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by Met uysh

Don’t cry “foul” for me, Argentina.

May 20, 2013 in Rugby, Super Rugby

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9b1e0a054fe74633a12795e7b5738836When 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 →

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by Met uysh

Go home Stormers…

May 17, 2013 in Rugby, Super Rugby

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9b1e0a054fe74633a12795e7b5738836After 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.

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by Met uysh

Does the punishment fit the crime?

May 16, 2013 in Rugby, Super Rugby

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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 →

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by Met uysh

Long live the Afrikaner?

May 14, 2013 in Rugby, Super Rugby

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emailjokes_co_za_44149_6-image006First 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 →

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by Met uysh

Marching to Pretoria!

May 10, 2013 in Babes, Rugby, Super Rugby

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998_930[1]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 →

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by Met uysh

Stormers should not try so hard!

May 3, 2013 in Rugby, Super Rugby

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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 →

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SA Rugby Mag vs SA Rugby Magazine

April 30, 2013 in Rugby, Springboks, Super Rugby

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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…

WatsonJesus

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 →

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by Met uysh

No clear favorites, as Super 15 takes its toll

April 29, 2013 in Rugby, Super Rugby

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Habana TiredBy 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 →

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by Met uysh

Sharks: Plumtree panicking?

April 24, 2013 in Rugby, Super Rugby

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"Keegan, Marcell, Kanko, F*k off!"

“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 →

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by Met uysh

When the Dutchmen outplayed Watson

April 22, 2013 in Rugby, Super Rugby

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"I'll shave again when my team beats those beastly Dutchmen"

“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 →

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by Met uysh

Kings are here to stay

April 11, 2013 in International, Rugby, Super Rugby

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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 →

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by Met uysh

The Goose with the egg shell legs…

March 19, 2013 in Rugby, Rugby Championship, Springboks, Super Rugby

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No golden eggs for this Goose! Just laying!

The Springboks and Cheetahs have been dealt a severe blow with the latest injury to Johan Goosen and one has to wonder whether this incredible talent will ever reach his potential.  Having only started Super Rugby last season, he sat out most of the season with a shoulder injury. He then got injured again ruling him out of the Springboks end of year tour and now, the latest injury, will again see him sidelined for at least 6 months while some reports say the whole year! This is a severe blow for the Cheetahs and for the Springboks, and our three horse race has been cut down to two with the leading horse eating dust!

The most worried man though would be Heyneke Meyer.  With Morne Steyn going to France at the end of the season, he is running short on options at securing his flyhalf for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.  Yes, it is still two years away, but with Goosen out this year and Morne in France when the 2014 Rugby Championship is being played, there really is only one name remaining in this race, and that is Patrick Lambie.

Not everyone’s favorite, but who else?  If I was Heyneke, it would be an easy call to make right now.  Patrick Lambie will be my flyhalf this year and next year and the year of the World Cup.  He will be my man around which I plan my game.  Yes, Goosen may well be ready when the time comes, but do you build your game plan around someone who might be ready and who is more on the sideline at the moment than on the field?  And Morne Steyn, with him playing in France, he will most definitely not be available for the Rugby Championship which is the premier tournament for the Springboks.  I guess Heyneke’s job has just been made much easier by process of elimination.

It is terrible for the Springboks though and for Goosen, as he was the favorite to take up the Bok 10 jersey according to the poll, and one has to wonder who will be Lambie’s backup at 10 going into the next few seasons.  Aside from Elton Jantjies, who’s form has been questionable this season so far, who else can step up when Lambie (touch wood) happens to get injured? Catrakilis? Frans Steyn? A miracle return by Liefling?

The Bok number 10 spot is suddenly under threat and in an area where South Africa for once had some options, suddenly there is only one. And boys like Handre Pollard may find themselves in the frame much sooner than they thought…

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by Met uysh

The battle for number 8 is on!

March 11, 2013 in International, Rugby, Springboks, Super Rugby

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With Pierre Spies’ performance this past weekend against the Blues, Heyneke Meyer will have taken note and may even be having a wry grin on his face.  Spies’ performances over the past few years were short of satisfactory, and along with his hand injury last year, allowed for Duane Vermeulen to step up and take his place in the Springbok camp.

Many viewers will regard Spies as the better player, but it is often the non-flashy players who are doing the hard graft around the park and goes unnoticed because they do not rely on open space to ply their trade as does Pierre Spies. Read the rest of this entry →

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by Met uysh

New Zealand teams running the most, but SA Flyhalves get the most ball?

March 5, 2013 in Rugby, Super Rugby

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Week 2 (or is it week 3? these Aussies always just have to confuse everything!) has come and gone and already some teams are being touted as this year’s champions, and others are being written off.  It’s still early days, chaps, so let’s not jump to conclusions too soon, or make any rash decisions.

Lot’s of focus on the Stormers, which I can get because they have been South Africa’s premier team in the Super 15 and as they say, high trees and a certain south easter, does make for some spectacular viewing. 

Last week I asked the readers to vote for their stand out performance of the week in the weekly race to the Bok number 10.  As it stands, despite having a bit of an “off” day against the Chiefs, Johan Goosen is still in the lead on the votes with Lambie in second spot.  Morne Steyn, whilst he will still be around during the Rugby Championship (he is only leaving after the Currie Cup) is backing up the rear.  To me, Morne Steyn was again very accurate with the boot and actually ran a few times with the ball in hand, one of those runs leading to a try and one out of every 4 passes went to the wing.  Lambie on the other hand was a bit stuck in an arm wrestle, and while he did miss a couple, he had a few nice runs and 1 in 3 passes went to the wing.  Goosen was a bit unfortunate to run into a very strong Chiefs side.  He missed several of his kicks (all but 1 in fact), but he remained the go-to guy for the Cheetahs, hoping he would create something for them each time he touches the ball. His defense was a bit shoddy and some of his passes were poor.  All in all, considering zero missed tackles and surviving the onslaught of the Stormers, I pick Lambie as my pick of the weekend.  Who was your top flyhalf this past weekend? Read the rest of this entry →

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by Met uysh

Springbok Flyhalve: A 3 Horse race!

February 25, 2013 in Rugby, Springboks, Super Rugby

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Well well! What a weekend of Super Rugby! Apart from the dull encounter up North in Bulls country and the snooze inducing encounter down under in Brisbane, this weekend’s “kick off” of the Super Rugby season really provided some much needed quenching of thirsts accross continents!

One thing is for sure, and that is the South African teams have a lot of work to do to match the intensity and raw speed of the New Zealand teams.  In Australia, only one team really stand out and that’s the Brumbies.  Sorry Quade, either go back to boxing, or get Genia back on your inside. Frankly, you are perhaps better at boxing than at Rugby without him!

And how about those Kings, hey? Love them or hate them, for me (with egg in my face) they earned a certain amount of respect for the way they played and kudo’s to the supporters filling a stadium, where Ellis Park would most probably have been as quiet as a….well, come to think of it, is there anything as quiet as Ellis Park right now? I still believe the venue is at the root of the Lions troubles…and perhaps a lesson to be learnt by some that perhaps encapsulating the festive vibes from what the 2010 Soccer World Cup stadiums provided may in fact assist with the longevity of the unions. Traditions unfortunately do not fill the pockets nor pay the bills. Feet do.  And pardon the little stab, Luke supporters, but what does he do on the field while someone like that Jacques Engelbrecht chappie is warming the bench? Does he still think he is a quota player or what? Read the rest of this entry →

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