou Springboks?

A few friends demanded to know what I will be writing of the weekend’s dose of slop from the Springboks and how I will endeavour to remain positive about the SA rugby team’s chances in both the Tri Nations and the World Cup, which is apparently 99 days away! So here we go, first with the positive stuff… Claire Johnstone! For anyone watching the France/All Black game it is abundantly clear that in the singing stakes SA’s got it right. The lady, as “stirring” as she was (description by the old rogue Murray Mexted) butchered the La Marseilles by inventing an extra chorus for emphasis and the spectators unaccompanied by music mumbled along to the first Maori (?) verse of God Defend New Zealand before the English bit saved the day. Their rugby team incident ally did the complete reverse, after a brilliant start they mumbled through the rest of the game but then, people living in ultra thin glass houses… 

Back to the positives, oh yes – Claire Johnstone, she has a remarkable grasp of the various languages which she so enviously and seamlessly roll over her own tongue. Anyone remember how well the Italians played after they heard her angelic rendition of the "March of the House of Savoy"? The French a couple of years ago beat the daylights out of the Springboks after said Ms Johnstone’s fire and brimstone delivery of the famous war song. As for the French, they were brilliant in the set phases and with their phenomenal line out prowess they really should have done more. Flyhalf seem to be a slight problem there as well as inside centre however the team was touted as very much a development exercise for the World Cup and coach Laporte has already announced his squad and quite a few of the recent tourists were omitted.

But, more of SA rugby’s positives. The lovely Mango Groove star has become part and parcel of an impressive pre-test routine, where the Zulu dancers and drumbeaters come out and the accompanying impi (warriors) launch sortie after sortie on imaginary enemies in true Islandwana and Rorkes Drift style. It must be said, they look a lot meaner than the 15 that trot on to the sound of Johny Clegg’s hit single, “Impi”! Argentina, well a young Eva Peron might have crooned not to cry for her but there was many a Springbok supporter who almost cried for Argentina, they were robbed of an historic victory over a country regarded as one of the founders of the sport in that country. Their play was exciting and adventurous yet powerful and destructive, most of all they were playing with gusto and passion to win the test.

Enough of SA rugby’s positives… and looking back over the paragraphs written there is ample to read about so we will hold back on the negatives for the next issue.

Have a wonderful weekend off from rugby!

Lucas

Ps: Next week RF will be taking a mid-year break so the next issue will only be after the SA/Aus clash, 16 July.

lucas@rugbyforum.co.za
Visit www.rugbyforum.co.za for statistics, all the quotes and an archive of previous issues
Taming the Gauchos by Tom Marcellus
It's not often that I feel any sympathy for a losing team, when, like shameless husseys, they have had the temerity to dare take on our beloved het Springbokken. Indeed, as my mother's quivering, long-suffering daschhunds will testify, many a touring team to these shores has had to endure my vitriolic barbs made from the comforts of the sofa, as, over the years, I have exhorted our manne to trample their foes into the pitiless Highveld soil.

But I must confess that, between you and me, I did feel a twinge of pity, regret even, as that splendidly remorseless automaton in the Bok no 10 jersey again bisected the uprights late on Saturday afternoon. Luckily, you can bet your bottom peso that the vacuum caused by this momentary loss of my faculties was almost immediately enveloped by a surge of jingoistic fervour that had me whooping and hollering like a Bronx fireman on a pay-day Friday.

But, much later on that night, as I wafted dreamily towards a bourbon-induced rest, I could not help but again, fleetingly, feel sorry for these hirsute fellas from the Pampas – with their flashy skills and stubby, tree-trunk-like bodies – as I reflected on the afternoon's play.

They had played with panache and vigour, as our much-vaunted monoliths in the Green 'n Gold lumbered about The Stadium Formerly Known as Telkom Park. While the Boks spent much of the match stumbling over each other like XV vaudeville troupers at a badly choreographed Laurel 'n Hardy look-alike contest, these enterprising Pumas showed to a sceptical crowd that their series win over France was by no means a fluke. In fact, there was a decided whiff of grilled venison in the air, as the match entered its final quarter.

