Roar Guru
Joined August 2013
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Journalist, copywriter, public relations consultant, novelist, entrepreneur, gamer, a South African who have lived in New Zealand for 25 years, loves New Zealand and South Africa and feels privileged to have family and friends in both countries -- I have huge affection for Australia (especially the Gold Coast because it reminds me of Durban) and Australians who I game with all the time.
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Numerous scientific studies are unequivocal - referees are biased. Subject to involuntary, subconscious opinions and feelings, as well as the influences of the local…
In the arm wrestle for influence within SANZAR, Australia holds all the cards because New Zealand – being in effect a state of Australia…
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has poured cold water – in emphatic fashion – on recent speculation that the Super Rugby will be…
Pursuit of a championship title cost the Springboks a vital test win against the All Blacks at Ellis Park on the weekend because they…
An objective and considered look at rugby's biggest villains reveals why Aussies are called Diggers and the Springboks thugs…then there's the intriguing, but barely…
News that the Boks intend to go for broke on Saturday raises the question of whether tournaments such as The Rugby Championship and Six…
The Springboks suffered an injustice in the Test played again the All Blacks this past weekend. I am trying to ensure that the fact…
A hurting Wallabies team under the fresh captaincy of Ben Mowen will have too much firepower for the Pumas in Perth tonight, and should…
Remember those old battle cards we played as kids? Each one had a super hero or fighter aircraft, with various points for speed, power,…
News that English and French clubs plan to break away from the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup competitions – coupled to their invitation…
The Wallaby props have copped a lot of flak for not being good enough in recent weeks, but it can be argued it's a…
Harry, BB, not sure I agree on Skosan. He can be taught to tackle, if he has the heart, because he can run. In terms of size Harry, don’t go there 🙂 Damian McKenzie is 1.75m versus skosan’s 1.83m and Damian weighs in at 81kg versus Skosans 93kg.
Wallabies move up rugby Test rankings
What surprises me Harry is that the referee is taking all the heat and nobody’s talking about the fact that De Allende is a liability and in my opinion next to useless.
Wallabies move up rugby Test rankings
Folau’s first try came from a forward pass.
Added to that, Folau should have been yellow carded. You could argue the Springboks were robbed, but a consistent referee — in his mistakes and things he got right – meant if was a fair result from a pretty good game to watch.
Wallabies robbed of a win in Bloemfontein
Couldn’t have put it better myself RT. It’s heartening to see that other nations actually do care about the demise of the Boks (with the exception of Spiro of course, whose probably popping champagne corks as we speak).
Springboks to decide Coetzee's future in January
What’s the worst that the Government could do if SARU defied them? Honest question, but surely there’s nothing they can actually do except stop them applying to host a RWC??
Time for SARU to be honest with themselves
The Northern Hemisphere is buying their success. Lure our talented players to Europe with enormous salaries – divide and rule – and let them go soft. Game over. Not claiming a conspiracy. It’s just that things panned out in a way that favours the North.
Northern Hemisphere having their moment in the sun
Mushrooms works for me 🙂 At least a dassie knows when to duck for cover, which is one more skill than AC’s Boks!
Has time run out for Allister Coetzee?
Why, do you really want to call this team the Springboks Etienne? I’m happy with the name Proteas for this lot.
Has time run out for Allister Coetzee?
You make some good points Justin, in particular, around some of the coaching styles of the Bok coaches.
The moment it all went wrong for Coetzee
And where do you think the money has come from Chris? Would Australia and maybe to a lesser extent New Zealand have enjoyed the financial prosperity that they have without South Africa? No.
Spiro’s call for fewer Super Rugby teams from South Africa and Australia I fully agree with, but that’s not Spiro’s agenda. I suspect his sympathies lie more with the ANC’s agenda. I think what he want’s is another kind of NRL, a bunch of Aussie teams playing a bunch of Kiwi teams and that’s it – South African rugby as non-existent as league in the Republic. Wow, won’t that be exciting.
Boks loss to Italy should force a Super Rugby format re-think
Sometimes you really p*** me off Spiro, using the Springboks demise to advance your own barrow. There’s no need for you to lobby for South Africa to be pushed out into the wilderness of international rugby once more, they’re managing to do that perfectly well by themselves. I can’t stand a gloater, but hopefully one day – thanks to influencers like you in this game – rugby union will end up like league, playing with yourselves. We know how satisfying that is. Good luck.
