The Springboks must always remember Japan

I think for the Stormers, Lions and Bulls things are looking more exciting. I am not sure about the Cgeetahs yet as I don't know much about Smith's coaching philosophy yet. Sharks looks to be struggling.

Thanks for the replies Biltong & Etienne... good to know and I will gladly admit that in this respect you've both out evolved me, I only started watching union in my early 20s while living in PTA, while Boks most definitely take precedence (even to the detriment of the Bulls if necessary) the Bulls are a close 2nd and then it just get's messy and changes game to game... The Lions are exciting, but even more so can't wait to see what Eddie does at Province...

I am with Biltong on this one; I stopped supporting any particular province when, after years of wondering about it, I finally came to the realisation that the overly fierce provincialism in South Africa was detrimental to the Springbok cause in the long term. I support individual players, but also innovative culture; for example, although I don't root for them specifically, it gives me great joy to see the Lions on an upward curve at the moment. But next year I will be watching the Cheetahs and the Kings equally eagerly, hoping for some innovation there too. Anything that works towards bettering the green and gold works for me.

That's the way to be I think. You'll find NZers don't rubbish any of the other SXV franchises, even the Blues! They feel sorry for them if anything. There is a strong, but healthy sense of competition. But we know the key to our AB side is the rugby produced by the SXV. Oz are probably more negative towards their franchises of the three, for instance the anti tahs brigade has many oz roarers dismissing them. But that may even be because this is an oz site and we get more opinions than you do from SA and NZ. SA supporters seem to be ok but I'm not sure if that's true if we were hear from a larger number, the 'nicer' ones co-habitating with the ROAR community.

Stryder when pro rugby started I lost interest in supporting a province, I have always been a playwr supporter rather than a team, so when the mercenaries started running from province to province I stopped caring about which province I wanted to win. Players like Habana has played for Lions, Bulls and Stormers, if you are a supporter of him, do you change your allegiance to your team because he moved? Maybe it is because our family was confused, my late father was a Blue bull, my late mother was stormer, my brother is a Lion supporter, so I never really cared

Not sure you've ever actually made a negative statement about any province... between yourself, Harry and Armand it's one of the things I appreciate about you guys. Harry and Armand have though put their Province flags on the mast, not sure you've ever raised yours? Is Armand correct is it the Lions? There's no shame in admitting it ;-)

Hahaha, when it comes to Sa rugby I am a supporter of individuals. I don't care where players come from. i only care whether they can perform the required actions and possess the required skills to play the type of rugby I believe we should be playing in SA. That therefor includes their approach to rugby as well. In fact, I can probably list a dozen Bulls players I believe can make a big difference in SA rugby in the next decade

I don't think that Bilt's "anti-Bulls", but it would certainly look like it RA7. It is important to remember that Bilt is a self confessed realist, and as such his perception of reality is what needs to be questioned, not his tendencies or apparent bias I suppose. If we are to tackle his perception on reality, we're going down a deep, dark path (No offence Bilt!) Anyway, as a Stormer who comments and reads everything Stormer, I can definitely say that there were times when I really thought that he was anti-Stormers as well. It's not as much that he badmouthed them, he just never had many positive things to say about them either. I think that he's just seeing things one way and we are seeing it another way, which is cool because that's what this site is all about. If anything, Bilt's a Lions fan, he just won't ever admit it ;) He does his best to hide it, but you can see in his comments that he is particularly fond of them. And their coach is almost like a role model to him! Don't hide it Bilt, we know... We know :)

Yes, Victor is not much loved by referees from what I have seen

Victor as captain... hmm... it will be him(I'm almost ready to bet my house on that!) but I hope they're honest enough with themselves and realise however they manage it that there are 160 minutes of game time left to juggle Lood, Eben, Pieter and Victor to get them all knock-out rugby ready... and in the meantime not lose to Scotland or the USA... personally I've realised I don't give a fig about ego or altruism, it's important in a marriage and perhaps in a manager, rather I want someone to lead a team through hellfire and brimstone if necessary but preferably for the full game and that's where Victor is not the best choice, Thor should take the mantle, for if his body holds up he will be in the trenches start to finish and beyond. The Boks have enough Generals, they just need to make sure they each know and understand their leadership roles. Suppose in this day and age you also need a ref manager, they way many of the Boks "Whinge" during the game is really annoying for me, never mind the ref, thought that was one aspect Barnsey managed very well at Villa Park, JdV seemed pretty good at ref management and not sure we have anyone else bar perhaps Strauss who isn't going to risk pushing a ref over the edge... in this respect I'll grant you ego can be problematic and Victor would need to reel his neck in...

