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Joined November 2019
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Portugal based South African. Surf when not watching rugby. Favorite past player: Andre Venter Favorite current player: Thor Vermeulan
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AWJ the perfect example. Best years when 30+
Three minutes when Maro Itoje failed to win the medal he wanted
Had a pee next to Lood once (eyes up of course). A less imposing and unassuming guy you could not meet. Narrow, droopy shoulders. Genuinely shy but friendly. Transforms completely on the pitch!
Three minutes when Maro Itoje failed to win the medal he wanted
I agree there is much hype around Itoje.
I work in an international PB with a strong English presence. We’re about 1000 globally. An email was doing the rounds selecting your all time 15 since rugby went professional. Itoje was voted into the team…..not at lock but at 8 man because of course he would not take the place of MJ, Victor or Eales. The argument was that after the final he would have to be included. Obviously my esteemed colleagues were convinced of a win. It’s been a pretty good couple of weeks I won’t lie!
Is Itoje better than a Mark Andrews? Or even better that the 5 locks SA had in the final? I’m not so sure. I kept an eye on him in the final, sure he was present but impactful not at all.
Three minutes when Maro Itoje failed to win the medal he wanted
We have seen World Rugby’s bidding process for world cups. Snakes could do better
A fish rots from the head and world rugby is starting to pong!
Fireworks on the fifth: What the Saracens crisis means for the global game
Looking at England they are really spoilt for choice at lock. They’d do well to move Itoje to a PSdT role as the Boks have allowing them to bring Kruis in at lock. Better balanced back row and grunt in the scrum
Fireworks on the fifth: What the Saracens crisis means for the global game
I just listed the SA players overseas that are Springbok capped.
It’s a very large number and the impact in local SA comp and Super teams is pretty obvious. Thankfully the supply chain is long but eventually it’ll peter out.
It must be an issue for the Boks too. Zero provincial / club combinations being the most obvious issue while dealing with players across multiple leagues playing different styles, varying fitness levels etc doesn’t make it easier. It’s no wonder Rassie focused on the defense and structured forward play.
I have no issue with South African’s representing other countries should they wish. Their careers are short and can end in an instant. I do think 5 years should be the time required to be allowed to represent another nation though as the ‘player project’ adopted by Ireland or Scotland isn’t good for the game. How can you play for a country but not be allowed to vote in their elections? Thankfully SA has a large stick of players so it isn’t too much of an issue. World Rugby could and should do more to protect PI teams. Such a shame that this WC they were pretty hopeless
Collective failure of the Six Nations
Further to my comment above, SA has at present around 380 players registered at European clubs
Coaches we have Ackerman, van Graan and Heyneke Mayer that I can think of offshore
Collective failure of the Six Nations
For South African and only talking about players capped for the Boks:
SPRINGBOK PLAYER DRAIN
OUTSIDE BACKS: Leaving in 2019: Ruan Combrinck (Stade Francais), Travis Ismaiel (Harlequins). Already overseas: Gio Aplon (Toyota Verblitz), Zane Kirchner (Dragons/Bristol), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse), Willie le Roux (Wasps/Toyota Verblitz), Raymond Rhule (Grenoble). Returning: JP Pietersen (Toulon)
MIDFIELDERS: Leaving in 2019: Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Lionel Mapoe (Stade Francais). Already overseas: Juan de Jongh (Wasps), Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Sale Sharks), Wynand Olivier (Worcester Warriors), Jan Serfontein (Montpellier), Jaco Taute (Munster/Leicester), Francois Venter (Worcester Warriors). Returning: Frans Steyn (Montpellier).
FLYHALVES: Leaving in 2019: Rob du Preez (Sale Sharks), Handre Pollard (Montpellier). Returning: Morne Steyn (Stade Francais).
SCRUMHALVES: Already overseas: Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks), Francois Hougaard (Worcester Warriors), Ricky Januarie (Agen), Ruan Pienaar (Montpellier), Cobus Reinach (Northampton Saints). Returning: Piet van Zyl (Stade Francais – retired).
LOOSE FORWARDS: Dan du Preez (Sale Sharks)*, Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks)*. Already overseas: Willem Alberts (Stade Francais), Arno Botha (Munster), Heinrich Brussow (Northampton Saints), Nizaam Carr (Wasps), Uzair Cassiem (Scarlets), Marcell Coetzee (Ulster), Ashley Johnson (Wasps), Jaco Kriel (Gloucester), Francois Louw (Bath), Jacques Potgieter (Toulon), Deon Stegmann (Honda Heat), Pedrie Wannenburg (Austin Elite). Returning: Schalk Burger (Saracens).
