By RICHARD KNOWLER – The Press
Last updated 05:00 01/08/2009
SHARK ATTACK: The All Blacks face a hungry Springbok side at Durban’s Absa Stadium, known as the Shark Tank, early tomorrow.
This is one result Graham Henry does not want blotting his coaching CV.
History is speckled with tales of All Blacks coaches who have travelled to South Africa buoyed at the prospect of beating the Springboks on their own soil, only to be sent scuttling back to Aotearoa disillusioned and disappointed.
Alex MacDonald’s lot got spanked 4-0 in 1949, Jack Sullivan’s crew went down 2-1 one test was drawn in Bloemfontein in 1960, the 1970 vintage under Ivan Vodanovich were done 3-1 and JJ Stewart’s 1976 side were left hurt and bewildered following their 3-1 series defeat.
Before those tours, All Blacks teams were largely self-coached by the manager and players.
He might be the most successful coach in All Blacks history but tomorrow morning Henry is in grave danger of joining that infamous list.
Many would argue this is not a real series because it comprises just two tests. But with the way the international programme is, the two Tri-Nations fixtures will have to suffice.
Before he left New Zealand, Henry said the coaches were viewing these matches as a series but last weekend’s defeat in Bloemfontein has torpedoed those hopes, sinking his opportunity to join 1996 coach John Hart as the only other All Blacks gaffer to return home triumphant from the Republic with a series win.
Now Henry is fighting to prevent being the first Kiwi coach to lose in South Africa since Stewart.
The arrival of professionalism has brought greed and cynicism hence tests that are now a dime a dozen but it cannot wipe away the mystique of battles between the All Blacks and the Springboks in South Africa.
When filled to the gills, their magnificent stadiums are a hotbed of parochialis
m, noise and banter. Lifted by their rabid fans, the Springboks explode into action as if they have had TNT shoved down their gullets.
Tomorrow’s stoush at Durban’s Absa Stadium, known as the “Shark Tank”, promises plenty although forecast rain could subdue the running game as these two sides go at it like a couple of angry bears in a pit.
Although the Springboks have tried to avoid the hype about beating the All Blacks twice within eight days on their own soil, they will take a massive dose of satisfaction from the achievement.
Morne Steyn’s selection at first five-eighth shows the Boks’ game plan will be uncomplicated; the Bulls pivot will kick the shine off his boots as he looks to set up his forwards inside the All Blacks half and if there is a chance for him and fullback Frans Steyn to kick long-range drop goals they will.
Steyn banged over a record four drop goals in the Super 14 semifinal in Pretoria against the Crusaders. Despite this, the All Blacks say they have no plan in place to counter this danger.
“No, we haven’t thought too much about that. I think a lot of our week has been about sorting out our own game,” centre Conrad Smith said. “We are aware that he can drop goal and if we give penalties away he can kick them.
“Hopefully we can spend a lot more time in their half than they do in ours. That was the problem last week and that’s more what we have concentrated on this week.”
“Steyn banged over a record four drop goals in the Super 14 semifinal in Pretoria against the Crusaders. Despite this, the All Blacks say they have no plan in place to counter this danger”
The last team who uttered these words was beaten 61-17 by the Bulls in the S14 final. Funny that almost the exact same statement was made by the Chiefs before the final.
Not that i really believe the International side will fall in the same trap, but eish wouldnt that be SUPER. Imagine the party if we can beat the AB’s with a big margin.
Anything bigger than 15 will be massive.
Go Bokke!!! Trap daai AB’s more!!!
Beast word 24.
Jean speel 50 toetse
Habana speel 50 toetse
JS meeste kapteintoetse ooit.
Hoop nie die dinge trek die spelers se aandag af nie…
The way Stephen Donald tells it, it’s just the job for All Blacks sports shrink Gilbert Enoka.
Donald was at first five-eighth when the Chiefs lost 61-17 to the Bulls in the Super 14 on May 31.
“I did my best to completely wipe that day from my memory,” Donald, who will start at No10 for the All Blacks in tomorrow’s test against the Springboks, said.
If he starts to have recurring nightmares about the Chiefs shocker, at least Donald has All Blacks travelling mental skills coach Enoka on hand.
Ironically, Donald will mark Morne Steyn, the playmaker who played at No10 for the Bulls as they ran amok at Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld that day.
Steyn has replaced Ruan Pienaar after the Boks 28-19 win in Bloemfontein last weekend.
He will punish the All Blacks if they give away the same number of needless penalties as last week.
“Morne can play, he’s obviously a quality if not the world’s best goal-kicker and he’s the world’s best drop-kicker,” Donald said.
“He’s a good footballer and I think he’s added a hell of a lot to his game in the last few years. He’s started making linebreaks and he’s a good defender too.”
Morning all,
Was messing around with a few names for this site,hows…..
