10 Responses to Butch cited for Kamakaze coathanger… what’s new!

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  1

  grootblousmile on 12 June 2011 at 6:18 pm

  Basically Butch James singlehandedly cost the Lions the game yesterday, without a shadow of a doubt in my mind. In his absense, off with the yellow (60th minute), the Sharks hauled in another 7 of the needed 14 points deficit at that stage, putting them only 7 points behind and well in control of how the game had swung by the time Butch returned.

  It gave the Sharks the confidence, impetus and momentum that they needed to haul in the last 7 points as well, which they did.

  The question is now, with Butch’s history of these repeated brain implosions, and the impeckable dicipline needed in the World Cup… and South Africa’s chances at the World Cup, can we even contemplate whether we could afford to pick a player who’s disposed to having brain farts for the Bokke and take this loose canon with?

  For me it’s simple… no we cannot, and we should not.

  The cupboard is not bare at flyhalf, the Springboks already have Morné Steyn and Patrick Lambie to do duty here for the Bokke at flyhalf, the centers are well covered with Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie and Juan de Jongh. So why waste ANY time on Butch!

  *******

  Personally I would not have considered Ruan Pienaar either, not due to any notion of foul play (he simply is’nt a risk in that regard), but I’d play Dewaldt Duvenage in stead, who once again showed yesterday that he was both a scrumhalf and very able flyhalf substitute. With Ruan we do not know what his performance levels are, having played up North and not in the Super Rugby Series against Southern Hemisphere competitors.

  If it is not a versatile scrumhalf that you need (who can play both scrumhalf and flyhalf), then Sarel Pretorius is another option, game breaker and creator of note.

  The same applies to Frans Steyn… they are now going to try and play Fransie back into Springbok fullback form, during the Tri-Nations, after having played only at center the whole season in France. So what result do we expect and do we get by the time the World Cup kicks off… a fullback who MIGHT be back to SOME FORM, having 3 Tri-Nations matches behind him, at fullback.

  Is that the way to go… or do we pick Riaan Viljoen from the Cheetahs or Ludik or Kirchner or Taute? I know what I would have done, I would have rewarded Riaan Viljoen for the form he has shown, I would have showed faith in him… but hey, that’s me… that’s how I see it!

  It brings me to John Smit. Did Bismarck du Plessis make a difference when he replaced John Smit? The game was there for all to see, YES, a thousand times YES… and the captaincy did not matter either, they did not miss John Smit in that regard either. Call a spade a spade, John Smit’s time has come and gone. John is a great guy, eloquent speaker, was a good hooker and captain…. but those days are past! Hang up your boots John, get involved in coaching…. you’ve got a new destiny to fulfil…. and I say that with respect and with thanks for the sterling job you had done in the past!

  Finally, what about Bryan Habana on left wing… need I say more? For how long are they contemplating carrying this passenger? Did anybody NOT NOTICE that his channel was the one towards which the attack was aimed yesterday, both running at him and kicking to his side and behind him. Did the Bulls do the same towards Gio Aplon or did they show him much more respect… of course they showed him more respect… because he deserves respect! Do we need Habana at all… with Bjorn Basson, Lwazi Mvovo and even Francois Hougaard who could do duty here for the Springboks, with distinction? How many times did Habana openly knock the ball on yesterday, and how many other mistakes and wrong options did he employ? The answer is simple… too many for an International left wing playing at a strong Francise!
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  2

  Greenpoint-Gunner on 13 June 2011 at 2:05 am

  GBS, very good points. However, do you really want to take 5 or 6 guys with no international experience to speak of (let alone WC experience?) to the World Cup. In NZ?

  I suppose when the National selectors were faced with this problem they simply said “no”.

  Anyway, I think there are a few players in SA who are licking their chops for next year, when the old hands retire. Number one, Bismarck du Plessies.
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  3

  superBul on 13 June 2011 at 4:40 am

  grootblousmile wrote:

  a fullback who MIGHT be back to SOME FORM, having 3 Tri-Nations matches behind him, at fullback.

  GBS we have enough worries before the next s15 clash dont start this now, please. 😀

  grootblousmile wrote:

  Sarel Pretorius is another option, game breaker and creator of note.

  I would love that specialist variaton in the Springbok squad
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  4

  Greenpoint-Gunner on 13 June 2011 at 5:25 am

  Btw GBS, net vir ingeval jy vergeet het van die talent van Ruan Pienaar, hier is ‘n paar geheue-opwarmers.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcuJK4EkrC8 (wat van daai pressure skop teen die einde?)
  
  

  Dewie is goed, maar Pienaar is net daai klein bietjie beter in alle opsigte.
  “…having played up North and not in the Super Rugby Series against Southern Hemisphere competitors…”.
  In ons pool is ons grootste opp. Wallis. In die QF speel ons moontlik teen Ierland. In die semis teen OF Eng OF Frankryk… wat help ervaring teen SH spelers ons so ver???
  Sarel is great, maar ek het hom nog nooit 10 sien speel nie. Ten minste het Ruan al hier diens gedoen op internationale vlak.

  En een vir Fransie.

  Ek weet wat jy gaan se. Fransie kan net skop. So what? Drop en place 60 meter uit??? Hoekom nie? Stel voor Morne en Frans Steyn speel albei? Die opponente sal nie eers skeef kan poep nie en dis drie punte teen hulle. Hahaha, dink jou net in hulle speel albei en SA kry 5/6 dropgoals in die finaal teen NZ.
  HAHAHA, daai kiwi wetters HAAT drop goals, hulle sal hulself goed bestront.

