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| Volume 3, Week 13 |  |
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Editors Note | |
| Brilliant! Yet
another stock standard weekend of Super 12 rugby to report but wait…
finally there is some good news for all the careworn South African rugby
supporters, a world championship trophy! And no, it is not a Nostradamus
prediction or are we “crossing over to the other side” – it is Rugby
Forum’s “believe it or not”! The good news first, the SA Under 19 team beat their All Black equivalent in a close and pulsating match in France over the weekend. The “BabyBoks” played with loads of character and determination. South African lineout possession was non-existent and they were pinned in their half all match where as the tall Kiwi second rowers ruled the roost in the lineouts, the backs were crossing the advantage line at will yet they lost the match. In the end the difference was the magnificent team defensive effort, the many turnovers, Earl Rose’s kicking and a superb try and display from captain, Paul Delport that set the South Africans apart. From all reports it was one of the “counting the chickens before they hatched” problems for the All Blacks. More good news was the performance of the Bulls and in particular Joost van der Westhuizen’s. Mea culpa, in the past this armchair critic has fired a lot of flack against the ageing bulls captain. Saturday he did his job as a scrumhalf. What is a scrumhalf’s job? He is; first and foremost a decision-maker, the link between forward and backs, the second last line of defence and finally he should be the toughest “little” guy on the pitch. And these are only scrumhalf basics! Add to that the ability to kick with both feet although predominantly with your right (Joost is left footed) - within kicking there is box kicking, chipping over the top, touch kicking and grubbers. All the afore mentioned is achieved by holding the ball at different angles before your foot makes contact. Then there is passing; a scrumhalf must be able to pass both ways dive and standing without turning around to favour a “strong” side. The pass must be made immediately, not like Davidson for example who pulls it into his chest (remnant from his flyhalf days) or take two to three steps, like Bolla a year ago it must bullet out. There are much more, this position is vital in terms of personal skills and it is here that SA players are lacking. Apologies, got carried away there! The Bulls deserved their win and so did the Sharks. Mea culpa again! The Sharks put in their best performance to date in this competition and warm-up matches. If this was one of their first three performances, the season would have been far different from what it currently is. Kevin Putt seems to have turned the corner in terms of coming to grips with the realities of Super 12 football, credit where credit is due – he has learned quicker than most. Please Mr Putt, don’t go and stuff it up! The coming weekend is yet another major test of character, and that is all the supporter’s request, no demand from their teams – guts and character combined will lead to confidence and victories. The Stormers played well in the first 40 minutes but were bad in the second half and a very very good team beat them. The Blues will win the competition judging from the confidence of manager Sean Fitzpatrick (not that he ever lacked any!) and with Carlos the Jackal reigning supreme they once again showed the world that you need a plan maker, somebody skilled and visionary that can move beyond the boundaries of playing patterns yet conform when necessary. I believe Doc referred to them as “footballers”. SA teams does not have a “footballer” at flyhalf, the nearest is Andre Pretorius but with his Cats team in dire straits imagine what the weekly humiliations will do to a already fragile confidence after the disastrous European tour of ’02. The coming weekend there are some big games and the race for the top 4 is becoming very exciting, for the Kiwi’s that is! Anyway, it is well deserved and they are making the most of it so good luck to them. Lucas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Avoiding Armageddon by Desmond Organ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I wonder if the National coach has been watching a collection
of Bruce Willis movies in the hope that he can obtain some divine
inspiration as to how to put a competitive team on the field of play at
the World Cup. If the results of last weekend are anything to go by, his
early “team” announcements could be a predication of things to come. As
far as SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd is concerned they have a plan to avoid