Boks loss to Italy should force a Super Rugby format re-think
Ah, but, Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein and raised in England. Legend is that he took his inspiration from the forests of Knysna in the Cape… But to my eye, Matamata and parts of the South Island look to more like the Shire and Middle Earth than any other 🙂
A Saffa ramble
You forgot to mention Harry, that 9 out of the top 15 World War Two fighter aces were South African and a seemingly even split between Afrikaans and English surnames 🙂
Your article was a pleasure to read.
A Saffa ramble
Hi EP, you make a telling statement that sort of throws your angle out the window:
“But looking at the rest of the South African matchday 23 would hardly strike fear into the hearts of Wallabies touring sides of yesteryear.”
Point is, this is not a Wallabies team of yesteryear, and one I would venture to add (like the Boks), is not one to strike fear into the hearts of too many either.
It’s also funny how so many teams should have, could have, would have, might have defeated the Boks in South Africa, but never did. They’re a rubbish team, with a rubbish coach, but some of them still have their pride and Bok pride covers of a multitude of sins.
Maybe pride is what these Wallabies are lacking? Not the coach, not the talent, just genuine pride in the Wallaby jersey? That “do or die attitude”, I don’t see it…
Wallabies blow their best chance to win in South Africa in years
Agree Steyn is a steady hand, but the backline is clueless not because of skill, but coaching. The forwards are going ok. Can’t agree with you on Lambie Armand, he does have big match temperament — kicked some real win or lose pressure goals, but he seems to be moved all over the place and struggling with injuries in recent years.
Five talking points from Springboks vs Wallabies
Spiro will be spitting about Jakeball.
Morne Steyn's boot keeps wasteful Wallabies winless at Loftus
I understand and commiserate. For some there is nothing more hollow than an easy victory, but i’d wager that for many who will turn up at the game on the weekend it isn’t about a contest or a trial of strength; it’s simply about winning. But for others, like yourself Matt, the words of Alexander: “Upon seeing that there were no more worlds left to conquer, he wept”.
Pity the poor All Black fans in the time of the no contest
Yes Tim, let’s imagine a world in which every person who has been wronged is allowed to repay that wrong in equal measure for as long as they like. One bad deed deserves another hey? Well your pie in the sky nonsense won’t happen because South African rugby will run out of money when it’s main supporter based finally refuses to support it any longer. But wait, there’s more… let’s spend 20 years in the wilderness trying to persuade a population that is mostly interested in soccer to turn to rugby and then perhaps start supporting it’s return to greatness. What a formula for success that is.
Money bro, money and support is what it takes to build up a sport.
A magum opus of a Springbok annus horribilis
Good point about the politically correct. Selection based on race, including that of administrators and the coach, is racist and immoral, but the rest of the world (officials, administrators) etc. remain tellingly silent because it’s just not the politically correct thing to say — “the just desserts of white South Africa I suppose?”. People like Graham Henry have skirted the fringes, but nobody has come out and said ‘this is wrong.’ I thought it was supposed to be against the rules of world rugby, but again the silence is deafening.
A magum opus of a Springbok annus horribilis
I hear you WallaBok, I hear you — unfortunately all the powers that be are not listening.
Cheika on the threshold of an unwanted Wallaby coaching record
On the bright side Blinky, the Wallabies can come back from this. Australia is a great sporting country and I would suggest the Wallabies will bounce back in time. Unfortunately I am in despair about the Boks — I won’t even watch their games anymore because it ruins my weekend.
Cheika on the threshold of an unwanted Wallaby coaching record
As a Saffa Country boy, I have to point out that yes, the Boks are pretty much probably almost definitely going to lose to the Wallabies this weekend, but I wouldn’t take that as a ringing endorsement for Cheika or the Wallabies because I think right now just about anybody can beat the Boks.
Cheika on the threshold of an unwanted Wallaby coaching record
The Springbok win over Australia was hyped, the All Black win over Argentina was hyped, and now we’re overhyping the All Black win over the Springboks — it was a great game, the All Blacks were fantastic, but it was not a pummeling by any measure. All these teams are just beginning their run.
I think the Aussies have to give Eddie Jones a chance. His focus is the world cup and he is a proven world cup contender (curious, has he had more RWC success than any other coach (including his being on the Springbok staff 2007).
Let’s take it to England, Ireland and France everyone.
'Absolute beast mode': All Blacks bash Boks with Frizell and Jordan on fire in stirring win