So last weekend didnt go anything like i wanted it to. Believe it or not I was all green and gold man. Before I carry on though, i think the powers that be are going a bit over the top with this Tip tackle thing. A spear tackle is one thing but none of those 3 tackles that people got sanctioned for deserved further punishment especially if they received a yellow card during play. I am honestly bummed that the ABs wont have the opportunity to face Quade Cooper this weekend and next. There was no malice involved in any of the 3 tackles...anyway moving along
Last weekends game was again one of those days. The Wallabies played with passion that carried them beyond their ability as a playing unit. That side is a side for the future and i think they are about 14 mths from their full potential and i see them right up there if not the last man standing in 2011, no jokes. But they werent as good as the Boks made them look last weekend. Mind you past the first game I dont think the ABs are as good as people are saying, not just yet. Last weekend once again the green and gold failed to pitch man. I dont think that any team or professional plaer ever dons their national or team jersey not caring about losing. Its never an option, well unless you are the French football team. So i dont think its a matter of the guys not caring, but once again its a mental thing. The heart just isnt there. I dont think its entirely a coaching thing either, ok maybe a little. The guys just seemed clueless when they had ball in hand, first option is always to hoof it, and thats symptomatic of SA rugby in general, bar the Stormers this year, who tried to play a balanced game. Once again man, Barney's just not cut out for it anymore, Victor is doing what he has to do, but i think he needs time on the bench along with Bryan and Pierre. People are ranting and raving abuot Schalla, but as hard working as he is the man is a misguided missile, which takes away from his effectiveness. But its not all doom and gloom. SA has the biggest talent pool to choose from. I just wish they would write off this tri nations and grow some balletjies. Blood some youngsters. You saw the urgency and excitement that players like Hougaard, De Jongh and Chilliboy brought when they were introduced. Im loving the fact that Elton Jantjes has been introduced at no 10 for the lions against the Bulls, big game but thats a coach showing some gonads cos the kid is all class!
Speaking about Chiliboy, if i had to be honest with myself i dont think the selectors believe him to be the Bok no 2 hooker at the moment, which is sad because why waste his time on the bench. Lets be honest if John had to be injured, because thats the only way he will be removed from the side it seems, they will most probably call in Gary Botha ahead of starting Chiliboy, unless ofcourse its against Italy or some other random team. So i say let him go and get regular game time. I think he should leave the Bulls too, because i see his career going the same way as my good man Hanyani's where he spends most of the time collecting splinters in his bum!! I like Ruan, but sheesh was he average?! I havent heard any vociferous calls for him not to ever ever ever be the Bok no 9 again...go figure...
BJs yellow card was rather harsh in my view but i guess he shouldnt have put himself in that position to start off with, because its not like he was pushed, he just plopped over by himself...
This weekends game should be interesting. Once again i see the scrums being a reset-a-thon, so the Ausies can get some parity. The major contest will be in the loose trio. The breakdowns are going to be trench warfare and with all the bad press that he has been getting of late, i see Richie getting a yellow card. In the backs, i am pretty darn bummed that the powers that be in their infinite wisdom have seen it fit to include Jimmy ahead of Piri, but i guess they want someone to nullify Genias little breaks around the base of the scrum, because we all know Jimmy is a good defender. The ABs backs v Quade would have been superb man, but those fools who cite have robbed us of that, but Gits, will definitely have a point to prove
Both backs have ball runners, Nonu will have a tough time against Barnes cos that skinny bra can tackle. Im looking forward to both backs using the ball. Also looking for the introduction of Izzy Dagg.
A massive point of interest will be the effectiveness of Pocock and McCaw at the breakdowns. Once again i see Richie coming in for some special attention from the Ausies. Jerome and Rocky will also be massive in the forward exchanges. On paper the loose trio of the ABs should get the better of the Ausies, but that only marginally and only because i see Read as a better player than Brown currently.
