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Joined September 2015
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When I was growing up, I pleaded with my London-based sister to bring me back a Welsh rugby jersey. This was 2008, and not…
Recall one of the opening scenes from Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, when the protagonist ended his back-alley poker game in life-threatening debt.…
Hi Buk
Thank you very much.
I think if we leave JdV then we need Victor at all costs, even though I believe our best lock pairing is Giraffe and Eben.
Everyday by now is sick of this buzzword ‘experience’, but hell, the only thing we need is leadership. I don’t think anyone cares where it comes from, so long as it’s there, and those at home, watching, can feel it.
We truly have the resources to pull through. Let’s wait for Samoa.
Springboks, you might be going through hell, but just keep going
Hi Frisky
I think we all hope Japan can back it up against Scotland. To see such heart wells up the eyes. I think we all hope USA can do something similar soon. Same goes for Georgia, Samoa, and hopefully Fiji tomorrow.
Thank the heavens for rugby, because that’s where it’s played.
Springboks, you might be going through hell, but just keep going
Hi Paul
Thanks for the comments and the compliment.
A few things.
Firstly to say JdV is a liability to the culture of the squad is exceptionally harsh. He’s a player off form, and until his injury against Wales I regarded him as a Top 3 centre in the world. But I understand your sentiment. I’m hurt by his form, whereas you’re frustrated. Understandable.
I agree that Meyer has had tunnel vision for this team, hoping the old guard can find and/or maintain form to carry the side through. What a liability it’s proven, and ultimately to our demise (whether we make semi’s or not, we have demised after that loss to Japan). Once the oldies have left, and Meyer has no other ’07 winner left to turn to, that’s where I think he can be at his best, and believe it or not (and I’m putting myself on the chopping block for this) but I’d like to see how he can progress the team with new players. Call it heresy, but I would give him a 2 year extension, then a formal review, if nothing, Johan Ackerman has got to be the next in line. What he’s done with those Lions players has been nothing short of superb.
With regards to the “box kick, chase, tackle, gain field position, hope to come up with the ball, then wait for individual brilliance” that plan has been exhausted everywhere for a while. Size only took us so far. I think Meyer has only catered for what he knows the current players can do, next year around, we need to see the likes of Jaco Kriel, more Brussouw, de Klerk, even Combrink. We simply do not have enough ball players, and Meyer understands that we can’t change the game plan that has been catered for our current squad.
There’s no way out at this stage I’m afraid to say.
Springboks, you might be going through hell, but just keep going
It’s a difficult one.
If we look at New Zealand, we can talk about the Golden Oldies like McCaw, Carter, Woodcock Mealamu, Nonu, and C. Smith. Then we have the less capped ones, (and slightly less long in the tooth), in Read, Kaino, Whitelock, Franks’.
I don’t think our Golden Oldies are worse off, and are that much less of calibre compared to these guys to have lost to Japan. I think morale, confidence and solidarity are at an all time all. I think we can still win the World Cup, but only in the same breathe that the DA can win the next elections. The chance is there, but it’s not great. Regarding creating a new culture, I don’t think finding one at the World Cup is the right place to do it. Results now rest on Jean, for me. If he can just get himself out of this black hole, then we can do something special. The young ones won’t win it for us. It has to be the old-age home. One last time, one last push.
I think not having players in the ‘middle category’ is an issue. But when is the right time to gamble? DDA only really warranted Springbok selection this year, as did Kriel, and de Jager.
Although Siya isn’t the player he can be, he should have been given the green light when he was in the form of his life. Same with Pat, to an extent Reinach and so forth.
But can’t say Heyneke hasn’t tried to gamble with young blood, he just should have persisted with the experiments a bit longer.
Springboks, you might be going through hell, but just keep going
Hi John
Thanks for the comment.
I’d like to think we have an incredible core group of players, unfortunately it’s more accurate to describe the situation as “we had an incredible core group of players”.
I’m of the opinion that class is permanent, and so are the players. It’s just unfortunate that they’ve hit a bad run at the worst possible time.
Let’s hold thumbs they can turn things around. They have just enough time to do it.
Thanks again.
Springboks, you might be going through hell, but just keep going
I love the way you think.
