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by powa

Reasons not excuses

June 18, 2013 in currie cup, rugby, sport, springboks

2 Comments »

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excuses

To win a game even against supposedly weak opposition, when playing badly proves that we can do it. It can’t get any worse, I hope, so the only way forward is to get better. The excuses of, young team, inexperience etc. are just excuses not reasons. If these guys shone in Super rugby they can do so against any one of  the three other teams. If the Bulls or Cheetahs had played on Saturday they would have done better.

S15 is on a par with 6 nations in my opinion and Italy and Scotland didn’t do all that well there but the Scots sure upped their game on Saturday..

I am tired of hearing the one side of the fans muttering about youth, inexperience, lack of time with the coach. poor defense, not combining properly, too much rugby, poor refereeing from NH refs, etc etc etc. While the other side of the fan base say, if you’re good enough you’re old enough and S15 is on a par with 6 Nations,  leave out players like Spies, Pienaar, de Villiers and bring in the young players so they can get the experience before Champions cup,etc etc etc. What do you want?

I want less excuses and more reasons but most of all I want remedies. I am a bad loser when it comes to rugby and I don’t want to lose any game immaterial of who the opposition is…… losing is unacceptable!

International rugby is not the place for experimentation and it should not be seen as secondary to the S15 by the franchise coaches. SARU have got to give the National team priority and enforce playing time and player management. Players must be managed at Super 15 and Currie cup level so that the players are at their peak for national duty and can be played without the excuses of too much rugby, jaded, needs a break or should be rested etc. In my opinion the teams should be structured so that top priority is Springbok, Super 15 franchise and then Currie Cup, Vodacom cup, Varsity cup.

International players must be identified by the National coach and must all be first choice players at their franchise. Ralapele, Vermaak, and many others sit or sat on benches while others played and players not even in the running for a Bok spot play week in and week out at other franchises. Talented players on benches while mediocre players play for the top teams is the wrong way to go. Another thing that must be emphasized is combinations in pivotal positions. Front row, locks, loosies, 9 and 10, back three and centers are dependent on combinations. Taking a look at the present Bok side there is not one combination from the same team. Front row NO, Locks NO, Loosies NO, 9 10 NO, Centers NO, Back three NO.
My question is WHY NOT?

 

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by powa

Saffas need to vasbyt and toughen up!!!

May 30, 2013 in rugby, super 15

11 Comments »

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debate2

I received this comment on a previous post, from someone called Me(I know this) and seeing that a lot of guys could have missed reading it, I am posting it here for further comment. It was in response to a comment by Gertbloues on my post where I called the S15 boring, that said we should change the format of the S15 back to every team playing each other once and getting rid of the duplicate Currie cup section of the competition and let SA have 16 teams etc…….

This is fair comment which opens the debate for discussion. Read what an “outsider”  thinks, then comment and debate the points he makes.

debate

When will South Africans wake up and smell the coffee. You have to tolerate Australia’s problems as they are your bed partners. You have all banged on for years about Southern Hemisphere must stick together and now suddenly you talk about joining the Europe (Northern Hemisphere) cos it suddenly doesn’t suit you ? I thought Saffas were tough. Billy Ocean said when the going gets tough the tough get going… was he singing to South Africa ? When the going gets tough you all want to leave ? Toughen up man. Vasbyt.

You lot keep going on about the biggest stadiums and so on – it is irrelevant. SANZAR takes nothing from the gate money. It’s ALL about TV and even then SA’s figures aren’t that great. The ONLY thing SA has in their favour is the time zone as Europe can watch the rugby. SA Rugby is on the whole boring. Anyone who has watched a NZ derby and then a Aussie derby and then an SA derby without bok coloured glasses can see where the excitement is. SA Rugby is all about kicking and big forwards bashing into each other. That does NOT make good viewing internationally.

Talk of SA fielding six teams is a joke. You can’t even do it NOW! Look how many Lions players are playing for other SA teams. SA does NOT have the depth for six teams – probably not even five given the Lions performances. Make the five teams work before anything else.

You made your bed now lie in it. Aus is your partner – live with it. The format is for five teams each. Make each one of them competitive and then talk about a sixth one.