A few weeks ago we werent speaking about Oz as a force in this tri nations, look at them now. Its all about faith and belief in oneself and i guess progressive tactics, something i fear this current Bok team has been found wanting of this year thus far. but i am not concerned, they will put up a better showing.
imagine this Bok team:
15 Zane (shining star in the Boks backs so far)
14 Gio
13 Jean (Jacques is banned)
12 Juan
11 Basson/Hougaard
10 Steyn
9 Hougaard/Pienaar
8 Kanko/Watson(yes Luke he has more heart and ability than anyone i am seeing at the moment)
7 Potgieter/Flouw
6 Juan/Jean
5 Andries
4 Flip
3 BJ
2 Chiliboy/Liebenberg
1 Guthro
Outta here, happy viewing all, i'm sure this weekend will be less frustrating than the previous weeks, cos shaiza it was painful for me too last weekend
Lata
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Hey gang,
Heard there is a new w(h)ine coming out this month in stellenbosch, they are going to call it Bobskin!! Man that has got to be the worst, worst worst bit of commentary ever! I think the problem is that he is way too close to that squad to be even remotely impartial or no-inflammatory. Anyway thank goodness for Kobus and Afrikaans, because when i was watching it live after the first 2 minutes i made the switch and what a relief...
Anyway post the test match and listening to Darren etc. as well as reading all teh post match reports on the different websites i decided let me watch this game again cos clearly i missed something, because i didnt think Alain Roland was so bad ey. But i guess that could be cos the team i was supporting won. So i watched the test again, not once, not twice, but thrice. The focus of my viewing was Danies yellow card, Rene Rangers shoulder charge, Jeans tackle and Richie and Zanes high tackle, Meisie kinds swinging forearm....
Guys, truth be told the ref missed a few things...on both sides, and he blew for some wrong things, but on the whole he blew a decent game. But lets go threw the talking points quickly. Penalty South Africa, Danie R in his infinite wisdom slaps Richie on his head, Richie, lashes out, he Danie kicks Richie. nothing in it, but dumb football. Had he not got a yellow card not too many would have complained, but alternatively had he gotten one which he had, i doubt too many would have complained too, i mean say it was Ma'a Nonu who had kicked John Smit, the Bok supporters would have been calling for blood. Which leads me to Rangers 'shoulder charge'. Please do me a favour and watch it again minute 35. Conrad had Zane around the legs ranger came in at pace had his left arm around Zane, right arm was coming up over he made contact with an already falling Zane and boom penalty, even Daren at half time said the other angle shows it was much worse thus implying it wasnt as bad as it looked. initially, like the different camera angles that dont show a try, but the other one does...
Jean tackled Rene, lifted him beyond the horizontal and didnt bring him back down safely...its a dangerous tackle, even Jean knew it cos when he finished he sat there and looked at the officials, but he got away with it so we move on. If he hadnt been cited not too many would have batted an eyelid, because he is not that kind of player...10 seasons of rugby and only one yellow card.
If we want to nit pick Zane had a high hit on someone i dont know who but it wasnt pinned, and Meisiekind gave DC a swinging forearm across the throat when they were chasing a kick, silly, nothing in it but it was let go....
Lets go to Richie, minute 42.22, he tackles Danie, gets up goes to the correct side competes for the ball, goes off his feet and lets go. penalty and a warning. Minute 60.31 (almost 20 minutes later) Boks on attack. AB defense hits the ruck with venom, a whole lot of them go off their feet. Ref calls Richie out cos he is the captain. His words are team warning, anyone else goes off their feet in this area again. It wasnt for Richie. 72.39 Richie penalised in the SA half, he tackles the player, keeps his feet, drives through and over the ball, picks up the ball and presents it to his side penalty against him.
It may seem like a defense of the ABs but please go and watch it again and let me know, maybe i dont know the laws that well enough. The problem wasnt the Blacks or the ref, because, Rangers call was from the assistant, Danies call was from the assistant. Jeans citing was from the citing commissioner.
