Morné
Winning! Tigerblood! You can’t process me with a normal brain!
What a big difference a week in rugby makes! But like last week when the Boks played badly I find myself in a strange but familiar position this week where I call on fans to calm down a bit following the Boks walloping of the Fijians on Saturday. Continue reading
Rugby authorities are doing themselves no favours in dispelling the belief that rugby still is an elitist sport which only caters for the traditional powerhouses of the game.
It is way too early to start hitting the panic buttons after the Springboks narrow win over Wales on Sunday.
A message to the Springboks as they get ready to head to New Zealand to defend the Rugby World Cup.
Lessons from the past should provide the Lions rugby union with the vision needed to get them out of their current administrative crisis.
A common trend in South African rugby is the emphasis on short term gains rather than long term vision. Continue reading
Similar to the Jane Austen classic, South African Rugby is a mixture of misplaced pride, shady characters with delusions of grandeur and the inability to focus on the obvious, all of which leads to the degradation and ultimate destruction of that which really matters. Continue reading
The biggest gift we can give our kids or the next generation of sports men and women, is to remove the fear of failure from their minds.
While the news coming out of the Bok camp seem positive, you have to ask what prompted such drastic changes?
The absence of information will always lead to speculation, and whether it is fair or not, you would think that the Lions Rugby Union would have realised this after years of accusations of financial and administrative mismanagement.
A lot has been made in recent days on the inclusion of Saracens hooker, Schalk Brits, in the Stormers team for their semi-final clash against the Crusaders this weekend at Newlands.
For rugby in South Africa to remain strong, SA Rugby needs to take a tough stance against its own unions before it looks to improve its standing within SANZAR.
Improbable, not impossible. This is the feeling amongst most South Africans prior to the Sharks massive qualifier match against the Crusaders this weekend.
Whilst the Super Rugby log might tell us quite a number of things of individual teams and how they performed, it is quite interesting to measure each country as a collective following the league rounds of the Super Rugby competition. Continue reading
As the euphoria following the weekend’s local derbies subsides, let’s take a moment to acknowledge a truly special effort by a very special team.
I had to borrow this slogan from the Varsity Cup simply because it best describes why some teams seem to be on the up, and others going down.
Retention, recruitment, and team culture. This is what success in rugby is built on.
Some players announce themselves on the rugby scene the moment they take the field in front of our television cameras, some take longer, but it is no less worth the wait!
Whilst South Africans might admire the fact that New Zealand Rugby has successfully retained Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and soon to be confirmed, Sonny Bill Williams – post Rugby World Cup 2011, there are some who believe the All Blacks have ‘sold their soul’.
Rugby Union will never be able to compete on a global level if it does not embrace a professional work ethic and mindset.
On Friday the rugby romantic in me was awakened after a long slumber, only to be given a strong sedative a couple of hours later. Continue reading
Leadership groups in sport is important, but when does a leadership group turn into a clique? Continue reading
Exactly what enables a team of no-hopers or perennial losers to turn things around? Continue reading
‘There is no fate but what we make.’ Cheesy I know, but this famous movie line might just be the best description of what the future holds for young Lionel Cronje.
It never seizes to amaze me how South African rugby teams and coaches remain oblivious to such obvious solutions to their problems.
It is interesting to note the difference in reaction to two South African Super Rugby franchises which seem to be having the exact same problem.
It is becoming increasingly obvious that Springbok coach, Peter de Villiers, is starting to push the panic buttons.
Peter de Villiers was quoted recently saying he will have to make some tough selection decisions in this Rugby World Cup year, the toughest of these, will be who wears the number 10 jersey.
I wonder if those who criticised the concept of ‘head’s up rugby’ in the recent past realise that this is exactly what we are seeing from the two top teams in the Super 15? Continue reading
John Smit is being done a massive disservice at the moment, one that could spell disaster and cost him the Springbok captaincy for the Rugby World Cup later this year. Continue reading
Recently I found myself at a cross-road. For years I have made a mockery of the ‘entitlement’ sports fans believed they had over teams and players, only for myself to start believing the same thing… Continue reading
With the energy, frequency and sheer number of matches in a competition like the Super 15, you almost never get a moment to sit down and reflect on issues, but I had to make the time to do just that. Continue reading
Like the legendary song by Don McLean, I believe we all lost something last night and whether or not you want to openly admit it, deep down we all know it. Continue reading
The Bulls impressive home record was dashed this weekend by the most unlikely team. Continue reading