Wow! I don’t know what game some of the reporters were watching, but I thought it was an excellent rugby match and classic Test match stuff! Hard, bruising tackles, rock solid defenses, no one giving an inch, and men dying for their inches…well amost.
Hats off to Victor who played most of the match with a broken rib cartelage (whatever that is, but I am sure it must have been quite sore) which just shows what “bottle” the SA men have to keep playing no matter what, just like Schalk who played the final in the Currie Cup with a broken rib and still scored the only WP try. These are men of honor, men who mean it when they sing the SA Anthem: “Ons sal lewe, ons sal sterwe, ons vir jou, Suid Afrika” which has now been translated a bit blandly as “…live and strive for freedom…”
The ferociousnous of the Boks’ determination was evident in the bruised English bodies lying around on the field with injuries amass, and Tom Croft had to leave with a broken shoulder. This is what happens when you underestimate a Bok with his back to the wall, jy kak af. I enjoyed the game for several reasons. After the anthems and Englands strong rendition of God save the Queen I thought the English, who got all teary eyed of emotion (it seemed at the time) was so psyched up to play against a supposedly understrenght, poorly coached Springbok side that they were going to give us a royal bashing. You can’t blame me for fearing the worst, especially after our less than impressive tour so far. But after about 20 minutes, I realised that this was our game and those tears on the English faces were because of fear!
It was clear that our guys were hungry and desperate to win. And they played rugby for a change. We even ran the ball from our own 22, which I believe, more than anything else, was a signal of some sorts in the opening exchanges of the match. Either a signal to the coaches to give them an “up yours, today we play our game”, or a signal to the South Africans watching to say: “We are doing this for you today, South Africa” or a signal to the English to say:”Let’s get it on!” Whichever way, it mostly signalled the South African Phoenix’s rise from the ashes of doom and gloom and soar to victory.
After I studied the tackle and ruck laws, I was very disappointed with Clancy’s officiating in this regard. Yes, he got it right on occasion, but mostly he missed a truck load of penalties both ways. I know it matters not now since the game is over, but officiating in this area of the game is poor and if the IRB wants a satisfying World Cup for the Rugby fans they need to step up and make sure the officials get it right!
Getting back to the performance of our boys, it was heart warming to see the sheer commitment of our players, especially on defense. Look, I will give England one thing, they defended bravely, but we gave as good if not better, than we received. Jean de Villiers especially, for me, was key in our defense. He read the English backline like a toddler’s ABC cube and placed too much pressure on them to execute their play. So much so that Flood had to revert to a kicking game which exposed his shortcomings badly and he had to be subbed by veteran Hodgson. Our forwards annihilated the English forwards, even if they time and again scrummed before the put in.
It would be unfair to single out one forward who was the best on the day. Everyone contributed and even under fire Stegmann did well to justify his selection. Bakkies gained hard yards and made hard tackles and Pierre Spies showed why he is the best choice for us at No 8. To me, Juan Smith was the man of the match with his accuracy and his sheer strength in carrying the ball up and in his tackling. Bismarck was back to his old self after disappointing in the lineouts last week and must surely now have branded the No 2 on his back for the World Cup. As much as it saddens me, I do not see a spot for John Smit in the first choice starting line up. This must surely be our Bok front row for the World Cup and with a toss up between Gurthro and Beast we are spoilt for choice at loosehead, whilst Jannie du Plessis established himself at tighthead, where we are still left with a bit of a void if he gets injured.
And what about Alberts? Wow man. He certainly has proven my thoughts on him wrong! Three games, three tries. And that as a sub! Now that is one SUPER SUB to get onto the park and one has to wonder whether he will do the same, or better as a starter or whether his role as impact player outweighs the role he has when he knows he has to keep his energy levels up for say 50 minutes rather than 30. Don’t change it if it aint broke, I say.
Our backs’ handling still leaves much to be desired with the best off load of the day going to a forward, which just shows the imbalance between our backs and forwards. But think about this for a second. If this is how we can play with half a squad, what will we look like when Fourie Du Preez and Jaques Fourie returns?
