South Africa will Boks Wallabies into a corner

Roar Rookie

By Bokkie, 1 Sep 2010 Bokkie is a Roar Rookie

Tagged:: Rugby Union, Springboks, Tri Nations, wallabies

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“Beale! He has a man on the inside but he doesn’t give it. Now he gives it. TRY TO AUSTRALIA! No, he’s been pulled down from behind meters out!” That’s what Fox Sports Greg Clarke said as Beale broke the Springbok defence and sent the pass to Elsom, who was stopped just short.

Paints a picture of the Wallabies night, really.

Many people have said that the Wallabies tripped over their own shoelaces and fell short, an observation, I believe, is wrong. They did not lose the match, they were beaten.

If the Wallabies are ever to be at the same level of the current day All Blacks and Springboks, they need to admit that they pretty much suck.

Elsom is not an international quality player, let alone captain; Matt “where is he?” Giteau has been an absent figure for at least eighteen months; Mumm needs to learn to become dad if he is ever gonna be “mongrel” enough to play the likes of the Boks and All Black’s and Cooper needs to do some work on the tackling bag.

Richard Brown, why is he there? Seriously why?

Did you know that if Robbie Deans loses this game, and the following Sydney Test, his Wallaby career stands at 50 percent. Maybe he is not the all powerful rugby guru that many suspected he was. After all, he had a lot of the best players of our generation in his Crusaders side that won those Super Rugby tournaments.

Who wouldn’t look like an amazing coach?

The Wallabies beat the Boks in Brisbane. That is the only success they have had this year in the Tri Nations, as in last year’s. Hardly something to be proud of, seeing South Africans hate Suncorp.

The Bulls, Stormers and Sharks all lose there. (I should know, I’m there and disappointed each time.)

It is to be noted that the Wallabies have a few players to come back from injury, but are these guys much better? Was the Wallabies season last season a noteworthy one with those guys in the side?

What about the opposition for this weekend?

The Boks are feeling much better after ending their four game losing streak and have taken off some of the heat on the older players and the coaching staff.

They have also retained the starting side from last week, with the only change being Dannie Roussow promoted to the starting side ahead of Flip Van Der Merwe.

The Wallabies don’t have the forwards nor the backs to match it with a more confident Boks side. On paper, the Boks are stronger and you would be hard-pressed to find a single position in which the Wallabies have the better player.

I would bet my house on the Boks tightening up the defence and choking the Wallabies like the All Blacks on the eve of a quarter final.
Boks by plenty.

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The Crowd Says (121) | Page 1 of Comments

Sean said | September 1st 2010 @ 1:59am | Report comment

Considering the Wallabies have Ben Alexander, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Stephen Moore, James Horwill, Dan Vickerman and Wycliff Palu to come back to the pack, you can guarantee they will improve dramatically.

What was disappointing for me is that the Boks didn’t flog this team at Loftus. We have our own players missing but when you look at the quality of the Wallaby pack on Saturday, it should never have been that close.

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I am 5am said | September 1st 2010 @ 2:22am | Report comment

Hahahaha, if the Wallabies indeed do aspire to the same level as the current day Springboks, then everything bad you say about them is true!

….the same present day springboks that were thrashed in Auckland, Brisbane and Wellington this year? The same Springboks that lost to France, Ireland, Sarasens and Leinster last november!? The same Springboks that choked a couple of weeks ago against NZ?

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- Brian said | September 3rd 2010 @ 11:11am | Report comment
  
  “same Springboks that lost to France, Ireland, Sarasens and Leinster last november!?” errr…. no It was a second string team that toured the nh last year.
  
  Don’t forget the boks are still missing Bismark Du Plessis, Beast, Bekker, Brussow and Fourie Du Preez. You’ll have noticed as they get some of their bigger guns back (eg. Fourie, F. Steyn, JP Pietersen), they start winning again.
  
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  - I am 5am said | September 3rd 2010 @ 5:54pm | Report comment
    
    Yeah I agree, Du Preez was a blow, but the absence of 4 or 5 people don’t make it a 2nd 15. I thought there was more depth in South Africa?
    
    Of course the Boks are the only people that have injuries. NZ are not missing Williams, Eaton, Sivivatu, Hoare, and Kahui, or anyone else to the northern hemisphere.
    
    But now I know injuries are a valid excuse, your wins last year didn’t count because we had injuries to key players such as Carter.
    
    Don’t know if it is fair to say you are ‘winning’ yet though. ‘Won’ (a single game) would be more accurate.
    
    Reply
  - pothale said | September 3rd 2010 @ 6:55pm | Report comment
    
    Second string team that toured the NH last year?
    
    Really? Here’s the team from the Irish match:
    
    “Zane Kirchner; JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, John Smit (capt), BJ Botha, Andries Bekker, Victor Matfield, Heinrich Brussow, Schalk Burger, Danie Rossouw.
    
    Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, CJ van der Linde, Francois Hougaard, Jean Deysel, Dewald Potgieter, Ruan Pienaar, Jean de Villiers.”
    