Lets get to the game. The Boks were much better, and i think had Danie not been binned, they would have been there or there abouts at the close because in my mind the ABs werent as clinical this game. the Boks were much more competitve and looked like a rugby playing nation when they carried ball in hand, they actually looked very dangerous too. The fight though was lost in the rucks and mauls. The ABs had more numbers driving forward with intent as opposed to the Boks. Most times the ABs got pinned it was because the body position of the Boks and the attitude, was just wrong and the ABs were allowed to drive through and put more numbers there. general physics i guess, force and inertia on one side meeting no reisistance on the other well you generally blow straight over and if you are not balanced, well you will fall not so?!
For the Boks, I have said this many times, John Smit is just not up to it as a hooker. Compare the way Stephen Moore, Andrew hore, Mealamu, Liebenberg, Botha, Bismarck, Chilliboy....they all carry the ball up with purpose, John goes in waiting to get tackled. Victor is not prevalent anymore. Spies, as i said, if his pack doesnt dominate he is nowhere and i mean nowhere. Ricky i have defended endlessly and i dont think he had such a terrible game, but Ruan set the backline alight when he came on, made a few mistakes but on the whole he is just a delight to watch. Bryan needs the hunger back, he just looks stale. he needs some time on the sidelines to ponder life like Mills did, just so he realises that the jersey isnt his. Bring on Hougaard, Basson, Mvovo, you know! Other than that we loved Zane at 15, he did everything well, he was the bright light in the backs. Then there was Jacques who was fantastic as always. Schala and Flouw were bloody good too and hard working and all the things you require from international loosies. I think Guthro got shown up a little, he scrumed in a lot but wasnt caught. BJ was a much better choice than CJ.
All in all a much better showing by the Boks, but what killed them is their attitude at ruck time as well as that damn kick and chase game. Its gotta go. The interpretations of the laws have changed so now instead of having big forwards and wingers chasing the high kick, there are one maybe 2 backs at best...doesnt bode well for retrieving the ball.
The Blacks all had decent games. Piri, Ma'a, Keven and Mills, players that many doubted all had fantastic games. Supporters reckon Ricky is a prop playing no 9, what about Piri? only difference is everyone supports Piri. Every time he touched the ball there was appreciation from the crowd and he delivered. He in my mind is waaay better than Jimmy, and he doesnt have the red mist liability either. DC had a good game, but left his kicking boot at home as well as 13 points or so. i know many of you want to dub Richie a cheat, but do me and yourselves a favour. the Man is that good and shaiza does he work hard.
The tri nations i guess has started well fro the ABs, i would rather they be losing now but ey at least i havent been receiving any smses the last too weeks. the first match they were sublime but last week, they showed they can be beaten. They are still work in progress and hope they up their game against the Ausies and at soccer city, because thats a real yardstick for where they are at
For the Boks, i dont believe for a second its all doom and gloom. you dont go from being pace setters to nobodys in a year. They had 2 teams in the S14 final, even though one of them was assisted by the refs and assistants to win and get into the semis.....jookes just making a point :) They have the players and the coaching staff. Lets be honest, last year it was the coaching teams brainwave that gave them the Tri-Nations last year. i think they have to take some hard decisions. John Smit, on his bum on the bench, Victor on his bum, Spies on his bum or on the wing, imagine??Jean at 12 not 14, bryan on his bum. The guys just look tired. Bring in Duane at 8, give chilliboy a start at 2 start with andries. Jacues louis Potgieter/Ruan at 10, basson/Hougaard. now is the time to start experimenting. The old guys just dont seem to have the same passion, i am sure they want to play but its just not coming together.
Against Aus this weekend, good money should be on the Boks to win but there has to be a fat attitude shift. more aggression at the break down and not stupid aggression. Aus are smaller in the backs but in Genia and Cooper the in form halfback combo. Gits one of the best players in the world. Adam Ashley Cooper one of the most underrated backline players in the world. cameron Shepard and Junior OConnor, and Rob horne. Judge them on size they lose hands down, but ability and skill these boys are tooo exciting. their forwards even though on paper should be pap, they gave the Boks a good work out last year. The loosies are ok at best, not fearsome by any means but Rocky is one competitive guy and if he is allowed to run loose at the backs, he will be a handfull and their main source of go forward ball. Brown was a handicap last year and we'll see how he goes. George is gone but Pocock isnt a bad replacement and he has big guns.
