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Dear Heyneke

May 20, 2013 in Rugby, Springboks

Tags: 2013, heyneke meyer, springboks, tri nations

Dear Heyneke

You know when you were named as the chosen one for the Springbok Rugby Coach job, I was very happy. Ja, I felt sorry for ou Divvy, but he was the maker of his own destiny, like Morgan Mandela said in that Invictus Movie.

So, last year, when you started picking Bulls players like Jaques Potgieter and JJ Engelbrecht, and gave them Springbok caps ahead of players who have shown their worth in the past and were much better in their positions, I started wondering what’s in your head. Are you a zombie? Then we see poor Lambie on the bench every single game, while Zane Kirchner keeps running on as full back. I wondered, is Heyneke the only one who sees value in NikNaks other than Simba?

Last year ended pretty okayish for you, with some nice wins in the Northern Hemisphere. But now, we are in a new year, and as much as we love beating the Brits, we love nothing more than beating the All Blacks and the Aussies. We hate nothing more than losing to Argentina or some other third tier side. We want you to win. Like that song goes, We wanna win. Read the rest of this entry →

by Met uysh

Don’t cry “foul” for me, Argentina.

May 20, 2013 in Rugby, Super Rugby

4 Comments »

Tags: cheat, referees, stormers, super rugby, superxv, tmo

When it comes down to a toughly contested game where teams are evenly matched, and in the end the game is decided by a poor referee decision, one can always wonder if the power that be had some sort of hand in the outcome. Friday’s match between the Stormers and Rebels turned out to have a couple of bad officiating which seemed to have robbed the Stormers of a much needed win, and we can go into the technical discussions later on. Read the rest of this entry →

by Met uysh

Go home Stormers…

May 17, 2013 in Rugby, Super Rugby

12 Comments »

After those two fantastic tries by Schreuder and Habana, the Stormers once again just threw it away.

Really. How pathetic do we want to get? The Stormers are now the only SA team to lose against the Rebels!

Go home Stormers! Go straight home! Do not pass Begin. Do not collect R200. Just go home and stay there. Your season is dead! The loss is totally unacceptable.

And why oh why do Jean keep not taking the points on offer? I am really losing my faith in him.

I don’t even know who to blame for the loss. It was just pathetic.

Disgrace.

by Met uysh

Does the punishment fit the crime?

May 16, 2013 in Rugby, Super Rugby

14 Comments »

Tags: blues, brumbies, bulls, cheetahs, chiefs, crusaders, fidentia, fine, fraud, highlanders, hurricanes, irb, j arthur brown, justice, rebels, reds, referee, sanzar, sharks, stormers, waratahs

Long has it been known in Rugby circles that Referee’s are the holy cows. The Untouchables. If there were Gupta’s in Rugby, it would be the Referee’s. They can do as they please and you have hell to pay if you dare question them. Ok, the Gupta’s did get a little red faced, but see if anything comes from the screaming and shouting of the opposition parties. Just like nothing ever comes from the screaming and shouting of rugby commentators when referee’s screw up.

It’s beyond my imagination how Rugby players, from club to the most senior levels, have not learned the hard truth that no referee ever in this history of Rugby, as far as I know or have read at least, has ever changed his mind about his decision after someone told him he is wrong or questioned his decision. I think it’s the ultimate sacrilege. Breaking of the secret Referee’s code: Never admit mistakes during the game. It’s written just above the other sacrilege: Never publicly question a fellow referee. Not too long ago we saw a referee being sacked because he dared question another referee’s decision on Twitter. But have we ever seen a Referee sacked for being just pathetic? Nope. We haven’t. Bryce Lawrence retired. He wasn’t sacked. I am yet to see a Referee being sacked for being too poor. Read the rest of this entry →

by Met uysh

Long live the Afrikaner?

May 14, 2013 in Rugby, Super Rugby

74 Comments »

Tags: afrikaners, dutchmen, keegan daniel, plumtree, racist, sharks

First there was the ANC. Then there was Luke Watson. And now, Keegan Daniel has reportedly stepped up in the fight against the Afrikaner.