But, as I dreamily fended off another bout of nausea, my sympathy for our visitors began to wear off, especially when I recalled all those dastardly last-second losses that we have had to endure over the last few years, especially at the hands of Paul Hogan's mates from Porpoise Spit and the like. You win some, you draw some. Humph, I snorted, as a long-suppressed memory involving one Bernie Larkham flickered on the outskirts of my sub-conscience.

But any lingering feelings of sympathy for the Argeys rapidly evaporated, as soon as it dawned on me that, by that stage of the evening, the entire squad would have found themselves quaffing free drinks at the bar of some establishment of merriment, with soothing margaritas in their over-sized mitts, and surrounded by a multitude of shapely lasses, each out to savour some prime Argentinean beef. I gloomily surveyed the emptiness of my bed and was overcome by a despair of almost Caesarean proportio ns – our girls, too?

I pondered the injustice of it all – and wasn't there also some minor skirmish over the Falklands a few years back? War-mongering gigolos, tango-dancing cattle rustlers, I murmured indignantly, as I finally succumbed to my wounds and drifted off to sleep.

An enemy had been repulsed, and that was enough for me.
Leviathan by Desmond Organ
Thomas Hobbes famously stated that: “ Life in the State of Nature is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short” and he might just as well have said the same about the Springbok team had he been alive today and the slightest bit interested in the welfare of rugby society in South Africa. The most alarming feature of the weekend was not necessarily the events on the field but the comments of the coach in his weekly column for Rapport.

“Ek gaan die spelers die komende week teen mekaar laat oefen en diegene wat dink hulle is die beste, sal teen teenstand moet wys dat hulle in die Bok-span hoort.” For those English speaking subscribers it basically translates as: “ I am going to let the players beat the crap out of each other at training and the survivors will show me who has the right to play for the Bok team”. 

The sad thing is that this is about all that could be said after the performance on Saturday because it was glaringly obvious that the players are largely playing on their individual abilities. The lack of any coherent defensive pattern, attacking strategies and positional play left me thinking that the only thing that we are blessed with at present is a gifted kicker and a lot of luck. Even the most ardent of supporters must admit that the coach is running out of excuses. We have had trial matches , manipulation of rules relating to the use of internationally based players and several other uncreative explanations with which to feed our heavy hearts and it is still plainly evident that South Africans are going to remain as cynical as ever.

One almost had to feel sorry for Andre Vos as he sat in the Sky Studio’s and put on a brave South African face; were it not for the state of the game at home he may well be part of the brigade that could have us back to our winning ways. Far from failing to acknowledge that there were times in the past that Vos and others now playing their trade overseas also found themselves living life in Leviathan. The individual abilities of the players alone are not sufficient to deliver the goods at an intern ational level. The failed tour to Europe with the best of the Currie Cup is a well-documented horror story and the current state of events leaves me thinking that the dismal Super 12 performances are more than a travel itinerary problem.

The only real bits of good news is that we are still unbeaten this year, Argentina beat France 2-0 in their recent series and the fact that we have a few more months before the Perth encounter with England. The purpose of the series against Scotland and Argentina must surely have been to test combinations that were identified during the course of the Super 12. The reality is that the so-called coaching bosberaad that occurred during the Super 12 is beginning to look about as effective as a Friday night pub crawl where the only surviving theme is the hangover that comes from drinking too much Klippies and Coke. Surely the fact that the current coaching panel was in charge of three of the Super 12 teams and supposedly working towards a common objective has to count for something. 

Perhaps it is in the execution of the basics that we are failing to deliver and in this there can be only one solution, select players that have demonstrated an ability to do this on a consistent basis and you might just be halfway towards a useful performance. Those performances have to be put in context and competition that is considered sub standard must be put in context. I am not for a moment presuming that there are simple solutions to competing in international competition in the 21st centur y, far from it, but if the best that you can hope for is a coach with an attitude of back to the basics then at least teach the players that or let them play as individuals and we will all pray that the referee awards enough penalties for us to at least save face on occasion.

The news that Clive Woodward is to remain as England’s coach until 2007 is a vindication of the fact that consistency breeds results. It is not that long ago that England were the laughing stock of the Southern hemisphere, albeit unjustifiably. There was at least a pattern, something that has eluded the last several Springbok coaches. 

