The Springboks at the Rugby World Cup

[Blue]

but I hope for rugby's sake it's a misdirected one.

In whose opinion? Rugby sake in probably only Australian and Kiwi eyes. Personally I prefer watching a free flowing game but I appreciate the way SA, England and other play. It's fantastic that you can have such vastly difference plans can be put on the same paddock to compete don't you think?

The rest of the world do not share these sentiments. In no other country does the style of play of other teams get criticized as much as it does here in Australia. Maybe rugby union fans here are too obsessed with proving to the league people that Union is exciting. Everyone else doesn't care. Australia's best chance of winning is to move the ball around. So do it! But I wish this constant bloody whining over how everyone else chooses to play will stop (note its not a personal attack on you). If there is a better way then bloody well do it.

If another team like England wins the Scots and Welsh don't go "yeah but they won kicking".

My narcissistic side wishes a team wins this Cup through penalties just to remind everyone that there are different ways to play rugby and not everyone considers only tries to be the way you play.

If it's boring everyone is free to not watch.

 

[Blue]

He'll probably end up with a very few after Morne and Olivier have done their magic.

The Bulls have consistently scored more tries than the Stormers for years so you are really talking shit now.

The Stormers will not win the Super Toiphy with Grant and JdV at 10 and 12 and you know it.

 

[Blue]

Agree with a fair bit of your post but disagree with the bolded part.

RWC rugby if you ask me is a level down. Skills get reigned in, speed of the games are slower & teams play a much more limited gameplan than they are capable. Games are so defence orientated.

Recently, the boks haven't been able to keep up with the flashy shit, but as soon as the game is reigned in, they are masters. Same for England.

That's not to demean the Bok game at all, not at all. They are the absolute masters of the slow games & as a rugby purist, it's bloody brilliant to watch. But it's unlikely to attract new fans to the game.

The rugby at RWC isn't anything like the the showpiece to attract newer, younger, fans to the game anything like what S15 or 3N rugby is.

Thanks MR. You have restored my faith in rugby fans.

 

[Blue]

He'll probably end up with a very few after Morne and Olivier have done their magic.

Paarl actually I am disappointed that you can't see the value of Sadie running off Olivier, the best 12 offloader in the SA game. Surely you have to see that it has potential or are you THAT bitter that Sadie won't be catching a cold on the bench ion Cape Town next year which is where he would have been? For SA rugby it is best he moves so he can start every week. Take that strepie hat off for a second and look at the big picture Oom. It is a good thing because he will have a chance to push for the Boks and you and I can see he will make it.

 

[whatty]

Skills get reigned in, speed of the games are slower & teams play a much more limited gameplan than they are capable. Games are so defence orientated.

I understand your point of view but its not a lower skill level but rather just the games get tighter imo due to not wanting to loose.

 

[MajorlyRagerly]

. It's fantastic that you can have such vastly difference plans can be put on the same paddock to compete don't you think?

.

Amen to that. Different countries have different styles & all are fantastic in their own way. It's exactly why there are sooooo many discussions about referee's etc - because every country wants the referee's to ref to a way which suits their style of play.

As a purist, there's plenty to enjoy in every style. Take the last Bledisloe for example. New fans would probably enjoy the first half more, where there were big hits, large runs & openish sort of game. Purists would probably enjoy the second half more where the AB's stuffed it up the the jumper and just punched up hit after hit after hit after hit.

2 totally different game plans, one game, one sport.

Bloody brilliant.

 

[MajorlyRagerly]

I understand your point of view but its not a lower skill level but rather just the games get tighter imo due to not wanting to loose.

Fair enough, but it sure as hell isn't a step up!

 

[DPK]

And the good guys won

 

[PaarlBok]

Amen to that. Different countries have different styles & all are fantastic in their own way. It's exactly why there are sooooo many discussions about referee's etc - because every country wants the referee's to ref to a way which suits their style of play.

As a purist, there's plenty to enjoy in every style. Take the last Bledisloe for example. New fans would probably enjoy the first half more, where there were big hits, large runs & openish sort of game. Purists would probably enjoy the second half more where the AB's stuffed it up the the jumper and just punched up hit after hit after hit after hit.

2 totally different game plans, one game, one sport.

Bloody brilliant.

Well you can drill the game plans down the countries structures. The Waratahs the perfect example within the Aus teams. You get this at the ITM & CC teams and in every single competition even at schoolboy level.

 

[PaarlBok]

Paarl actually I am disappointed that you can't see the value of Sadie running off Olivier, the best 12 offloader in the SA game. Surely you have to see that it has potential or are you THAT bitter that Sadie won't be catching a cold on the bench ion Cape Town next year which is where he would have been? For SA rugby it is best he moves so he can start every week. Take that strepie hat off for a second and look at the big picture Oom. It is a good thing because he will have a chance to push for the Boks and you and I can see he will make it.

Sad day when Meisiekind is the best off loader in the SA game. Geuss time will tell. I'd like to see Sadie and Venter (SA U20 midfielder) mixing it up at the Brutes.