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by powa

Super 15 or Heineken cup… Stormers or Cheetahs?

May 28, 2013 in rugby, sport, super 15

26 Comments »

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super rugby

So far this year I have been watching fewer and fewer games of S15 rugby.
Three years ago I watched every single game and enjoyed most of them. Last year I watched mostly only the games where SA teams were involved, then this year I got even more selective and often changed channels when the game was boring.

In essence the S15 format is k*k and the glorified “Currie cup” sections of the competition are not doing our players any favours. The quantity of local games is causing injuries to players due to the intensity with which they are played. Local derbies should be kept to a minimum and left for the Currie Cup competition.

I wish that the powers that be would revert to every team playing the other 14 at least once each with no semi finals or final. The leader of the log at the end of the competition are the winners.
I would like to see a change in the format so that team A plays team B at home one year and away the next year. They could make SA teams play all five NZ teams away one year with OZ playing all five here and NZ playing all five in OZ then rotating the teams the next year.

If they play two on a Friday and three on a Saturday they could play the five weeks away then come home to play the five OZ/NZ games before playing the local derbies once only, or play the local derbies when the other two conferences are playing each other. This would reduce the number of games to fourteen thus reducing the injury count. Flying back and forth to OZ and or NZ will be once there and once back. for all three conferences. Sure, the stay overseas will be for five weeks but only one flight should compensate for this.

In its currrent format, and due to the defense orientated style of play, the competition is becoming boring in the extreme. I never thought that I would ever prefer watching the Heineken cup, but this year it provided the better spectacle in the games I watched.

The Stormers are still and always will be my favourite team but lets be fair, the Cheetahs have played the most entertaining rugby this year in the SA conference and have done for the past couple of years.

I love the game and for me it is sad to see the rules being continually changed (for the worse, I might add) and the coaches adopting and implementing defensive strategies that do not suit the game as it should be played.

Rugby has and always will be about scoring tries, this is what makes the game so entertaining not this boring defense and kicking game that we watch today. It’s just not rugby!

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by powa

Even when the ref is k*k you can’t say so

May 9, 2013 in currie cup, rugby, sport, super 15

11 Comments »

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Wellington – A complaint of “match day misconduct” against the Stormers was under investigation following the Super Rugby team’s win over the Hurricanes, SANZAR said on Wednesday.

via Stormers face misconduct case | Sport24.

Lately I have watched a couple of soccer games and I soooo wish the soccer bosses would become as strict as rugby.

The mob of players that gang up on the ref to express their disgust or argue a point after he has blown the whistle, is a disgrace. I have never seen a referee change his mind and reverse his decision. The way they back away from the mob to avoid being pulled and pushed around is ridiculous. I would also love to see off field cards, handed out by TV match officials for diving and outright cheating to get freekicks and penalties. (David Luis) over the weekend. To still lie writhing on the ground play acting, then smile at the camera is not clever it’s cheating and should be stamped out of the game. What are we teaching our kids? Is it clever and OK to cheat now?

Refs are not infallible and make mistakes – they don’t have slow mo replays. Accept the k*k decisions for and against. Complain via the correct channels after the game and get on with the game.

 

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by powa

Bekker you beauty

March 10, 2013 in rugby, sport, super 15

4 Comments »

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Now that’s the Bekker I know and remember. His performance on Saturday was inspirational and played a big part in motivating the rest of the team. Well done Stormers …… Great game!  An expensive win though.

The Stormers victory over the Chiefs has come at a price as they have lost winger Bryan Habana to injury for 10 weeks.

Habana was stretchered off the pitch in the 55th minute of the match after being tackled by Sam Cane and fell awkwardly.

The Stormers have revealed that they think he has injured his Medial collateral ligament (MCL) which is an injury to the ligament on the inner part of the knee and the ligament keeps the shin bone (tibia) in place.

Cheetahs and Bulls stuffed my Superbru and the Kings joined the Stormers as the top two defensive teams.

Sharks will get their bums kicked by the Brumbies if they produce the same lackluster game as the last three. They need to score tries and not just defend themselves into a coma.

