A lot was said already and a lot more will be said in the psychological war of words this week. No one wants to be the favorite this week. It is quite funny how every team digs up stats to show that their opponent is the favorite.
The Free State Cheetahs are questioning the legality of Western Province’s scrumming tactics ahead of Saturday’s Currie Cup semifinal and have e-mailed André Watson and Mark Lawrence about it.
“I have e-mailed them about the so-called slingshot engagement at the hit. And also about the loose forwards that release their bind a little early,” said Drotské.
“I have an undertaking by Mark Lawrence and André Watson that they will study footage of it. It’s important for us,” he said.
The so-called slingshot engagement to which Drotské is referring means that the eighthman pulls his locks back and pushes them forwards at the hit.
This results in the team and its front row gaining more momentum at the engagement.
The laws state that all eight players have to be static at the hit and no movement forwards or sideways is allowed. If an eighthman’s shoulders are bound to his locks, it is effectively impossible to use this tactic.
Province are the favourites on paper – as they were when they lost semifinals to Free State in 2004 and 2005. Rugby, however, is not played on paper and Free State’s performances in the Currie Cup in recent seasons have been impressive.
“We had a strong belief in our ability in the Super 14, but the Currie Cup is Free State’s terrain. That is where they flourish,” said WP captain Schalk Burger.
Sharks coach John Plumtree is playing a psychological game with his players to get them motivated for Saturday’s Currie Cup semifinal against the Blue Bulls in Durban.
It is being widely stated that Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha and Danie Rossouw will make mincemeat of Steven Sykes and Alistair Hargreaves, and that is where the seed will be planted for a Bulls win.
However, that is precisely what Plumtree wants to hear. You can bet your Ferrari that Plumtree will ensure his two young locks will get to hear about it.
“It will serve as motivation,” he admitted.
“We realise the magnitude of the challenge ahead. The Bulls are not the Currie Cup and Super 14 champions for nothing. But that puts a little pressure on them. Everybody is talking about them as the big favourites to beat us. Even so, my players are looking forward to the opportunity of measuring themselves against the Bulls’ big names.
Ludeke said form running up to the playoffs was not as important as the team’s performance on the day.
“The league phase is over and this is a new competition and hopefully another opportunity. Nothing counts and they (the Sharks) are experienced campaigners and they have international players so you can’t look at what happened last week.”
Ludeke said the Bulls would have to show improvement if they were to make it to the final. “Our performance wasn’t where we wanted it.”
It was nice to see the Chile President standing there through the whole rescue. Good PR work.
@ tight head:
The sharks scrum didn’t look to flash last weekend
@ biltongbek:
I think you will see a different scrum this week end.
snoek @ 23
😆
biltong @ 21
or
why do women always want to “tell you something” WHEN THE BLOODY RUGBY IS ON?????
#35 is NOT including the women blogging on this site, hehehehe
…
(phew) 😳
35 Ash…..jy meng met die verkeerde vrouens!!!! 🙂
Nioemand moet my pla as ek rugby kyk nie!!!
O en morning everyone
#36 Bwaaaaaaaahahahahahaha NET BETYDS
naka hoef net een woord te se dan begin die wp poofter voories bewe in hulle broekies en daai woord is juan o ja en scrum en coenie en hendro en ashleigh en wp
trips @ 39
lol
jip betyds my fout agtergekom!!
smallies @ 40
ag wat
vi ashley swaai o’s die nawiek an sy hare rond!!
@ashliegh daasie een wiepie outjie wat genoeg mussels hetie 110 kg is dietjie bokand julle vuurmaak plek jong
wie gaan die wp sink die jaar soos nokalanahahsjagsfabsjkie laas jaaar ek skat dit gaan flou wees met sy my oupa is jan piekard en daarom is ek die shit houding
@ Puma:is so
Hi Puma, hope the Aus trip is going well for you.
The miners story has been compelling, wonderful moments to view, as miners hit fresh air and embraced their families……Very emotional stuff.
