No funnies but just some general rambling, feel free to dig in, agree or disagree!
So some guys who has had the pleasure to recieve my emails over the last couple of months will recall I had my reservations about P Divvie and his coaching skills. It got to the silly point where there was so much talk about who actually coaches the team and who should get the credit…or discredit as it may, on the performance of the Boks. I decided and stated that I will reserve judgement till after the home leg of the Trinations.
Being the beancounter and all, I had all the potential senarious work out before the first ball was kicked in anger. It was really simple you know, one or no wins and I would not even have to point to the knives…they would be drawn and ready to be used. Two wins and I could easily pick sides based on performance and the way we played…three wins and obviously it would point to a coach I never gave enough credit.
Soooo three wins later and I should be here eating humble pie and confess my undying support to the new messaiah, P Divvie. So why do I feel slightly uneasy in doing it?
A little lack of sleep, being up till some time after 3am this morning (for obvious reasons), combined by some idiot knocking on my front door at the stupid time of 6.30am looking for Peter Habib, just to realise he has the wrong house (no kidding, I was ready to show him the error of his ways without him asking me to…), I had sometime to think about it all.
First of all, lets look at the current Bok team, without much trouble I can state we have probably the worlds best in the following positions, now I don’t state this lightly, but base it on performances over the last two or three years:
(I add in arguably…just to make sure I don’t sound to full of myself/my team…but…)
I would suggest we have the best, if not then very close to the best Captain running around these days. McCaw is up there but he is struggling to pull an underperforming team together.
Our hooker is arguably the best in the world…maybe if the Kiwi hookers learn to find their jumpers it will change.
Without doubt we have the best tighthead lock in the world…just keep your back straight and I will do the rest…says it all.
We have the best jumping lock on the world, just yesterday they took half the balls of the Wobblies, who stated it would be a targeted area. Yes, he did not do it on his own, but would it have been the same if he was not there..? Not on your nelly…
In Brussow we now have the premier fetcher in the world, from outplaying anything the Lions could throw at him, he now outplayed McCaw and Smith on consecutive Saturdays, who else is left?
We have the best #9 in the world, daylight second and who knows/cares who comes in 3rd…
We have a #10 who may well be limited as a complete flyhalf, but he fits in 100% with the current team. Kicking at 90+% and what more do you need…ja ok, his line kicking is also great. He is no Giteau but who needs him in a team like the current Bok team?
And the rest? Well, they are more than adequate, supporting the team dynamic and all playing their part…
So where does this leave P Divvie and my uneasiness? Well, he mucked up some subs in previous games and again yesterday did some odd things in taking off the Beast and moving Smith the LH?! Replacing Juan with Danie when Juan had his best run this year did not make sense…moving Steyn to #15 to make place for Ruan, well maybe but why go to that extend, rather do a straight swap thn…the game was won and we know Ruan would not let us down. Then we chuck in the pregnant meerkat and what do you then expect from Ruan?
So the bottomline…P Divvie did what was expected, he won all 3 games and we can not take away from his record. The above does however show that my Grannie could probably coach this team (she can’t score tries like Kabous anymore, but that is a different story) with some success.
I am happy with the wins but a friend at my boy’s Rugby this morning probably summed it up best…the Boks retained their own service game…the proof is still ahead!
On a side note, I expect Gituea to recieve a slap on the wrist with the provibiale wet bus ticket for his elbow in the face of Du Preez, maybe a week which will see him ‘rest’ with the team and be back in action when business resumes….lets see if I am wrong.
I wanted to talk about Ebrahim’s ratings but I think I typed enough for the time being…
As jou Kaptein en Coach so saamwerk kan dinge net uitwerk vir jou.
De Villiers, though, rightfully insisted his was no one-man team.
“The ‘i’ really disappeared out of this team a long time ago,” de Villiers said.
“We operate as a team and definitely it’s working well at the moment. Brilliant.”
Springboks captain John Smit hailed the controversial de Villiers – often criticised and even ridiculed for his eccentric and outspoken ways – as the side’s unsung hero.
“I think you can see by our results that he has a way with people,” Smit said.
“It’s not just how he coaches us a group, but how he deals with individuals.”
GBS – Phew….
Did you see we made 1000 last night, hope you were pleased!
209 – Stay and chat, you know you want to!! 😉
#212 Carol
I think he is trying to ignore you! 🙂
Grrrrrr
Am I being thick or something but who is the autor of this thread heading?
214 Grrrrr is the sound of a Lion normally associated with those guys from Coke Can Park!
213 – Yep, I had that feeling, shall I go back to voldy’s place? ;-(
#217 Nooooooooooo never do that! Its treason!!!
Ed is hoping that some of the Bulls Fans may just turn,
perhaps GBS is having a moment of indecision?
Grrrr sounds better then Moo after all!
218 – AB I have a confession, I popped in to say hi to Grant, Tassies and Coach Pete…
#219 Carol, with all due respect, your mooo isthe sound normally associated with a cow, not a BULL! Please get your sexual differentiation sorted!! 😉
#220
Thats fine!!! We all still have mates there, but one of these days we will be united here!
AB – I am in farming and trust me Bulls moo too!! OK is is a bit deeper…..but a moo none the less.
re; Voldy bloggers, I do have a problem I really like Grant and Robzim and they are not the flavour of the month here.
But I have to be honest and I respect the differences people may have….even if I do not have an understanding of the issues!
