Movies made after the highly succesful A Pie series with Jim in them always see him portray the role of a bloody wanker, hopeless case in the women department.  In sport the same principle applies.  If you take JP Duminy for instance, he was the difference between a win and a loss in OZ and till the day he retires will be remembered for that series.  For many Fransie Steyn is a selfish prick that only plays for personal glory and not for the team but the day when things come together well for the Durbanites then the critics change their tune.  Andries Bekker will be the Elvis impersonator with his massive sideburns, I mean really are we in the 50s again?

But who am I really taking a stab at here?  I guess the answer to that would be our Sport Ministry.  The topic of the week (or the main one for that matter) was the inclusion of a 6th Super Rugby franchise for South Africa.  I believe that this will ultimately be the downfall of our other Super Rugby franchises.  We already have 2 potential wooden spoonist.  Quality over Quantity, that is what I believe and sell in life.  Why not just utilize Eastern Cape’s “Rich” rugby culture and spread them between the existing franchises?  Why have a Franchise if you can’t play proper rugby in the first place with no physical dominance in the Currie Cup?  Don’t get me wrong.  I used to watch Heinrich Fulls and Danie Gerber in my younger days.  The Ndungane brothers are also from the Eastern Cape but will they rather join a “black” franchise or play for a team that actually wins trophies.

Turbulent storms made our trip difficult. We had to change course but the Flying Dutchmen is a steady ship with the crew working around the clock to get us back home. I returned to the mass to write my last entry into my journal, the last chapter of the puzzle and the inconvenient truth, one that should be tackled head on.

Darker times are looming for this wonderful land. A leadership under one named “Cheeky” will change the face of sport in this country forever. He will lead like a headless cow, will take in all the money and fame and fail the “sport of the oval shaped ball” He will bestow upon his followers the right to do with “De Springbokken” what they please and this will lead to the diminishing of that wonderful creature. Upon this happening, I also see a Exodus, players leaving this country’s shores to ply their trade where the grass is greener. This will have a negative impact on the way the sport is played as all that wealth is lost forever.

I am standing on the captain’s deck, looking at a breathtaking sight. Davey Jones is busy scolding his crew, better get out of his way. He reminds me of the one they call Cheeky. Always barking out orders, treating his crew like garbage. There will be a outcry in the future from all walks of life for the “sport of the oval ball” to be preserved and well maintained but the powers that be will take it away from the supporters and ultimately let it destruct with ruthless efficency. The “sport of the oval ball” will become extinct in this country and because of the Exodus, former players of this sport will be banned from ever returning to it’s shores. The one they call “Showerhead” will offcourse support this and every young kid’s dream of representing “De Springbokken” will be crushed.

The only way for you to stop this is for the Captain of the ship, the one that is in charge before the “Cheeky One” takes over, to pull his finger out of his arse and start acting in the best interest of the sport. Get the proper structures in place, support the Captains that train these young men before battle and forget about racial divide. If anyone is to blame for all the controversy in this sport then it is us.

The next thing I heard was a big BANG. I ran up to the deck to see what the cause was. Standing 100yards from us was the most beautiful and destructive ship I have ever seen. I heard rumours of it’s ruthlesness. This was a Pirate ship known simply as “The Black Pearl” If anyone receives or find this journal in the near future let it be known that my personal opinion is that the Cheeky One and son Luke must be stopped before the year of the “Cameltoe” or else all of this is for nothing.

Jan

1756.

PS: Don’t vote for “The Showerhead” that is the words I got from his anchestor.

Over my last couple of post I have covered sport from a different point of view, not directing it from a typical point of view but from a angle that others don’t see. The Fan has been covered as has Rassie the Instrument Baba. Now it’s time for the Player to run under scrutiny.