Its an away game so the Boks are supposed to lose it, but the Wallabies are under the pump, so too the Boks. The Boks will be aggressive, may even boil over once again because its the nature of some of the players...History is against them in that they havent won in Brisvegas in a while. But they are hungry to put right the performances in New Zealand, but against them is also the fatigue of being away from home for 4 weeks. 2 losses and a little bit of doubt creeping in.
Div will change his game plan and i really hope he wins, as much as i like the Aussie style of play, i want him and his charges to issue a good beating based on goood running rugby to the Aussies, so some damn blinkered idiotic Bok supporters can back the f down and leave him be!! I want to support the Boks this weekend hope the overly aggressive idiots stay at home!!
Happy viewing
Y
Heard there is a new w(h)ine coming out this month in stellenbosch, they are going to call it Bobskin!! Man that has got to be the worst, worst worst bit of commentary ever! I think the problem is that he is way too close to that squad to be even remotely impartial or no-inflammatory. Anyway thank goodness for Kobus and Afrikaans, because when i was watching it live after the first 2 minutes i made the switch and what a relief...
Anyway post the test match and listening to Darren etc. as well as reading all teh post match reports on the different websites i decided let me watch this game again cos clearly i missed something, because i didnt think Alain Roland was so bad ey. But i guess that could be cos the team i was supporting won. So i watched the test again, not once, not twice, but thrice. The focus of my viewing was Danies yellow card, Rene Rangers shoulder charge, Jeans tackle and Richie and Zanes high tackle, Meisie kinds swinging forearm....
Guys, truth be told the ref missed a few things...on both sides, and he blew for some wrong things, but on the whole he blew a decent game. But lets go threw the talking points quickly. Penalty South Africa, Danie R in his infinite wisdom slaps Richie on his head, Richie, lashes out, he Danie kicks Richie. nothing in it, but dumb football. Had he not got a yellow card not too many would have complained, but alternatively had he gotten one which he had, i doubt too many would have complained too, i mean say it was Ma'a Nonu who had kicked John Smit, the Bok supporters would have been calling for blood. Which leads me to Rangers 'shoulder charge'. Please do me a favour and watch it again minute 35. Conrad had Zane around the legs ranger came in at pace had his left arm around Zane, right arm was coming up over he made contact with an already falling Zane and boom penalty, even Daren at half time said the other angle shows it was much worse thus implying it wasnt as bad as it looked. initially, like the different camera angles that dont show a try, but the other one does...
Jean tackled Rene, lifted him beyond the horizontal and didnt bring him back down safely...its a dangerous tackle, even Jean knew it cos when he finished he sat there and looked at the officials, but he got away with it so we move on. If he hadnt been cited not too many would have batted an eyelid, because he is not that kind of player...10 seasons of rugby and only one yellow card.
If we want to nit pick Zane had a high hit on someone i dont know who but it wasnt pinned, and Meisiekind gave DC a swinging forearm across the throat when they were chasing a kick, silly, nothing in it but it was let go....
Lets go to Richie, minute 42.22, he tackles Danie, gets up goes to the correct side competes for the ball, goes off his feet and lets go. penalty and a warning. Minute 60.31 (almost 20 minutes later) Boks on attack. AB defense hits the ruck with venom, a whole lot of them go off their feet. Ref calls Richie out cos he is the captain. His words are team warning, anyone else goes off their feet in this area again. It wasnt for Richie. 72.39 Richie penalised in the SA half, he tackles the player, keeps his feet, drives through and over the ball, picks up the ball and presents it to his side penalty against him.
It may seem like a defense of the ABs but please go and watch it again and let me know, maybe i dont know the laws that well enough. The problem wasnt the Blacks or the ref, because, Rangers call was from the assistant, Danies call was from the assistant. Jeans citing was from the citing commissioner.