No punishment for Matt Giteau
2009-08-09 21:09Email | Print
Matt Giteau lucky not to be citied. (Gallo Images)
Cape Town – South Africa will on Monday appear before a disciplinary committee of the International Rugby Board (IRB) because Springbok players wore white armbands in support of Bakkies Botha in the final Test against the Lions. Matt Giteau on the other hand got off scot-free for his dirty play in Saturday’s Test at Newlands.
SA Rugby’s head of communications, Andy Colquhoun, confirmed on Sunday that there was no citation after South Africa’s victory of 29-17 over Australia in Saturday’s Tri-Nations match.
Giteau was one of three Aussies sent off the field during the match. He floored Fourie du Preez in the 35th minute while the Springbok scrumhalf was waiting for a high ball. Giteau knocked him down with his elbow and made no attempt at playing the ball.
He could easily have been given a red card for his offence, but the New Zealand citation official David Gray decided not to pursue the matter.
Bakkies Botha’s two week suspension, given for recklessly storming into a ruck during the second Test against the British and Irish Lions, is still remembered by many and the lack of consistency in the disciplinary process will again leave a bitter taste in the mouth of South Africans.
The Springboks were so upset with Botha’s suspension, which had surprised even their opponents, that they wore white armbands with the words “Justice 4” referring to Botha, in the third Test against the Lions on 4 July.
This led to fierce reaction from the IRB and it was announced that South Africa would on Monday appear before a disciplinary hearing.
The chairperson of the disciplinary committee is New Zealand’s John Hansen, with Argentina’s Guillermo Tragant and Australia’s John Eales as other members. The hearing will take place via telephone conference and the general feeling is that South Africa will be given a hefty fine.
The punishment will however not stop the positive wave that has been caused by three consecutive victories by South Africa at home. Saturday’s victory over the Wallabies followed back to back wins against the All Blacks and a series win over the British & Irish Lions.
South Africa’s captain, John Smit, surprised spectators with a cheeky grubber kick to Victor Matfield, which led to the Boks’ only try.
It is almost unheard of for tight forwards to use the boot and brings to mind Smit’s little joke last week that he would in future consider a move to flyhalf should there again be a crisis.
“There were a few options – either a grubber kick or a drop goal! I can try my left foot at a grubber kick but not a drop goal,” joked Smit after the match.
South Africa leave next Monday on tour and are the overwhelming favourites to win the Tri-Nations title.
The Springboks have three more matches in this year’s Tri-Nations, two against Australia and one against New Zealand.
#223 Carol
A Bull does a much deeper MOOOOOO than a cow can ever do!
I can tell you with honesty that I know most of these bloggers personally, and I am much more comfortable here than on Voldys site for the one reason that we do not and are not interested in politicking our beautifull game. Voldy in my opinion, has become a politically orientated blog, and if you do not stay on your knees and keep confessing the wrongs of the past you are being made out a racist. All we have to be aware of here is not to go down an avenue where their perceptions of us are preved correct.
SB, Koos het ‘n hele paar minute gelede die artikel in ‘n aparte garing ge-publiseer
#225 AB, you are right and I have seen a few posts bordering on just that.
Preved=proved! Sorry my bad!
#227 Boerboel, yip but as long as we are aware of that I think we are on the right track! Its up to us bloggers to maintain the integrity of wetalkrugby!
Sure AB
I am going to bed, see you as it seems only us are left.
#230 Boerboel
Lekker slaap ou maat!
Ja, ek moet uitgerus wees. Vat more my kleinseun oseanarium toe en daai klein bogger kan ‘n mens besig hou!
225 – Yes the handwringing can become a bit wearing….!!
You talk great sense as usual!
See you lads….
Thanks for your company…..
#233
Having our own blog comes with a lot more responsibility than what is normally associated with it, things such as moral standards, language use, continuous up to date data, appreciation, although mostly perceived, of bloggers value and the support from the powers to be of the stallwards of the site. But you know that as well as I do! Lets just have a jol discussing OUR game!
Monday Maul
Greg Growden | August 10, 2009
IT IS apt that on the Wallabies’ flight to Sydney today, one of the films being shown is Disgrace – the movie version of J.M. Coetzee’s prizewinning story of a white man’s struggle in an ever-changing South Africa.
What occurred at Newlands on Saturday night was nowhere near as brutal or as confronting as what happens in Coetzee’s tale, but there were certainly disgraceful elements to their struggle.
The general style of Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is not to throw ice buckets across dressing rooms, or scream at players after defeats. He instead attempts to find positives, as a way to justify a means. Yesterday, Deans praised the team’s defence – especially when down to 13 men – as well as the scrum and their kick receipts.
But it all sounded a bit hollow when other vital areas of the Australian game were so dreadful, making one ponder if this team, who appear short of mental toughness and composure, will ever get it together and learn how to win away Tri Nations games with any regularity.
That won’t happen if, as at Newlands, your lineout falls apart, numerous key forwards go missing, discipline becomes non-existent to the extent three players are pointed to the sin-bin, and you lose the ability to keep hold of the ball when you take it into the tackle. At times, the Wallabies’ effort was mindboggling.
#236
This makes me more worried about the Boks. With such odds we should have taken it with at least 20!
Nag almal
189#/ #190
Blhoo en GBS,
Ja wel, Voldy is Voldy………… en ons is ons.
Ek gaan my beslis nie steur wat hulle daar agter my rug praat nie.
Cab, Skoppie, Transportation en die hele godslasterlike, anargistiese lot kan nou rustig aangaan daar, daai plek is hulle sin.
En hierdie plek is ons sin.
Dit was my en andere se keuse om hier te wees, en nie daar nie.
En hier sal dit ordentlik gaan…..sonder hulle.
Dis hoekom ons hier is, en hulle daar.
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