We all know that in the proffesional era, Rugby like most sports around the world is a profession. Bryan Habana gets paid millions per year including endorsements to play on a field for 80 minutes per week and strut his stuff so to speak. I feel however that nowadays, players are more interested in their cheque and any other fame that goes together with being watched by millions of fanatics week in week out. What ever happened to the days when Dr Uli Schmidt would play rugby on weekends, wreaking havoc for “Liefling” and Bokkie and on Monday morning would resume his duties as a GP?

With the current form the Stormers have, it makes me wonder what the heck they do during the course of the week? Think about it…Every week they seem to make the same mistakes over and over again and never seem to learn from them. When they do get it right, they play exciting running rugby but when they stuff it up, they mess up big time. Judging from their play, this is how their week would look like:

Monday-Recover from bruises and knocks sustained over the weekend. Eat a lot of junkfood to keep the metabolism burning. Watch a couple of sopping Dvd’s to keep the tears flowing after yet another loss.

Tuesday-Practice Time. Hit the Gym with the guys, strut around in Jockey’s to see who’s “tottie” is the biggest. Work on biceps, triceps and Abs. Take the guys for a beer at a local pub or let Luke call one of the Smokkies to organise a kis Hansa for later tonight.

Wednesday-On the Field. Do some training with Alistair and Gary, Rassie sitting on the roof trying to see why the lights won’t work, dam(this is his 8^th time in 2years) Lunch is served at 13h00 after a long day, heck it’s been practice since 11h30. My arms and legs are aching….PPPPRRRRTTTT where is the physio? Enjoy supper with the parents where Dad always seem to get me drunk with Four Cousins and a Kan of Vaalwyn. End up sleeping in my Goofy PJ’s of 10years ago.

Thursday-We do Video Analyzing of our mistakes last week and our opisitions strenghts and see where we can better our performances. (Yawn) my head is still aching, Im going to get Dad back for last night. Rassie seems to babble in a strange acsent(seems Binnelands, I Dunno).We get the afternoon off for my favourite pastime, SHOPPING!!! Me Luke and Jean hit Canal Walk to try on some new tekkies and new Jockey’s(Boy we love our Jockey’s)

Friday-Is supposed to be Captains run at so 17h00 but tonight we rather gonna order Debonairs and kick it with some Prison Break at Rassie’s Clifton Joint, heck there might even be some potential. Better get a early night, tomorrow we must concentrate.

Saturday-Game day. Wake up at 12h00 pm, take a shower, check the weather and head off to the staduim. Lots of supporters, all wearing their Stormers gear. Another scorcher. The Cheerleaders/dancers/wannabe strippers are looking good. Wonder if Jean is still hitting that??Maybe time for me to make a move. Practice warmup on the field, head back to the dressing room, Gel the hair, pluck the eyebrows and pow we ready to win.

Later that same game….

…a bit later…..

Sunday-Sleep in…..No Comment!!!…….AAAWWWWWWWWWWw

If the Blogging Genie gave me one wish which would also have a impact on the Blogging society, especially this one, it would be that Government officials, Coaches, Administrators, Players, basically everybody involved in sport all around the world be forced to read our Post. I think that this would give them a inside look and perspective on how we as the Sport Loving Supporters of this country feel.

Now Rassie would definitely feel like a retard once he red what his own clubs loyal supporters have to say about their dismal performances. Tell me how can you make a excuse before Kick Off?? How can you doubt your own players performances?? How can you threaten to Quit and leave Cape Town if your players is unhappy? Rassie I got news for you: You just a chess piece in the big puzzle. Yes everyone knows that back in the day you were a good player and made a big impact on the field. You made your big break in coaching when the Cheetahs won the Currie Cup a couple of times back to back with you and Naka sitting on the Staduim roof with colour cards and lights.

Rassie you have to realise something though. Free State and Cape Town is 2 totally different Cities. Here the fans speak, eat, work, play well basically everything evolves around Rugby. Here you have “ou ysters” like Frikkie Erasmus, Shalk Snr, Bekker Snr and even Cheeky that breaths down your neck. I just can’t see why our coaches tend to make so much bloody excuses. I am so tired of hearing the same excuses every day. Not just you Rassie but ou “Loffie” Ellof. Eugene you, like Rassie has stuck with the same guys for more then 2years and everytime you lose a game you make a remark to Joel that makes me fall of my seat.