Lets get to the game. The Boks were much better, and i think had Danie not been binned, they would have been there or there abouts at the close because in my mind the ABs werent as clinical this game. the Boks were much more competitve and looked like a rugby playing nation when they carried ball in hand, they actually looked very dangerous too. The fight though was lost in the rucks and mauls. The ABs had more numbers driving forward with intent as opposed to the Boks. Most times the ABs got pinned it was because the body position of the Boks and the attitude, was just wrong and the ABs were allowed to drive through and put more numbers there. general physics i guess, force and inertia on one side meeting no reisistance on the other well you generally blow straight over and if you are not balanced, well you will fall not so?!
For the Boks, I have said this many times, John Smit is just not up to it as a hooker. Compare the way Stephen Moore, Andrew hore, Mealamu, Liebenberg, Botha, Bismarck, Chilliboy....they all carry the ball up with purpose, John goes in waiting to get tackled. Victor is not prevalent anymore. Spies, as i said, if his pack doesnt dominate he is nowhere and i mean nowhere. Ricky i have defended endlessly and i dont think he had such a terrible game, but Ruan set the backline alight when he came on, made a few mistakes but on the whole he is just a delight to watch. Bryan needs the hunger back, he just looks stale. he needs some time on the sidelines to ponder life like Mills did, just so he realises that the jersey isnt his. Bring on Hougaard, Basson, Mvovo, you know! Other than that we loved Zane at 15, he did everything well, he was the bright light in the backs. Then there was Jacques who was fantastic as always. Schala and Flouw were bloody good too and hard working and all the things you require from international loosies. I think Guthro got shown up a little, he scrumed in a lot but wasnt caught. BJ was a much better choice than CJ.
All in all a much better showing by the Boks, but what killed them is their attitude at ruck time as well as that damn kick and chase game. Its gotta go. The interpretations of the laws have changed so now instead of having big forwards and wingers chasing the high kick, there are one maybe 2 backs at best...doesnt bode well for retrieving the ball.
The Blacks all had decent games. Piri, Ma'a, Keven and Mills, players that many doubted all had fantastic games. Supporters reckon Ricky is a prop playing no 9, what about Piri? only difference is everyone supports Piri. Every time he touched the ball there was appreciation from the crowd and he delivered. He in my mind is waaay better than Jimmy, and he doesnt have the red mist liability either. DC had a good game, but left his kicking boot at home as well as 13 points or so. i know many of you want to dub Richie a cheat, but do me and yourselves a favour. the Man is that good and shaiza does he work hard.
The tri nations i guess has started well fro the ABs, i would rather they be losing now but ey at least i havent been receiving any smses the last too weeks. the first match they were sublime but last week, they showed they can be beaten. They are still work in progress and hope they up their game against the Ausies and at soccer city, because thats a real yardstick for where they are at
For the Boks, i dont believe for a second its all doom and gloom. you dont go from being pace setters to nobodys in a year. They had 2 teams in the S14 final, even though one of them was assisted by the refs and assistants to win and get into the semis.....jookes just making a point :) They have the players and the coaching staff. Lets be honest, last year it was the coaching teams brainwave that gave them the Tri-Nations last year. i think they have to take some hard decisions. John Smit, on his bum on the bench, Victor on his bum, Spies on his bum or on the wing, imagine??Jean at 12 not 14, bryan on his bum. The guys just look tired. Bring in Duane at 8, give chilliboy a start at 2 start with andries. Jacues louis Potgieter/Ruan at 10, basson/Hougaard. now is the time to start experimenting. The old guys just dont seem to have the same passion, i am sure they want to play but its just not coming together.