  Wat Smit betref… hy kan maar water opdra.
  Ek weet ek het laas week nog gese Habana is goed want hy het ervaring. Maar sorry Habs, ervaring se hol. Help jy maar vir Smittie en hou die ys koud.
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  5

  Scrumdown on 13 June 2011 at 8:00 am

  @ grootblousmile:
  Some interesting and valid points.

  You see, it’s as I told you, if you lay off that Sweet Cape wine for long enough the old braincells will eventually start to work again.

  As for Butch, I think part of the problem, apart from the proverbial leopard not being able to change it’s spots, is that he is still in NH mode and not quite up to the pace of SH Rugby.

  If he had been half a yard quicker the tackle would have not been nearly as bad as it was.

  That he has undoubtedly made a difference to the lions backline in terms of organisational qualities goes without saying, whether or not he is still a WC quality 10, well I think not, but Div has shown a remarkable loyalty to his “old timers” that one rarely sees in any professional sport these days, and I have a sneaky suspicion that Butch (and Barney) will be very much close to selection come the final cut.

  As for your other points, yes to Sarel, Basson, Mvovo and Hougaard in terms of ability, but I think experience may be their collective undoing.

  Div will go for conservative Rugby and try to strangle the opposition out of the knock out stages. Flash doesn’t win the WC and that’s why if the AB’s don’t get the basics right they’ll fail again.

  I say again, watch for a very strong English pack to play 10 man Rugby for 60 -70 minutes, and let their VERY good back line cut free in the last 10 – 20 once they’ve worn out their opposition.

  The conditions in NZ at that time of year will suit them to a tee.

  Another dark horse (as always) will be the Frogs who, purely because of their unpredictable game can beat anyone on the day, depending of course who turns up for the game.
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  6

  Tripples on 13 June 2011 at 8:23 am

  woop woop darrem is ons nou ontslae van die idioot in die sport!!!!!

  Johannesburg – ANC MP and head of Parliament’s sports portfolio committee Butana Komphela is to leave the post for a job in the Free State government, the party said on Sunday.

  He joined Parliament 10 years ago and headed the water affairs and sports portfolio committees, ANC parliamentary caucus spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said in a statement.

  According to the Sunday Times he would take up the job of Free State MEC for police, roads and transport.

  The paper quoted unnamed sources as saying he was being forced out of the Parliament job for not adopting a firmer line on former Athletics SA head Leonard Chuene’s handling of athlete Caster Semenya’s gender testing debacle in 2009.

  – SAPA
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  7

  fender on 13 June 2011 at 9:18 am

  Well, there is no doubt that Butch’s tackle was high and dangerous and just like Tripples post here, the author deserves to spend some time on the sidelines.

  However, if we are consistent here, that would also mean no Birthmark or Bakkies or Schalk at the RWC either.

  I’m happy that we are discussing whether great players have the emotional intelligence to not let there side down in the heat of battle, because we have to look further than just a players physical ability, though.
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  8

  Puma on 13 June 2011 at 10:14 am

  @ fender:6 – Excellent post buddy. Well said.

  I do feel however, we need Butch at this world cup. He brings enormous experience. Doubt he will let the side down again with the high tackles. Agree with Scrumdown, think Butch’s head is still in the NH and needs still to adjust to SH rugby again. He has made a huge difference to the Lions backline. They sure could have used him earlier, no doubt Lions could be sitting with probably 6 wins by now, had he been playing for them from the start. Butch is still a classy player.

  I would go with Lambie before Morne or Butch though. Just my personal opinion. Lambie has bmt and can tackle as well as the best. Has a all round game. A super great talent we have in Lambie. One of our best fh we have had in SA in many, many years. Whether he goes to this wc or not, I have no doubt he will be our fh for Boks after 2011.
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  9

  fender on 13 June 2011 at 12:42 pm

  Thanks Puma and yes, I believe Lambie must be in the RWC squad.
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  10

  grootblousmile on 13 June 2011 at 7:41 pm

  4@ Greenpoint-Gunner:
  Lykmy ek en jy kan ook net saamstem oor John Smit en Habana…

  Kom ons gaan so klompie dae terug… was jy nie een van die manne wat van oordeel was Bekker oorskadu vir Matfield huidiglik nie (ek moes selfs statistieke gaan uithaal oor die 1ste wedstryd tussen die Bulls en Sormers die jaar op Loftus)…. miskien misgis ek myself, maar gelukkig was ek reg oor dit en al die ander goed wat die naweek sou gebeur het…

  Eerstens – Dat Matfield steeds die beste No 5 slot in SA is.
  Tweedens – Dat Habana ‘n risiko is vir sy eie span se kanse.
  Derdens – Dat Butch James sy span sal kos… die naweek en in die Wêreldbeker.
  Vierdens – Dat die Stormers se swakpunte lê in hulle stutte en in die skakelpaar wat Saterdag gespeel het, sowel as Habana natuurlik.
  Vyfdens – Dat Bismarck du Plessis die aangewese haker vir die RWC MOET WEES en nie John Smit nie. Wat ‘n verskil het hy nie gemaak by die breakdowns en in algemene spel Saterdag nie!