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Not the greatest Springboks, but damn good all the same
Sheldon
Roar Rookie
13th August, 2009
13
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1972 Reads
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Sheldon
Roar Rookie
13th August, 2009
13
1972 Reads

I would like to start off by saying that as a Saffa, I am really confused. Why are we playing consistently? What the hell is going on? I thinks it’s time our overpaid politicians got involved to make things feel normal again.

Someone needs to bring some sanity back to South African rugby. We are getting way too ahead of ourselves here.

The greatest team in South African history? What is this rubbish?

How can we refer to a side as the greatest side in a country’s history when players 12-15 have barely run five yards with the ball?

Although this is a really good side, it is nowhere near as complete as Gary Teichman’s 1998 Springbok side.

The combination of Joost Van Der Westhuizen, Henry Hannibal, Peter Muller, Japie Mulder/Andre Snyman, Stephan Terblanche and Percy Montgomery were a better backline. In my opinion, the hardest defensive 10, 12, 13 combo in South African, and possibly World Rugby, history, at least since the beginning of the professional era.

There was also a lot more depth in the 1998 team when you look at who was coming off the bench.

What we might have in this side is the greatest and most ruthless forward pack in our country’s history. Are they dirty? Yes, to an extent.

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But to a point where you can refer to this intimidation and aggression as cheating? Definitely not.

Intimidation is a great weapon on the rugby field. Anyone who has played the game will know this. All forwards push the laws.

Richie McCaw plays to an offside line which seems at times to move as he needs it. What Australia are up to at times in the front row is anyone’s guess.

As for my fellow Saffas, Bakkies Botha, Bismarck Du Plessis and Schalk Burger are borderline in the foul play department and sometimes well over it.

The question is: does one side’s means of pushing the laws outweigh the others’?

There will no doubt be someone bringing up the fact that the South African way results in injuries. The fact is, they enter the ruck from behind and on their feet.

If someone wants to bring up the fact that they are not bound to another player when they enter a ruck, please see if you can find some footage of a forward who is.

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If you want to fringe against the Boks at the ruck, you are running the risk of injury.

This South African pack and flyhalf can travel and win, although give the Australian side 45 percent possession and 20 percent of this decent phase ball and their backline will cause a lot of problems.

The problem for Robbie Deans is coming up with a method to get it.

Daniel Vickerman could have been one of the easier solutions.

The All Blacks are waiting on Dan Carter. If I was the New Zealand rugby nation, I would not be all that confident pinning my hopes on the return of one man. As good as he is, and although he might be the spark that backline needs, he is still going to need to get the ball.

I think we should step back, stop blaming refs (Australia), stop crying about the IRB treating us unfairly (South Africa) and enjoy what could be a very exciting second half of the Tri-Nations.

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