LOCKS: Leaving in 2019: Lood de Jager (Sale Sharks), Eben Etzebeth (Toulon), Jason Jenkins (Canon Eagles), Stephan Lewies (Harlequins), RG Snyman (Honda Heat). Already overseas: Juandre Kruger (Toulon), Franco Mostert (Gloucester), Flip van der Merwe (Clermont).
HOOKERS: Leaving in 2019: Schalk Brits (retirement), Akker van der Merwe (Sale Sharks). Already overseas: Bismarck du Plessis (Montpellier).
PROPS: Leaving in 2019: Coenie Oosthuizen (Sale Sharks). Already overseas: Lourens Adriaanse (Pau), Pat Cilliers (London Irish), Ruan Dreyer (Gloucester), Jannie du Plessis (Montpellier), Vincent Koch (Saracens), Werner Kruger (Ospreys), Heinke van der Merwe (Stade Francais), Marcel van der Merwe (Toulon).
Obviously there are loads of other players, often young up and coming talent, that heads straight offshore as well as seasoned pros who while not Boks add value through experience etc.
Collective failure of the Six Nations
Sat next to Duran on a Copa Miami Panama flight. What a champ!
Kolbe would probably make an amazing boxer. Power to weight ratio off the charts and foot work like Fred Astaire
Rugby retrospect: What is truer than true, debunked, or seen anew?
Nice work Harry. Pro analysis and pro prose. Smiled the whole piece through.
Counting down to Lions 2021. Hope we respect the tour and give them tough midweek games. Traditions like the Lions adds to the magic of rugby, need to be treasured and long may they last.
Test 1 JHB
Test 2 Pretoria
Test 3 Cape Town
Rugby retrospect: What is truer than true, debunked, or seen anew?
A convenient watermark
I have no issue admitting the All Blacks are the bosses of world rugby. Yes South Africa was rightfully expelled from the international game and its been years of catching up but that’s not an excuse such is their dominance. Perhaps you should accept a similar dominance of the SH? The gap is closing for sure as recent results illustrate for sure but there is still some way to go
Collective failure of the Six Nations
Any prof player at that time would have said the same thing. So was the nature of Woodward’s prep and detail. South African players in the last couple of years have said the same thing when moving north. Completely blown away at the level of professionalism.
Collective failure of the Six Nations
Ok so the SH were better amateurs and are better professionals in that case. Different labels same result
Collective failure of the Six Nations
Real rugby gurus (not roar gurus), individuals part of WC coaching teams value every minute a player plays. The Boks will often point to their ability to rotate forwards thus limiting their minutes as an advantage.
1 less game and 1 extra days rest prior to the final is an advantage. If the Boks has that luxury i’d have no problem admitting to it and I’m sure their critics would have used it as an excuse
Collective failure of the Six Nations
Japan smashed Scotland and Ireland were they really easier?
Wales were undefeated. Smashed Aus. 6 Nations champs where they beat England.
Judging how easily the Boks beat England in the final perhaps they were the easier semi? It’s easy to twist info, BS and opinions to paint the picture you want
Collective failure of the Six Nations
With that logic would you say they were the best team in 95 and 07?
Would you also say Spain was not the best team at the 2010 WC as they lost a pool match to Switzerland?
Collective failure of the Six Nations
Neil you have fought the good fight man. I commend you for your staunch and regular defense of NH virtues and you’re often correct. We are all at time full of BS here. However in this case you’re plain wrong and seem desperate for excuses.
Collective failure of the Six Nations
South African players in the NH often comment how much more professional the game is there.
Realistically speaking only England and France have the potential to regularly challenge and perhaps dominate at an extended period. It’s starting to happen at youth level and is probably a matter of time.
No disrespect to Wales, Scotland and Ireland. It purely comes down to money and numbers.
Collective failure of the Six Nations
Take the argument to a global level outside of world cups. Why are the All Blacks so dominant? Simple: Better players and better coaches
Collective failure of the Six Nations
Luckily they only wanted to be professional in 2003
Collective failure of the Six Nations
Enterprise in the forwards or defense is still innovation in its own right
Especially when peppered with cracking tries, awesome power and pin point kicking
Keep on kidding yourself if it makes you feel better
Collective failure of the Six Nations
England would do well to play Maro in a PSdT role. He has the skills and speed to do it and then they can start Kruis giving them loads more grunt in the tight
Three minutes when Maro Itoje failed to win the medal he wanted