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We’ve seen the building blocks, now what about the structure? by Vinesh Naicker
Phase One of John Mitchell's journey to the World Cup is over. The team that he announces in the weekend should be the team that he takes through to the tournament itself. So what are the lessons that he would have learned from Phase One?

I assume that the nucleus of the team which faced England is the team that Mitchell thought would contest the tough games in the World Cup. I also think that Mitchell used the game against Wales to try out players in the positions where he felt he had room for improvement. The changes were the entire front row, open side flanker, number 8 and inside centre. The changes to halfback and fullback were forced upon him by injury.

After allowing these guys a training run against the Welsh, it looks like he put his first choice team back on the park and let them have another crack to prove their worth against the French B side. If that is the case then So’oialo and Nonu can justifiably feel a bit hard done by. So’oialo had a bad game against England, primarily due to his trouble clearing the ball from the base of the scrum and his lack of go forward. In his defence it was his first test match, Marshall didn’t provide him with a lot of assistance from halfback and he was up against possibly the best number 8, if not forward pack, in the world. Considering that Oliver has been given four years grace to learn to throw str aight into a lineout, it seems a bit harsh to turf out So’oialo after one test. It seems even harsher for Nonu, who really only dropped the ball once and for the rest of the game was in a back line that had no space to manoeuvre. Undoubtedly both will be in the All Black frame in future years.

Collins and Carter both advanced their claims to first choice positions last week, but the tight five didn’t step up a gear and actually seem to have gone backwards. Bernard Laporte would have returned home happy from having blooded some new players, knowing that if his first choice players are injured he can use some of the guys who showed up well in NZ. As Mitchell did in last years November tour, he has broadened his player base.

Mitchell is running out of time, though. Realistically he now has to choose his best combinations and unless they demonstrate total ineptitude in the Tri-Nations he has to allow them to settle. All personal preferences aside there isn’t that much of a gap between the players selected. Mealamu isn’t that much better than Oliver. There seems to be nothing to choose from between the props, and the only other locking option available is Simon Maling. Holah and McCaw will swap the number 7 jersey due to the high workload required from that position and the only other options available in the back line are Mehrtens and Cullen.

Mehrtens is not match fit at the moment but with his vast amount of experience it would be a big mistake not to take him to the World Cup. If Spencer gets injured it would be a huge risk to play either Mauger or Carter at flyhalf against the likes of England or Australia. Neither Mauger nor Carter has any experience at flyhalf on the international stage, and in the red hot cauldron of the World Cup you can expect any deficiencies to be ruthlessly exposed. Mehrtens has been there and done that an d is a proven world class player.

I find the non-selection of Cullen to be a bit puzzling as well. When measured against the standards of his play in 1996 to 1998 he is definitely not the same player he was. However, when compared against any other fullback in rugby at the present time he still stacks up pretty well. MacDonald has an ongoing problem with headaches and even when fully fit hasn’t shown superior form to Cullen in the Super 12 this year. As far as I could see the main reason that he was the first choice was a super ior boot to Cullen and because he was the incumbent. Apparently even Ben Blair is in the fullback cue ahead of Cullen. Now Blair is a good goal kicker and a great little player, but the fact that he is the size of most halfbacks has shown him up in defence against big players in the past. He doesn’t have that same ability to bring down a big man that players such as George Gregan and Brent Russell have demonstrated in the past. Cullens defence has been consistently superior.

The Springboks and Wallabies are also in the unenviable position of still being in the process of putting together a first string team to take to the Cup. Straeuli has a few players still coming back from injury. They include Pretorious and Paulse, potentially game breaking players. I think the optimal mix for the Boks will be to have a team of hard grafters who do the basics of tackling, passing and set pieces well, with just two to three game breakers. A fully fit Skinstad at the height of his powers could be a huge asset to complement the hard graft provided by Krige and company, a lacklustre Skinstad will be a liability. Similarly a combination of Pretorius and Russell at flyhalf and inside centre could provide all the dynamism the backline needs. Conversely, they could also leak like a sieve in defence.

