Jarryd Thompson's Roar Profile

Over the years in South African rugby, there has been harsh but often accurate criticism for players who are required to frequently switch positions.…

Rugby

2017

Jarryd Thompson

Roar Rookie

A lack of rugby intellect and innovation in South Africa

Rugby

2017

Jarryd Thompson

Roar Rookie

Jarryd Thompson

Roar Rookie

Lions: Returning players to look out for in 2017

Injuries are a fact of life in Super Rugby, but with modern medicine there's hope that players can return to their former glory. A…

Rugby

2017

Jarryd Thompson

Roar Rookie

Lions: Returning players to look out for in 2017

Rugby

2017

Jarryd Thompson

Roar Rookie

Jarryd Thompson

Roar Rookie

The Boks can have a bright future, but not without change

For South African rugby fans, life is dismal oh so dismal and come Saturday there is a realistic chance that it could get worse…

Rugby

2016

The Boks can have a bright future, but not without change

Jarryd Thompson

Roar Rookie

The Boks can have a bright future, but not without change

Rugby

2016

Well played Sir

Will gracefully accept that I have seriously fluffed that! What you did there was easy enough no?
It doesn’t require me to take offense but rather to be aware of and correct my error – let’s hope I only have to learn that lesson once.

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Seems to me the real challenge is the fact that the pool of quality rugby playing nations is so small that there is no need to qualify for international tournaments outside of the world cup.

Taking football as an example nations have to qualify for the world cup, euro’s, afcon etc.

Having the 6 nations and the rugby championship year in and out causes a bit of a stale effect.

Alternating between the traditional 6 nations, rugby championship format and a new 12 team tournament would surely at the very least give motivation to the second and third tier rugby nations to improve, and in turn, have a positive and competitive effect on the world game

World Rugby exploring brand new 'league of nations' tournament

With you all the way!!!

Media needs to stop being polite and start applying pressure on World Rugby.

Thanks, mate

Not sure the Boks will be doing you guys any favours down in Port Elizabeth this weekend.

It is hard to believe that there are positive vibes in the Wallaby camp but that said there is nothing like the embarrassment of a fan player altercation to set minds and hearts straight and get professional players up for the fight.

Thanks Jonty

Agreed man!

de Allende and Am are by no means useless and they certainly have something to offer South African rugby. Am in particular looks to be a player who needs to be invested in, especially when you consider that we don’t exactly have 13’s putting their hands up in South Africa.
My gripe with the two of them is that I don’t personally believe either has made a statement that says this is my jersey.
It allows me to keep in mind Jan Serfontein and Frans Steyn and hope that Nel can bring his obvious pedigree to the test arena.
It would be nice if the two of them had shut the door on the rest of the chasing pack by now but unfortunately they have not.

Thanks mzilikazi.

My heart and head say the same thing but I thought the same thing about a certain All Black win in Wellington.

I’m inclined to think a well prepared and mentally ready Bok side should have no issues dispatching the Wallabies at home, history backs this up and everything pretty much points to a win.

Still, harder to trust ourselves and those ‘in the know’ after what we see two weekends ago

Relax, feel like Rieko is even more trouble than Naholo

Cheers, The headline is a tad off, I would agree. The reason it’s up there is because there does seem to be a serious lack of intellectual competence coming out of the top levels in South African Rugby.

The attempt was to use the lack of thought put into the selection process and player investment as an example of it.

I believe there is always room for a midfield specialist to excel out on the wing at test level.
Outside of the guys I mentioned in the article Richard Kahui played at 11 in the 2011 World cup final, Keith Earls recently for the Irish has performed on the wing.

The point of carrying on about this in line with the title is that this is where the selections brain trust and whatever ideas and criteria that are governing their decisions appears so backwards.

There is no reason why de Allende or Mapoe never made an appearance on the wing in 2017. Granted they don’t represent their franchise sides in that position but both have played there with success and both have the traits to be effective there while gaining valuable experience and possibly finding confidence and a sense of belonging on the test stage.

That said I do agree that being a specialist will stand you in greater stead. What I was trying to impress is that JdV, Sterling Mortlock etc began on the wing but settled in their specialist positions based, largely, off what they had achieved and brought to the table playing out of position.

Solid observation that, new to this and didn’t submit any pics for the article I wrote. Maybe Harold grew a Josh Strauss like beard during his time in rehab. The top pick is also useless.

Would love some feedback as to how I prevent this from happening again please Faan.

It must be tough for players, who grind to make it in the game as a professional to be coached and managed by people inadequate or incapable of performing their job at the same level.
A prime example is how the players most likely feel about being coached by Mzwandile Stick, we obviously dont know for sure, but it must be a challenge to respect him knowing the manner in which he was appointed and that there is no actual rugby merit for his appointment.

How much confidence can that instill in the playing group, likewise no offense to Coetzee but its a global game these days and the likelihood is a vast majority of springbok players have played under far better coaches and management structures. Knowing that you represent your country at the highest level and unlike us bearing witness to the mediocrity of the set up you are under must be in some cases torturous for these guys to endure.

The sad thing is this probably happens to players at all levels, guys who have quality school and varsity coaches only to move onto coaches higher up in the professional ranks with very little to offer at the level of the game they are involved with.
This can only happen because the people running the game are clueless and there is no accountability for the decisions they make.

Sad really, and doesnt give much any immediate hope that the boks can turn things around. Far more likely that, if the current administration and management group remain, the player drain in south africa will only increase.

“Where did everything go wrong?”: Vermeulen lets loose on South African rugby

Spot on blue.

Not intended to be an argument, its a look at how things are. We do all know there is plenty wrong and unique within SA rugby but our focus and coverage is limited to only what can be seen on the tele (results, players, coaches) which is only a piece of the problem.

Small attempt to get people thinking about the root of the problem instead of just assigning blame to those in the public eye.

As for the headline, credit goes to the R.O.A.R team (thanks guys).

Agree with your last sentiment, not sure the problems facing South African rugby are similar to that of the WBs outside of recent performances and results.
South Africa has a history of political meddling and poor governance, add poor performance to that at super level and test level and it is worth asking where the game is headed in SA. The same could be asked in Aus but I would put that down to entirely different set of circumstances. Bear in mind I’m not referring to results only at test level but to the condition and level of the game as a whole.