So I took my laaitie out to Newlands on Saturday for what was his first experience of the ground all WP fans love and cherish.
Kitted in WP gear, with a WP flag, I thought it would be a day he would never forget – his first visit to Newlands!
I chose this day for two reasons, it was a Vodacom Cup game so I knew there would be few spectators and parking and moving around will be easy with a 3-year old, and the WP side had some decent players named in the side taking on an international Pampas side – so it all was set for a memorable afternoon.
Kick-off was at 17:00 and having got there an hour before the time, we spent the first part of the Newlands experience visiting the rugby shop across the Main Stand where he got his WP flag. And after we enjoyed some Argie supporters singing and dancing outside the stadium, we made our way to the Main Stand to take our seats.
From this point on, I was glad that as a 3-year old, he understood very little of rugby (he cheers anyone that runs with the ball and they all play for ‘Prooovvviiiiinccceee’ according to him) because what unfolded in front of us, was some of the biggest load of shit I have ever had the privilege to witness at Newlands, or by any WP rugby team in history.
I should have known better though, because my brother who more or less watches almost all their games said they were completely useless but I did not want to listen.
I mean, how bad can a team be that has names like:
Morgan Newman, Dylan Des Fountain, Conrad Hoffmann, Pieter Myburgh, Adriaan Fondse and Hanyani Shimange?
Not to mention upcoming talents like Jurgen Visser, Johann Sadie and JJ Engelbrecht?
I mean almost half this team has Super rugby experience!
Well let me tell you now, you should not let that fool you, because in my books any of the Varsity Cup teams could have given these bunch of plonkers a hiding on the day.
But what is it that WP with these big name players, and this is not the first year the Vodacom Cup side has these types of players in here, never makes it anywhere in this competition (Vodacom Cup)?
Sure there are disruptions with players moving up and down from the Stormers setup but every Vodacom Cup team sits in the same boat here.
Well to my surprise (NOT) it was mentioned to me that the same coach has been in charge of this team for the last 4 odd years or something… one Jerome Paarwater…
Can someone please explain to me how we can continue to support mediocrity in WP Rugby please? All the while losing coaches like Pieter Rossouw, who is largely credited with the new more complete rugby the Bulls are playing (after he begged WP for an offer before he had to leave for his job at the Bulls).
WP Rugby has some of the best schools, best universities and currently the best club in rugby in South Africa in its region, yet teams lower down in the structures in WP Rugby like Jerome’s team continue to disappoint and all the while WP continues to lose talented youngsters and coaches.
Well looking at the rubbish I witnessed on Saturday, I am not surprised…
As for the game, I can also tell you the Pampas were cheated out of a win too…
One thing is for damn sure, I will not take my son to any Vodacom Cup games in future, I fear he might actually grasp onto the concept of rugby and refuse to come with me to Newlands ever again!
To me a sound structure is one that allows youngsters to move through the ranks of the age groups and develop them at each level to gradually move from schools to u/19, to u/21 and VC and then to the senior groups. At each level they must learn more skills and develop their game. If you just buy talent in at every level, that does not constitute strong structures for me, strong teams yes, but what are you dong for your own youngsters if you just keep buying in?
29@ Mrne Pismier – Kindly never, ever equate the Bulls to the Stormers…. hehehehe
Morne – By the time they leave there will be sufficient experience.
Then Spies, Potties, Stegman will all be closing in on 50-60 caps. Francois hougaard will have 40-50. Steyntjie will be going for 80-90. Werner Kruger towards 60.
Flippie will only have 20 or so and Juandre Kruger will have a similiar amount but that is about the worst situation.
I have already written 2012 off with 2013 being back to business.
Polla – Die WP streek het eenvoudig net te veel goeie spelers om 1 unie sterk te maak. Die Pretoria streek het nie genoeg nie so erens moet die manne tog ‘n kans kry.
No, I write nothing off… there is still a lot of water which needs to run into the sea….
