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Joined October 2015
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What a complete mess SANZAR have made of Super Rugby! The 2016 Super 18 format is not only unnecessarily complicated, it also favours certain…
I live in Johannesburg on the South African Highveld. There's an old Afrikaans saying that if it rains on the Highveld before Paul Kruger's…
It's quite sad to see so many rugby legends ending their careers with an injury at this Rugby World Cup, rather than going out…
I know a lot of South African rugby supporters still blame Bryce Lawrence for the Springboks' defeat at the hands of the Wallabies in…
Thanks for the reply Lee . . . I mean Homer!
Let it rain down on Twickenham to give the Boks a chance
Thanks for reminding me. The Springboks actually have a very wet (and rather lucky) RWC semifinal victory to their credit. Remember the state of the Durban pitch in the 1995 semifinal against France? More of the same please!
Oh and talking of 1995, in the admittedly unlikely event that the All Blacks lose on Saturday, I hope the Kiwis will have a better excuse than the pathetic “Suzy poisoned us” nonsense they tried 20 years ago.
Let it rain down on Twickenham to give the Boks a chance
And it’s raining in Johannesburg! At last!
Let it rain down on Twickenham to give the Boks a chance
I’ll take a win on Saturday any way it comes and I believe our chances will improve dramatically if it rains.
Yes, I hear all the Kiwis saying how wonderful their team is in wet conditions but at the very least, rain will force a change of the particularly successful game plan they used in the quarterfinal against the French.
Looking good for rain according to this: http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/WorldCup/Boks-All-Blacks-to-battle-in-the-rain-20151021
Go Bokke!
Let it rain down on Twickenham to give the Boks a chance
I’m aware that New Zealand is a very soggy, wet and muddy island but I wrote this post after the quarterfinal matches. Even if the Kiwis are used to playing in the rain, I’ll take an ugly game in the mud where the scoring is done in increments of 3, rather than an expansive running game in perfect conditions where the All Black outside backs run in a hat trick of tries each. I’m actually paying the Kiwis a compliment here.
Out of interest, is this the same Lee I knew on a few other message boards many years ago? Does your surname start with a G and end with a T?
Let it rain down on Twickenham to give the Boks a chance
Not sure if that is the case. Last RWC Craig Joubert reffed the semi and the final.
Definitely think Nigel Owens deserves it though . . . but I have a feeling he’s going to get the Bronze match and the Final will go to whichever one of Garces and Barnes performs best in the semis.
Match officials for Rugby World Cup semi-finals announced
The Boks weren’t great and I won’t be at all surprised if they get hammered by the All Blacks next weekend . . . especially if they persist with this ridiculous strategy of using Schalk Burger as the first receiver . . . but the Boks were a lot more convincing than the lucky Wallabies who only made it to the QFs because Craig Joubert had a bit of a shocker.
Hard luck Scotland!
SPIRO: Boks (just) and All Blacks (superbly) beat the quarter-final curse
Just for the record Harry, I have answered your question. Be patient though because for some reason my reply is being moderated. Would love to know which word sent it up to the principal’s office!
Are the Springboks back on track?
Is anyone forcing you to read my posts, Blue? Is someone holding a gun to your head and making you read my posts against your will? No? Then exercise your right to skim over my comments or posts whenever you see my name and stop being such a hand-wringing drama queeen.
Amazed you needed me to tell you that. It’s not rocket science . . . pal!
Are the Springboks back on track?
Yes I rate Duane Vermeulen. I used to think he was a dirty thug when he played for the Cheetahs but he actually improved a lot when he moved to WP. Other WP players who I rate in the current Bok squad include Damian de Allende, Frans Malherbe and Siya Kolisi. I’d rate Eben Etzebeth a lot higher too if he wasn’t always trying so hard to be the tough-guy “enforcer” of the team.
My favourite WP player? Hmmmm . . . if we’re talking current then probably out of Damian de Allende and Cheslin Kolbe. If we’re talking all time then one of Jan Boland Coetzee, Peter Whipp or Carel du Plessis.
Are the Springboks back on track?
Just listen to yourself. You’re on this high horse about people disrespecting others and insulting one another . . . shortly after you call me a wind up merchant who is best ignored!
I mean really, does that not seem even the tiniest bit hypocritical to you? As for me being disrespectful, point out one instance of me throwing a personal insult. Come on then . . . let’s see you back up these claims of yours that I’m the one being disrespectful and insulting.
Listen, I don’t rate Francois Louw and I believe we have better fetchers than him. If you think that makes me dismissive, disrespectful and arrogant then so be it . . . perhaps you should take your own advice and ignore me if that is the case . . . because I reserve the right to like or dislike players, and to rate them or not rate them . . . and to have my say.
Now please, do one of two things, either get off your high horse and stop being so patronising and condescending or else keep your nose out of my business and I’ll do likewise.
Clear?
Are the Springboks back on track?
I’m not your friend. I barely know you as a poster let alone a person.
Also, if I was your friend I’d make some kind of effort to explain to you what position Jaco Kriel plays and what the requirements of that position are. Just because he’s a great ball carrier and one of the fastest loose forwards in the world dosn’t change the fact that he’s a number 6 flanker (oh and that’s a #6 in South African and French terms, not the position that everyone else numbers a 7 . . . just in case you didn’t know the difference).