My only concern now is this: What has changed from the previous three Tests where we were admittably far below what we, and our players, know we can do? Even this weekend’s superb performance by an understrength Bok squad, as brilliant as the victory was, know we can do much better with three or four execution issues going awry. Like Victor spilling the ball two metres out, CJ not passing the ball soon enough for Alberts to walk over for his second try, one or two passes not going to hand, Kirchner once again kicking the ball away with an overlap on the outside.
We played the right game and the right pattern on the day, and the execution was good. Our kicks were more accurate and into spaces rather than into English hands. We ran the ball much more and Morné Steyn varied his game very well. It was just a few days ago that I was wondering why Morné didn’t even once attempt a drop goal on tour…. and there he goes and tries it!
I may be in the minority, with so-called supporters hoping for a loss so De VIlliers can get fired, but I am happy about this win. For more reasons than just the win. It shows that our guys CAN do what we all knew but started to doubt they could. It restores the faith in the belief that we are a super power deserving of the World Champions title. Yes, we did lose to Scotland on this tour, but looking at this tour in context it was a pure fluke which should have never happened. It did however and it shows why our faith in our team so often dims to a slight flickering flame, but it will never die, along with our love for this team.
It’s an inconsistency we need to sort out, it is not a new thing. We have always struggled to be consistent. Before Gary Teichman’s record string of 17 victories and after. It was politics which caused that consistency and momentum to be lost and it is perhaps politics as well that has been the cause before and ever since, because we HAVE the right players. We have excellent rugby players in this country. And they are very well coached. From school level up to Super Rugby level, these guys are WELL coached. You don’t become a Springbok if you are not well coached.
What this team showed on the weekend is, that if they believe in what they have to do, whether it is their idea or the coaches’ ideas, if they are CONVINCED about the strategy, and if they can adapt their strategy to suit the situation and vary their game, if they can trust in their natural abilities and instincts, then they will be champions once again.
All we now have to do is have that same mentality in each Test. That “Cup final” mentality that Victor talked about before the game. For us, each Test must be a “Cup Final”. We should not wait for our backs to be against the wall. We must play each game as if our lives depend on it, as if this game will be the game you will be remembered for, for the rest of your life, as if it will be your last, and that your memories of your last game will be one of endearment and not of regret.
I am enjoying this one for what is was. We get little chance to, and had little chance this year to enjoy victories. Lets not spoil it by focussing on the negative. Lets just relish it, and remember how it feels to be champions.
Met Uysh… you are right, we should savour this… but we have become sceptics, due to the inconsistency as you have noted…
We are also sceptics due to the tomfoolery by SARU and our National coaches.
We must objectively look at this Tour, once the BaaBaas game is over and done with, then realise we have a hand full of Tests left before the World Cup.
We must look at every result, not just the last one….
We now know which players stand up to be counted when it matters, we have certainly come to the conclusion Willem Alberts deserves to be there, possibly Mvovo too…. the jury is still out on Lambie.
There’s a fine line between focusing on the positives and being unrealistic.
You my friend, has crossed that line. Winning against a team that hasn’t beaten us since 2006 (and were actually lucky then!) and NZ since 2003, and losing against 2nd stringers who’ve beaten us 4 times EVER, is hardly something to be positive about.
Are we gonna start celebrating when we beat Fiji and Samoa? What a f#*@ing disgrace. Remember in which country you are staying in. A (dare I say it, once!) proud and strong rugby nation that measures itself only against the best in the world… the mighty AB’s…
2@ Rugbyprof:
Diplomacy bro, diplomacy… you could have said the same but softened the blow considerably…
Remember, here we show respect for one another… and the Authors who write Articles, do it so for free, as bloggers like you and me.
