Roar Guru
Joined August 2009
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It has been some time since my last article, but after the weekend's action and post-match drivel out of Europe, I felt somewhat compelled…
Since reading many articles of late regarding the old North vs. South issue in rugby union, I felt the need to add my five…
Nice analogy BB, also very true – However, if i may add some introspection…
If we turn our Analogy to Motor Manufacturers, We could also argue that Daimler made the first internal combustion engine, great innovation at the time – but along came other manufacturers and improved the formula, and produced better cars.
NZ are innovators for sure, and when they bring out the rifle, the indians with their bows n arrows are pretty defenseless,
but innovation in this game is now at a level that will stand for a period, and the indians will develop gun powder.
There are really two styles being played at the moment (i speak very vaguely), but there is the NZ style – which is in part aspired to by teams like Aus, France and Wales.
Then there is the SA style, which is also employed by teams like Eng, Arg, Ire, Sco
SA are better than NZ are lineouts, mauls, and getting there with rucks.
NZ and SA are probably the best at their respective styles for now, and I would imagine that SA can challenge NZ using their own style –
Point in case, I felt that SA were putting NZ under immense pressure before Biz was sent off in NZ, I felt they had a better chance of winning that test, than the return leg in SA.
When they came back to Ellis Park, SA needed to beat NZ at the NZ game, and nobody can play that game as well as NZ.
Had they only needed to win by 1, without 4 tries, I imagine that slowing the game to a grind, and playing the power game may have yielded a different result.
my point is, NZ are the innovators – but thats not to say they will be the best at every aspect of the game next year, just as Daimler is no longer the best car maker.
Innovation required to beat the All Black Goliath
One thing we definitely DID NOT learn – Because we have known it for the last 20 something Welsh tests – You cannot ever beat Wales, you can only score more points than them.
Was pretty appalled, but at the same time it was expected, to see Gatland going off at the referee once again this morning.
When will Wales ever accept that they were beaten? They must be the unluckiest team in history to be cheated by referees 20 something times against SH opposition.
Wallabies vs Wales: Five things we learned from the final Test of 2013
Can we get Bryce Lawrence to referee that ? I will swim to England and smack him on the head with a Springbok horn.
Early tip: Wallabies to win the World Cup
nice to dream, we all do it – but then reality bites you in the butt. The Wobblers will improve, and will probably go into the WC amongst the top 5 teams, but they wont have the power to beat NZ, SA or England.
Folau had a great Super Rugby season, but internationally he was found out against better opposition.
Early tip: Wallabies to win the World Cup
Im not saying they arent good, i just think that the SA and NZ game has improved alot in 2013, whereas i dont see much improvement from Aus – might be proven wrong. they did have a tough schedule, but their lack of depth has been exposed – and there is no guarantee they will have all players available to them in 2015.
Mission accomplished for Heyneke Meyer
Nice article BB, but was it really necessary to blow smoke up aussie bums in the last line ?
Australia will come back, that was inevitable – but are they going to be able to challenge NZ, SA or England ?
I dont think so, nothing has really changed – they still have a spectacular backline, with a powder puff pack.
Pococks return will add alot more, but he is just 1 man.
As for our bokkies, a successful year indeed – one i think we can be proud of.
Mission accomplished for Heyneke Meyer
Good win for the boks, but felt a bit frustrated by some critical decisions. French try, seemed to have been touched from an offside position – try given. Fourie try, ball goes behind willie, no try awarded. Louw try, frenchman has zero downward pressure on the ball – no try given. Louw yellow, in front of ref frenchman hits de villiers on the head and louw retaliates. louw gets yellow. then the pitch was an absolute shocker, France were bashed in the tackles, thought the scoreline flattered their performance – Boks should have won this by 20
France won't surrender to South Africa
oh and of course, even with psdt locking parnership –
we are well on our way to producing some world class guys in each position.
thats what we had when we won in 07.
Coenie does more than beast in hte loose, so id say
Coenie 127kg, Biz 114kg, Frans 124kg, Eben 122kg, PsDt118kg, Flo112kg, Willem 120kg, Duane 116kg = 953kg
reserves – Beast, Adriaan, Jannie, Flip, Brussow, Spies
thats some serious meat.
France won't surrender to South Africa
I really like Frans Malherbe, i think besides his scrumming power – he adds quite a bit of mobility around the park, makes far more drives and tackles than Jannie does. So he may be the future of TH for SA, but lets see how Adriaanse stands up too.