Armageddon and it is largely based on an organizational framework that I
highlighted last week. No surprise then that the coach has started to talk about the concept of the right “blueprint” for the World Cup, words right out of the annals of consulting jargon. Let’s just hope and pray that he has started to work on the list of excuses and justifications that come with unsatisfactory performance. If this past week is anything to go by we can expect further explanations about dialogue with the franchises and how to continue to support the beleaguered list of certainties for the World Cup, heck at this rate Straeuli might just be on the shortlist for a position at the Pentagon or in Tony Blair’s re-election campaign, the post for “information minister” is also on the cards. In reality the coach is merely exercising his responsibilities as part of a new strategy that is the operational reality of South African rugby. A closer look at this structure may shed more light on the repetitive nature of some of the coach’s comments. At the heart of the strategy is the Business model comprising stakeholder, brands, organizational capability, customers-fans and worldwide support networks. A great deal of work has gone into ensuring that the stakeholders of the game are identified and managed in a professional manner. The introduction of longer term plans for regional coaches is a great achievement and one has to hope that it will be maintained, that does not mean that those that perform way below expected standards should be allowed to continue in their roles. We should after all not be in the process of establishing “30 year rule.” The governance that is so desperately needed appears to be somewhat established as far as singing the same song is concerned, but in other areas it is sourly lacking. Nick Mallett was quite correct in his analysis of the prices of tickets; it is just a pity that he was not employed to do this role. He was the coach and his firing points to the lack of effective governance and decision-making structures in the South African rugby set up. The establishment of fan networks across the globe is a key component of globalising the Springbok brand. Nobody doubts the strength of an international presence; the question is what is the track record and what is the likelihood of improvement. As a benefactor of the way that SA Rugby deals with competition I can only tell you that it is a case of you are with us or you are against us. The lack of transparency that occurred with the original Supporters Clubs and the people that tried to set up rival structures was alarming and although the organization was correct in its strategy to protect the brand, the manner in which the “rogues” were dealt with was not that professional. As a survivor of both types of initiatives I emerged more knowledgeable and more aware of the iron grip of control that exists. One can then only be led to believe that transparency is a problem area within South African rugby. One of the hallmarks of the ability of an organization to change is the ability to understand that there is information in opposition. One of the success stories of SA Rugby has been the decision to focus on their operational structures and the decision to focus on the game and the business as separate but integrated parts is to be welcomed. The current strategy for managing the game is sound on paper but it is flawed in reality. Harry Viljoen was the first businessman in the role and he failed not so much because of his ability but because of the lack of a coherent and manageable structure within which to operate. Viewed in this regard it is not surprising that he quit. He would have done better running the business than coaching the team. On the player development front SA Rugby has had an outstanding year in terms of methods and results, for years there has been a need to evaluate players and their preparation and it is a very welcome sign. The success of the player development programmes in professional sports teams in the USA is the benchmark against which the South African Rugby Board should compare itself. The degree to which this is filtered down to the lowest levels of the game in a consistent manner is the basis by which the future of the game will be determined. The preparation of the players on a standardized basis with the oversight of the national set up is the most positive development in the game this year. The rewards will be reaped in the future but only if there is consistency in implementation and a continued process of identifying key differentiators. It would seem as if there is sufficient structure for the players to be in top shape, can the same be said for the business operations