All this bickering. All this negativity. And all of this on our doorstep.

I have been following the blogs closely over the last few weeks, rather keeping to myself but after receiving my weekly “Naweek se dinge” and quite enjoying the post Willem did, I have to say that he is absolutely right.

For those of you that doubt the spirit of our National Captain John Smit, you should sit back and watch how he operates. Let me put this in terms you will understand: No other man in South Africa can lead like he does.

Victor Matfield:

The understudy and vice captain of the Springboks for many years, Matfield has proven to be a good captain for the Bulls. He still lacks the ability like many others to demand respect from his players.

Jean de Villiers:

Too little experience in the role of leading a National team. One of the “mini captains” of the Springboks under the tenure of Jake White. Will never be able to concentrate on his game and carry the weight of the team at the same time.

Fourie du Preez:

Someone that has the title of “mastermind” but lately it seems that he is just not firing. Many of us, myself included hopes for a focused and in form Fourie come September, quite simply because we need him.

Now above is just some of the examples of “possible” leadership options Pieter has at his disposal. None of them however comes close to the leadership attributes that John possesses. He is able to carry the team on his shoulder, he installs a calm presence when things go awry and can get his players to stand up when they need to. This weekend with the exclusion of Bismark and John starting in his preferred position of Hooker, he showed the reason why he is still highly regarded. His workload spoke for itself and one can only but wonder what will happen if they drop him:

1. They drop John as captain. Team morale goes down.

2. They keep him on as captain, play Bissie from the bench for the second half

3. Drop him, leave him at home, and we lose the biggest asset we have in the leadership department.

I honestly believe that John will be firing at the WC. We simply cannot do it without him. A simple example would be 1999, instead of keeping Teichmann on as captain, Mallett went for broke and chose Bobby, who himself is a player of huge potential but he just didn’t get the respect as a captain, respect especially a Bok Captain deserves.

For many of the detractors, that believe that John Smit is not a suitable captain, you can go jump off a cliff for all I care. I am saying that he is not the World’s most capped Test captain for nothing. To be a captain is not just about decision making, but making good decisions at crucial times, as well as rallying your troops around you when the going gets tough.

I still went on about a programme, aired last year that showed the BIL Tour of 2009 and during the Second Test while trailing at Half Time, Smit skelled the living crap out of the team. He told them exactly what he wanted and he got it.

Now tell me, can anyone else do that?

Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better. -Harry S. Truman

Powa….challenge….

“Club”

What club you want to talk about?? A sports club, like rugby or cricket?? Or a night club….Hemisphere, Bunker9???

About 80 years ago my great grandfather, along with some enthusiast had the idea of starting a rugby club. What started off as a dream became a reality. The name of the club “Hands and Heart” has a rather rich history. The club played weekends and it still is a rather entertaining setting for a Saturday afternoon. They share a rich history, along with clubs like Collegians and Harlequins.

The home ground ain’t the biggest of them all but you will always find it jam packed when the rainbows run out. I honestly love the club but my perceptions about them has changed over the years.  You see this is a club that doesn’t have the infrastructure that the bigger clubs has.  The difference is that they work with what they got.  You can never even compare them to a school like Grey.  Rather see it as a way out of struggling, a way to get youngsters off the streets.

You see the youngsters of today, well they only think about money. Many players has been lost and yes I don’t blame them. But they will go to another club and blast their previous one for the most ridiculous things. The club has always relied on a family approach and this has worked wonders. They are currently playing in the B League, Western Province.

They have also played home to some excellent talent. There were some boys making it to Currie Cup and even a Springbok inbetween them. My two uncle’s played for them in the 60′s and they became Saru Springboks. It was such an honour to have lived with such great sporting family. One of them played his last games when our current SA coach started playing and my uncle still made fun of the bloke, say he actually provided good service for him. (Unc was a flyhalf)

My love for the game derived from him and his knowledge of the game was impeccable. A true gentleman who also had another few love affairs…..teaching, Accounting and Golf. I would say that this “club” would not have fared so well, was it not for the heroics and antics of men like my unc, miss you unc and I know you smiling down on the Rainbows and hope they finally go to the show. His funeral was attended by many of the rugby brass in South Africa. Pdv, Tobie Titus, Jake White and even a few old and current players.

PS: The Springbok I said earlier, is actually still contracted to the Bokke. He has played 32 games for them and even though many don’t like him, I do. Reason?? Well he is good and whatever faults he has, he is only human, he can improve, he is currently playing good rugga and he is a SHARK!

Adriaan Abraham Jacobs.

REM

Hate Speech, hate speech hate speech.  While we watch and await the verdict of one, Julius Malema and the outcome of what is certainly another dissapointment for us Tax Payers, one has to wonder when it all will end.  Certainly not in my lifetime.  You get the feeling that they are out to destroy what ever is left of this country.

Like Trevor Noah says in his stand up….it’s raaacccciiissssttt…..

Makes one wonder because what if that song was put as “Shoot the Zulu, or Shoot the Xhosa??  Would they have sat back???

He is making a mockery out of our justice system.

Speaking of songs, how far did our infamous “lied van die veld” come??  “Die Bloubul eet nie van die grond af nie”

It’s no wonder that they haven’t complained about that song yet.  Purely a song meant for the very bravest, very strongest Blue Bull supporter.  Will the mighty Bull get a Horing and stand up against the Reds??  Many bloggers has critisized the Bulls over recent weeks and it has come as no surprise that Frans Ludeke once again showed why he is just another mediocre coach.  Care to disagree??  He was given the players, the franchise, the whole bloody lot on a silver platter, and now when things go South he still says that he knows that nothing is wrong with them.  Hahahahahaha

I think and still believe that they are quality all over.  Big names has to stand up and be counted for.

Sharks enjoying a bye weekend, hoping to get into action next week against the Canes.  Hoping for a Lions upset but the chance of that happening is slim, just as Malema will never let nationalisation of the mines go, and Mugabe resigns and retires to a old age home.

FA Cup semi final, big one , Manchester United vs Manchester City.  United without swearing beast Rooney, City without Scarface Tevez.  Will still be a entertaining game to watch and Wembley will offcourse provide ample motivation for both teams.

Enjoy the weekend peoples!!!

REM

The Americans got Chuck Norris, the Europeans Jean Claude and we got Steve Hofmeyr

Steve drives a Tata

Steve doesn’t support the Bulls, the Bulls support Steve.

Steve gives raw meat one look and it turns into biltong.

Morkels gives Steve any guarantee he wants

Steve once sakkied with 10 Boere Poppies

Not even Chuck Norris gets as many fathers day cards as Steve

(Courtesy of GPSA)

Enjoy!!