Opinions are like arseholes… everybody has one…. hehehehe
@ Rugbyprof:
Oh dear. I guess you are one of those guys who can never accept defeat against a better opposition. So, we should not celebrate a victory over our old rivals, England, who just a few weeks ago beat Australia? I guess you would then also not have worried if we lost, since the game seemingly doesn’t matter to you. You also probably didn’t celebrate the victory over Ireland, who we haven’t beaten in 10 years then, seeing as you only (perhaps) celebrate victories over the All Blacks. But I would venture a guess that you probably also had loads of excuses when we white washed New Zealand last year. I am glad I have crossed the line, as you say, from being unrealistic to focussing on the positives; you clearly are still loitering on the unrealistic side.
ek het na die skotland game gedink england gaan die bokke verneder,toe kry ek n aangename verassing..nou vir die barbarians game,ek sien daar is baie all blacks in daardie span.
@ Piet visagie:
Ons moet realisties wees tov Barbarians game. Ons sit sonder Victor, Spies, Ruan, Morne, Jean, Frans. Dis omtrent al die kern spelers. Ek gaan nie huil as ons verloor teen die Barbarians nie. Dis ‘n jong groepie spelers wat teen hulle gaan speel. Ons sal ‘n fout maak deur die game te oorweeg as ons na die sukses van die toer kyk. Die skotland game was ‘n flater wat nooit moes gebeur het nie en sekerlik sal die ouens berou he daaroor, maar ja, die magtige all blacks het al ernstiger games as dit teen spanne baie swakker as hulle verloor…dink maar net aan Frankryk 1999 en 2007…hulle weet seer sekerlik hoe ons moes voel na Skotland. 😉
6@ Met Uysh:
Uysie, is jy ‘n Peter de Villiers dissipel… of Snorrie apologeet…
Ek bedoel, dink jy nog heeltyd hy is die regte coach en hy is OK, en ons almal gee hom te veel gas?
Nie dat daar fout is met so houding nie, dis julle reg om so te dink…
Ek issie beindruk met Muir en Snorman nie, hulle moes lankal affie wa geval het wat my aanbetref…. en Gary Gold (Glitter) het ook eers maar die Bokke forwards laat begin shine toe Os du Rand goed betrokke geraak het.
Jy sien, hoekom ek vra… daar is lykmy 2 kampe hier… die wat Snorrie steun en argumenteer hy doen goed genoeg, en die wat dink hy en sy gabbas is power en wat dink die Bokke kon nog heelwat beter gedoen het vandag soos ons hier staan.
@ grootblousmile:
Haha! Ek hou van jou terme! Kom ek se jou so. Die ouens wat vir Divvie haat sal se ek is ‘n dissipel, en die wat sy disipels is, sal se ek is ‘ divvie hater. Dit hang maar net af van die naweek se resultaat en wat ek skryf. Ek probeer objektief na die ding kyk en wil nie die man persoonlik afkraak nie maar as ons na resultate kyk doen die groep nie sleg nie as mens dit sou vergelyk met die Jake White era. Of dit nou is te danke of ten spyte van Div weet ek nie, ouens nader aan die span sal dalk vir ons kan se wat broei werklik daar. Een ding glo ek sterk, en dis dat Muir se invloed nie goed is nie. Kyk na sy Sharks span. Kyk na sy Leeus span. Hy het al bewys hy is pateties. Met Div is dit bietjie moeiliker, maar as mens alles ignoreer en jy kyk na die wen/verlore dan is dit overall billik. Nes met Jake White sal ek hom kans gee om homself te bewys…kyk, die storie was mos maar dieselfde destyds. En ek sal myself as rassis beskou as ek nie vir Div dieselfde toewens as wat ek vir White toegewens het nie.
Ek glo ook die Bokke kon heelwat beter gedoen het hierdie jaar. Laasjaar kon ons nie vir beter gevra het nie. En wat my kwaad maak is dat ons deurentyd dieselfde foute maak. Veral in die 3 nasies. Ons was power die jaar en ons ouens kon net nie bykom nie. En ek dink die spelers sy bydrae is net so groot negatief of positief. As ons verloor, is dit die hele groep se skuld, as ons wen, is dit die hele groep se skuld. Die manne is nie klomp kinders nuie, hulle is ervare gesoute rugbyspelers wat weet hoe om games te wen.