side. In Rian Oberholzer, South African rugby has an excellent businessman who is likely to ensure the continued profitability of SA Rugby. The strength of those around him is less compelling and could ultimately prove to be an Achilles heel. The launch of the new Springbok logo is an indication that unique identity is both a motivator and a means to secure the strength of the brand. This is a positive area of improvement. The manner in which the brand has been protected is an indication that SA Rugby is serious about the financial benefits associated with it, however frustrating that may be for those of us vying to compete with them. The management of competitions and the problem of player burn out have to be addressed. Profit gaining should not be to the disadvantage of the players or the future of the game. The structure of the Super 12 is killing the long-term potential of our players and the brand of South African rugby. The travel schedule is clearly not in favour of the South African teams. Player burn out and poor results overseas are killing the motivation factor. The decision to not use the Springbok squad in the Currie Cup leads me to believe that somebody has finally got it right and taken a leaf out of the Kitch Christie Dialogues. No representation for players on the board of South African Rugby is about as clear an indication that there is a problem as far as player management is concerned. Only this month Francois Pienaar has come out in support of the players that have looked elsewhere for their future financial future. The lack of transparency between the players and SA Rugby is about the most compelling reason for players to look elsewhere. Fix that and the root cause of loyalty will be removed. There will of course always be those that leave for their own reasons and sometimes that might just be a good thing as long as it is not the ones that are needed here. The management of contracts has me thinking about Boswell Wilkie. The list of contracted players that Harry Viljoen graced us with was about as beneficial as a dead dog, the fact that there have always been conflicts and differences of opinion points to the lack of transparency in the process. Without the prowess of the sports agents many players would be left high and dry. Whilst not being in the limelight of business operations, the support services and infrastructure associated with SA Rugby are extremely important. One cannot ultimately question the financial success of SA Rugby, one just has to wonder if the exchange rate is factored into future plans, whilst being a success locally it is not going to help in the bid for 2011. The value of the exchange rate could be short lived if the re-negotiation for the Tri Nations and Super 12 is not as lucrative. The money coming in is plentiful. How it is being put to use and the indicators of success accompanying it are crucial. The number of players of colour that are represented throughout the game should be marketed, celebrated and championed. The skills development programme and the success of the U 21 team are other areas that require more marketing. Sadly I think that the lack of governance means that the successes may not be linked in a coordinated fashion. On the communications and public relations side of the business nothing short of a miracle is required. Whilst there have been significant developments in these areas and all I can say is that it is a lot better than a couple of years ago when players names were a real problem area for the management team. The problem here is that these roles should be given a new name – Change Management. These areas of the business should be responsible for implementing the initiatives, measuring the success and implementing the structures that are required at al levels of the game. There is no way that this can effectively occur until the professional arms of the Provincial teams and the National teams are aligned for the good of South African Rugby. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Join the OFFICIAL SPRINGBOK SUPPORTERS CLUB by contacting 021-438-8185 during office hours or mail info@springboksupporters.co.za and take advantage of special offers, members discounts and great competitions and prizes!! