Be sure to check out the full Rugby Forum archive at www.rugbyforum.co.za
| Volume 2, Week 15 |  |
|
| |
|
Editors Note | |
| Brilliant! What an eventful weekend
and week! The one thing rugby fans cannot complain about is that it’s a
dull and boring sport - the goings on and off the field reads better than
a Jeffrey Archer novel or should I rather say his real
life! For the SA sides the torture of the Super 12 was over long before the final weekend but little did we expect that the second place team and by common agreement one of the best performing sides, the Waratahs’ would share a most humiliating experience usually reserved for that other wearer of the light blue shirt, the Bulls. Our Australian friends will be quick to point that finishing second is far better than 12th, 11th, 10th and 7th respectively and I agree 100% BUT it is great to see some records tumble at the wrong end of the scale without the Bulls involved! A few of the old timers were speculating during the week how Natal was soundly beaten in the run up to the 1990 Currie Cup finals – the very same year they won it for the first time in 100 years. Now this does not mean the Waratahs will come back and “klap” the Brumbies based on one light point in history and go on to win the competition but for rugby players, all well balanced (chips on both shoulders), competitive sportsmen a defeat like that will serve as the ultimate motivation. Motivation and determination counts for a lot in a rugby match and yes the confidence will by no means be 100% but a wily old fox like Bob Dwyer will use the defeat in a positive way. He is the most experienced coach in the Super 12 – do not forget that fact. And another Springbok leaves, Percy Montgomery, the fair headed WP fullback has decided to quit Springbok rugby for “security” reasons. In conjunction with his agent they demanded a contract from the coach until the RWC in 2003. The whole saga is a bit of a strange one; Percy is contractually bound to WP until the end of the year, he is arguably a shoe–in for the test team with some solid to brilliant performances in the Super 12, he is a goal kicker therefore a valuable commodity, he only has to play one trial match (let’s face it he only needs to run on do a bit of kicking, tackling feign a hamstring strain and walk off) and he is sure to be selected there is very little doubt that Straeuli would have told him this (re the selection, not feigning!). Why make these demands when the coach publicly admitted that no Springbok would receive contracts until after the trials? Was Percy best served by the “advice” of his agent? Were the two of them trying to call the coach’s bluff? The one revelation to come from this episode is that Rudolf Straeuli is willing to stick to his principles and keep to his word, a noble characteristic and hopefully one that continues during his reign. The Springbok trial group was announced and it contained as per usual a few surprises and shocks, there are a few worries; the goal kicking is spread very thin, the experience in backline players is not vast and the front rows look to be a bit vulnerable. Straeuli’s strengths will have to come from combinations, as there are maybe only two players who are in the world-class league on current form, Corne Krige and Victor Matfield. The potential is there to include more, never write off a fit Bob Skinstad, Johannes Conradie needs to take the step up to international level and centres like Joubert, Snyman and Jacobs can scare any opposition backline. However with a time constraint of less than a month it will be vital to pick the correct combinations first off to avoid a Bulls scenario where a different player plays every week. Easy it will not be and patience will be a virtue for every Springbok supporter who demands nothing but the best, yesterday! The Ausies and the Kiwis are battling each other to claim the right to the Super 12 final, back in Week 4 Rugby Forum predicted the following finish; Brumbies, Crusaders, Blues, Highlanders - out by one is a success rate of 75%, not bad! Based on history the first-time defending champion wins again but this year might be a different story. The Waratah/Brumbies clash tends to go with home ground advantage and despite the severe defeat of the weekend the Waratahs will be no pushover against the old enemy, the match will be close but the champions should proceed. The South Island rivalry is one that dates back to many decades before the origin of the Super 12 and with the Crusaders in such rampant form, the proud record of NEVER losing in a semi-final and the Highlanders injury concerns, they have to be the overwhelming favourites to play in their fourth final. The weekend sure is something to look forward to, not only are there less matches to concentrate on but they should be of infinite better quality. The trials match on Sunday will be a first for many viewers and as anybody who’s been involved in trials know, it will be a boring affair. The only wish is that there are no injuries, something Straeuli can ill afford at this time of the race. Enjoy! Lucas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Visit www.rugbyforum.co.za for statistics, all the quotes and an archive of previous issues | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preparation for Battle by Desmond Organ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
South Africa begins a new era with the trial match scheduled
for the weekend. A new coach has been appointed with new ideas and
training plans and possibly another change in the captaincy. It is not so
much the thought of so many changes that bothers rugby followers; it is
the consistency with which seasoned veterans are discarded onto the
woodpile of international club rugby. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Join the SARUGBY news and discussion group for the fastest sarugby news and the most intense debates around the South African game. Send a blank email to sarugby-subscribe@yahoogroups.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Super 12 Log | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Springbok Trialists | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby Forum Springbok XV (selected from the trialists) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Quotes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If
only the Crusaders had declared at halftime.
