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Joined October 2019
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I forgot to mention the Springbok spin bowler Athanasios John Traicos who was actually born in Egypt.
A cricket team of exotic names
Xenophon Constantine Balaskas was a South African cricketer who played 9 tests.
Whilst only a provincial cricketer , Zenon Taliadoros played for Transvaal on South Africa. Please correct if I’m wrong, I think he emigrated to Australia in the 60’s and he could be related to Kimon Taliadoros who played soccer for Australia.
A cricket team of exotic names
Hi Nuisance
I’ve checked up historical exchange rates. The last period in which US $ was at parity with the ZAR was in mid 1984
The Wrap: Giteau’s Law must survive, but with a twist
Find a way to make the leeches pay transfer fees
The Wallabies should ban Hockings and Lucas for life
How about picking the greatest board members and ceos since super rugby began
Pick the greatest Wallabies team of the Super Rugby era: Second row
Graeme Pollock scoring 125 against England at Trent Bridge 1965
Pollock’s century was astonishing. Coming in at 16 for two, and with South Africa soon 43 for four on an uncovered pitch where England seamer Tom Cartwright (six for 94) was making the ball move alarmingly, the 21-year-old left-hander made 125, in just 145 balls faced. His century represented nearly 50 percent of an innings total of 269 where the next best score was 38. “No one could ever have batted better than Pollock that day,” said Australia great Richie Benaud, who commentated on the match for BBC television
The ten greatest Test innings ever played
I submit Dr Danie Craven
From Wikipedia
“After his rugby-playing career ended, he was a national selector from 1938 until he was appointed coach in 1949. He started his coaching career with a bang, winning 10 matches in a row, including a 4–0 whitewash of New Zealand in their 1949 tour to South Africa. Under his guidance the Springboks were undefeated from 1949 to 1952, and won 17 of 23 tests (74% success rate) – an achievement that makes Craven one of South Africa’s greatest coaches. He also coached Stellenbosch University from 1949 until 1956”
In 2007 he became the third inductee into the IRB Hall of Fame, only preceded by Rugby School and William Webb Ellis, the alleged instigator of the game that would develop into rugby union
Given his 3 doctorate, I reckon he would have been in a class of his own in the modern game.
The search for rugby's greatest-ever coach - and no, it's not Clive Woodward
From Wikipedia
August Frederick ‘Oubaas Mark’ Markötter (1878–1957) was a South African rugby union player and national selector who coached Stellenbosch Rugby Football Club from 1903-57. As coach he not only turned Maties into the world’s largest rugby club but forged 50 of his players into Springboks and got nearly 150 of his players selected for the Western Province team. Eleven of the 1906 Springbok touring squad to Britain “had developed under him at Stellenbosch”.[2][3]
Markötter popularized the 3-4-1 scrumming formation which is now standard in rugby union, and thus created the position of eighthman as a loose forward.[2][4] He has also been credited with entrenching the swing-pass among his players.[5]
Markötter was “one of the most influential and significant personalities in South African rugby, which he dominated” between 1903 and 1957.[
The search for rugby's greatest-ever coach - and no, it's not Clive Woodward
Do fellow readers think that the contract system as it stands, makes players too comfortable ?
Should the base salary be lower whilst the incentives for winning should be greater ?
Is there not enough competition for spots on the team ?
Is there any evidence that a very good club system would lead to better development of players ?
How would you handle a repeat of the Folau situation ?
Rugby Australia's rough week leaves more questions than answers
I think the departed Louis Luyt would have sorted this out in no time.
Who should take the helm at Rugby Australia?
I have been watching rugby since 1960 and still have no idea what goes on in the front row.
What I do know is that we have a game today played on the same size fields by backline players who are in the main, bigger and heavier than even the forwards of the 60’s.They are also faster and perhaps stronger.
We have forwards built like double door fridges who ram each other and when not doing that, stand in the backline .
We also have players kicking the ball straight back to the opposition with regular monotony.
We have scrums taking an eternity and referees in grand stand taking ages to make a decision over mms.
At the 60 minute mark, 7 replacements come on to the field and do what their predecessors have done.
We also have situation where more often then not, teams do not play their best players and international caps are handed out to all and sundry so that they can peak for the World Cup. I have also seen international touring teams bring out experimental rugby teams.
What is my point.
Why I should I pay my hard earned money to not always watch the best available players play a very boring spectacle.
To me the big difference between say soccer or rugby is that for rugby ,internationals are the pinnacle. There are just too damn many of them
Do I feel the same excitement and anticipation before a rugby test match as I did growing up ? No
Is this Castle’s fault ? I don’t think so .
Will a new CEO rectify this ? I don’t think so
IMO something needs to change to make it a wonderful spectacle again.
Australian rugby has its problems, but Raelene Castle was not one of them
There are 3 other rugby union converts who didn’t perform badly
Wilf Rosenberg – the flying dentist
Jan Prinsloo
Alan Skene
Lewis Jones
The first 3 were Springboks whilst Jones was a Welsh international
The ten best union to league converts
I went to that game v Western Province in 1970. Bryan Williams was selected at centre and he ran over his opposite number Nelson Babrow ( not a player renowned for his tackling !)a couple of times . However, the Springboks had the last laugh as the All Blacks selected Williams for the next test as a centre Instead of his normal position of wing. He came up against one of the best crash tacklers in Joggie Jansen ( famous for his tackle on Wayne Cottrell in the first test of that series)and was unable to repeat his performance in the tests
Who are the greatest All Blacks since 1970?
I presume you mean the World Cup era.
As you aware ,prior to that, a test series would take place.
I still believe a rugby test championship where every team plays against each other at least once within a predetermined cycle, is the fairest test.
By way of an analogy, it’s harder to win the English premiership than the FA Cup.
One is a test of endurance,whilst the other is almost a lottery.
I have been following rugby since 1960 and the only thing that counted was beating the All Blacks. If you beat them,you were regarded as the best team in the world.
Re comparing teams from different eras, you are not comparing oranges v oranges. last night I watched a rematch of Bjorg playing Mcinroe in the early 80’s with their wooden rackets. If Federer played Bjorg, he would easily beat him as Bjorg is now 63. In all serious essence, I think the only way I can work this whole best team out, is to say which team dominated a particular era.
ulrich, your name reminded me of a Springbok hooker by the name of Uli Schmidt who was a fantastic player in the 80’s. Does it mean that he would have been as good today.
This is the greatest Springboks team of all time
Like if my grandma had balls ,she would have been my grandpa
This is the greatest Springboks team of all time
I recall the British Lions smashing the Springboks in 1974. They won the series 3-0 and only dubious try in the 4th test, saved the Boks from a total whitewash.
This is the greatest Springboks team of all time
I think Boy said “ looks at the scoreboard “.
Of course, English was his second language
World Rugby has handed the Springboks a big favour
I would have Peter Kirsten in my team. By the time he played official test cricket, he was way past his best and well into his thirties.
He was a wonderful batsmen in his 20’s and one of the best cover fielders in the world.He was also a useful off spinner.
An international XI of Peters