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Joined August 2017
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Watching rugby with my wife is hilarious. She has an opinion or two, and she dished out some gold during the Springboks and All…
The F Scott Fitzgerald book The Curious Case of Benjamin Button follows the story of a man who is born old, spends his years…
Seeing the All Blacks continually winning has made me think of their supporters and how they feel about dominating world rugby. Do they leave…
May is a great time of year. In Sydney, the weather seems to cling onto the warmth of summer, decent swell starts rolling into…
In December 2014, the South African Rugby Union General Council approved a five-year roadmap in the lead up to the 2019 World Cup, called…
I bumped into a former school mate over the weekend. “Did you see the rugby?”, I asked him reluctantly. “I don't watch the Boks…
Fair enough, just be careful not to look into their eyes. Go Boks
'Wild honesty and deep anger' vs the 'good company man': Coaching box culture clash at heart of World Cup final
Thanks Chook! Agree. Who you going for? Or is rugby the winner at the end of the day?
'Wild honesty and deep anger' vs the 'good company man': Coaching box culture clash at heart of World Cup final
Same for me Bliksem. It’s fine margins at the top, and even being 10% off the pace will have an impact. Let’s hope with Eben and Siya being early subs they’ll be fresh. And perhaps a few smart tweaks to the team will help lift intensity levels.
'Wild honesty and deep anger' vs the 'good company man': Coaching box culture clash at heart of World Cup final
Yes Harry!!
I’ve been lost in a quagmire of negativity following the France and England games, and have been waiting for something to trigger my excitement for the final. This is it. So thank you!
I’m proud of the Boks; Who they are, their values, and what they represent.
Let’s enjoy the game this weekend and hopefully all the chat is focused on what an epic game of rugby it was.
How’s this for a stat: South Africa have outscored New Zealand in the 2nd half in 6 of last 8 Tests.
So. Start well. Take points. Bring on bomb squad. Back to back?
'Wild honesty and deep anger' vs the 'good company man': Coaching box culture clash at heart of World Cup final
This is awesome JN. I hope Bok fans are mindful of the impact Rassie has made. We are lucky he decided to take the reigns! Win or lose he’s changed the game for the good in SA. Transformation his biggest gift. I watch the Boks with pride.
'Wild honesty and deep anger' vs the 'good company man': Coaching box culture clash at heart of World Cup final
Haha. Nice fair comment. Yes lets hope it’s an AB/Bok classic for the ages. Enjoy!
Did England's tactics against the Boks give New Zealand the blueprint for World Cup final victory?
The ABs would be mad not to kick.
Kick to touch to test the Bok’s lineout.
Kick on their small wings and look for tap backs, and kick short in behind their rush defense, both of which will create the broken-field opportunities they love.
It’s what worked so well in Auckland this year.
Then they need to stop the Boks when the Boks have the ball. That’s the other thing. It’s debatable if they’ve figured this out yet.
When the Boks got in their rhythm in Auckland they ran in 3 tries. And then there’s Twickenham and we know how that went.
So yeah. Something for ABs. Something for Boks.
Did England's tactics against the Boks give New Zealand the blueprint for World Cup final victory?
Hi Geoff
Excellent piece, and as always, a perfect voice of reason.
Seeing the relief with the Bok coaches makes me think they know they got out of jail against England.
The early subs to me indicates they knew they got selections wrong and that fatigue was an issue (when have we ever seen Even subbed early?).
It was obvious what game plan the English were going to bring, and with rain forecast, I honestly thought the Boks would make personnel changes and go 6-2. Especially after the intensity of the French game.
Anyway we’ll see if it becomes a factor for the final. It’s fine margins at the top, and if we’re 10% off the pace it’ll be a problem.
I’m in two minds about it though. The other side is they just played in a very slow, stop-start game and made subs early.
Good recovery this week and perhaps they’ll be ready.
Go the Boks! But here’s hoping for a classic.
The Wrap: There's a reason Boks and All Blacks are at the big boys' table - the rest have to earn their way onto it
You called it. Ox the most important. I guess that’s harsh on Polly but Ox did the work to give Polly the opportunities
'What you live for': Boks beat England in World Cup EPIC to set up mouth-watering final against All Blacks
To come back and win like that in the rain is the most impressive thing about that performance.
'What you live for': Boks beat England in World Cup EPIC to set up mouth-watering final against All Blacks
That’s the good stuff Harry.
What a moment.
Big plays all round by this team of warriors.
Proud.