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Kiwis take everything on offer by Vinesh Naicker | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crusaders (23) vs. Sharks (18) I along with most Kiwis expected the Crusaders to run away with this game after last weeks performance. The Crusaders have always prided themselves on the depth on their bench and even with Mehrtens and Marshall out they still assumed they could brush aside the Sharks. The game started off with handling errors from both sides, Maxwell was soon sin binned for an off the ball tackle on Venter and Richie McCaw followed as well. Most teams with a man down tend to try and wind the clock down. For some reason the Crusaders attempted to play the game at 100 miles an hour and continued to make numerous errors. They would have been better off slowing the game down and playing the controlled game that they are famous for. The unstructured game seemed to suit the Sharks much more than the Crusaders and they realised when they went into the break 6-3 ahead that they had a real show of causing an upset win. McDonald went off with some sort of back or hip injury and was replaced by Scott Hamilton. Hamilton had come on on the right wing in the game against the Waratahs and been shown up badly. He continued his indifferent form by butchering a try through greediness but was lucky enough to gain a chance at redemption 8 minutes later to equalize the game at 18 all. Robbie Deans made good use of his bench and brought on Brad Thorne and Scott Robertson, both players made an impact and helped the Crusaders to score their final try and win the game. The Sharks could justifiably feel robbed to only earn one point from the game. Brumbies (41) vs. Waratahs (15) I fully expected the Brumbies to beat the Waratahs. The fact that they beat the Waratahs by such a large margin was mainly down to the brilliance of Wilson, Walker and Roff in the Brumbies backline. I noticed some unusual tactics from the Waratahs in their first three or four rounds which they haven’t been using in the last few games (which by coincidence they have lost). Can we expect to see a return of these tactics? Firstly, have you ever noticed how unlucky the Waratahs front row is? Matt Dunning, although regarded as being something special by the Waratahs around the field, is not renowned for his scrummaging and tight play. Against strong scrummaging teams he tends to take a bit of a mauling and get subbed off around 30 minutes into the game. The replacement prop plays on until there are only 20 or 25 minutes left in the game, and then seems to be unlucky enough to suffer an injury, requiring him to leave the field. As he is a front row forward, in a specialist position, Dunning is able to come back on the field feeling a bit better for his 30 minute break. Perfectly legal. Secondly, the Waratahs must be pretty thin-skinned because they have a team doctor who, if I didn’t know better, I would swear was part blood hound. She has an amazing ability to locate blood on an injured player. As a case in point I remember a game around Round 4 or 5 when Bowman wrenched a knee just before a defensive scrum on the Waratahs goal line. He wasn’t going to recover in a short space of time and needed to be replaced. The doctor spotted blood from welts on Bowmans leg and happily he was able to take a short break in the blood bin. Similarly, Mat Rogers took a painful blow to the ribcage and wasn’t feeling too well, after peering deeply into his right nostril the doctor was able to inform the referee that she had located some blood, and Rogers was off to the blood bin for a short breather. Again perfectly legal. Chiefs (40) vs. Cats (9) I understand that Tim Lane was the defensive coach for Australia. I assume he is not coaching the Cats in defence, because their defence is woeful. They’ve given away a staggering 37 points per game so far. The Chiefs scored 40 points against them this week, but it was more a reflection of the Cats deficiencies than the skill of the Chiefs players The Chiefs backline lacks any of the fluency that Waikato had in the NPC (coach Kevin Greene has a lot to answer for) but even so they punched through the flimsy Cats defence for 5 tries. Januarie was probably the only Cats player who played really well, this was highlighted by his opposite number Boss who: mindlessly ran the ball into touch several times instead of kicking and gaining some territory; had the ball stripped from him at the base of the scrum; and, had a kick charged down on his own 5 metre line. The conditions were wet but it was still very ordinary play, from two teams who are justifiably at the bottom end of the table. Hurricanes (37) vs. Highlanders (15) This year the Highlanders have been a rugby team which has profited from playing percentage rugby. This approach seemed to be working for them in the first half, as they accumulated points from minimising their error rate and playing the games in the Hurricanes half. As a result they went into the break 15-6 ahead. I don’t know what happened during the break but an incredible second half performance from the Hurricanes saw them score 31 unanswered points. The