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by powa

Habana not leaving… yet

January 10, 2013 in re-blogs, rugby, sport

2 Comments »

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Reports that Springbok and Stormers wing Bryan Habana has signed for French Top 14 club Toulon are premature. Reports circulated on Thursday that Habana had finalised the deal in the last few days after an extensive recruitment drive by the cash-flush French outfit for a number of years.However, the Western Province Rugby Union on Thursday told Rugby365 that whilst it’s no secret that Toulon have been chasing Habana’s signature, nothing is official as of yet.Toulon have also made no official announcement on the reported signing of the 2012 and three-time South African Player of the Year.Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal’s confidently declared in December that, “On a scale of one to 10 [on the likelihood of Habana arrival], I would say 10 but it is only my opinion.”

via iafrica.com | sport | today | Habana not leaving… yet.

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by powa

SA system is damaging tired and mentally fatigued players.

October 8, 2012 in currie cup, rugby, sport, springboks

5 Comments »

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I have written screeds of posts on this topic and it is rearing its ugly head once again.

CENTRAL CONTRACTS are a must in order to maintain the freshness and fitness levels of our International players by not allowing them to be abused by the S15 and CC stake holders. Players’ bodies and mental fitness is brought under close scrutiny when it gets to this time of the year. The Boks look jaded and after a long long season, are due for some mental and physical R&R., but that is not to be, with provinces already requiring their services for the CC final stages. The only teams who could afford to rest their Boks would be Sharks and Lions with the latter probably opting to play them because of their lack of playing time in the green and gold.

I for one can see the need by WP to play all their Springboks this weekend in order to avoid the unthinkable of having to play a promotion relegation match, but I can also see the merit of resting deVilliers and Habanna and maybe even Bekker and Etsebeth. The SA system is flawed and needs to be revised which I think has been mentioned as one of Rassie Erasmus’ main functions. This must happen sooner rather than later.

“While Meyer wants to let the newcomers gain experience and the combinations to grow on the tour, he has no guarantee that those players will be available when the tour departure arrives.

It was understood until last week that the 30 players who served under Meyer during the home leg of the Championship would be ruled out of the remaining phase of the Currie Cup, but there appears to have been an about-turn, with the provinces being allowed to call up their Boks for the domestic competition.

It appears the provinces have enforced their right to field the players that they employ, and it is the fault of the South African system rather than the individual unions that it should be allowed to happen.”

CENTRAL CONTRACTS are a must!

via SA system stands in Bok path – SuperSport – Rugby.

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by powa

I have paid good money to see this

September 30, 2012 in currie cup, rugby, sport

No Comments »

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I wrote this post 07-08-11

I have paid good money to see this

ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division | LOGS

Pos

 Team

P

W

D

L

PF

PA

PD

TF

TA

BPts

Pts

1

 MTN Golden Lions

4

4

0

0

169

101

68

22

12

2

18

2

 The Sharks

4

3

0

1

123

115

8

12

10

2

14

3

 DHLWesternProvince

4

2

1

1

130

70

60

12

4

3

13

4

 GWK Griquas

4

2

1

1

120

130

-10

12

16

2

12

5

 ToyotaFree StateCheetahs

4

2

0

2

132

110

22

14

11

3

11

6

 Platinum Leopards

4

1

0

3

84

155

-71

10

21

1

5

7

 Ford Pumas

4

0

0

4

97

121

-24

11

13

4

4

8

 Vodacom Blue Bulls

4

1

0

3

83

136

-53

8

14

0

4

 

Before the Currie Cup started I did say that the Lions were the team to watch in the CC but I never expected to see the Eighth placed Bulls to be there.

What is the problem with this super power of rugby. They have Heineke Meyer back as their Director of rugby and all things beautiful, they had 7 or 8 Bokke come back from a tour but they still lose to a Lions team that has only one questionable Bok in the team

The Sharks get walloped even after bringing on all the Bok replacements by a very motivated Griquas team but still Griquas! Huh!

The Stormers were stupidly undisciplined and deserved to lose a game that they had in the bag. The Cheetahs were the only team to benefit from the return of their Springboks.