BetweenThePosts
TheBokseats
B.Y.O Biltong
TheStoep
ThePorch
The DropkickZone.
Manly you heard the joke about the blond and The Porch?
Nee Super, tell me, I’m bored
This jobless blond was doing odd jobs, sort of a handyman or shall i say handy woman.
She was walking down the street looking for work and saw this man sitting on his porch, approached him and asked for work. He said he want to paint his porch how much .
She said R400-00
he was surprised and asked her how long it will take, she said one day.
Even more surprised , but said okay. At least she is also good looking. He said she must go and get the paint and rollers and brushes in the shed around the corner.
He went inside the house and watched the rugby.
After about a hour she knocked on the door and said she is finnished , but one thing he does not have a PORCHE it is a FERRARI.
😆
it was a joke i heard in Afrikaans and my translation is not the best.
Einaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa !!!!
Super,
My Afrikaans was heel goed, maar kry nie oefening hier in Oz (ek’t 5 jaar in Blou Bul land gewerk), in die dae waneer WP so sterk was, 80’s, ek’t hulle n harde tyd gegee daardie dae.
Hel daai was goor tye, sal nooit vergeet my vrou se sy wil my as geskenk vir n game Loftus toe vat, onthou ons bly ver van Pretoria. Ek se toe right dit sal lekker wees, kom ons kry kaartjies vir die WP game.
Om n lang storie kort te maak , sy vermoor amper die ou voor ons wat heeltyd skree kill Naas, en om alles te kroon ons verloor.
Aai daai pad terug kar toe was lank, daai hele bleddie skare is toe amper WP. Daai tyd was daar moer baie dienspligtiges en staats amptenare van die Kaap daarbo, wel die hele blerrie lot het op Loftus gewees dai dag. Hulle het ons k@k gebyt heelpad kar toe, en ek fight terug, vergeefs. As jy verloor is dit better om jou bek te hou.
Haai ek groet eers ek moet gaan job is op call out vandag en het so pas 3 jobs gekry 50 km wes, 65 km oos en nog een in noord ooste, beter roer anders is ek laat vir vandag se great toets.
Ek sal n enkele punt wen kwaai like, solank ons wen, maar ek droom van n moerse pak vir die AB’s.
Cheers vir eers
BOKKE!!
Kyk ek raak nou al senuweeagtig van opgewondenheid
Tik, tok,tik, tok ons moet die All Blacks opf….oeter!
Koue bier, ‘n paar tjops en afgeslagte All Blacks, wat kan beter wees
Kyk, die Bokke het nog net hard gespeel vir 60 minute as hulle dit vandag kan doen vir 85 minute dan gaan hulle ‘n groot score op stel
15 Ek dink daai AB’s gaan hard kom vir ons vandag. Laasweek het vir my te maklik gegaan. Ons moet net wen-dis al!
Supa
Ja maar 80 minute van harde spel sal die ding kan doen, plaas hulle onder druk, vat die skoppe en hou die game so tight soos ‘n plastiek pop se p…
8. superbul, my Dad did an English version of that at my wedding!! Spooky……
Carol
Who are you cheering on today?
Springboks of course…..only have a problem if they are playing Lions or England!!
Hellooooooooooooo my friends…. cause there are ONLY FRIENDS here on this blog!!
Is’nt it wonderful ??
Gooooooooo Bokke !!
#20
What is the problem, surely you love a winner or are typical of Britain, love a good loser
Hello GBS, hoe hang dinge?
Hello GBS…. Yes it is wonderful…..Pouring with rain here, don’t feel guilty having a ‘chat’ ,too wet for much else!
What time is K.O today?
JL1 I love a winner, thats why I started to really follow the Boks in 1997!!
National loyalty does kick in tho from time to time!
22 – JL1,
Dinge hang lekker, effe links…. hehehe
23 – Karlien,
It poured with rain here ALL NIGHT as well… it is rather strange cause we are not supposed to get rain here in winter. K9 says there are reports of snou near where he lives, I suppose it was only a little ice-rain though…
It is overcast and dastardly cold… got ALL my Bokke gear on… ready to rock and roll for this afternoon.
Kick Off is at 5:00PM SA Time today.
24. So 4pm our time, I will be otherwise engaged at that moment!
Will get Grant to send me the final score, will be a long way from computer or TV!
Not enough snow for a sledge for skis then? Heheheh, call that winter, pah…
You do have quite a collection of Bokke gear I seem to recall!! 🙂
I think you should call the site “On the udder hand”
26 – JL1,
Not a bad IDEA at all…….. keep them ideas coming….
I see our friend Manly also made some suggestions… we are wide awake and listening BruVVas…
#23
’97? How did that come about, also Percy?
25 – Karlientjie,
Farkkkkkkk, who gets married on the day of a Bokke Test… even in England… hehehe
#29 Yes, that is wrong
No one gets married on a final or a test Saturday, it just selfish
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