Sadly, as with all things when it comes to race and ethnicity, if what is reported is true, it will just be overlooked by his employers and life will go on for him, although it will probably under very much the same cloud as Watson’s career has been since his comments about the Dutchmen. He might come off it less harshly though, since he didn’t say he wanted to vomit ont he Bok emblem or referred to Afrikaners as Dutchmen, and he has been quite a likeable fellow on the field and not at all like the arrogant, “check the melons under my arm pits” Watson. Read the rest of this entry →

by Met uysh

Marching to Pretoria!

May 10, 2013 in Babes, Rugby, Super Rugby

14 Comments »

Tags: babes, brumbies, bulls, cheetahs, chiefs, crusaders, log, plumtree must go, rankings, reds, sexy, sharks, stormers, super rugby, waratahs

Time for the Bulls haters to get out their pitchforks, crucifixes and anti-boer spray! Here is the news you all know has been coming but no-one just wanted to hear or say.

Yes people, the Bulls are currently the team best poised to win the Super Rugby competition this year. No, I’m not only talking the South African conference, I am saying the Super Rugby.

The Bulls had a bit of an iffy start, while some other teams started with a bang and thrashed everything in their way. But as we know, the Super Rugby is not a sprint; it’s a marathon, and if you do great in the first 5 rounds, it is not to say you will get anywhere near the finals.

We have just passed the half way mark, and at the time where the tournament is gaining some momentum, and where the goats are being seperated from the sheep, it is increasingly difficult to see who the probable log topper will be. Read the rest of this entry →

by Met uysh

Stormers should not try so hard!

May 3, 2013 in Rugby, Super Rugby

16 Comments »

Tags: blues, bryan habana, bulls, elton jantjies, gio aplon, jean de villiers, juan de jongh, reds, rugby, sharks, siya kolisi, stormers, superxv

It’s always seen as a bit of an injustice when a team loses a Rugby match despite having played the best Rugby all game long. That was the case again this morning when the Stormers, despite winning every aspect of the game, lost to the Blues in North Harbour by an agonising 1 point. What makes this loss even more agonising, is that the Stormers scored the only 2 tries of the match, while the Blues, traditionally known for their dangerous running rugby, didn’t score a single try. A feather in the Stormers defensive cap as you may, but that’s where the party ends. Scoring the most tries doesn’t win you matches. Scoring the most points does.

It’s irritated me to some extent when, for the past two seasons, the Stormers suffered harsh critisism for not scoring enough tries. Yet, the ended first and second on the log, which is the important thing in this competition. I mean, you can be everybody’s favorite team, but if you don’t bring in the money, you soon find yourself on the street…like the Lions. Read the rest of this entry →

by Met uysh

SA Rugby Mag vs SA Rugby Magazine

April 30, 2013 in Rugby, Springboks, Super Rugby

9 Comments »

Tags: bloemfontein, cheeky watson, ep kings, gavin rich, hsm, keo, luke watson, playerlink, ryan vrede, sa rugby mag, sa rugby magazine

Not to take anything away from Sport24, but since the article which inspired this post was referring to SA Rugby Magazine, and was linked to from Sport24 to its sister site, Supersport.com, I don’t think the big boys at Sport24 would mind very much. That’s if they even notice this post…

Ave Maria?

So, yesterday I commented on this article from Gavin Rich, who was crying foul over how people must move on and forgive and forget Luke Watson for his transgressions, and suggesting those who are still holding grudges against him are stupid and ignorant, because, in fact, Luke Watson is a very nice chap, has apoligised and has changed since the little brat he’s been before. I’m not quoting verbatim but feel free to read the article and make your own interpretation. Read the rest of this entry →

by Met uysh

No clear favorites, as Super 15 takes its toll

April 29, 2013 in Rugby, Super Rugby

14 Comments »

Tags: blues, bryan habana, bulls, cheetahs, chiefs, crusaders, force, fourie du preez, highlanders, hurricanes, john smit, jp petersen, juandre kruger, Kings, lappies labuschagne, lions, lood de jager, rebels, reds, sharks, stormers, super rugby, super xv, waratahs