'Go and f--k them up': What sets the generals and their orders apart as final four prepare to battle for the RWC
“For South Africa!”
Go Boks.
'Go and f--k them up': What sets the generals and their orders apart as final four prepare to battle for the RWC
Hi Geoff. Hope you’re well.
I hope someone within the ARU is thinking the same as you because the time for a ‘think tank’ is definitely now, and it’s a really good idea.
I did want to ask you one thing related to this point: It should comprise people who remember where Australian rugby has come from.
I know it’s important to understand, but do you think Australian rugby is still too caught up in this, and hasn’t fully appreciated the cultural shift the game has gone through in Australia?
My thinking is that rugby in Australia was traditionally a very white collar, private school, game. That’s changed significantly over the last 20 years and the game is now played by a culturally diverse group of players, some of whom aren’t connected to Australia at all.
I’m not sure the ARU has fully aligned behind this change. It was a small thing but I struggle to see Tupou, Kerevi and Koroibete connecting with an Akubra hat and MJ Bale suit. Would any up coming talent look at that and go – yep, that’s me.
Culture is a discreet thing but it connects to values that people get behind. Once people see a part of themselves in something that’s when good things start to happen.
Right now I’m not sure I see any talk of diversity and inclusion from the ARU.
Sorry to draw it back to the Boks, but SARU has gone through this shift and are reaping the rewards. Rugby, a traditionally white, Afrikaner, sport, with players generally coming through from a few elite rugby schools, is now played by a diverse group of players, and the Springbok culture honours and respects this.
People from those backgrounds are now inspired because they can see themselves in the Springbok brand.
Just feel the ARU needs to still go through this change but I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Forget Eddie's Coogee circus, the biggest questions Australian rugby must answer were revealed in Paris
Great thoughts Brett, and I agree 100%.
Define the approach then add players that complement it.
There’s easy fixes to be had too that will make the Wallabies instantly more competitive.
– Set piece excellence
– Water tight defense
– Efficient kicking with clear knowledge of when to kick
They can be the building blocks upon which the Australian way can be defined.
Loved this by the way: “Hint: it’s where you left it in August.”
'Be Australian': How the RWC QF classics showed we must urgently define and deliver our own style
Smart guy hey
How Rassie reshaped Springboks after social media ref rant - and the key role played by a harsh critic
Yeah super interesting this. Coaches can spot a potential HIA and pull players to get assessed. I do wonder if it’s a tactic to rest players and inject intensity. Super innovative and I’m sure people will be up in arms about it.
How Rassie reshaped Springboks after social media ref rant - and the key role played by a harsh critic
Interesting that this is what you think.
How Rassie reshaped Springboks after social media ref rant - and the key role played by a harsh critic
Yeah I saw Matt’s comments on X.
Was a close call but the right one. Backwards hand movement. Ball dropped straight down maybe slightly backwards.
Big time play by a big time player. Proper athlete.
Where does Eben rank in Boks all time legends? Easily in the top 5. Will go down as one of the worlds best locks given how he’s redefining requirements for role.
'Heartbroken': Springboks knock France out of RWC in dramatic, controversial QF as 'key moment' highlighted
The irony of people identifying ref mistakes in a game that involves RE is not lost on me
'Heartbroken': Springboks knock France out of RWC in dramatic, controversial QF as 'key moment' highlighted
At the time I said to a mate “I wonder how important that will be”
'Heartbroken': Springboks knock France out of RWC in dramatic, controversial QF as 'key moment' highlighted
Epic rugby in all the quarters. Fine margins. No team lost by playing poorly.
'Heartbroken': Springboks knock France out of RWC in dramatic, controversial QF as 'key moment' highlighted
Let’s not look at who they’ve beaten though 😛
'Heartbroken': Springboks knock France out of RWC in dramatic, controversial QF as 'key moment' highlighted
Amazing weekend of rugby.
Not sure what was controversial though?
Fine margins across all the games. No team lost by being poor.
Feel for Ireland and France.
Amazing win for Boks against the French at home.
'Heartbroken': Springboks knock France out of RWC in dramatic, controversial QF as 'key moment' highlighted
5-3 is so 1997
COMPLETE RWC Cup week 4 teams: Eddie makes changes, Fiji at full strength for QF push, Pollard to play first Test in 13 months
Up and under challenge to decide it I reckon. Start with no 15 and work way forward to no 1. Most drops loses the Webb Ellis.
'Wild honesty and deep anger' vs the 'good company man': Coaching box culture clash at heart of World Cup final