Is this only proving the point that these returning players aren’t as good as we think and that the depth in SA rugby is actually quite shallow or are these players psychologically in a slump after taking a couple of hidings against Aus and ABs.

Big guns back for Springboks

Headlines in the Age in Aus!

My question is “Will these big guns shoot blanks”

Some other questions that need answers
Are our players mentally and physically strong enough to handle the pressure of all this top drawer rugby?
Do the sports psychologists prepare these players properly?
Do our players need to spend more time with the hand/eye coordinator coaches to improve their skills?

Then this year comes along and guess what’s happening? Bulls at the bottom and the Boks draw and lose more than they win. A win against a severely depleted Australian team doesn’t mean we have arrived!

Pos

 Team

P

W

D

L

PF

PA

PD

TF

TA

BPts

Pts

1

 MTN Golden Lions

8

6

0

2

235

192

43

22

19

4

28

2

 The Sharks

8

5

0

3

213

200

13

22

15

5

25

3

 DHLWesternProvince

8

4

0

4

223

185

38

22

16

4

20

4

 ToyotaFree StateCheetahs

8

3

0

5

223

232

-9

21

23

5

17

5

 GWK Griquas

8

3

0

5

210

250

-40

24

28

3

15

6

 Vodacom Blue Bulls

8

3

0

5

204

249

-45

18

28

2

14

 

Do we play too much rugby?

 

YES!

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by powa

Blue glasses misconception

September 26, 2012 in rugby, sport, springboks

32 Comments »

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So much for the misconception that Meyer looks at this team through Blue tinted glasses

NOT SO BLUE ANYMORE IS IT???

AND
YOUTH INCLUSIONS
Goosen is one of the six players in the match-22 that are 21 years old or younger – the others being Eben Etzebeth, Marcell Coetzee, Pat Lambie, Elton Jantjies and Jaco Taute.

Out of 24 possible combinations if  Frans Steyn plays or not

15 Zane Kirchner – Blue Bulls
14 Bryan Habana – Western Province
13 Jean de Villiers (captain) – Western Province

12 Frans Steyn / Jaco Taute – Sharks/Golden Lions
11 Francois Hougaard – Blue Bulls
10 Johan Goosen – FS Cheetahs
9 Ruan Pienaar – Ulster
8 Duane Vermeulen – Western Province
7 Willem Alberts- Sharks
6 Francois Louw – Bath
5 Andries Bekker – Western Province
4 Eben Etzebeth – Western Province
3 Jannie du Plessis – Sharks
2 Adriaan Strauss – FS Cheetahs
1 Tendai Mtawarira – Sharks
Replacements
16 Tiaan Liebenberg – Western Province
17 Coenie Oosthuizen – FS Cheetahs
18 Flip van der Merwe – Blue Bulls
19 Marcell Coetzee – Sharks
20 Elton Jantjies – Golden Lions
21 Jaco Taute / Juan de Jongh – Golden Lions/WP
22 Pat Lambie – Sharks
WP 7
Sharks 6
Bulls 3
Cheetahs 3
Lions 3
Overseas 2
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by powa

Who will play flyhalf

September 25, 2012 in rugby, sport, springboks

10 Comments »

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Many will have welcomed the addition of Lions flyhalf Elton Jantjies to Heyneke Meyer’s group for the last part of the home leg of The Castle Rugby Championship — but only the next few days will tell us whether it was a meaningful move.

As the Springbok coach himself pointed out after making the announcement of the 30-man squad, Jantjies was part of the group that gathered for the England series that started his tenure. But he didn’t play any meaningful role, and with Morne Steyn still in the squad selected for the matches against Australia in Pretoria on Saturday and then the All Blacks at FNB Stadium in Soweto the following week, there is no guarantee he will play now either.

via All eyes on Meyer’s flyhalf choice – SuperSport – Rugby.

Realistically we have no chance of winning this competition so I think it’s time to give some youngsters a run.

I personally would like to see Steyn and Kirchner fully rested for this weekend’s game with Goosen starting and Jantjies on the bench. Lambie starting at 15 with Taute on the bench.

I would like to see the bench players come on for the last 20 minutes.

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