@ grootblousmile:
Maar as jy my vra is hy die regte ou vir die job, dan se ek nee. Hulle kon destyds iemand beters gekies het.
Met uysh.n goeie bok oorwinning is so skaars deesdae n mens moet dit maar geniet as dit die dag gebeur..een goeie oorwining maak nie op vir die swak game die jaar nie,maar die oorwining oor england is n klein stap in die regte rigting.ek is eerlik as ek se ek verpes snorman en rate hom glad nie as n afrigter nie,maar n mens kan maar net hoop dinge draai om vir die bokke.
9@ Met Uysh:
Jy sien… dis eerlikheid daai…
Ek sou destyds moer graag met Heyneke wou gaan.
… en as ek bitter eerlik moet wees, verkwalik ek Snorrie meer vir sy ondiplomatiese bek as enigiets anders. Vir my kom hy dom voor, dis uiters dom om so ondiplomaties teenoor die media te wees, maakie saakie of hy dan nou net kwansuis Afrikaans goed magtig is nie…
… die ander ding wat my afpiepie is sy dom subs in ‘n wedstryd, weereens is dit vir my ‘n teken van dofgeit, ‘n plein onvermoë om mooi te dink.
Ek was destyds vel teen Jake White ook gekant, vir paar redes… weereens die dom manier hoe die media hanteer was en sy absolute disrespek vir Bok-verlore om ten alle koste die Wêreldbeker te wen, aan die een kant en sy gebrek aan insig dat mens ‘n geballanseerde lostrio nodig gehad het, daai tyd al. Toe hy die Media begin slimmer speel het in vroeg 2007 en vir Eddie van der Jones betrek het, het hy homself in my boeke baie eer herstel… en ek sal hom altyd dankbaar wees vir die WB wen in 2007… maar hy is en bly steeds maar net ‘n flippen grootbek ondiplomatiese onderwysertjie.
Vir my is mensebestuur die sleutel to Bok welslae, en in hierdie verband glo ek nie daar’s beter in die wêreld as Heyneke Meyer nie… seker ook maar omdat ek so Bulls blou is…. hehehe
Vir my is “Consistency in Selection” Heyneke se sleutel gewees… en die welslae het gekom… en Tricky Dicky Muir se ondergang gewees in hierdie jaar se Super 14 met sy 0 uit 13 rekord.
Ek is vas oortuig dat die Springbokke in die afgelope jaar ‘n ernstige regressie getoon het, veral op 4 vlakke, naamlik… verdediging, agterlynspel, wedstrydtaktiek (game plan), en goeie spel by die afbreekpunte.
Die game vandag gaan oor besit, die behoud daarvan… en hoe jy daarmee geballanseerd slaan.
moet se dat my bier altyd net so n bietjie lekerder smaak as die soutie op sy donner gekry het elke keer as ons hulle op donner kry ek so n bietjie wraak oor die konsentrasie kampe en al daai goed flok ek haat die engelse
smallies.die britse mense haat die bokke omdat die bokke hulle span se title as champs verwyder het.ek sien daar nogsteed poms fans wat nogsteeds beweer creuto het gescore,hy het beslis nie gescore nie,maar die klomp souties sien die onmoontelike raak.martin johnson was seker een van die vuilgatse slotte na kobus wiese.
Met uysh, moenie so vinnig opgewonde raak nie. Ja, ek het ook nou nie laasjaar liries geraak toe ons kak aangevang het in al drie toetse teen ‘n kak Leeuspan nie. Maar nou ja, was bly vir die wen, asook ons Drienasies wen.
Maar ek maak weereens die punt. Ek stel baie hoe standaarde vir my Bokspan en kan nie net aanvaar dat hulle so swak is nie.
