Roar Guru
Joined January 2009
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As George Smith closes in on his centurion game of Test rugby, Australian fans could be forgiven for forgetting just how difficult it is…
G-Rilla, a Roarer mentioned a Cass Pennant penned article in The Guardian which suggested that the police may have been reluctant to steam in due to the events of the G20. I think there’s probably an element of truth to that. Conversely, the scenes of the West Ham fans fighting with the stewards in the corner did not tell the full story. At one point the riot police steamed in and I saw countless people with smashed, bloodied craniums tottering about the paddock. I didn’t see that replayed on Sky. Outside the stadium a lot of the riot police seemed genuinely intimidated. Pennant also mentioned that complacency may have been an issue with the authorities. That is probably true as well.
West Ham vs Millwall, an insiders story
I have a friend down the pub (Good ol’ Patricks) who is a top, top forensic guy at the Metropolitan Po Po. Anyway, he used to be a bookmaker and he is always quids in. He really does know his stuff. His biggest tip of the season is Rotherham.
Giteau isn’t a bad call for first try scorer, but I gave up on specific rugby bets a long time ago (Around WC 07, I think). The money is always there to be made on the handicap.
Springboks need to be off their game for a Wallaby win
Would this deal have been a recent thing, onside, or would it have started a few months ago?
Barnes loss another painful blow for Reds fans
Barnes probably could earn a lot in Europe, onside, but the squads in France and the UK were pretty much finalised a while ago. I wonder how long this deal has been going on?
Barnes loss another painful blow for Reds fans
Yeah, you’re right, Colin. I caught it by sheer accident, as I did the Scotland A V France A match. Tincu was his usual boisterous self, and the game was well attended. I bet you that the players had a great time too, which is part of the professional struggle. It’s such a shame that so few of the minor games are televised.
The Springboks and Matfield are number one, OK!
Did you watch the tournament, Colin? There was a cracker between France A and Romania.
The Springboks and Matfield are number one, OK!
What has SA achieved that is great since 2007? That is the key and unavoidable question.
Springboks' formula looks sound enough to take Tri Nations
Rodrigo Roncero, Tony Woodcock, Andrew Sheridan, Stephen Moore, Carl Hayman, Sylvain Marconnet, Martin Castrogiovanni, Adam Jones, Brad Thorn, Patricio Albacete, Simon Shaw, Rocky Elsom, Jerome Kaino, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Imanol Harinordoquy, Mike Phillips, Siti Sivivatu, Felipe Contepomi, Conrad Smith, Tommy Bowe, Napolini Nalaga, Maxime Medard, Juan Martin Hernandez…
There’s no disguising the fact that you’re a Bok, Rusty..
I think there’s some fantastic talent out there, Ohtani. If the majority of test games haven’t been great then I’m sure there is a reason for that, and not because players are generally poorer than they were years before.
Springboks' formula looks sound enough to take Tri Nations
The Namibian game only occurred due to the fact the Lions were in town, it was hardly a gesture of good will. And as Colin points out with his reference to the Old Trafford test, that was a gesture of good will. English rugby has had a far more extensive relationship with Argentina than SA has during the professional era, and even on a base level Argentine players are being developed in the Guiness Premiership, Nelson.
The Springboks and Matfield are number one, OK!
I thought he stunk the place out at Eden. Funny that. I shall be watching him and ‘Big Pierre’ pretty closely this week.
The Springboks and Matfield are number one, OK!
I think you should do some homework, Brendan.
1. Maybe you missed the fact that the 6N used to be the 5N. Maybe you missed the fact that two Italian teams have been admitted to the ML. Maybe you missed the fact that the gate takings from England v Australia will go to Fiji, just as they did against Romania a few years back… and so on There is absolutely no comparison of the money and help doled out by UK rugby toward the lesser nations with the lack of help shown by Sarfu and SA rugby. SOS Romania anyone?
2. Erm… the 2003 WC was staged in Australia and the ARU is an Australian union. Not Celtic or English, so perhaps you should re-assess that point.
3. You’re on to a loser with this Beast/racism chat. Adam Jones and Vickery smashed him in the 2nd and 3rd tests, Owen Franks smashed him on Saturday and Jones, Murray and Vickery smashed him in the Autumn. I can only assume that you’ve never been a forward. Also, van der Merwe may be a better scrummager, but his overall game is limited and he is injury prone. I would hope that you would understand that props aren’t chosen merely for their scrummaging. Beyond van der Merwe there are no decent looseheads in SA. Carstens and Steenkamp are utterly useless and that Mtawarira plays with du Plessis and Smit may have had something to do with his selection beyond ‘affirmative action’, which you incorrect imply is a factor. Other than that you have named two other affirmative action players who have been selected under a coach who has openly stated his desire to implement political change. Wow! Stop the press. That White, Straueli and Viljoen got to pick their own very white teams is just an inconvenience to your argument, eh?! Just have a look at the past three SA WC squads and note how many men of colour were selected (here’s a clue – not many), and then recall why affirmative action was necessary in the first place.