Australia has a number of experienced and talented backs coming back from injury but limited options in the forward pack. France and England each have a tried and tested team fully capable of winning the World Cup on the day. NZ, Australia and South Africa seem to be in a race against time to develop the combinations and the mental toughness to take them through to the final prize. It is not so much a question of peaking at the right time for the Tri Nations teams but of hoping that the mortar between their building blocks has hardened before the tournament reaches the quarter final stages.

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Quotes
I'm filthy, I'm really disappointed. I thought I might have done enough to at least remain in the Wallaby squad. Nathan Grey after being left out of the Walaby squad.

The Boks were lucky, they played like cabbages!     Mike Amm

We made all the play and they lived off our mistakes.     Corne Krige

At times we played some really good rugby, even though we made some mistakes.   Corne Krige

I didn't think the [expletive deleted] would have the bottle to send two off within two minutes.     Lawrence Dallaglio on Stuart Dickinson

We train with 14 men, We try to think what we will do when certain players get a yellow card. That doesn't happen by luck, but by experience and practice.       Clive Woodward

However he [Rudolf Straeuli] tries to massage yesterday's performance against the luckless Argentine Pumas, the barely palatable truth is that South Africa were reckless, clumsy and extremely fortunate to escape by the skin of their teeth. Straeuli had been at pains this week to dismiss talk that the Boks' aura of invincibility had been lost. But that's bollocks. A succession of teams have played South Africa in recent months and paid scant respect to the weight of history. Great teams are revered - this lot are not great. Yesterday, they were even below ordinary... Truth be told, the Boks didn't deserve to win. Clinton van der Berg

We know exactly where we stand.      Rudolf Straeuli

The scrum is an important part of French rugby. In each game in our championship, it is an honour to win the scrums.     Yannick Bru

He is a great player who went the extra mile for SA rugby. Now SA Rugby will go the extra mile for him.    Rian Oberholzer on Dean Hall's injury plight

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Letters to the Editor
Hi Lucas

Re: Enough!

Your last Rugby Forum's quote section featured the following:

'What you will see at Wellington on Wednesday will be a good match. There are certain players there that really want to play in the World Cup. So I think you can expect South African rugby to start showing what it has to offer pretty soon.' - Rudolf Straeuli

Oh dear Rudolf, we've now seen what you have to show and we're not disappointed, we're bleery horrified! Have you and your team all been having sex with a spider and had your brains sucked out? Sheez, the peanut seller could probably have done better, and to think each player earned R100 000.00 per game for that!

The rugby media all seem overeager to trot out platitudes about taking positives from the Bok displays, which seem to be aimed more at the retention of their privileges than any responsibility towards the game and its supporters. Let's be absolutely honest: Our game stinks, the players and the coaches are abysmal and any hope of World Cup success lies in 2011 if we can find a foundation on which to build now!

OK! OK! We've changed coaches too often since our lucky year of 1995, but its now time to sit down and assess our game. The way we administer it, the way we develop it, the way we mould our players and what our objectives are in steps towards a targeted World Cup victory. Then we need to communicate everything to the rugby public who are the de facto shareholders of SARFU!

We have to get away from the blind belief that but for an adjustment here or there, we're still world champions. The rugby media too has to start acting like watchdogs and not lapdogs. They need to start asking questions that the supporters want answered not those that SARFU want asked. They need to look at how the NZ and OZ Media ask their administration, coaches and players the uncomfortable questions - face to face!

Now it's off my chest! After England's trouncing of our pathetic team last December I suggested to my daughter that we'd have a chance against Greenland. She replied: 'I don't know Dad, I believe Greenland has 15 players!' What's changed as we approach the 2003 World Cup?

Regards,
Storm Ferguson
Dear Lucas,

Re: How has rugby changed so much? by Vinesh Naicker;

Mr. Naicker suggests that a players like Colin Meads would have felt more at home playing alongside Dallaglio, Hill and Vickery than they would alongside players like Randell, Thorn and Oliver.

I would suggest to Mr. Naicker that unless he's over 55 years old, his memory of Colin Meads at his peak is limited to 10-second snippets of black & white television clips and reflections by old newspaper writers. Get over 
it, the game has changed. International rugby tests are contests, not parades with pre-determined outcomes. The ball is shaped funny, it's handled hundreds of times a game by tired men under immense pressure. As in life, sometimes the ball doesn't bounce your way. We learn to live with that and move on.