 

[Blue]

Sad day when Meisiekind is the best off loader in the SA game. Geuss time will tell. I'd like to see Sadie and Venter (SA U20 midfielder) mixing it up at the Brutes.

I meant the best offloading 12. At the moment. Name one 12 who is better. He has just never done it at test level.

The fact that you haven't answered my view of it being best for SA rugby that Sadie has gone north just shows me that you are really bitter about it.

You'll happily pinch players and even make moves on people like Brussow but you complain if a Cape player moves for a better opportunity.

Can't have your cake and eat it mate.

 

[PaarlBok]

I meant the best offloading 12. At the moment. Name one 12 who is better. He has just never done it at test level.

The fact that you haven't answered my view of it being best for SA rugby that Sadie has gone north just shows me that you are really bitter about it.

You'll happily pinch players and even make moves on people like Brussow but you complain if a Cape player moves for a better opportunity.

Can't have your cake and eat it mate.

Hey dont called me a mate. I have to admit I and many WP supporters feel sad and bitter by the Sadie move. He sure as hell dont make it easy for us on a weekly basys, specially myself who know him personally since a 7 year old laaitie.

Still Meisiekind an off loading 12, in your dreams Brute.

 

[potjiekos]

Quite funny how everyone seem to be psycho-analysing the Boks game-plan. Everybody, albeit the baker or the candlestickmaker (most of them resident on an erstwhile penal colony I might add!)... all seem to be jumping on the "they play boring rugby" bandwagon. It would appear as though the proponents of this analogy, who IMHO are simply clutching at straws / looking for kink in the armour, seem to forget that the springboks are a multi-faceted team and although it is comprised of highly talented individuals that posses a myriad of skills, the team dynamic remains paramount. If that means playing to their strengths... big power forwards setting up multiple phases, endless rucking and mauling, great defensive play and Steyn and co, slotting over the inevitable penalty, then so be it.

I suppose these desperate individuals may be suffering from a bout of selective amnesia.... they seem to be forgetting that the Boks if presented with the opportunity, will run!! Who can forget Pieter Hendriks slipping past a hapless Campo in the opening match of the '95 World Cup or Bryan Habana's record equalling tryfest in '07 that led to him clinching the 'man of the tournament' accolade.... I think the Boks 'whitewashed ' some NH team exhibiting some excellent defensive and attacking interplay, along the way!

To each his own , I suppose, but the "they can't play rugby" tag is wearing thin already, and even the most fickle and cynical of commentators that ascribe to this sentiment, while wallowing in the proverbial cesspool of delusion, knows in their heart of hearts....deep down in the smokey recessess of their twisted sub-consciousness, that there is method the Boks madness!!

GO BOKKE!! MY BLOED IS GROEN!!

 

[light]

Nice first post mate,

That had some really long words I couldn't understand but you presented your case well. Good to see all these 'tags' are putting some fire in your bellies and maybe we are all underestimating you.

I sincerely hope you prove us wrong.. but not to the extent that you win the cup

 

[Blue]

Hey dont called me a mate.

Paarl relax vir voks sake.

Mate = friend = vriend.

 

[Blue]

Potjiekos you have to explain your name to people

 

[Athilnaur]

Blue - I hear you but spectator wise it's as Sam Ikin says. For world rugby that's the thing that will see the game prosper. Needs a balance tho, not try fests, no penalty fests!

MR - by that analogy Super Rugby >> test rugby. Not happening, RWC takes the players to a new level, just as tests do over pro regional games.

 

[MajorlyRagerly]

Blue - I hear you but spectator wise it's as Sam Ikin says. For world rugby that's the thing that will see the game prosper. Needs a balance tho, not try fests, no penalty fests!

MR - by that analogy Super Rugby >> test rugby. Not happening, RWC takes the players to a new level, just as tests do over pro regional games.

Agree to disagree. If rwc rugby is a new level, I'm a wallaby fan.

To the uninitiated, s15 rugby is a far far better spectacle than rwc rugby

 

[PaarlBok]

Bakkies probably gone for the tournament.

Cape Town - Springbok lock Bakkies Botha's dream of helping South Africa become the first team to successfully defend the World Cup might be over.

A reliable source in New Zealand confirmed to Sport Illustrated that Botha's Achilles tendon injury - which has already ruled him out of Sunday's match against Wales - is worse than was initially thought and the burly Bulls lock could miss the rest of the tournament.

The Springbok team will be announced at 10pm (South African time) on Thursday night, and more clarity on Botha's participation in the tournament will then be known.

Sports Illustrated reports that talks between Botha, the Springbok medical team and management were ongoing late into Thursday night New Zealand time, but that a decision is yet to be made on whether or not Botha will stay on in New Zealand.

Mostert probably will replace him. The fake injury list is huanting us.

 

[PaarlBok]

and welcome on board Potjiekos, lekker, lekker, lekker, potjiekos!