Springboks, you might be going through hell, but just keep going
Hi Neville
Thanks for the comment.
We have no decision takers. It’s as simple as that. A formula has been entrenched into our psyche, and we’ve been left humiliatingly exposed for the past year. Our players now can’t decide to play in the moment. Otherwise we’ll be picked at by the vultures.
The team needs a mutual understanding to go forward. And yes, that isn’t working currently. But without it, we’re as good as biltong.
It hasn’t been an easy weekend to fathom.
Thanks again.
Springboks, you might be going through hell, but just keep going
Hi Seligs.
Thanks for commenting.
Yes. I agree whole heartedly. It’s a case of ‘woulda, coulda, shoulda’. And as you said, there is NO plan B. The Springbok management never matured the players that should playing, over these last few seasons.
Effectively, we have no other route. The only thing we can do is pray, whether Heyneke decides to go all in with form players, or stick to the old guard.
For the sake of their contribution to the Springboks, we can’t disregard the grandfathers. We need them to end on a good note. It might be too late, but they have a legacy they need to uphold, and if it doesn’t begin next Saturday, then Springbok folklore will burn.
Thanks again.
Springboks, you might be going through hell, but just keep going
Hi Biltongbek
Thanks for commenting.
I think obviously this does come down to simple opinion. I just feel that looking down the barrel of a gun, we can’t at this stage look back. We have to just pray no other team can pull the trigger on us.
Agreed. Du Preez, De Villiers, and Schalk are all well passed their best, but Reinach, Kolisi (it should be Coetzee) and de Allende just haven’t had the time to be world beaters at this level. They should have been bred a few seasons ago.
If Heyneke shies away from ‘the’ game plan now, I feel the Springboks may as well just pardon themselves from the World Cup. (Or do you feel it should be a case of all or nothing?)
In saying that, the grandfathers of the team would have known what kind of media storm would be waiting for them. If they can tell themselves, “just 5 more games, we can do it”, we can make the semis and respectfully lose to the All Blacks. I think any South African fan can and should be happy with that considering the performances we’re putting in.
Thanks again.
Springboks, you might be going through hell, but just keep going
Hi maxxlord
Firstly, I’d have to agree with you in that we are stuck in 2007. We are stuck in our brand. And yes, that’s unfortunate. Meyer hasn’t helped things, but neither did PdV.
Firstly, PdV rode the crest of in-form players from the White era, such as Botha, Smit, Matfield, Burger, du Preez, Habana, de Villiers, Fourie, and the like. Very few of them credited his ability as a coach, and as many journalists and inside men share the same sentiments.
Secondly, Meyer has simply continued what PdV did, with a group of players that are a little past their prime, but certainly not walkovers. And I agree, no coach should be judged on the World Cup alone. Look at Graham Henry keeping his job after NZ’s 2007 debacle.It’s been a tough year, our worst since 2002/2003, but what were your thoughts on Meyer for those three years before the decline? Nobody had a problem with selection policy before the Argentina game? Let me reiterate. Suppose we chose a team looking like this.
1. Steven Kitshoff 2. Scarra Ntubeni 3. Vincent Koch/ Julien Redlinghuys 4. Eben Etzebeth 5. Lood de Jager 6. Jaco Kriel 7. Schalk Burger 8. Nizaam Carr 9. Faf de Klerk/Cobus Reinach 10. Patrick Lambie/Handre Pollard 11. Bryan Habana 12. Damien de Allende 13. Jesse Kriel 14. We genuinely have no quality options here 15. Willie le Roux
These have been the form players in Super rugby. Imagine we tried and tested with ALL of them in the past 5-6 matches, and decided to take a ship of inexperience to a world cup. All the Test rookies have only come on in less than 18 months. Too high-risk for any management team.
Thirdly, our losses aren’t a result of the quota system. But public and political awareness and pressures have certainly disrupted the setup. Please don’t think things like players approaching COSATU to discuss ‘unfair’ selections haven’t impacted the team’s dynamic and solidarity.
Thank you
Springboks, you might be going through hell, but just keep going
It’s not just poor reading ed, it’s gut-wrenching.
Springboks, you might be going through hell, but just keep going