By this time in the competition last year, the top 6 were pretty much set with about 8 teams still in the running for the top 6 spots. More or less the same could be said of prior years, with the top teams in the competition being relatively clear between three or four contenders. This year though, its a little bit different. Ask me last year this time who will be the champions, I would have said its gonna be between the Chiefs, Stormers and Crusaders. Ask me now? Well, it can be anyone from the Brumbies, Reds, Crusaders, Chiefs, Bulls, Sharks, Stormers even the Cheetahs. Fact is, the playing field is so level this year, the only certain thing is that the Force, Rebel, Kings and Highlanders will not be making the playoffs. All the other sides are still in with a chance.

I wonder though if this isn’t another symptom of the most idiotic system ever developed by Sanzar? With professional Rugby players playing physically the thoughest and most demanding rugby on this planet week after week, with little or no time to recover and rehabilitate, it is no wonder that several teams are struggling with many injuries, and that Springbok players like JP Petersen, Bryan Habana, Fourie du Preez, Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw, Juandre Kruger, to honestly name but a few, are looking to Japan and France where conditions are much more favorable to the player to prolong their careers. Read the rest of this entry →

by Met uysh

Sharks: Plumtree panicking?

April 24, 2013 in Rugby, Super Rugby

10 Comments »

Tags: chiefs, hurricanes, jean de villiers, patrick lambie, plumtree, sharks, sports, stormers, super rugby, super xv

“Keegan, Marcell, Kanko, F*k off!”

Yes, the Sharks are in a spot of bother. They started off extremely well, winning several tough encounters, and when the flood gates opened on the Rebels, one would have not been blamed fo thinking they may have finally stepped up a gear.

Follow a rather dismal loss to the Stormers, and an uninspiring performance against the Cheetahs, not to even mention, but I will, the plethora of Injuries, and the Sharks are suddenly in a spot of bother to get their initial promising campaign back on track.

Then, Plum goes and as if saying the Cheetahs didn’t play Rugby, (yet still beat the Sharks), wasn’t bad enough, he now goes and throws all his toys out of the cot, and includes the gravity hungry Frans Steyn at Outside Centre with the injury to Jordaan, drops Keegan Daniel and Marcell Coetzee to the bench and includes Derick Minnie from the Lions instead, with Mtembu at number 8. Read the rest of this entry →

by Met uysh

Bok Exodus: Good or Bad?

April 22, 2013 in International, Rugby

18 Comments »

Tags: andries bekker, bryan habana, cj stander, dewalt duvenhage, exodus, jaque fourie, jp petersen, juandre kruger, morne steyn, overseas, springboks, zane kirchner

Bye Bye Bokkie….

I am losing count of the number of Springboks who have signed overseas contracts since Heyneke Meyer has become the Springbok coach. Up to last year still, Ruan Pienaar, Francois Louw and Frans Steyn was the only real candidates for overseas based selection while one or two other not so noteworthy players were also selected as stop gaps during the Northern Hemisphere tour.

News has now broken that JP Petersen and Zane Kirchner will also be leaving. Two key roles in the Springboks squad. I am left wondering what we have left. Very recently Andries Bekker has signed for Japan, Juandre Kruger also signed for somewhere in Europe, leaving our lock stocks a little bare, and Bekker was not even being considered for the Springboks, having been one of the top locks in SA this season so far. Read the rest of this entry →

by Met uysh

When the Dutchmen outplayed Watson

April 22, 2013 in Rugby, Super Rugby

6 Comments »

Tags: bulls, Kings, super rugby, watson

“I’ll shave again when my team beats those beastly Dutchmen”

Did the Aussie and New Zealand teams pull whool over our eyes? What the hell happened to the Kings that played such exiting and inspiring Rugby for the last 10 weeks? Suddenly left to a steaming heap of dung after a good and proper thrashing by the Bulls?