    These are all second string players for South Africa? I could have sworn I saw a good few of them playing in the Tri Nations this year. Except for that Fourie de Preez guy – he’s clearly second string – he didn’t even make it into the squad this season.
    
    Reply
    - Ivan Nel said | September 3rd 2010 @ 7:01pm | Report comment
      
      The same team that beat the Lions, and won the 3N… ya, they’d be forgiven for running out of puff at the end of the season
      
      Reply
      - I am 5am said | September 3rd 2010 @ 10:54pm | Report comment
        
        You cant have it both ways Ivan…. they lost because they were tired, or becuase they didnt have the depth of players to back up. Either way they still lost.
        
        If they are your team you are free to forgive them though.
        
        What is their excuse this year?
        
        Reply
        
        Ivan Nel said | September 3rd 2010 @ 10:57pm | Report comment
        
        No excuses this year, Kiwis got better, we got worse. NZ were the best this year, and we need to improve if we want to compete with them.
        
        I still believe that the Boks will be back in 2011… in the biggest way.
        
        We lost because we were tired, and the depth was not top form as we had hoped.
        
        like i said, no excuses. This is all blacks year
Hanzo said | September 1st 2010 @ 3:22am | Report comment

I like how you pointed out that Australia has only won a single Tri-nations game this year. Thankfully the springboks have won every game of their campaign…… Oh wait a minute.
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- Hayden said | September 1st 2010 @ 6:08am | Report comment
  
  Took the words right out of my mouth. Isn’t this the same Bokkie who announced the Boks were going to whip the ABs in the opening test, then promised they would be back with a vengance in the second, then promised retribution on the High Veldt? Mate, a little humility please. This was after all your team’s first win this 3N. If the Wallabies suck so much, how come you only just staggered past them? Just on the strength of this post, I hope the Wallas serve some humble pie in your direction on Saturday.
  
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Hanzo said | September 1st 2010 @ 3:26am | Report comment

‘If the Wallabies are ever to be at the same level of the current day All Blacks and Springboks, they need to admit that they pretty much suck.’

Let me get this right, your also saying that the ABs and the Boks are playing at the same level?

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gekko said | September 1st 2010 @ 9:09am | Report comment

Wow. I was trying real hard to find anything I could agree with Bokkie.

Bokkie, get off the funny stuff! Or you posted this to the wrong blog?

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Hoy said | September 1st 2010 @ 9:11am | Report comment

I personally would much prefer to have Cooper play my 5/8 than Steyn. Imagine if the Boks actually used their backline to their full potential!

So South Africans hate Suncorp hey? Well we hate the Highveldt. Does that make it OK for us to lose there? Not to me. And as it has been pointed out, you have only won one game as well Bokke.

I am not so deluded to think we will smash all before us like you Bokke, but once our players play to their potential, we will get better.

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soapit said | September 1st 2010 @ 9:15am | Report comment

to paraphrase the simpsons

“you know it is possible to ba a bad winner homer”

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Bokkie said | September 1st 2010 @ 10:40am | Report comment

Ahh, very keen of you guys to notice that the Springboks have only won one game this year… Good on ya scotland yard. Did you guys look at the rap sheet of both sides during your investigation? Judging by you comments, I dont think so. This springbok side are world champions, mandela plate holders and untill recently freedom cup and tri nations champions. They have beaten the lions and won the super rugby tournament. They have a proven record that says that they are more than capeable of being the best. What do the wallabies have to show? 2001 was their last tri nations win… they have won only 5 games EVE away from home in the tri nations (so much for only being bad at the high veldt) and this group of players is not exactly the best they have ever had… My question to you, in what regard are the Wallabies even slightly better than the Boks? What makes this Wallaby team world beaters like the current Springboks have been? Sure cooper might be a better fly half in terms of distribution, but does he tackle like steyn? no, he doesnt tackel at all. Does he kick like steyn? Only in his dreams.

Oh and BTW the boks have bigger injury concerns than the Wallabies. No Bekker, Brussow, Fourie Du Preez, Bismark Du Plessis and we only just got back Frans Steyn and Juan Smith… Do you honestly believe the Wallabies are capeable of beating the springboks at full strength?

I also love how all of you are quick to piont out that my article is ridiculouse and false, yet no1 (with the exception of some1 saying cooper for steyn) has given an example of the Wallabies having the better player. Funny that.

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- Hoy said | September 1st 2010 @ 11:10am | Report comment
  
  And yet we still beat you at Suncorp. Cue excuses such as third game in three weeks, not liking Suncorp etc.
  
  Cooper held up Spies didn’t he? Can’t be that bad a defender.
  
  I would also take Robinson and Pocock over their respective opposites as well. Pocock is a true fetcher, Burger is an imposter openside. Robinson, last year, was (I think) the best prop in the world. Big call, but he and Alexander turned our scrum around remarkably last year.
  
