All credit to NZ for not blaming the virus in the team or end-of-year-tiredness for their loss at the hands of a committed England team.
The NZ players did look more than a bit pale and lethargic as they entered the field and even the Haka lacked its normal spark.
Punctiliously, I don’t however think it was either the virus or tiredness that saw NZ losing this match. It was the England tactics and their good defence that won them the match. Continue reading
Nick Mallet during his tenure as Springbok coach made himself very unpopular by saying that he is not too concerned about criticism from South African rugby fans because in his opinion they don’t know much about the game anyway.
Coincidently, he now seems to be as critical as the SA rugby fans about the rugby dished-up by his prodigy’s Springbok team.
Where Mallet was hostile and pompous towards the media Heynecke seems to be more open and willing to show the public that their opinions count. Continue reading
What the hell is going on with our beloved Springboks? This, I believe is the main question every SA rugby supporter wrestle with at the moment.
Wrong players in key positions, an unbalanced back row, injuries to key players and playing an outdated game plan has all been voiced as probable reasons.
Heynecke has responded to most of these criticisms by making changes to the team but still the team seems to be tentative almost scared to do anything. Continue reading
Before the match issues
The major issues before the match were the drug scandal that hit the SA team after the match against Wales; the injury to star winger Bryan Habana and the fact that Scotland could respond with a backlash after their dismal performance against the All Blacks the previous weekend. Continue reading