Yep, I can tell you that to his credit Meyer knows what Victor can do and can't do. Victor is there to run the line outs and the restarts. He isn't there to hit rucks and push bodies back. I admit Victor had a good game. He made 11 tackles from memory, did not miss any, there weren't any dominating tackles, but what Meyer wants him for, he does. He will be the next captain , of that I have no doubt, will it be a mistake? Well Meyer and Victor sing from the same ahymn book, so game plan wise they see eye to eye, do I think Victor can inspire his team? With a personality that by all accounts is more egoistic than altruistic, I am not so sure.

Boks are the new Frogs!! Indeed! Only problem is despite their legendary heroics the true Frogs have never lifted The Cup... Let's see what remains after this world cup but I suspect SA still has the resources to put forward a consistently competitive team at least until 2019...

I can definitely see where Rollaway got his impression from. But then I'm unapologetically Blue Bulls. Good write up BB (as always!), but "on the udder hand", some of us like having Victor around, he still gives the Boks an edge at lineout time, he has a wealth of experience and it was Victor who tried to shake up the team in Brighton (for all the good it did, I know, I know) As to his off the field person, I have read and heard and guessed a few things that make me doubt I'd get along with the guy, nothing nefarious, only that it seems Big Vic comes first at all costs, but then we all have our strengths and weaknesses and especially in teams you need different types of personalities and to play to those strengths. I have yet to read an article or comment that is convincing in why Victor should not currently be in the Bok squad, he has never and will not likely ever "hit the rucks" you play around that (May I introduce you to Messrs Botha, Etzebeth & de Jaager?), where are the stats on his missed tackles? His falling off the pace? Because he still looks to be doing his primary role just fine and apart from Lood & PSdT who else is really missing out? The young guns absolutely need more game time and I'll be very concerned if it's not afforded them prior to the knockouts. But none of that is a reason to discard a player who will cause concern to and affect other teams tactics... how well the Boks take advantage of that is another matter. Just because we don't particularly like some one and that he is now the oldest ever Bok (by all of 1 year!) is not enough reason to get rid of him.

Strangely it is good to know Hansen and Heyneke have a friendship (of sorts) your last sentence probably explains much of why that is... does raise the question of how Gatland (most recent success withstanding) seems to get a comparatively free pass from the other rugby possessed nation?

Excellent look at Brighton-Villa. October is when the tuna start to run, but you need to start the cool-dry biltong process. I don't like it too chewy. Louw carried 11 excellent times; his 2 offloads (of 10 passes overall) were crucial to the steamroller effect. His 8 tackles were almost all dominant; allowing turnovers or behind gain line momentum. He played all 84 minutes in only his second game after serious injury. He only pilfered once; but slowed Samoan ball a lot--his core job. Meyer & Van Graan don't want Louw conceding 3-4 penalties to get 2 pilfers. Look for him at Newcastle; this is the pool game he needs to star in.

Great imagery Kia...

As one of those SB supporters on that fateful momentous day in Brighton, it was a rather surreal experience, the utter disappointment in our team to react effectively having completely underestimated Japan, I know they claim not to have but I have a final score and access to much footage of shell shocked Boks that proves otherwise, that disappointment was raw and even worse it wasn't new we'd tasted similar just a few months ago in Durban, on that occasion it was a very passionate Argentina, on this occasion it was a team playing at pace into space with such accuracy that it had to be admired, frustration at our group of players who couldn't see that Japan was so often leaving the back undefended because Eddie had figured we'd kick for touch rather then target that space eventually just became admiration for a foe who had out thought and out executed us and so by the time the winning try was scored I couldn't bring myself to cheer against the Boks, I never have, I never will, but applaud the Japanese I did, the joy and emotions of their fans was overwhelming, a few Bok supporters were down and out (who could blame them?) but on the whole we joined the party and still rocked Brighton! Some friends and family since have expressed sympathy at my having been unfortunate enough to have to experience that game, I don't accept it, anyone who was there and chose to see it, was part of World Cup history. Of course if I had the ears of HM and the Boks my words would be more admonishing and full of disappointment, but I think in that respect their cup does currently overflow and no they should never, ever forget Japan for Japanese rugby will never ever forget the Boks in Brighton!

Totally agree with your points Biltong. The continual selections of Pienaar, JDV and Matfield incensed me no end. With respect to JDV who has made SA proud for years, thankfully Meyer has now been forced to select our best centre combination. And thankfully Fourie is back to adequate match fitness. Now all we need is Matfield to be benched for Lood and for Kirchner to not go near a Bok locker room again #rememberjapan -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.

Try the Up and Under bar and grill or Chieftains .

cheers BB. You have 'Remember Japan' We have remember: - Mendoza 2014 - Eden Park 2014, 2015 - BIL 2013 etc - Suncorp vs Springboks 2013 ...etc etc