  You say you have more injury concerns that the Wallabies, and mention 4 injured players. I can think of maybe 6+ that are missing from our squad. Injuries are not really an excuse. As you say, the wallabies are not the greatest team at the moment. That is a given.
  
  Are you asking if the current Wallabies could beat a full strength Springboks at the moment? I don’t think it would make that much difference, however a full strength Wallabies could well make a difference the other way. Just a thought.
  
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- Hayden said | September 1st 2010 @ 1:05pm | Report comment
  
  I can just hear the strains of Deutschland Uber Alles playing in the background as you type, Bokkie. Let’s not forget the losses to Ireland, France, Saracens and Leicester.
  
  By the end of 2009, each team had played 62 3N matches. The ABs had won 42, SA 26 and Aus 24. Given the disparate numbers of rugby players available to both countries, I would suggest that historically, SA have been the under achievers of the competition. I can’t be bothered digging further to see how many away games the Boks have won over the same period.
  
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  - jeremy said | September 1st 2010 @ 1:57pm | Report comment
    
    Hayden, it’s easy, visit http://www.pickandgo.info. Great site.
    
    The stats are (3N):
    
    Blacks: Played 33, won 19; lost 14 (57% win)
    Bokke: Played 34, won 6, lost 27 drew 1 (17.6% win)
    Wallas: Played 33, won 5, lost 28 (15.2% win ratio)
    
    Reply
    - Hayden said | September 1st 2010 @ 10:09pm | Report comment
      
      Cheers jeremy. I’ll bookmark it. So despite Bokkies’ rant, the Boks have only won once more on the road than the Wallabies?
      
      Reply
      - jeremy said | September 2nd 2010 @ 8:15am | Report comment
        
        Yes. Played one more. Won one more. Lost one fewer (there was a draw in there).
        
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- Brian said | September 3rd 2010 @ 11:16am | Report comment
  
  Well said & spot on. The boks have massive potential and as soon as they have all their players fit (and peaking for the world cup), no one will be capable of beating them. Conversley, the wallabies have a few unproven players set to return. They have no depth and not one of their players would make a current World XV – not one. This current crop of wallabies is probably the weakest in the last 10-15 years, which makes it difficult to properly assess Dean’s coaching capabilities.
  
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- bayboy said | September 5th 2010 @ 7:15am | Report comment
  
  How must you feel this morning………….
  What a poorly written article and even poorer responses to posters.
  
  I find it funny how you use all the excuses in the book yet you were the type of fan who flatly refused to allow the All Blacks to use the excuse that they had injuries last year.
  
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Nick_KIA said | September 1st 2010 @ 10:50am | Report comment

“The Wallabies beat the Boks in Brisbane. That is the only success they have had this year in the Tri Nations, as in last year’s. Hardly something to be proud of, seeing South Africans hate Suncorp.”

or you could try…

The Boks beat the Wallabies in Pretoria. That is the only success they have had this year in the Tri Nations. Hardly something to be proud of, seeing Australians hate Loftus.

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Bokkie said | September 1st 2010 @ 12:18pm | Report comment

Hoy, I agree with Pocock, he is a master and a truly amazing find. I say it every time the Wallabies play “there is a great player.” And Robinson is not bad, but that he is the best in the world is arguable from yay and nay. The wallabies do have more injured players, perhaps but consider the quality of player. Fourie du preez for example, Genia was out played by the Boks second best half back, what happens when he is up against the best? The Wallabies lineout was shocking, but what happens when the Boks have bekker in the mix? And like you say, Pocock is a true fetcher… Brussow ruled the world last year (ask ritchie and the boys. Or Brian and his bunch) and Bismark Du Plessis, well he is without doubt at least a contender for the best in the world…

Just for the record, I dont hate the Wallabies. I would like to see them win (not against the boks of course, but the Ab’s and the rest of the bunch) , but with the players they keep selecting it wont happen.

Nick, no offence mate, but read my above comment. The wallabies lose every where outside of australia… they have only won 5 games ever in aus and nz… so to say they dont like loftus is dumb because they dont like it anywhere.

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- Hoy said | September 1st 2010 @ 1:25pm | Report comment
  
  Wouldn’t you say Genia beat Fourie Du Preez in the super 14, and did so well? I actually think that Genia is carrying a bit of an injury. He hasn’t been right since coming back. But he seemed to hold his own in the super 14 against “the best”.
  
  The Wallabies lineout was shocking at the end, not the whole game. That shouldn’t have happened either, but the lineout held it together for 65 minutes before Sharpe went off. That the Wallabies weren’t able to continue winning their own ball is no good, I agree, but your lineout hardly dominated them the whole game.
  
  Brussow did go well last year, under interpretations that allowed him to hold onto the tackled player and not release. They favoured the defensive team no end. We can’t know if he will have the same impact until he comes back… next year.
  
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  - Brian said | September 3rd 2010 @ 11:18am | Report comment
    
    “Wouldn’t you say Genia beat Fourie Du Preez in the super 14, and did so well?”
    
    In your wildest wet dream, buddy
    
    Reply