As a South African I think that losing to every one of the following teams : AUS,NZ and ENG can be described in one word.
New Zealand – Frustration
Australia – Chagrin
England – Annoyance
I know some of these are synonyms, but hear me out.
Against New Zealand, the frustration stems from our long and proud histories as arguably the two greatest rugby nations, and the fact that in recent times (post 1994) our record has been appalling against them.
However, the greatest of all my sources of frustration is that the best ever Springbok rugby side in my view (and possibly the finest ever in world rugby) was the side of the 80’s. I believe they were a superior side to the New Zealand team that won the ’87 World Cup. They were rarely allowed to show their true ability but that’s in the past and because of our political choices back then. It was by no other cause than our own hand.
Against Australia it is more like being bested by your little brother. It’s not that I think the Wallabies are inferior or a lesser team at all, but that they always seem to know exactly what to do to rile you up. Losing to them is never a certainty or an inevitability, but a great source of emotional upheaval and chagrin.
Like brothers, the two nations seem to never be able to get away from each other. Whether it’s cricket, rugby, or swimming; you can pick your form of sibling rivalry and it stacks up.
Against England it is more of a case of downright annoyance. They always seem to talk themselves up like the kid whose dad’s car is faster and whose horses always seem to be bigger than any other person on the face of the earth.
They always, in my humble opinion, seem to disregard South Africa.
As stated by a newspaper article I read recently, they also seem to believe they are a far far superior rugby side to us currently. The article seemed to suggest the All Blacks and England were far and away the two best sides in the world at the moment.
So looking beyond my subjective rambling I guess it’s down to your own preferred choice of poison and I also suspect that for the others a similar analysis would yield similar results.
Reality
Guest
You're wasting your breath Birdy, it's lost on some Kiwis, they read the Daily Mail and think it represents the majority mindset. (Meanwhile the DM is considered one of the worst (Sensationalist headline grabbing) papers in the UK). Then one article out of hundreds in in the other papers gives England a bit of a sniff at victory and they're all over the 'arrogant' English. Meanwhile the other 99% of articles worship the ABs. Like they say people will always listen to what they want to hear.
JB
Guest
All Blacks are champions, their press is even very decent, it's the armchair fan who thinks that because their team is superior it elevates himself also. 'The All blacks won because they were better men' Which I do believe in to some degree however it does not translate to fans. 'Because the all blacks won by being better men that must make me as an all black fan a better man also'. Cue the looking down their nose at others in world rugby. Carter McCaw never act like that. A generalisation I know, but I have travelled to Auckland every other month for work over the past 5 years and it is brutal at times. I can handle losing to NZ as they are so tough to beat, like the south Africans, as a wallaby fan my team that I hate to lose to the most in the international arena has now become Wales, mainly because of Gatland, smug entitled rat that believes he has been hard done by every time, full of excuses. It is going to be intolerable when they finally get us.
Of course not mate, we all only see through our own colour tinged glasses ;)
First of all my inebriated friend, I was not the one suggesting the Boks would have won, I merely proved another of you incorrect statements null and void by pointing out to you we didn't play ten man rugby.
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Didn't notice BB - too busy ducking the low flying flour bombs....
Dublin Dave
Guest
Whatever, Pots! Start at the 1st July 2004. From that date to this, the statistical fact is that in that 11+year period the team against which South Africa has the worse record is Ireland. Statistically true. Sounds good, doesn't it? :)
Jerry
Guest
Wales is part of NZ?
Yeah, I prefer to see it for what it is. Ireland has won 4 of their last 6 home matches against the Boks. 66% But are yet to visit us since 2004.
Derm
Roar Guru
Hmmmmm..... Dublin Dave, depends on what you mean by "summer of 2004" - would that be after the 19 June 2004 or before the 11 June 2004? If it is was from the beginning of June 2004, then it would be 8 matches, and the tally is 4-4 - which would give a winning ratio of 50% with the Boks winning twice away from home.
Of course, not unlike the home town refereeing in the final test of 1981 ;)
Jake
Guest
SA were only good bcoz they had hometown refs stitching us up
Common Sense
Roar Rookie
Australia England South Africa France The All Blacks have never been beaten by any other side in my lifetime so I don't know what that's like. :)
Dublin Dave
Guest
Come on NOTASaffaSpy You haven't mentioned the team against which South Africa has an almost identical record as it has against the All Blacks over the past 10 years, which is of course Ireland. Since the summer of 2004 South Africa's record against the REAL men in green is played 6 won 2 lost 4,. That's a winning ratio of 33.33 per cent. Against new Zealand over the same period you have played 26 and won 9, which yields a winning record of only 34.5 per cent. Admittedly all the matches against Ireland have been in Dublin whereas those against New Zealand have been a mixture of home and away. But you must hate us just a little bit by now. :-)
Sharks for ever
Guest
I do not mind losing if my team stands up and does the basics right and puts in a good fight, I understand sport is sport and even enjoy the banter, but when you sit there or travel to the ground with your mates all anticipating an international test match and be forced to watch such drivel is beyond me. South Africa right now better find a stiff upper lip cause there are some basic problems within our team that were badly exposed yesterday... We need to look long and hard at who is capable and who needs to be changed, this is the dress rehearsal for the RWC... Come on South Africa, that was terrible !!!
ethan
Guest
I was talking about recent history.
Wardad
Guest
Well they did last year [ boo the kicker ] but thats not the usual thing for them so kudos on that I guess.
Wardad
Guest
Last year most of the comments I saw from kiwi fans were along the lines of being gutted for the Irish ,very few negative comments to be seen .
NOTASaffaSpy
Roar Rookie
The Irish I have no issue with, and last night they were simply sublime but I've developed a keen hatred for clueless French refs... :(
NOTASaffaSpy
Roar Rookie
I for one would dispute what you call the South African style comment, yes recently we've been playing a dull mind numbing brand of rugby and we've been very successful with that but to suggest that that is the way South Africans play the game is just wrong, in the past we used to be incredible running sides who scored a great many tries wi our outside backs as Biltong Bek so eloquently proved.
splinter
Guest
I have read i have seen and now i would like to comment.My frustration stems from selectors who cannot and will not pick the best team and the current Springbok coach who cannot cement a game plan A and if we fail there is nothing else.If you drew a graph of Springbok performances 2014 you would realize the baby is sick and the doctors are helpless.Wales first game upward curve second game downward curve Argies downward curve Australia downward curve AB downward curve Aus2 upward Ab.upward.The Northern hemisphere teams is a bigger frustration losing against which means in the given year we have made no progress. The WC is waiting and if any team think by rocking up you have won the game watch the scoreboard.