Hurricanes forwards really picked up their game. As a result players like Nonu made breaks through the devastated Highlanders backline, and scored the points which should have secured them a semi-final berth. Stormers (8) vs. Blues (36) In the first half the Stormers demonstrated what a tremendous difference it makes if you are making your first up tackles. As a result the Blues did a fair amount of kicking to obtain field position, but didn't complement the kicks by coming up in a solid line in defence. The 50-50 balls weren't going there way either. The Stormers managed to gain a reasonable amount of ball from turnovers but didn't really capitalise. They did however go into the break 8-6 ahead. Once again it was a game of two very different halves. After scoring from a try and a penalty in the second half, the Blues began to profit from mistakes by the Stormers, scoring another 2 tries from turnovers. In the second half the Blues scored 30 unanswered points including 4 tries, for the bonus point. The Stormers came away with no points for their 8-36 loss. Bulls (39) vs. Reds (19) The Bulls scrum dominated the Reds totally. Despite Wannenburg butchering a probable pushover try, the Bulls scrum domination led directly to their second try. The first try was a result of quick thinking and a quick tap from Joost, and the Bulls third try was just classic Joost Picking up a loose ball from the base of a ruck he ran 50 plus metres to sell a dummy to the Reds fullback and score the try. Result 24-7 at halftime. The second half was more of the same. It is obvious that the Bulls are just so much more composed with Joost on the field. The Reds by comparison seemed a shadow of the team that won so well with 14 men last week. They just seemed to kick the ball away, rather than keeping it in hand and doing the hard work, as they have done in the previous couple of weeks. In contrast the Bulls made the majority of their points when they kept the ball in hand. There is definitely separation in the points table now with several teams now talking about their “mathematical chance of making the semis” and others about playing for pride. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Super 12 Log & Weekly XV | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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RF Super 12 XV: 15 Joe Roff (Brumbies), 14 Doug Howlett (Blues), 13 Joel Wilson (Brumbies), 12 Ma'a Nonu (Hurricanes), 11 Andrew Walker (Brumbies), 10 Carlos Spencer (Blues), 9 Joost vd Westhuizen (Bulls), 8 Pedrie Wannenburg (Bulls), 7 Luke Watson (Sharks), 6 Richie McCaw (Crusaders), 5 Bakkies Botha (Bulls), 4 David Giffin (Brumbies), 3 Kees Meeuws (Blues), 2 Danie Coetzee (Bulls), 1 Bill Young (Brumbies) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The difference between South African and New Zealand teams is
patience. We tend to take it through 2-3 phases and then kick it, but they
have the patience to keep the ball through 10 or more
phases. Pieter Rossouw The picture is not as dark as everyone seems to be painting at the moment. Rudi Joubert Some of the referees hardly need encouragement. Stuart Dickinson again marred what was a world class refereeing performance in the Crusaders-Sharks match by handing out three unwarranted yellow cards. Spiro Zavos I think some alarm bells should be ringing. The national team hasn't played well for 12 months now, they've been inconsistent. Nick Farr-Jones Stuart Dickinson has been handing out more cards than a used car salesman. NZ commentator Tony Johnson Why would I ever do something that could destroy my career? But I believe God will carry me through this. Everything happens for a reason. Herkie Kruger My dad spent six-to seven months in prison following a court case in which we were accused of burning our own house down, can you believe it! Luke Watson Bob has had a lot of criticism lately, but maybe we should also look at the players around him. Rudolf Straeuli | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Super 12
Fixtures (Previous year's score in brackets) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Hi