The Springboks and Matfield are number one, OK!
‘Like I said, I’m not dismissing the notion of transition but I dont think this AB team is in anymore of a transition than the Boks or Wallabies.’
You must be one of the only people who thinks that, and I’m pretty perplexed as to how. All you have to do is look through the squad lists.
Firstly, this NZ team will not be the 2011 team. This SA team will most likely be the 2011 team. That is transition.
You think a comparison of Botha and Matfield is appropriate in playing terms to Thorn and Ross. Give me a break. They’re test rookies. Likewise JdV and Fourie with Nonu and Smith, when I was referring to test appearances.
The Springboks and Matfield are number one, OK!
‘Anyway, So’oialo wasn’t pushed back over the advantage line at Eden Park. So’oialo isn’t a great ball carrier, but he hardly ever gets pushed back over the advantage line.’
Yes he did. Yes he does.
The Springboks and Matfield are number one, OK!
Du Plessis has fantastic potential but has improved how over the past two years? Jaque and Jean got shown up by Roberts, O’Driscoll and Bowe. Case closed.
Springboks' formula looks sound enough to take Tri Nations
I don’t think beating the Lions equates to greatness, Vincent. Everything is stacked against the Lions and a SH victory SHOULD be a natural adjunct. That SA were meant to absolutely destroy the plodding NH players and win 3-0, yet only managed to scrape the series doesn’t particularly convince me. With regards to the WC a teams greatness is qualififed by their results prior and post. The 99-01 Wallabies were a great team, the 01-03 English were a great team and so the 05-07 All Blacks were a great team. This Springbok side has achieved nothing to parallel those teams.
Springboks' formula looks sound enough to take Tri Nations
‘to a lesser extent the ever disappointing Spurs.’
How are Tottenham ever dissapointing?
Liverpool set to reclaim EPL record
I think you’ve caught a case of Spiro-itis, James. Hope you get better soon.
Springboks' formula looks sound enough to take Tri Nations
I’d also like to point out that Thorn, Ross, Nonu & Muliaina are the only players to have played in all five of the tests this season, so regardless of the back row having played together last season they have only played together twice this season, with two of the trio having returned from injury.
‘Christ, even players like Kaino, Cowan, Nonu and Smith are only playing what is their 2nd full test season.’
By which I mean being entrusted with regular starting berths over a sustained period.
The Springboks and Matfield are number one, OK!
‘My point is that this AB team may have been more settled in the past but that it is in no more of a transition than any other tri nations team who also lost marque players in key positions to retirement and injury.’
That’s just not true though, is it. The entire front row is from the Sharks, the 2nd row from the Bulls, and look how many tests the centres and wings have played together as a unit. SA has experience littered throughout the team and has a collection of players who have been playing test rugby for a very, very long time. If SA went into a tournament with J. du Plessis, Bekker and M. Steyne starting instead of Smit, Matfield and Pienaar I’m pretty sure that the average Bok fan would not be dismissing the notion of transition.
The Springboks and Matfield are number one, OK!
‘My point is that this AB team may have been more settled in the past but that it is in no more of a transition than any other tri nations team who also lost marque players in key positions to retirement and injury.’
That’s just not true though, is it. The entire front row is from the Sharks, the 2nd row from the Bulls, and look how many tests the centres and wings have played together as a unit. SA has experience littered throughout the team and has a collection of players who have been playing test rugby for a very, very long time. If SA went into a tournament with J. du Plessis, Bekker and M. Steyne starting instead of Smit, Matfield and Pienaar I’m pretty sure that the average Bok fan would not be dismissing the notion of transition.
The Springboks and Matfield are number one, OK!
‘I think the struggles the backs are suffering is symptomatic of the team as a whole. There have been personnel changes, some in key positions and it’s taking time for them to gel cohesively and get the timing and rhythm right.’
You think the talk of transition is bollocks, Sam?
The Springboks and Matfield are number one, OK!
Heinke van der Merwe is injured, no? So that leaves Steenkamp – who is another liability – or du Preez?
The Springboks and Matfield are number one, OK!
‘one best prop’
Who could that be, Jools?
Springboks' formula looks sound enough to take Tri Nations
How can it not be a period of transition? That’s a ludicrous assertion given that Somerville and Williams account for 118 caps between them. Owen Franks and Ross are rookies in key positions, as is Donald. Contrast the loss of Somerville and Williams with the players that SA and Australia possess: Baxter and Sharpe, and Smit and Matfield… and then Giteau and Pienaar. The backrow is completely irrelevant because the front five comes before the back row. It strikes me as blindingly obvious that the back row would be affected by such inexperienced players playing in front of them, and I’m perplexed as to how you would think it doesn’t. Christ, even players like Kaino, Cowan, Nonu and Smith are only playing what is their 2nd full test season.
The Springboks and Matfield are number one, OK!
Australians certainly don’t have a reputation as chip-on-their-shoulder, lager abusing oafs – do they? No, they don’t.
West Ham vs Millwall, an insiders story