Good article.
Take a look at the overseas players who come back in. Initially they play well, and then most seem to drop off.
In other words, they have clearly benefited from the coaching and playing overseas.
After a couple of games for the Springboks, and being exposed once again to the Springbok coaching setup….no matter who the coaching staff are….their performances generally go backwards.
There is no doubt SARU is badly run, and has been for a long time.
Plus the Springbok players have a lot more on their minds than the players of most other countries they play…..the political upheaval that continues to worsen, despite a 24 year democracy.

Well said. No one else in the world media has the guts to say this.
This tennis player drummed up every racist / sexist hateful emotion she could, for her own entitled gain.
Diva is way too mild for her.
“MY court”etc
Cannot wait until she is off the scene.

On the money, Spiro.
One immediate problem, will be that the Wallabies will beat the Springboks at home.
Then all you will hear is…..”We told you so. Now the critics can shut up.”
And the pantomime will continue.
This will be, because Rugby Australia will completely miss the fact that the Springboks are abysmal tourists, and are consistently poor anyway. They have one good, passionate game every now and then, but that is it.
They are off the radar completely as a quality, dangerous side.
But the forthcoming win will be used to pull the wool again, over the eyes of long suffering Wallaby supporters.
If the Boks win, then it really is Goodnight Wallaby Rugby.

The problem of Cheika and his staff should no doubt persist after the home game against the Springboks.
That is because the Wallabies will win, and Cheika and Hooper will be able to say…”told you so. All it took was patience. Things are rosy again”.
Just remember that the Springboks are abysmal on tour, not too flash at home, produce only one good game every now and then…….and are just a poor side getting poorer.
They no longer rank as consistently worthy opponents, and certainly the All blacks look at them as definite points on the ladder, every time.

Absolutely correct.
In all areas.

Superb, moving article, Spiro.

How about Qantas playing their part?
Do they want to support a cricket team with this culture?
They should pull their sponsorship right now, with the statement that they will consider coming back….if satisfied that the men’s cricket side is back on track.

” Boof?”….of course the coach knew!
Too right the leadership should be sacked.
Don’t hold your breath though.
It is already shaping to be a Millenial Slap On the Wrist for the poor lads who ” made a mistake.”

Pretty puzzled.
Pocock has had a full year off….” to refresh mind AND BODY”
And right at the start of the season……a knee op.
And as we understand, not as a result of a brand new training ground injury.
What was the point of the sabbatical? Surely that was the time to be examined and sort all the physical stuff out that needed work.
Now another 4 month sabbatical.
Crazy waste of time and money in that case.

Maybe this is also the time to question the role the English coach plays.
Bayliss said that he did not watch county cricket. I am still trying to get my head around that one.
And the Poms have been unsuccessful on the field.
And off the field.
So what exactly is Bayliss paid for?
He is Aussie through and through, and got taken apart.
Wither his own career?

It is a DEAD rubber, very dead.
Three nothing, ” when it counted”, to the Aussies.
But this is the English media. Write the 4th test up like YOU had won the Ashes.
Just like rugby. You come within a point or 12 of the All Blacks, and suddenly it is The English with the best side for the past 50 years.
Well done Australia.

No matter what anyone says, it is a DEAD rubber. Australia won three tests at a canter.
On and off the field.
So now the Poms come out of hiding, on a flat wicket, and indeed an Aussie attack minus Starc.
And true to form, the Pommie media write it all up, like they have just won the Ashes.
Just like the Pommie rugby. They come within a point or two of the All Blacks now and then, and suddenly the Poms have been the top team for decades.

Spiro,
You write fine articles…very pertinent and knowledgeable.
Don’t let your bias against South Africa cloud your batting stats.
Graeme Pollock is right up there as the best behind Bradman.
23 tests, 41 innings, 60.97 average.

This nonsense was obvious 4 years ago, in Australia….the so called ” leaders” with the Poms.
Captain Cook? A first class disaster. Zero inspiration with the bat…..no leading from the front there….and he appeared to be fast asleep in his own vapid world when his side was bowling. Again, absolutely no fire breathing geeing up whatsoever…something that was needed the entire series.
That Kevin Pietersen was so disengaged….put that one right at the door of Cook. Pietersen could have had a huge impact, but as he was not cut from the same cloth as Cook Old Chap, Cook again showed a total absence of man management. And, BY GOLLY GUM, despite every single fact showing that Cook had utterly failed as a leader in tough times…..” I believe I am the right man to be captain”….what utter tosh, what utter vapid tosh.
Cook is uttering the same spoiled, befuddled view now, of his ever weakening batting……apparently he has not thought about thinking about stepping aside. Of course not.
Plus, now as a very senior player in the side…all this experience you know….he appears to offer, as usual zero on the field. Useless, to the newer guys, useless. A hindrance in fact, a drain on positive energy.
We hear stories of the way Anderson and Broad behave to the new guys….big deal prefects dealing with their fags.
Certainly looks like it on the field. Absolutely no encouragement from these vastly experienced players.
Too arrogant, too well paid, untouchables.
A drain, an utter drain, on team spirit.
And Root has achieved minus nothing as captain.
The Poms have nothing to lose, and Broad and Anderson and Cook should ‘move out now, and let some mustard keen players at least show some spirit.
And no, these players do not need to go out ” on their own terms” as suggested by Ponting…they already are doing things on their own terms.
There are cricket tests left to be won, to be contested…why the heck put self interest ahead of this?

But, as they are untouchables, and know it, Old Boy, remain they will

As Ackermann rightly says….last week, according to New Zealanders, he was a shocking ref, courtesy of a card to a Highlanders player. This week, by gosh, Jaco is a fine referee again, according to those same critics.