Ed, Think Differently A few weeks ago I wrote a letter on how South African teams can help each other in reaching the Super 12 semi finals. Well, they could'nt down the Blues or Crusaders, and now we are sitting with no hope. Actually, there is still a bit of hope, with a little twist of fate, for the Bulls. I wrote this letter because all the newspapers I read didn't mention this, and I think the SA fans must have a motive to keep watching rugby for the next three weeks. It is quite simple, the SA teams must recover their pride, and help the Bulls: The highest possible points for the Bulls or Sharks this season can be 32 for either (they face each other in the last round). The Sharks have to face the Blues next week, so in my opinion, I write them off (sorry). Two spots are available in the semi's. Front runners are Crusaders (30), Brumbies (25), Highlanders (22), Waratahs (22). What makes this interesting is that these teams play their last rounds against each other, and against the mighty 2003 Hurricanes. And to add more hope: the Waratahs have only two more games left (one bye weekend), and the Crusaders face bloodthirsty Bulls and Stormers on their homegrounds. This is what can happen: The Crusaders can lose against both Bulls and Stormers, and the Brumbies at home might be too strong for them. They can pick up maybe one bonus point out of the three games and end the season on 31 (30 0 0 1). The Brumbies can lose against the Highlanders and Hurricanes (these are away games for them) and beat the Crusaders at home. They can pick up a bonus point from one of their losses, and a bonus point victory over the Crusaders (a revenge on last year!). They can end the season on 31 (25 1 0 5). The Higlanders can beat the Brumbies and Waratahs at home, but lose against the Reds away (the Reds will want to play their last round with focus on Wallaby selection). They might earn no bonus points against these strong teams, but at least getting a point out of the Reds game. They can end the season on 31 (22 4 4 1). The Waratahs might get a bonus point from the Highlanders game and earn 5 points against the Chiefs, to end the season on 28 (22 1 5). And now, am I crazy if I mention this: The Bulls can be on a roll with Joost and a backline that finally executes the strong forward efforts. They thrash the Crusaders, Chiefs and Sharks earning 15 points, ending the season on 32. The Stormers will want to show they still have the Springbok backline, and they have to show it against the Crusaders. The Crusaders must leave South Africa with 0 points! With this prediction, there is at least one spot for another Australasia team, don't you think! Herman Kotze Pretoria | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Hallo Lucas, Koos se brief!! Koos se brief slaan die spyker 100% op sy kop! Toe ek dit hier in die buiteland lees het ek dit op kantoor ontvang en begin lag dat die trane letterlik loop. Mooi so Koos. Dit is PRESIES soos ek voel en soos ek dit ook ervaar met vrou en al maar net my kinders kom ook nog in die prentjie in en jy weet ons woon nog oorsee ook! Nou moet ek nog al die ander str*nt van die buitelandse rugby entosiaste ook vat en ek het nie eers 'n hond nie! Nee wat, nes Koos se, ons moet seker maar begin skaak speel want verloor ons dan dan kan ons net onsself blameer. Wragtag, SA rugby stink om die minste se. Geen visie soos in geen visie nie en Rudolf wil 'n Bokspan kies? My vraag is net, Met wie? Die vader alleen weet bou nou 'n span om die Wereld Beker te probeer verower met sulke absolute, patetiese, ek het nie meer woorde nie! Ek dink nie dit sal van pas wees om name te begin noem en jou mening teenoor hulle te lig nie - kom ons los dit maar eerder daar, maar Rudolf se sogenaamde "uitgesoekte" spul wat op sommige SA Internet rugby sites genoem word, boy, laat wragtag veel te wense oor! Jy weet sommige kan nie 'n game voltooi sonder om 'n geelkaart te kry nie, ek label hom/hulle al die "Yellow Card Kings", ander moet 9 punte teen sy span afgee om sy "share" te kon doen, ander weer kan nie 'n bal raak vang nie dit nogal met daai "fancy gloves" wat hulle deesdae dra en dit in droee warm weer? Ek dag die goed is bedoel vir nat weer? dan kom die mode met die hare ook nog sy kop uitsteek? Wat de do**er dink Bobby vang hy met sy hare aan? Ek wil niks meer weet of hoor nie. Ek is moeg baie moeg. Lucas, e-mail my asseblief net iets om my gemoed te kalmeer en my tot bedaring te bring want ek voel baie siek en gaan nou ophou om aan hierdie e-mail te karren. Nag ou grote! FRANS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Hi Lucas Onse Rugby Ek het nie meer redenasies, verskonings en of alternatiewe vir die prestasies van ons Super 12 spanne nie. Ek voel baie keer soos Koos, maar ek het vrede gemaak met die situasie. My vrou het my ook onder huisarres wanneer ek rugby kyk. Geen vreemde vroumense en of kinders mag in 'n hoorbare afstand van my af wees nie. Ek mag ook nie by ander mense gaan rugby kyk nie. Al rede wat ek aan kan dink hoekom ons spanne nie na wense presteer nie is dat dit wereldbeker kompetisie is en die ouens wil nie alles gee nie ingeval daar beserings sou plaasvind. Ek kan aan geen ander rede dink nie. Wat die skeidsregters betref, ek het geleer "die ref is altyd reg al is hy hoe verkeerd". As jy jou skuldig