This is how it goes every week. How long do you need to gel in order for your hair to stand up?? The Lions at times play some very attractive running rugby BUT like the Stormers they CANT play a full 80 minutes. The Cheetahs I really feel sorry for. Don’t be surprised if Juan Smit leaves the Free State for greener pastures. Not leave the country but find a better franchise, heck he can even have a brief stint at Cheeky’s “Black African met Kleurling Gatskoppers Allergiese Team” aka (BAKGAT) The Stormers at time again seem like the “Fashion Icons” of SA Rugby with their flashy Cars and skinny maer girlfriends that looks like they were taken from Fashion TV. Instead of focussing on the finer and materialistic things in life, why not focus on playing rugby for a while??

What irrated me the most about Rassie last year was the fact that when he didn’t make the Currie Cup Semi’s he blamed that on the depth of his squad. Heck the Bulls and the Sharks made the Semi’s the previous year(both losing out) and at the same time they had 13 players each missing from their starting lineup because they where busy winning the World Cup in France.

I have said it before and heck, I will say it again. A game (any game for that matter) needs two ingredients for success, only two that can make the difference between winning and losing. Desire to win and Passion is all you need. To be frank I saw little of that this weekend. It is becoming a worrying sight but luckily we still early in the season and can still assess where we are going wrong and what we can do to identify it.

The best example I can make of these two ingredients was losing semi finalist in the 07RWC Argentina. Heck those guys did bloody good for themselves and when their National Anthem would play It gave me goosebumps. They showed passion and desire and that drove them to reach the final 4 of the tournament, a feat they have never accomplished in the competition.

Now plz tell me this: Why are we underachieving against struggling opisition when we should be dominating? The New Zealand franchises has been hit the hardest by the ever glooming presence of the European Exodus and sees the Crusaders sucking bad if you ask me. The Blues, Chiefs and the Highlanders seem disorriented and actually deserve a spot in the bottom half of the log. This year sees the SA teams in a far better position then other years to claim top spot again but till now only the Bulls and Sharks have flown the flag, unbeaten in 3 games, Stormers and Lions sharing the spoils for 2^nd with one win each and the Cheetahs chewing on the Wooden Spoon….as always.

We have the quality to do better. Why does it take for our players 2 years to break into the groove of things. Think about it….

Rory Kockott started off as substitute for Ruan three seasons ago, and since last year have shown that he is worthy of a Springbok cap. Yes he is not quite there if you compare his play to Fourie but on the upside he provides a spark to a backline and if played can take the ball forward. Pierre Spies started out on the wing and look at him today. It took him 2years to settle into the groove and become a human wrecking machine, the South African version of the “Thing” Now take a youngster, any youngster coming from a upcoming Canterbury or Auckland side, a couple of games and BOOM they major. Not all of them but you get the feeling that these guys are on rugby eating plan, eat drink and sleep rugby. Ranger was just terrific against the Bulls even though their team got a beating.

Like Rassie has said, the Stormers play as individuals and not as a cohesive unit. The Bulls and Sharks especially the latter has shown that playing as a unit makes it difficult to score against them. They also have excellent leaders within their ranks, the Sharks can count on John Smit and Johann Muller and the Bulls can call Victor and Fourie. Jean DV on the other hand is still rather inexperienced at captain and needs a little more time at it, but hey rather learn now then later. The Stormers where also billed to be title contenders together with the top SA teams but for me it looks like a Sharks Hurricanes Semi in Durban and a Bulls Warratahs Semi at Loftus, with a repeat of the 2007 final.

So in short you only need 3 things to win and not 2

1. Passion
2. Desire to win and
3. Cohesive play

Number 3 something the Stormers does not possess. Comments welcome, and no pun intened to fanatical Stormer fans