So either Australia and New Zealand…well mostly Australia, is extremely poor, or something changed at the Kings…or maybe its just the fact that the new kids on the block are not as new anymore and they succumbed at the intimidating prospect of Big Brother, or BlouBul, by scoring absolutely zero points. They never even looked like scoring and Catrakilis hardly had an opportunity to score.

With the game all but won by the Bulls by the halftime whistle, the second half was a yawnathon of note, while the Kings happlessly tried to use the only posession they had to cross the whitewash. Their performance was much better in that second half though, but they were never going to make inroads into a side that’s been the object of the Kings’ Captain’s affection for some time, the Dutchmen from the Jukskei…. Read the rest of this entry →

by Met uysh

Ban Rugby for Kids?

April 18, 2013 in Rugby, Springboks

19 Comments »

Tags: bulletjie rugby, children, dangers, fun, kids, NWU, PUK, rugby, Tagrugby

There was talk this morning on two different Radio Stations about the disadvantages of kids playing rugby at too young an age. This was based on a report in Beeld (read here for English version) in which one Professor Cilas Wilders, a biokineticist at Pukke, said that the competitiveness of Rugby at Bulletjie Rugby, may negatively impact a child for the rest of his life.

Part of the problem is said to be the immense pressure placed on kids to WIN at all costs, with some parents paying their kids for every try they score. Another problem is that some parents get aggressive next to the field, and there has been several reports where parents get involved in physical fights over their 6 year old’s on the field. I think many who have been to these Bulletjie Rugby or similar contests, have seen the boorish behaviour of some parents.

Dr. Mariette Swanepoel says that the children’s incapability to perform to the expectations of the parents, and even unqualified coaches, has a major emotional and social impact on children. I recall that if you didn’t play Rugby at school, you were a “moffie” and teachers/coaches were more times than not, discriminatory towards boys who chose, or whose parents chose for them, not to play Rugby. And that was in the era when Rugby was still “just a game” Read the rest of this entry →

by Met uysh

Only 6 places left!

April 17, 2013 in Rugby, Springboks

4 Comments »

Tags: italy, mbombela, mob2013, samoa, scotland, springboks, stadium

The Mbombela Test Double Header tickets will go on Sale at 12:00 Today, 17 April 2013. Many tickets have already been booked by various unions, sponsors and the like, while SARU have taken blocks of tickets which will not be available for sale on Computicket.

Which is unfortunate, because if you live in the Nelspruit area and want to get tickets through Computicket to see the Springboks play in your home town for the first time ever, you might struggle to get through on their systems, and may be left empty handed, while the white collars of SARU will come from Cape Town and the like to fill up our stadium. Sorry for you. it upsets me quite a bit that many local folks won’t manage to get tickets to the game in their home town. But alas, SARU is SARU….

If you act quickly, however, and from whereever you are, you may still be part of this epic event! Only 6 spots left at the MOB accommodation, and I may still be able to get more test tickets. So please let me know soon!

Time is running out!

Clink on the Image Below to read more about the MOB!

by Met uysh

Kings are here to stay

April 11, 2013 in International, Rugby, Super Rugby

28 Comments »

Tags: cheeky watson, keo, Kings, lions, luke watson, port elizabeth, rebels, sharks, stormers, super rugby, super xv

Let’s forget for just a second about how the Kings, under the directions of chaps like Cheeky Watson, Mark Keohane and their cronies managed to wriggle their way into the Super Rugby at great loss to the Lions Rugby Franchise.

Let;s forget for a second about the conspiracy theories and real reasons behind the drive by these chaps to get the Port Elizabeth Stadium into the Super Rugby fold.

Let’s forget for a second that the Kings abused the system and portrayed themselves as an entity with a noble cause to promote Transformation,while they have done nothing to justify those claims, in fact, they have proven the opposite by allowing more “foreign” players in their squad than allowed, and that is not counting those from African countries who got place in the side ahead of other, more deserving South African, black citizens in that very Union.

Let’s forget Luke Watson’s comments about Dutchman and the Springbok jersey making him nauseous….

The Kings are here to stay. Read the rest of this entry →