maak aan ontoelaatbare spel gaan die skeidsregter meer op jou konsentreer. Ek dink ons spanne maak hulle miskien te veel skuldig aan ontoelaatbare spel., en ek dink hier aan die losskrums en die inkom van die verkeerde kante asook val op die bal. Is dit so moeilik om dit te verstaan? Wat my ook opgeval het is dat daar te veel op die veld gepraat word. Het die kaptein en onder-kaptein nie die reg/voorreg om alleen te praat nie. Ek dink ons spanne kort meer dissipline. Daar is oomblikke wanneer daar oplewings is en spanne speel volgens hul vermoe, maar ongelukkig is dit maar skaars. Ek het egter nie baie bekommernis oor wat kan kom later die jaar nie. Roelfie moet hom net nie deur die Vet Mister van Sport en sy trawante laat voorskryf nie. Kies manne wat in die buiteland speel. Ek dink hier aan Mark Andrews. Net sy teenwoordigheid in 'n span is sielkundig al voordelig. Maak hom sommer ook kaptein. Sal weer van my laat hoor. Chrisjan X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Hi
Lucas Stormers - worse than schoolboys? Thanks for your excellent forum. Mooi so Bulls! Julle het 'n oplewering aan 'n andersydse treurige rugby-naweek gebring. Waar did die Stormers aangaan, moet hulle by skoolseuns gaan leer hoe om 'n bal te vang. Hulle probeer so fancy wees dat geeneen van die ander span maats weet wat hulle wil doen nie. Op 'n stadium net voor rustyd het hulle die Blue gehad, hulle was net te stupid om hulle weg te sit. Hulle het byvoorbeeld probeer om 'n drie langs die pale te druk instede van die bal net teen een van die pale te druk. Hulle agterlyn en die voorspelers wat in die agterlyn was se hanteerwerk, of liewer die gebrek daaraan was 'n verleentheid vir die ondersteuners. As ek die Stormer afrigter was, dan los ek alle oefeninge behalwe hanteerings-oefeninge en laat die spul tienduimiges vir 12 uur elke dag, hierdie week die bal pass en vang met 'n spul verdedigers wat die heeltyd op hulle afstorm. Ek verwag nie dat my span elke keer moet wen nie, maar ek wil darem voel dat hulle darem probeer het en tot hul volle potensiaal speel. Hulle moet my darem nie skaam maak en die game vir die ander spanne op 'n skinkbord gee nie. Op huidige vorms behoort enige van die Vodacom Shield spanne die Stormers te kan beat. Sies Stormers! Dat spelers darem betaal word vir sulke swak spel! Leer tog net om die bal te vang. Die twee O/19 skoolspanne wat die voorwedstryd gespeel het, se hanteerwerk was tien keer beter as julle sin. 'n Terleurgestelde Stormer ondersteunder Marius | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Hi
Lucas Wat se n mens wanneer jy weet ondersteuners wil goeie rugby sien, maar ons S.A.-spanne bly ploeter. Waar le die fout regtig ? Ek glo steeds SARVU is verantwoordelik vir die meeste probleme wat ons rugby huidiglik verarm. Rudi Joubert moes die springbok afrigter gewees het. Hy het al n Wereldbeker ervaar toe Rudolf nog net n speler was. Die Cats moet weer lyding verduur onder n uitlander wat minder van rugby weet as die meeste klub afrigters in S.A.. Waar is Andre Markgraaf, Kleynhans of Mallet? Hulle is van die beste afrigters waarvoor enige Super 12 span kan vra, maar nee die Cats moet elke jaar n ander afrigter kry. Dan wil ek nie eens praat van spelers wat deur die huidige Curribeker afrigters gekoop word om hul spanne te 'versterk' nie. Wat dink die mense en weet ons afrigters regtig nie meer wat talent is en watter vaardighede spelers in sekere posisies moet he voordat hulle as goed beskou kan word nie. Ons afrigters soek talent in spelers wat daar nie is nie. Gebruik n man soos Gysie Pienaar om agterspelers te idetifiseer en af te rig indien nodig. Duidelik sit die Vrystaat met die twee beste afrigters vir agterspelers in S.A.. Kyk maar na Andre Pretorius. Hy het die talent en hart om n groot speler te wees, maar word vekeerd aangewend. Hy word nie deur sy flanke of senters beskerm nie en moet aanmekaar verdedig. Wanneer moet hy planne maak en aandag aan sy spel gee? Bobo is n buite senter en moet liewers sy eiers by die huis le. Ons soek nie narre en windgatte nie. S.A.-rugby het spelers nodig wat die basiese dinge briljant doen en dan verdien om helde genoem te word. Graag vra ek ook vir joernaliste en omroepers om realisties te begin raak en nie provinsialisties te wees in hul keuses vir spnne nie.As julle nie weet wat talent is nie ,bly stil en skryf oor wat julle en ons as publiek gesien het. Ek glo dat die dag wanneer die probleme uitgesorteer is, sal ons weer rugby in S.A. sien soos in 1995. Luister en doen wat reg is asseblief. Dankie Tjaart Coetzee |
Ok, Ok, we'll give you the Under 19 but you can't have the big boys version later in the year!!  |  |
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