superBul
A look back at some of the bits I remember best – actually, the bits I remember at all.
By Kevin McCallum, IOL
At this time of the year everyone wants to pick their “Team of the year” , “Team of the decade” and so on. I wont try it because it is anyway just My Team, everyone else will have His or Her own team. What I am going to do is post a few opinions about the South African players that get into most teams. Always nice to hear the praise words. This year we had a quite few outstanding players. The one I miss is Heinrich Brussow, maybe only because Richy McCaw has such enormous status. But Heinrich your time will come.
The article and discussion we had about player burnout by Dr Tim Noakes made the News in New Zealand today. It gave John Smit a bit of a tongue lashing.
As for Springbok captain Smit, Noakes was scathing.
1937
Fanie Louw by Doc Craven
Fanie, Boy’s brother, was a little bit shorter than Boy and not quite as versatile a player, but he had a very jovial manner, always well liked, and forever up to some kind of mischief.
I found this article quite entertaining. I know we can add a lot more. I bet we will be able to add 50 more before Christmas.
This is a bit old, seeing it was announced on the 15th, but I would like GBS,s and other Blue Bull supporters comments on this. The rest can debate or attack our view with pleasure, just remember Bulls supporters have memories like elephants. What you say might be held against you in a “stadium of reality” like Loftus.
Former Springbok and Blue Bull scrumhalf Piet Uys passed away yesterday morning after a long illness.
Uys, who turned 72 on Thursday, was a legend in Northern Transvaal and Blue Bulls rugby circles, having played 12 tests and 17 tour matches for the Springboks as a scrumhalf in his career.
So much was said about the management of our Springboks here. Many agreed that the players must be properly managed to make it to 2011 Rugby World Cup. Others denied the fatigue factor. We throw stones at SARU, Peter de Villiers and anyone else we think has created this long International season. Then we putt up a poll and guess what?
Earls take central role ahead of Munster’s star recruit
MUNSTER could spring a major selection surprise today by leaving South African centre Jean de Villiers out of their team to face Perpignan in tomorrow night’s critical Heineken Cup clash at Thomond Park.
Springbok wing Bryan Habana is South Africa’s favourite sports star, beating the likes of Makhaya Ntini, Teko Modise, Graeme Smith and Morné Steyn to the number one spot in 2009.
And rugby continues to outpace both soccer and cricket in terms of growing interest for a fifth year running.
While the limelight was on other Springboks like Fourie du Preez, undoubtedly the planets best rugby player in 2009 (IRB panel sucks), John Smit breaking the World Record as captain, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn and Heinrich Brussow, Victor Matfield quietly achieved the Big double as captain, winning the Super14 and Currie Cup as Captain. This weekends match against the All Blacks was the cherry on top of it all for our unsung hero.
When even the staid Brits have decided that the safety-first, kick, and whistle-dominated style of test rugby has become just too boring, clearly we have a problem.
By MARC HINTON in London
Graham Henry was proud as punch as his All Blacks finally delivered the performance they’ve been threatening for a while now, dishing out the plaudits to all and sundry for a performance he rated one of the finest in his time.
From Rugby Heaven , NZ
In a new format for the IRB Awards in association with Emirates Airline, winners will be named throughout the year, culminating in the announcement of the prestigious IRB Player, Coach and Team of the Year in November.
It is not so much the fear of the threat posed by the Irish as the conditions the Boks are expected to encounter that will see them opt for a tried-and-trusted approach.
So much was said about the so called Bokke Dirt Tracker side who came back empty-handed from their End Of Year Tour. What went wrong? Was it a total failure? Some of the players came through this with reputations now blown to pieces.
This is a follow up on our birthday boy, Isigidi’s (hope at least YOU scored last night) Article, “The areas of concern”. Let me give you my scores/views on your concerns:
London – The International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced a crackdown on scrum infringements and illegal tackles ahead of this weekend’s internationals.
The Bok-motivation is high!
The Bokke want this one!
The Bokke do not underestimate the French!
These 3 small statements says it all. We are in for an almighty scrap against France.
One game Pieter de Villiers must win for us and his ever improving coaching CV is the game against France. For years the French were just also ran’s against SA but if you break up the results against us you will find that they dominate the last decade against us. The last Springbok side to win in France was in 1997 when the team, under Nick Mallet, outplayed the French 52-10 in Paris.
Oud-Bok John Knox sterf aan kanker
Die voormalige Springbok-rugbyspeler John Knox (55) is Vrydagaand oorlede.
Top honors go to Fourie du Preez for the second time in his career, joining a small elite group led by Naas Botha(4), who won this award more than once.
Before an important match, coaches and captains will deny any reference to “revenge” sought for a previous defeat, but Blue Bulls lock Bakkies Botha, has made rubbish of this after the Absa Currie Cup final won 36-24 by the Blue Bulls against the Free State Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
We as Blue Bull supporters say thank you to Victor and his team. You made us so proud. We thank the whole Blue management and Coaching staff. The joys of being a Bulls supporter can only be understand by a true Blue supporter.
Extracts from the Press.
In summary, yes, there are some Bok picks that seem daft, and may well be proved to be thus.
Consider the Test candidates, first and foremost, and then allow some leeway for “experimentation” in the two other, infinitely lesser-gravitas tour fixtures.
Pretoria – The Blue Bulls won the Currie Cup at Loftus when they beat the Free State Cheetahs 36-24 in a lively and high-scoring final in which they controlled matters from the outset and were never behind.
The difference in this game was the Bulls experience and the game breakers who came to the Party. Fourie du Preez , Bryan Habana and Morné Steyn did what most expect they would do the whole week.
Al the reasons I will go through here might also be the reason why the rest off SA hate the Bulls. For them my message is short and sweet “Cry me a river”
Hierdie week gaan lank wees, baie gaan gesê word. Aanvalle en teenaanvalle. Die res van die Land gaan natuurlik weer “unite” , natuurlik teen die Blou Bulle. Dis reg so , dis wat SA rugby in die isolasiejare aan die gang gehou het, die fanatiese provinsialisme.
In a somewhat quiet week only a few players gave their opinion on the final game of the 2009 Currie Cup. If I must decide who is the most outspoken lot my call would be the Cheetahs and their supporters.
There’s been a lot of press about fingers in the eyes over the past few months. There’s been a lot of press about faking things. Combine the two and you’d be in real trouble, wouldn’t you?
I read this on the SA Referees Website. These are their stats regarding the semi-finals.
Herman le Roux se storie oor “Andries”, die tramp en gewese lang, lenige losskakel.
Former Springbok captain Basie Vivier passed away peacefully in Brandfort in the Free State on Sunday night.
Vivier captained the 1956 Springbok side when they toured New Zealand. The hosts won the series 3-1 to inflict the first series defeat on the Springboks since 1896.
Two surprise outcomes this weekend? Home ground meant nothing this weekend. Front rows , Fetchers, Scrum halves and Fly halves who was hot and who was not.
Let me take have a look at the weekends games.
It’s been more than 30 years since THAT tackle at Loftus, but the names Morne du Plessis and Naas Botha still perfectly sum up why Western Province-Blue Bulls clashes are so special. Saturday’s Currie Cup semifinal at Newlands will be no different.