I would suggest to Mr. Naicker that he check his Stuart Dickinson persona at the typewriter and prepare a list of realistic expectations, lest his columns further escalate into the pedantic and puerile whinges they are rapidly becoming. By denegrating a young NZ team with many debutantes and players out of possession who played dumb football and lost by a mere 2-points, Mr. Naicker has for all intents and purposes the appearance of an hysterical and paranoid Chicken Little. In the same breath, he exalts to apotheosis an experienced England team at the end of their season that never came even remotely close to crossing the goalline, and dismisses serially infringing at the breakdown as "confidence and experience to shut down a game." Yes, very positive stuff. Get out the ticker tape and book your flight to Trafalgar Square come November Vinesh!

Fred Allen, a realist and a man who actually knew Colin Meads, in fact coached him at his peak, reckons the current AB team is on track, and he never seems compelled to evoke Meads name to make a case. Perhaps Mr. Allen is suffering Alztheimers and doesn't understand the significance of a one-off test loss by 2-points with no silverware on the line against the world's #1 ranked team. Perhaps Mr. Naicker knows better than Mr. Allen.

Prediction: RWC 2003, the Boks will beat England.
Tom Byers
Hi Lucas.

I will try and use the best English that I am capable of, difficult though, as Afrikaans have a bit more expressionist words. Unfortunately there are descriptive words I can not translate for the benefit of our international readers. I am reading the opinions of the many correspondents and sideline coaches of whom I regard myself to be one of the better ones. It is amazing that such a high premium is placed on the Poms victories over the All Black and the Wallabies. I don't want to take the credit away where it is due. They played very well or I will also say as the Frenchie said "they were just less stupid" I still believe in "commeth the hour co meth the man" or is it the other way round. I will keep on saying that the guys are playing too much rugby in the Southern hemisphere i.e NZ, Australia and SA. You could see it in the play between the Poms and our rivals. It is as if the guys are not that committed. O yes, the World Cup is only later the year. I don't know if I am naive or just stupid, Roelfie will pull a big rabbit out of the hat. My opinion is to have forwards that scrum the opponents into the ground, backline players that tackle and not cuddle the opponents and of course players that want to play. I will also put my foot in it to choose a side. 

15. Jaco vd Westhuizen/Jaques
14. Frederich Lombard/
13. Trevor Halstead/Marius Joubert
12 Drie Scholtz/ Grant Esterhuizen
11. Willemse/
10. Butch James/
9. Graig Davidson
8. Sean Sowerby/Pedrie Wannenburg
7. AJ Venter/ W van Heerden
6. C Krige/
5. V Matfield/G Cronje
4. B Botha
3. R Bands
2. L Van BIljon/ J Smit
1. Schimange

They might just do it?
Chrisjan X
Hi Lucas

Re: Please reassure us, Mr Straeuli !

I am normally an optimistic sort of a guy, but some of the decisions made recently by the Springboks brains trust (coaches and selectors) fill me with doubts. For one thing, I don't think their sources of information are too reliable, and then their judgment often appears flawed.

As an example of the former, take the Thinus Delport "issue". I saw two Heineken Cup matches in which Delport's club played, right here in SA in front of my telly. Now firstly, Delport played on the left wing on both occasions and secondly, on the few occasions that he touched the ball his handling skills were an embarrassment. To me, his shocking display against Argentina "A" came as no surprise. I can only wonder on what intelligence his recruitment back to SA was based, especially as a fullbac k.

Examples of the latter are becoming disturbingly numerous. Jaco van der Westhuyzen was by far the best fullback in last year's Currie Cup competition and also the best SA fullback during this year's Super 12. But he was not in the starting lineup for the first test of the season. Marius Joubert rates along with Brian O'Driscoll and Will Greenwood as one of the finest outside centres in the WORLD. But he was also not picked for the first test. At least both were picked for the second test.

