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…
No Yogi, I just don’t buy into stereotypes. People are people wherever you go – humble, conceited, vain, modest etc. etc. The Irish are human like everybody else, they just don’t believe it 🙂
What a difference one or two key players make
Yogi, my family is Irish — note my name – I think I have a better understanding of the Irish than your stereotypical image.
What a difference one or two key players make
I’m not throwing insults around Yogi, but I encountered a heck of a lot of bragging and I’m just saying. It doesn’t pay to brag and then to make excuses when things don’t pan out. Bragging really, really gets up my nose. All Blacks fans I find rarely brag, and if anybody has the right to, they do… yes, they’re a bit touchy when it comes to the All Blacks but that’s just being protective.
I found the Irish and Welsh guys were just over the top about their chances. Pride is one thing, but disrespecting other teams — their contempt of the Boks in particular got under my skin – there’s no room for that.
What a difference one or two key players make
Succinct, clear and very insightful BB, thank you – I really enjoyed reading this.
I imagine that HM has targeted NZ in his build up, and only NZ — it would make sense in some kind of HM way, so you may get some surprises yet but, like you, I am not expecting the Boks to win unless, as I’ve said before, it rains hard enough to put some pressure on the AB ball skills. I think the Boks have gone as far as they are capable of going.
Springboks, he who dares wins
Um, by making sure the other side doesn’t fire a shot either? Yeah, I know, slim hope of that.
Rugby World Cup: Four very different semi-final form lines
The best form of defence is attack, and they do that very well Harry. Still, so long as there is a sliver of hope…
Rugby World Cup: Four very different semi-final form lines
Last hope of the North? No mate, the North are just hopeless 🙂
Is Argentina the last hope of the north?
Three words Pot Hale, “four more years”. The thing I can’t abide is braggarts who talk it up and then make excuses when it all comes apart.
What a difference one or two key players make
Yes Pot Hale you are making excuses. Every team has injuries – suck it up, Ireland weren’t good enough.
What a difference one or two key players make
Read the article Antoni, I didn’t say failure. I said ‘fail’ and I think anybody with a rugby brain would recognise that the Wallabies won, but I’m not sure anybody would be giving them a ‘pass’ mark for the last game. Sheesh, does nobody actually bother to read??
What a difference one or two key players make
Good teams have depth. Ireland don’t — the Wallabies still win when they are missing Pocock and Folau and Foley – (hooper, Beale etc.) so yes, I am.
And this is my problem with the Irish — you really talk yourselves up, struggle with any humility, but don’t seem to achieve anything. When last did the Irish tour by the way? John Sexton is not the best seven in the world, not by a long shot (any one of a number of New Zealand sevens are better), and and same for Sean (who?). The same for your centres, I wouldn’t rate them in the top ten of world rugby.
All I heard pre RWC was how great your coach Schmidt is and how you can’t lose without him. He wasn’t injured was he? Reality check, having a New Zealand coach does not mean you can play like the All Blacks.
The Irish assumed they would win. They believed their own hype and failed to take Argentina seriously. Argentina is full of no names – at least as far as profile is concerned – and still they didn’t just beat Ireland, they made them look ordinary, very, very ordinary.
P.S. as I said earlier, the Wallabies earned their win against Scotland. At least one try was scored from offside of the ruck position — he was nowhere near the back feet of the ruck when he picked that ball up.
What a difference one or two key players make
Saying they were so poor because of injuries IS an excuse. Good teams have depth. They don’t.
What a difference one or two key players make
I was referring to Spiro’s article denigrating the Boks, nothing new, praising the Irish and Welsh who are absent therefore not good enough, and predicting the Wallabies – along with glowing and effusive praise – are the best thing since sliced bread. Following this last wobble from the Wallabies he has been strangely silent. If Australia had won strongly (I think Australia deserved the win btw, although only narrowly because that one Scottish try was offside of the ruck in my opinion), he would have been out of the blocks at super speed and singing like a canary.
What a difference one or two key players make
Ireland were always more hype than substance. Anybody who bothered to watch Argentina in the build up would have known Ireland were going to get taken out – injuries or no injuries. Stop making excuses.
Oh, and where’s Spiro? He’s been very silent after the ‘fail’ of all his favourites – including the Wallabies to an extent – all his favourites except the ABs that is. Gone into hiding Spiro?
What a difference one or two key players make
It’s going to rain Brett, and if it rains… I like Harry’s prediction — South Africa 9, NZ 7 🙂 God help us if it doesn’t rain though.
Rugby World Cup: Four very different semi-final form lines
Yes and that’s why we’re in the semi-final and Wales isn’t. Really.
Rugby World Cup: Southern semi-finals confirmed, as Scotland leave Wallabies with plenty to work on
If the Boks are going to stand any chance Wal, it’s going to have to rain cats and dogs and turn the ball to soap… #YearOfTheUnderbok
Boks battle, Blacks dazzle in quarter-finals
They beat the South African team without their international contingent which now makes up a large part of the Bok team. So yes, really.
Rugby World Cup: Southern semi-finals confirmed, as Scotland leave Wallabies with plenty to work on
Serves you right Brett 🙂 getting caught up in the Irish and Welsh hype. Wales have never been good enough to beat the Boks (except the B team once or twice) and the Argies have been playing superb rugby lately. The Irish talk a good game, but when it comes to putting their money where their mouth is, well…
Can somebody fire Heyneke Meyer and appoint Daniel Hourcade to the Bok’s post please?
Rugby World Cup: Southern semi-finals confirmed, as Scotland leave Wallabies with plenty to work on
Actually, you make a good point eagleJack – Folau and Pocock’s absence were certainly felt and the Scottish wouldn’t have gotten away with some of the high balls they kicked had Folau been on the field.
Rugby World Cup: Southern semi-finals confirmed, as Scotland leave Wallabies with plenty to work on
Maybe I was a bit tough on Australia here. Your boys have the ability to learn from past mistakes, unfortunately I don’t think HM can so while you’re in with a shout still, I don’t see the Boks surviving this weekend unless they play in pouring rain.
Rugby World Cup: Southern semi-finals confirmed, as Scotland leave Wallabies with plenty to work on
Choke_Hold? Calling Choke–Hold – No? Nowhere to be seen? Remember, we were going to have a discussion about Wales thrashing South Africa and Ireland destroying Argentina? I guess like most Northern Hemisphere fans you believed your own hype and never bothered to watch Argentina in the build up, nor accord the Boks the respect they’ve earned from 27 other wins over Wales… As for Australia, well sorry boys but Scotland was robbed and if I was a Wallabies supporter I’ll would be very, very worried. As a Bok supporter I am not too concerned about the coming weekend because I am resigned to the Boks losing the game… our world cup is over and I would suggest so is Australia’s.
Rugby World Cup: Southern semi-finals confirmed, as Scotland leave Wallabies with plenty to work on
We’ll talk about it come Monday,
Ireland’s World Cup hopes dashed with loss of O’Connell
That would be appreciated.
What a difference one or two key players make