Jy mis actually, nes die ander, my hele punt. Natuurlik is ek bly as hul wen, maar ek verloor nou darem nie my kop nie. Moenie op jou agterpootjies klim en sommer aannames maak omtrent my support vir die Bokke nie. Dis juis my liefde vir die Bok dat ek so ongelukkig is met mense wat so blind is. Ek vergelyk dit met ‘n siek hond wat net nie regkom nie, en almal hoop en bid dit raak beter. En ons rugby (lees : Saru en sy administrateurs) is SIEK.
Dieselfde Iere het gesukkel om Samoa weg te sit, Wallis kon nie eens vir Fiji klop, ens, ens. Noordelike halfrond is swak. Hoeveel wenne het die 5 nasies teen die 3 nasies gekry? En wees eerlik, dit was meer ‘n kwessie van die suide wat swak was op die dag as die noorde wat goed was. Op hul tuisveld en teen ouens wat al van Feb af toprugby speel met geen rus en ware motivering nie. Die Eng wen vs Aus was ‘n freakshow en die Aus het ongelukkig nie die resources wat ons het nie, en doen die beste wat hul kan.
Sedert ons terug is in internationale rugby het ons agterlyn nog net gedurende 2 periodes goed gelyk, gebalanseerd met goeie aanval en puik verdediging (en bewys my asb verkeerd!) : Nick Mallett se 1ste paar toetse en WB 2007.
Ek wens maar net almal kan die groter prentjie sien. Elke wen teen spanne buite die Drienasies (ek het my bedenkinge oor Aus) is hollow. Dit moenie ‘n prestasie of mikpunt wees om ‘n Grandslam te wen nie, maar ‘n given. Want dis presies hoe NZ dit sien…
Lekker artikel met Uysh ek stem saam met jou, ek het elke moment geniet en gewag vir die “backlash” van die doomsayers. Kry maar vir julle, en julle weet self wie julle is. Eet maar julle humble pie, ma het gebak.
Hierdie is nou soos n boksgeveg , ons is nou omtrent in rondte 9/10, die volgende rondte is seker Div se assesment en moontlike vingers tik of firing. Weer sal dit n hewige rondte wees, go for it . SA rugby sal nie SA rugby wees as ons nie alles n geveg maak nie.
NB.
As div nie uitgeslaan word in rondte 9 nie sal rondte 10 seker sy span keuses wees vir die 3 Nations.
ek is een van die sogenaamde doomsdayers.na n patetiese tri nations en die skotland game het ek nie veel hoop gehad vir die bokke nie.daar wen hulle toe sowaar.ek sal my humble pie eet as die bokke die tri nations 2011 wen.wen hulle die world cup groei ek n snor.
rugbyprof @ 2
hmmmm, there is indeed a fine line between focusing on the positives and being unrealistic …
and you my friend managed to cross that line in that few sentences you wrote in #2
…
if we were, as you’ve put it …. “A (dare I say it, once!) proud and strong rugby nation that measures itself only against the best in the world… the mighty AB’s…”
…
how the f*ck did we then manage to lose THREE times against scotland … seeing that we were such world beaters who only measures us against the best?
@ Ashley:
Ashley that is why i am so peeed up with that bloody ref in the Soweto test. That guy gave the pessimists all the ammunition they needed. If the ref did not make the mistakes in that test WE would have been the guys with a played 9 won 5 record against the AB’s and not the All Blacks. Peter would have been the only modern coach with a better win record against our “only real rival”
super @ 18
exactly!!
..
he wouldve had a faaaaaaaaaaaar better record than that other name that get most guys to climax on here … yes indeed, robbie deans!!
#19
ag silly me
how could i make such a stupid mistake
..
he DOES HAVE a faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarr better record against the blacks than the deans!!! 😀
#20
sien? selfs die translator verstaan my punt
..
“ag my dom
hoe kan ek maak so ‘n dom fout
..
Hy het wel ‘n beter rekord teen faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarr die swartes as die dekane!” 😆
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