However, how long will it take the brains trust to recognise the other talent that the fans have already identified? I read that the head coach has reprimanded the press, saying that they should look beyond Geo Cronjé's beard. I think HE (the coach) is the one staring himself blind at the beard! The young lock's workrate, basic skills and imposing presence - on occasions even flair! - are there for all to see (except apparently those who really matter). Luke Watson - the ideal understudy to Corné Krige - has not even been picked for the u.21 side! Gary Botha also appears to be in nowhereland. Ricci Januarie isn't even among the first FOUR choices at scrumhalf!

In a team context, the Sharks' pack of forwards performed admirably throughout the Super 12, while their backline's performance can only be described as pathetic. But the Springboks started the first test with more than half the backline coming from the Sharks!

I understand that the brains trust have an enormous injury problem, with superstars like Breyton Paulse, Pieter Rossouw, Bob Skinstad, Corné Krige, Joe van Niekerk, Brent Russell etc. all on the sidelines. I can also understand that they do not want to play all their cards before the World Cup.

Maybe all it takes is for the coaches to tell the fans that they have earmarked these players as their World Cup trump cards, and are therefore hiding them from our opponents. Maybe that's all the reassurance we need. At the moment we fear that they are being overlooked, and that is driving us to drink! (Not really a drive... only a short putt!)

COLIN VAN RENSBURG
Durbanville

Ps: This fantastic recipe for a delicious, full-course World Cup banquet comes from Danie Craven's famous cookbook, Speel en Geniet. It is based on the age-old Boere-recipe of cook until tender in the first hour, and spice to taste in the last 20 minutes to guarantee a feast.

Ingredients:

15 Jaco van der Westhuyzen
14 Breyton Paulse (Ashwin Willemse)
13 Marius Joubert
12 De Wet Barry
11 Robbie Fleck
10 Louis Koen
9 Joost van der Westhuizen
8 Shaun Sowerby
7 Pedrie Wannenburg
6 Corné Krige
5 Geo Cronjé
4 AJ Venter
3 Richard Bands
2 Danie Coetzee
1 Robbie Kempson

Spices:

Eduard Coetzee
Gary Botha
Victor Matfield
Bob Skinstad
Bolla Conradie
André Pretorius
Brent Russell

Head chef: Rudy Joubert
Main course chef: Heyneke Meyer
Pudding chef: Gysie Pienaar

Method:

Cook the first 15 ingredients together for the first hour. (Remember, that same combination has to be cooked together on at least 3 or 4 occasions for all the flavours to gel properly. If Paulse is out of season, use Willemse.)

After approx. 50 - 55 minutes, remove #2 and replace it with #3; move #1 into #3's place and add Eduard to the #1 spot. Botha can be added to taste, if #3 appears a bit bland.

Shortly thereafter, remove the Venter and replace it with Matfield, and remove the Sowerby and replace it with Skinstad. (Joe van Niekerk is an alternative to Skinstad, if out of season.)

After about 60 minutes, remove #12 and put some #11 in its place. Add some Russell in the #11 spot. Also remove #9 and #10 and add some Conradie and Pretorius respectively.

Serve hot and enjoy!
FLOYD ON RUGBY
Best Ed

After I read Wayne's letter last week I was shocked at the team he want's to send on to the field. And what ever Naas said about choosing a kicker before a captain not true. I have always believed a player should be as good in his defence and attack as he is with his boot and if some one says that Louis Koen has all these qaulities I will laugh in his face. The other problem with the oke is his decision making on the pitch. He must be deciding before a match these days if he is running or kicking . In the first test the backline never saw the ball because he kicked everything away. In the second test the backline saw a little more ball but he ran almost each ball by himself witch did not work out that well all the time. Now here is my suggestion for the current bok team and there is a few players that is not in the squad in the moment.

15. J.vd Westhyzen ( No need to comment )
14. S. Terblanche ( Had two great games under pressure only back to perform in first test)
13. A. Snyman ( Had bad first test but I believe he has what is takes )
12. D. Scholtz ( Rudolph better phone him up soon )
11. A. Pitout ( Wonderfull alround wing )
10. A. Pretorius ( His confidince is down now but he is the best we got )
9. J. vd Westhuizen ( Not over the hill yet better than the rest at his worst )
8. P. Wannenburg ( What can I say Brilliant!!! )
7. J. Smith ( Better than Van Heerden , Venter and Gerber )
6. C. Krige (c) ( No comment needed )
5. V. Matfield ( Best of the Best )
4. G. Cronje ( The bearded beast is brilliant )
3. R. Bands ( We found a tight head )
2. J. Smith (Best we have)
1. L. Sephaka ( Playing great rugby )

The bench I will leave to your imagination I did not consider players like Big Joe and Dean Hall because of injury.