The Bulls have always developed and produced excellent locks… and the lock factory is hard at work already.
The whole front row will stay, the loosies are there, we have sufficient backup at scrummie, we are the only Super 14 Franchise to field 2 really potent flyhalves with able backup in the background (Brummer), centres might be a problem… wings we are producing and Zane at fullback is still young enough.
Die probleem is dat twee unies met te veel goeie spelers van ouderdom 19/20/21 sit wat te min speelkans kry. Hier moet die Amerikaanse NFL reel van “drafting” toegepas word sodat talent eweredig oor al die provinsies verprei kan word vir gesonde kompetisie en ontwikkeling.
#31 & #33
What the Bulls do in their development of inexperienced players, is not so much in what is done (giving the guys runs at top level) but HOW they do it.
Almost never is a rookie surrounded by other rookies, but by experienced players.
You have to remember, losing Fourie, Vic, Bakkies, Pedrie, Danie, Gary, Jaco and possibly Wynand too, you are losing about 500 Super rugby caps and 5 to 8 years of Super rugby experience…
Take it from me gents, you do not replace that, the Bulls will have to recruit aggressively in the near future to ensure rookies are surrounded by enough experience.
Otherwise I will be back in 2012 to say; “I told you so…”
Do not forget for 1 minute that all 14 Super 14 Franchises will lose players after 2011….. here and abroad in NZ and Ozzie.
Look at the Stormers, they will most probably lose Habana, Jaque Fourie, De Waal, Januarie, Schalla…. think about it.
The Sharks too… they will lose Oupa Terblanche, maybe Kokkerot, Johan Muller, Splitpin van der Berg, John Smit, Bissy and his brother, the Dom Dokter…. ect.
I’m not bothered about the Cheetahs and Lions, they lose players each year anyway.
As far as The NZ sides are concerned… go look, they will lose many too, same with the Ozzmob.
gbs @ 38
who the f*ck wanted YOUR opinion? 😯
morné @ 37
well said, hehehe
Morne- There is still 1.5 super tournaments to play before then. So lets say 6 guys leave = 500+ caps. 1.5 x 13 matches = 19.5 x 16(Remaining players, not all of the players you listed is Starting 15 players) = 315 caps + – deficit = 175. Not so much if you compare it to 500.
Greetings all, sorry bout your day Morne, but chit happens, you just got them on a bad day maybe.
GBS Sharks are going to be the least stressed of all the teams looseing players, we can only start getting better from here on, cant get much worse than this year.
treehugger @ 41
hello hugs. how are you?
btw
is that a chainsaw i’m hearing in the background? 😉
You forgot to add to the 500 for the remaining 1.5 Super rugby matches…
Guys likely or guarranteed to leave:
Guthro
Gary
Vic
Bakkies
Danie
FDP
Wynand
Jaco VDW
Jaco Pretorius
Ndungane
Then there is also the lure of money post 2011 for other much younger players who you can bet your ass will be targeted the likes of Spies etc.
Dude, you do not replace that in one or two seasons…
Lets be honest there are far too many professional rugby players of poor quality in SA. Most of these “fringe” players should be playing semi pro club rugby. And most of the coaches should have day jobs and be paid by clubs to coach them. Should Chester Williams and Fester really ever of made big bucks out of coaching S14 rugby?
HI Ashley how are you doll ? when are you going to start behaveing 😆
GBS – Bekker too will be 29 in 2012 and might leave when the rest of the stars does.
Morne, Pierre Spies will be 27 in 2012, and might play for a year or 2 after that.
treehugger @ 45
one day when i’m grown-up, hehehe
Olivier will definately be gone post 2011, no-one in SA rates him except the bulls supporters, strange that Rassie and Dick tried to get him to the Stormers and SHarks respectively. I bet you he will be offered millions by a French club.
Ashley, 😎 so thats a NEVER then.
Spies should be around for the 2015 WC aswell…
Might have an overseas stint inbetween though….
hugs @ 50
😆
ja, i believe so
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