Peter Jenkins I am embarrassed for the Waratahs, they must be ashamed of themselves. This is the blackest day in NSW rugby history. John Connolly It was as if they were playing with 20 men out there. Matt Rogers There was just nothing there, no fire. There was no real intensity or effort from them. So we kept hammering away and the tries kept coming. Reuben Thorne It is always disappointing when a player is not prepared to stick it out and fight for his place in a national team. Rudolf Straeuli We can never allow ourselves to get to a situation where players see it as a right to play for the Springboks. Playing for your country is something that is earned. Rian Oberholzer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Letters to the Editor (letters@rugbyforum.co.za) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hi Ed My abiding memory of the past years of Super 12 rugby is just how exceptionally poor the performances of the Blue Bulls have been. The memory is not of the Sharks thumping the Highlanders in a most entertaining game at Kings Park, or the current Crusaders thrashing the Warratahs at Jade Stadium last weekend, its about how a stupid decision by SARFU has resulted in the dismal Bulls and the resulting missed opportunity for development. Surely even a doff, blind d**s can see that the best rugby development area in our country is the Free State? Year after year they produce players of skill, verve and excitement who are snaffled up by the other unions and franchises who have benefited from SARFUs ineptitude. I know that there is a huge financial population base in the Gauteng area within which Pretoria and Johannesburg fall but that shouldn't have dictated SARFUs diabolical decision. The welfare of our sport is what should dictate their decisions. Its time now to redress that stupidity. The Bulls franchise should be absorbed into that of the Cats and the Cheetahs should be given the fourth franchise to at least have the chance to prove how good they are at producing fantastic players. Could they do any worse than the Bulls? And SARFU must let the Free State rugby administrators select their own team management and coaches or the development will die. Having Loftus or Ellis Park as home grounds for the Cats/Bulls shouldn't be a problem as the stadiums are so close together in comparison to travelling to Bloem. The Stormers, Sharks and Cats/Bulls could continue to plough their respective paths in future Super 12 seasons, and we could all look to the excitement and skills of players being developed under the freed from shackles Free State programme. All this from a fanatical Natal supporter - but how much of our glory has been built off the backs of Free State developed players? Storm Ferguson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dear Ed That was BRILLIANT! It doesn't matter whether you are Chinese, Japanese, Swahili, South African, Ozzie, or what, if you call yourself a rugby supporter, you have to agree, it was BRILLIANT! Just imagine, deep into the 2nd half the penalty and free kick count was, Crusaders 4, Warathas 1! In all my 58 years I haven't seen such a rugby match. Well done Crusaders! You have shown us what rugby is about! Nou ja, verder sal ons nie daaroor in Engels uitwei nie, netnou kry hulle grootkop soos die Ozziez. Soos ek gesê het, dit is waaroor rugby gaan. As ons na die wedstryd kyk is die eerste opvallende aspek die behoud van besit. In die eerste helfte het die Waras omtrent nie die bal gesien nie, behalwe as dit agter hulle doellyn geplant word of deur die pale trek. Die tweede aspek wat opmerklik was, was die konstruktiewe benutting van balbesit. Elke Kruisvaarder het presies geweet wat om te doen om die beste vir sy span te doen. Maw die besluitneming was reg. Die hantering was uitstekend en aangeë was nie eenkeer doelloos nie. Elke ontvanger was in 'n goeie posisie om verder te speel. Die derde belangrike saak was die ondersteuning in algemene spel. Daar was altyd iemand om die bal te ontvang, vas te maak, aan te gee, te dryf of deur te hardloop. Die vierde uitstaande aspek, was die manier waarop die Kruisvaarders die Waras se skrum met minagting op die agtervoet gedwing het. Die Waras se swaarder voorspelers kon niks teen 'n ligter pak wat soos eenman saam stoot vermag nie. Dan natuurlik die skoen van nommer 10. Dit moes hartverskeurend wees om elke keer te sien hoe Mehrtens die bal, meer male uit moeilike hoeke, tussen die pale deurjaag. 'n Verdere opvallende aspek was dat die Kruisvaarders nie eenkeer soos die sokkerspelers te kere gegaan het as hulle punte aangeteken het nie. Die persoon is geluk gewens met die gebruiklike hande tik of handdruk, maar nooit is daar na die toeskouers gewaai of enige verwaande streke uitgestal nie. Oorwinning met grasie! Ek hoop alleafrigters van enige span in Suid-Afrika het hierdie wedstryd op video opgeneem, daar is heelwat lesse wat daaruit geleer kan word. Van onder 9 tot die Springbokke kan iets wys word deur gereeld hierdie wedstryd deur te speel. Nou wag ek in spanning op die laaste 2 wedstryde van Super 12 2002. Ek hoop regtig nie dit gaan so 'n antiklimaks wees soos wat die plekke op die punteleer reeds weerspieël nie. Al wat ons vra is: GOEIE, KONSTRUKTIEWE, EERLIKE HARDE OOP RUGBY. Kys | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dear Ed,
My Bokteam to play Wales : | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mail unsubscribe@rugbyforum.co.za to unsubscribe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Copyright 2002 Rugby Forum. All rights reserved. This e-mail may be freely distributed, provided that the document is left in its original form. Submissions are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect that of the editor or owner. |
