ADFSL

I have been sitting with this question since Derick Hougard got injured all those year back and this young flyhalf of the free state was selected in the Bulls team.

O.K. a lot has change since then and he is a totally different player than in those days.

He started as a running flyhalf who could kick ok but have worked very hard to improve his kicking. (this is what Flock Cilliers his kicking coach said)

Now everybody in the world knows these days he is one of the best kickers of a rugby ball. Be it goal , drop goal or tactical kicking. Maybe Carter and Johny in his hay day was better.

But it is the rest of his playing abillities that is up for opinion.

The fact that he is playing next to the best scrumhalf in the world must make things a lot easier for him and the fact that Wynand Olivier is in the form of his life can’t hurt either. You see if Morne played for the Lions would we still rate him as a good all round flyhalf or would he then just have been a great kicker. (if that)

My opinion has always been he is a great kicker and very lucky that he always plays alongside Fourie for the bulls and the boks. Most of the Boks creative tries last year was scored when Fourie was at first receiver (flyhalf) and created the play.

BUT this year Morne has started to change my mind he really played a better all round game and got the bulls back line moving and scored a few tries, even if it is only in the last 20 min. That said the bulls haven’t really come up against truly good defending teams and their forwards haven’t really been under real pressure.

For me this year will proof whether Steyn is a briliant flyhalf or a briliant goal kicker.

The new law interpretations as a whole are going to benefit the game in the long run.

I just have one problem with the application:

When a player tackles the person with the ball but he him self  never goes to ground he should be allowed to play the ball with out first letting the player go. For me the tackler in this instance is never out of the game and should benefit because he is still on his feet and the tackled player is on the ground. 

This rule make for a lot of confusion for the players and the refs. Because as seen a lot this weekend when there are more than one player tackling a player and player 1 goes to ground and player 2 stays on his feet and goes for the ball. Some refs will allow this because in their mind player 1 made the tackle and thus player 2 is allowed to play the ball. Other refs (or sometimes the same one later in the game) will say no they are both tacklers and thus must both release the player immediately and then can continue to go for the ball.

This actually presents a timing problem because when is the tackle over and can another player come and contest for the ball and not be seen as part of the tackle. 

This happened a few time this weekend and I can remember George Smith and Phil Waugh being incorrectly penalised when viewed in slow motion. But the real problem is the inconsistency because sometimes teams get penalized and sometimes they are not for exactly the same plays. Confusing. 

For me this is stupid and the refs can do everybody a favour by saying if your on your feet and their is no ruck formed yet then you can play the ball whether you are the tackler or not. In any case most of these tackles are made when the attacking team is under pressure or behind the gain line and are thus not really on attack.

But then this is only my view.

and most sa teams seems to benefit from it.  

I am a stormers supporter and in the last few years. Well since 2001 to be exact there have not been much to get excited about. The team this year looks a lot better. And to all the bulls who say the forwards are useless I don’t think that is a problem anymore. Just a few months ago they gave the bulls a hiding in the curry cup. Okay Jack is gone but I do believe Fondse when he returns next month can play that role.

My biggest fear is that their is a mental problem with the boys from the Cape. A inability to finish of easy games and to win close games. (and then it doesn’t help that Cape town is by far the best City in RSA and all overseas based teams loves coming to Cape town.)

Everybody agrees the talent is there , the potential is there but can they actually win all their home games?

They are a bit to much like Arsenal in the PL when they are on song they are by far the best team to watch. But then the next game they are lifeless. We need more consistency from them whether Rassie can do that remains to be seen.

Last week was a given that the Lions would have lost even maties could have beaten them in that game.

So for me the S14 starts this weekend for the boys from the Cape. The Waratahs is a proper professional team with a few Wallabies.

So my question: will the Stormers stand-up and be counted or will it be another season of winning the odd game comprehensively but loosing to many in between???

I guess only time will tell.

To all the sa teams good luck this weekend. I actually choose the Cheetahs to win and although I wish the lions will win I can’t see it happening.

Cheers

Pink Panties and more.

Well Angelicia inspired me to do some surfing of my own. It did not feel right that she only catered for her self.

So here are some samples of hotties of rugby. To be fair they do a lot to promote our sport.

The real pink panty. must say one up for the sharks.

Now that is what I would call a great view.

The Sharks are not playing great but I must say this isn’t bad. Not at all.

But every one has to agree that the top awards always goes to the BOKS.

O.K. I hear you old Kich nothing for you. Stop crying. I am a balanced person so here are some England hotties for you and old VC.