@ Snoek:
Brad Pitt… 😆 Fine by me!!
More almal.
Van die 3 ander spanne in die semi’s, het die Sharks die beste vertoningslys teen ‘n volsterkte Bulle span. Voeg daarby dat die wedstryd in Durban is, dat die Haaie agv laasweek se verloor nie oorgerus in die semi ingaan nie, en dit alles beteken ‘n riller van ‘n wedstryd wees. Die Bulle gaan as ‘underdogs’ in die stryd in, maar kan verras.
Hierdie foto is dalk een van die redes wat in die laaste 25 minute die skaal in die Bulle se guns kan swaai:
http://www.beeld.com/Sport/Rugby/Ligbloues-behou-wenspan-20101013
Bulle !
In die ander semi, gaan die WP soos gewoonlik met ‘n ‘bang’ wegtrek, 15 punte voorloop na 25 minute, en dan begin droom van die finaal … om net-net te verloor in die laaste minuut.
Cheetahs – Bulle finaal wat voorlê.
33@ tight head:
Ek blerrie hoop so meneer, wil nie nog n’ blou bul liedjie hoor hierdie jaar nie, die aarde is vervuil met blou soos dit is, jy weet mos hier in die transvaal sien ons blou lug elke dag as ons by die venster uitkyk.
Die ergste vir my is die spietkops se ligte, blou, blou ,blou, blou.
Ai maar blou bly maar die mooiste kleur 😉
Hi folks,
Tripples, blou is baie mooi, ma ligblou? Nee, ek wetie so mooi nie – ligblou is wel….te lig.
bdb, kyk julle ouens moet nou julle maainds opmaak; is julle die beste span innie southerm hemisphere of is julle nie. As julle wel die beste is soos julle ons oor en oor en oor traai convince, is julle favourites more – finis en klaar.
Watse pot stomende uilmis traai julle ons nou verkoop vannie Bulls issie “underdogs ma kan verras”?
BTW issit julle A of B-span wat oormore byrie Tank uitdraf?
49@ Tripples:
Baby blou.
@ 51 fender:
He he
bdb praat baie “bull” op die site, so moenie als glo wat hy sê nie.
Die Bulle met al hul awesome bokke behoort sekerlik net op te daag vir ‘n wen.
Ons arme Shark ondersteuners staan nie ‘n kans nie.
😥
The Bulls players are so good that they are not focused on the CC anymore but on the year end tour coming up.
Haha
#55 Good one, Snoek! 🙂
Sien fender is reeds senuweeagtig en hul speel nie eers die naweek teen die Bulle nie. 😉
So terloops, ons hoef niemand te ‘try en convince’ ons is tans die beste provinsie in die wêreld nie. Feite, statistieke, trofees, geskiedenis, ens. spreek vanself. Al die ander spanne en ondersteuners, erken dit en weet dit (of hul nou daarvan hou of nie), selfs oorsese lande. Dit is net die klomp van die kaap wat in hul eie ou wêreld in ontkennning leef en hul verbeel hul is die beste … dit alles terwyl die trofeekas ‘n ander werklikheid vertel.
ns.vir die WP ondersteuners wat hier lees en nie weet wat ‘n trofee is nie, gaan kyk hier:
http://www.sportzpics.net/viewphoto.php?&albumId=112867&imageId=4252219&page=4&imagepos=15
😀
Een ding is seker: om die beste te wees is moeilik, om bo te bly is nog moeiliker. Daarom is die druk groot op die Bulle om as ‘underdogs’ in Durbs te wen, nie net teen die goeie uitgehongerde Sharks span nie, maar ook die res van die land.
@bdb dis omdat hulle ou bergietjiejie hulle afsny van die res van sa dat hulle so agter is
Ek wonder hoe proe Cheetah biltong wel ons sal seker maar saterdag uitvind…
@scrumsaam julle spelers hetie tanne nie van allie wyn wat groot scalk skenk om die regte low nie te speel nie,so daai biltong sal julle nie proe nie
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