Are the Springboks back on track?
Oh and do me one more favour and stop calling me your mate. If you’re my mate then act like it. I really get offended when someone calls me “mate” or “pal” when I’m clearly anything but. Thanks in anticipation.
Are the Springboks back on track?
My attitude?
Let me get this straight, you said to Harry . . . completely unprovoked I might add . . . that I was a “wind-up merchant who is best ignored”. After that you refused to even acknowledge my questions to you as to why you’d said such a thing . . . and here you are, whining about my attitude?
I don’t know what your beef is with me, Biltongbek. Like I said before, all I remember about your ill-fated visit to the Ruckers Forum was that I was about the only poster there who engaged you in actual rugby discussions while the rest of them launched the infantile and personal attacks that they’re known for . . . a bit like your behaviour toward me on this site come to think of it.
If you have an issue with me then stop beating around the bush and be a man and say what it is.
After you beat a retreat from the Ruckers Forum you were known in those parts as the guy with the glass jaw. I’m starting to wonder if there isn’t some substance to that.
Are the Springboks back on track?
Didn’t think I’d see the day when James O’Connor came out of a public spat looking like the good guy and acting with a bit of grace and dignity. Maybe the kid is growing up after all?
Right now the best description of Greg Martin is “childish twat”.
War of words continues between Greg Martin and James O'Connor
Apart from having a bit of an issue with overseas-based players being eligible for Springbok selection, I’ve never really seen the point of Francois Louw. To me he’s a very ordinary player who was hyped up by the Western Province media . . . a la Skinstad, Koster, Krige and any number of WP loose forward showponies.
I can name several South African openside fetchers who are more worthy of a Springbok jersey than Francois Louw: Jaco Kriel, Heinrich Brussow and Marcel Coetzee (admittedly injured when the squad was selected) to name a few.
Are the Springboks back on track?
Just out of interest, what happened to the childish and petulant comments biltongbek made on this thread about me being a wind-up artist who is best ignored? Did he report himself?
Are the Springboks back on track?
If the ref (or TMO) is going to start adjudicating who started every incident then rugby will become a farce. These aren’t two kids fighting in the back seat of the car bickering to their Mum about who started it, these are professional rugby players for goodness sake. The ref should punish foul play, simple as that and he should not be bothered by who did what first and who retaliated. Foul play is foul play.
Provoked foul play should not be punished
Well, I’ll give you that. Biggar’s exceptional kicking has made up for the loss of Halfpenny to a large extent . . . even if it’s meant that us viewers have to sit through that tortuous pre-kick routine of Biggar’s where he looks like someone with Parkinson’s disease standing in a very long queue for the toilet who’s had itching powder thrown down the back of his jersey.
Beaten by the Blossoms: The quarterfinal nobody rates
I reckon if you gave the Welsh fans the choice of losing both their captain and vice captain or having Leigh Halfpenny on the field they’d be singing Hymns and Arias in the valleys while drawing “Hard Luck Boyos” posters to wave to Warburton and Jones when they arrive home early at Cardiff airport.
Beaten by the Blossoms: The quarterfinal nobody rates
Only two opensiders have pilfered more than Flouw? Is that what your stats tell you? Do your stats also tell you that Francois Louw is one of a hanful of players who has started every RWC game?
Oh and who said this discussion of pilferers was limited to openside flankers?
Are the Springboks back on track?
Biltongbek, I’m not sure where this uncalled for attack of yours is coming from because I quite enjoyed your brief visit to the Ruckers Forum and I don’t recall you and I ever having any kind of falling out. If you want to ignore me then go ahead but I reckon Harrys a big boy and he can make up his own mind without your defamatory and unprovoked attacks on me.
Okay?
Are the Springboks back on track?
Harry, one thing you’ll learn about me is that I’m not overly impressed by mere statistics. I rely on what I see with my own eyes, not on a bunch of numbers that someone has thrown together to suit his latest argument and which usually lack context.
Your stats might show that Sam Warburton carried the ball for 21 metres more than Francois Louw, but Warburton’s carries were against England, Australia and Fiji while Louw’s were against Japan, Samoa and the USA. Try to see beyond the raw numbers.
I think Sam Warburton is a much better fetcher than Flouw and no random “6-3” or “27-10” stats are going to change that.
Are the Springboks back on track?
Oh please, to even compare the long succession of injuries Wales have suffered with the injuries to Jean de Villiers and Victor Matfield is nothing short of laughable.
You think it’s a big deal because our injuries were to the captain and vice captain? Interesting then that the majority of Springbok supporters are actually celebrating the fact that Jean de Villiers and Victor Matfiel are not available so we can play our best XV for a change. I’m not condoning celebrating an injury to anyone but you have to admit the centre and lock combinations are actually stronger than they would have been without those injuries.
As if our two old crocks are worth more than Leigh Halfpenny, Rhys Webb, Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams, Hallam Amos, Cory Allen and Liam Williams! Get a grip man!
Beaten by the Blossoms: The quarterfinal nobody rates
Hi ABasque and Wardad, compliments of the season to you both. No, I’m not really taking a break from Ruckers, just no longer willing to engage one particular moron anymore. Hope to see you both back so we can talk 6N, S18 and Fantasy Rugger etc.
New Super 18 format unfairly benefits some teams