As a South African, I used to support Kiwi sides and the All Blacks, when they played other nations….because of the consistent level of wonderful winning rugby. And with that winning, there was usually a consistent brand of down to earth level headedness and modesty. Not like the Poms, who come close to beating the All Blacks, then act like they have won the past 29 contests between the two sides.
But……..the level of arrogance from New Zealand scribes, and ex All Blacks, who should know better, has increased to those parochial Pommie levels.
I found myself chuffed to bits that the Lions came close to shutting up some large mouths.
So, to the New Zealand Herald in particular, and certain All Blacks ( among them Christian Cullen I see )….gee whizz guys…..what happened to the Hurricanes……..they got walloped….thrashed….deservedly so, as they thought exactly along the lines of the aforementioned.
Good riddance, and hello Crusaders….hope you have a lousy trip across in business class.
And here’s hoping the Wallabies give you All Blacks a shellacking or two shortly…..one in the eye is needed.

Excellent

It is hilarious to say anyone in New Zealand, or Spiro, is whingeing.
Great article, Spiro.
It does not matter where the Lions tour. They whinge. Spurred on by the vicious whingeing Pom press corps.
Their best toy throwing and pomposity is reserved for S Africa and New Zealand……harder to tour there than Australia.
Plus, the Aussies give back better than they get, and do a better job of pushing the babies back into their prams.
Gatland has not stopped either whining or gloating.
The Lions do all they can to disrupt play…the arch nigglers…..the All Blacks do all they can to get the ball so they can play.
Simple.
Garces is a shocker of a ref.
Don’t worry about the penalty count.
Against the Hurricanes……Henderson needed a red card. Garces wanted to award a penalty only.
The yellow was reluctantly given.
The Hurricanes would have received red, guaranteed.
Not convinced?
O Brien?…..nothing……and no further sanction either. Unbelievable that even those citing officials are running scared and one eyed.
Sonny Bill?…red and a 4 week ban……same offence, absolutely the same offence….a deliberate head shot.
Vunipola?…red….deliberate head shot……..but a reluctant yellow and no further sanction.
And where is the whining from the All Blacks on this blatant favoritism to bring them down….zero.
Or whingeing that Barrett was deliberately targeted, like poor little Connor Murray…..zero.
At least we have it all to play for on Saturday.

Genia has been off the pace for a couple of years. I have said so a few times on this website.
Sluggish all round……he is very much an achilles heel in top games.
Cheika has been shown up time and again in selections.
And thus far not up to international coaching.

I love the fact that Syms was able to grab the wrist of Fran Cotton.
In 1975, Cotton had a stint as player coach at Durban University in Natal, South Africa.
During the derby university match between Durban and Maritzburg, Cotton would hold the wrist of the Maritzburg hooker, to prevent THAT hooker from signalling to the Maritzburg scrumhalf that he was ready to hook.
I was flank for the Maritzburg team, and our hooker told me to grab COTTON’S wrist, to stop the nonsense.
I tried to get my hand over that offending wrist, and my fingers would not meet, it was so damn big.
Cotton flexed his hand once to ease my tenuous grip, and then told me not to try it again.
So, as the well used phrase states, I didn’t.
Well done Dave Syms.

Excellent Spiro,
Right to the meat of the matter.
It is always amazing that Pro Rugby began in 1995 pretty much, and around the world the administration remains self serving and uncaring, apart from the filthy lucre.
And again I believe, regarding Pocock, that for a couple of years at least now, he has been gunshy in comparison to his initial model. It is very noticeable, so how on earth he could get away with his deal……….I guess because he was dealing with guys who do not know rugby.

Excellent, Spiro.
Very practical and informative.

Hooper is overplayed, match in and match out.
He is never subbed or rested, either in Super rugby or test rugby.
He is an amazing specimen of durability and courage.
But this continued stupid lack of player management in Australian rugby, will eventually have its say, and Hooper will be done. A lot quicker than if he was properly cared for.

Embarrassing, jingoistic stuff.
Was it not Steve Smith who had his mouth wide open, before the series? Basically saying the Aussies would be bringing their A game regarding sledging?
The Aussies….for how many years, legends in their own minds when it comes to sledging? World renowned, especially in Australia, so Mum and Dad and the girlfriend and mates can all go, ” wow”.
Now what has just happened?
The Aussies have been UTTERLY thrashed, yes indeed. A couple of barnstorming hidings playing test cricket, and some extra barnstorming hidings in the sledging stakes. Utterly thrashed there as well.
Poor dears, away from home.
And predictably….the Aussies absolutely cannot handle it. Not even for a second. Not the players and not the press.
Of course, if Australia had won…….both parties would be bellowing about the fact that the Indians should stop crying.
Well tough luck mates. You are doing the crying. You got a deserved spanking.
And we have Kohli depicted as ” classless” and ” childish” by the Aussie press. How pathetic are those whinges?
Just put a package together, depicting the antics of Smith and Wade and Maxwell etc. Childish and classless are inadequate when you have to deal with buffoonery like that. Zero character shown.
Don’t worry about Kohli and the Indian team. They went at you like rabid dogs, and you little darlings could not handle it, and reacted like the spoiled brattish , bad loser bullies that you are…….and got a hiding as all bullies eventually get…..
Go India!! Well done!!

It would certainly have REALLY shown the Eddie Jones had it together as a person, and a coach……if he had been able to say after the game….” GREAT ploy by Italy….we were too slow to react, and WE need to look at that…”
But he simply could not….as you point out…a control freak, along with the portly, ever pompous blowhards who mostly steal oxygen in the confines of the RFU.