Thanks for reading
Nardus Oelofse
Goeidag Lucas.

Re: Die Senter Dilemma

Ek het gister (Woensdag 25 Junie) met groot afwagting vroeg huistoe gegaan vir ‘n heerlike middag se rugby. Groot was my teleurstelling met die kwaliteit van rugby wat deur die SA A span opgedis is. Om te dink hierdie is veronderstel om ons 2e span te wees…… Meeste gesprekke om die braaivuur gaan op hierdie stadium oor die bok-losskakel. Maar ek wil meer praat oor senters. Die kies van Wayne Julies vir die SA A span was natuurlik vir my een van die groot verassings gewees. Ek lees dat die koerante almal vandag sê dat hy so goed gespeel het en min of geen tekens van roes getoon het nie. Maar die feit is dat ek glo nie hy daar is omdat hy dit verdien nie. Is daar werklik nie meer kwotas in rugby nie? Wanneer laas het Wayne Julies rugby gespeel voor die SA A wedstryd? Verdien Grant Esterhuizen nie ‘n kans nie? Hy het ten minste Super 12 gespeel en is ook ‘n vergete bok. Ek het ook gelees dat hy nou ‘n 2 jaar kontrak in Frankryk gekry het. Om nie eers te begin praat oor Dries Scholtz nie. Hoekom vra julle en ander joernaliste nie meer ernstige vrae oor Dries Scholtz nie? Hoeveel goeie wedstryde moet hy nog speel? Het die Bulle se bestuur enige invloed in die keuse van die span dat hulle hom blok omdat hulle suur is? Waarom is hy nog nie ‘n bok nie? Almal kla oor die kwesbaarheid van ons verdediging agter, maar hier is ‘n man wat kan tackle, oor die voordeellyn kom en hy kan die buite gaping vat! ‘n Sterke derduiwel!! Is daar enige iets meer wat ons van ‘n senter wil hê? Trevor Halstead is nie die antwoord nie, maar ek glo dat Dries Scholtz is.

Ek glo dat SA Rugby hulle eie senter probleem geskep het. Ons sit met Stuart Abbot, Clyde Rathbone en Grant Esterhuizen in die buiteland en met Dries Scholtz op sy plaas buite Douglas. 

Lucas weet julle waarom Dries nie eers die A Span gehaal het nie?

Groete
Adolf Kieviet
Hi Lucas,

Re: THREE OR FOUR BLIND MICE?

Hierdie boodskap is eintlik vir onse "hooggewaardeerde" Springbok Rugbyafriiiigteeer en sy drie adjudanties bedoel.

Kies eerstens en laastens spelers wat KAN speel, nie outjies wat wil speel nie. Ons almal, die hele bliksemse wereld wil speel, veral vir soveel geld, en en en, maar hulle KAN NIE. Ek sien Dolfie beweer nou, in Rapport, hy weet nou wie kan en wie kan nie. Ek het nuus vir hom. Ons gewone mense weet dit al lankal. Voorbeeld - Brent Russell KAN, Trevor Halstead wil maar hy kan nie en sal ook nooit kan nie, PUNT. 

Leer die manne asseblief om te tackle, soos om te crash-tackle. Ek noem die tegniek en taktiek sommer heel eenvoudig, ATTACK THROUGH DEFENCE, bedoelende, duik die dinges uit die man met die bal en sodoende kan hy nie die bal pass of plaas nie, want jy tackle hom uit die bal uit en uit die game uit en siedaar, jy draai verdediging om in aanval en die man weet hy is ge-tackle. Ons het altyd daarna verwys as "he stays tackled for the rest of the game". PLAY THE SITUATION en vergeet van te veel planne, dit werk nie so lekker op die veld nie. 

Ek het geseg,
Koos Carelse
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