Jannie has served his due, he should now be used to mentor and then move on.
Exciting times ahead for us bb, if you think at whos coming back to add some depth –
Schalk, Botha, Spies (if he can just play to his potential), Frans Steyn must play 12 when Jean moves on, Frans and JJ will be better than Jean and Jacques.
then watch some clips – Mjekevu is hot in France, Rhule must come back, Goosen must come back, Kolbe to 9?, Also check out the lions winger – Volmink – also another talent to get a chance,
Hougie must come back, hopefully back in form.
anyone else to watch out for ?
France won't surrender to South Africa
We need to play Coenie at LH, Im sure we can produce 2 or 3 good TH’s to assist Jannie.
France won't surrender to South Africa
an even bigger question is – will ras dumisani be singing nkosi sikelela ?
France won't surrender to South Africa
I am in no way pleased nor displeased by the state of Australian Rugby. But it does speak wonders of the wallabies attitude towards their national jersey. Me first, rugby second it seems.
BREAKING: Six Wallabies banned, nine sanctioned for drinking before Ireland match
Removed.
BREAKING: Six Wallabies banned, nine sanctioned for drinking before Ireland match
I felt that HM missed a good opportunity to give Pieter Steph much needed game time. Bakkies was a safe option, but I thought he could rather have played PSDT and kept eben on the bench if need be. Flip seems to be his first choice at 5 and although he was good, I think he would serve better from the bench – especially being able to cover either position. Start Eben at 4, PSDT at 5, let Eben make the calls and keep Flip on the bench for the last 30.
Likewise, he could have afforded to test another 9 in this game, he knows what Ruan can offer already.
Id even have gone as far as saying he should have given Aplon 15 minutes at fullback, the game was won in the first half.
Springboks too strong for Scotland
news is that frans is working hard on his conditioning. True, when he is too overweight he offers nothing, but the kid has serious potential, a player in the mould of jean de villier with a cannon boot that covers any position from 10-15 – always a good option to have on your bench.
Springboks too strong for Scotland
Im a willie fan, feel he has sparked some much needed flair into our backs, just saying that he will need to work on his defense game a bit to be a safe bet against a NZ or an Eng. Currently he is afforded the freedom to express his genius with the defensive capabilities of Jean+Jacques in the middle, and Habs+JP on the sides – the Bok defense is fantastic but against teams like NZ that can break through the centre, he needs to work a bit more on positional defense. Attack wise, we havent had someone like him for some time. By unpredictable i refer to the no look pass to JP that went into touch, Strauss had cut a brilliant line inside Willie and he should have popped back in but was watching the man to draw him in, another good quality.
Springboks too strong for Scotland
Boks building a decent core for 2015, but still not good enough in some positions.
9 and 10 are still an issue. Goosen will need to step up once back. Sufficient cover for Flo and Duane required, willsee how spies and botha go when they get back, maybe schalk can return to the top level.
our game relies heavily on winning collisions and tackles, without alberts or vermeulen – sa wont be as effective
Springboks too strong for Scotland
Ruan was on less than 30 seconds before i started swearing at the TV, WHYYYYYY does he stand at the base of a ruck and first look around, hes just too slow to launch any sort of attack, and in the process he gives the opposition opportunities to counter ruck.
Vermaak hasnt seen any game time on tour so you can expect Ruan to play 80 in paris. Best the boks hope for rain, because theres no speedy service from ruan.
Springboks too strong for Scotland
So now the next logical step is, how to pick a World Team to play against a soon to be found colony from mars
best player from each position in the world ?
Now that would start one helluva argument on this thread.
My 2013 team of All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks
Correction – I will have it
NZ,SA,Eng,Fra,Aus,Wal,Ire,Sco,Arg
How big is the gap between rugby's big two and the rest?
damn right… probably be too many bulls in that team 😛
My 23 would have 13 Kiwis, 10 Saffas and no Aussies… I just cant find a space for one.
My 2013 team of All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks
Similar to mine, except i would change
20 – Luatua (more impact from bench), unfortunate for Liam, he has played well.
Swap 9 and 21 start with du preez
22 – Barrett (Dan aint done too much this season)
23 – Willie le Roux – x factor off the bench, a pass putting Smith into space and its goodnight
My 2013 team of All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks
Problem for a USA/Canada bid is the TV airing times, You will be out of the regular window for Europe, Africa and Australasia.
2023 will go to South Africa is they bid for it. If the sport grows immensely in the USA, id back them for 2027
Who will host the 2023 World Cup?