Against Aus this weekend, good money should be on the Boks to win but there has to be a fat attitude shift. more aggression at the break down and not stupid aggression. Aus are smaller in the backs but in Genia and Cooper the in form halfback combo. Gits one of the best players in the world. Adam Ashley Cooper one of the most underrated backline players in the world. cameron Shepard and Junior OConnor, and Rob horne. Judge them on size they lose hands down, but ability and skill these boys are tooo exciting. their forwards even though on paper should be pap, they gave the Boks a good work out last year. The loosies are ok at best, not fearsome by any means but Rocky is one competitive guy and if he is allowed to run loose at the backs, he will be a handfull and their main source of go forward ball. Brown was a handicap last year and we'll see how he goes. George is gone but Pocock isnt a bad replacement and he has big guns.
Its an away game so the Boks are supposed to lose it, but the Wallabies are under the pump, so too the Boks. The Boks will be aggressive, may even boil over once again because its the nature of some of the players...History is against them in that they havent won in Brisvegas in a while. But they are hungry to put right the performances in New Zealand, but against them is also the fatigue of being away from home for 4 weeks. 2 losses and a little bit of doubt creeping in.
Div will change his game plan and i really hope he wins, as much as i like the Aussie style of play, i want him and his charges to issue a good beating based on goood running rugby to the Aussies, so some damn blinkered idiotic Bok supporters can back the f down and leave him be!! I want to support the Boks this weekend hope the overly aggressive idiots stay at home!!
Happy viewing
Y
Thursday, July 15, 2010
I think everything that could be said about Bakkies has been said, so i say no more other than good riddance and to be honest i dont think he has done anything positive in the last year or so to warrant a recall!!
The only difference between the 2 sides on the weekend in my mind was desire and hunger i think the Boks fell into the trap of believing the hype and just thought they would just pitch up and do the job, but they have learnt i am sure. I read Rugby365 and some of those idiots really anger me no end. The boks lose one game and its PdVs fault, but when they win its the teams fault, go figure...
I am not much a fan of Meisiekind, but i dont think he did anything wrong to warrant being dropped. i do like the combo of Jean and Jacques as i said last week. What i like about PdV is he has shown faith in the same team that didnt deliver last week, I think Jean will be better this weekend. The only thing against both him and Brian, is the fact that they both come in for the intercept and as a result they will get exposed by a team with half a brain. I have said this many times. John Smit is pretty toilet as a hooker. Cant question his captaincy or interviewing skills, but as a mobile hooker he is lacking. I say bring on Chiliboy and Tiaan Liebenberg, but it wont happen, shame Chiliboy, hes going to get the Hanyani treatment and its not fair. If John gets busted now, Gary Botha will step over him or someone.
Danie at lock is perfect, he has been doing the business for the Bulls and the Boks this year and why he didnt start i guess the powers that be have learnt...its life. He gives away the odd yellow card but its through enthusiasm more than ill intent.
The pack may be stronger now with big man CJ in for the deck of cards Du Plessis, cos man he was folded more than origamist folds a flower. CJ is a big guy and i am sure they are using him to negate the loss of push power that Bakkies provided, but i think his scrummaging ability is second to BJs, but time will tell.
Pierre was nowhere, why because he was not part of a dominant pack and that meant Ricky also struggled and Steyn was also pretty random.
For the Blacks i was really impressed with the effort from the players who have hardly played this year, Donnelly, Mills and Ma'a. I guess the latter had points to prove and prove it they did. i wasnt impressed with Jimmy at all. He did ok in the early stages but started to fall off in the second half. The selectors have given Piri the reigns ahead of him. Another change is Ranger on the wing. i like him but i fear that he may try and be too much of a hero at the wrong time and not pass but we'll see.
The game on saturday will be a much tighter affair. The Boks wont be so dozy and i doubt the Blacks can bring the same intensity and execution.
There really isnt much to be said about the game on the weekend, its part one of a 3 battle war, there is much work to be done so i wont be going off on a tangent if i was a supporter of either country, well not at this stage. it was a home game for the Blacks and good money should have been on them winning, but their form of late particularly against the Boks has been woeful at best. Some might argue that it was the boks that were better, others might argue that it was the Blacks that were toilet either way there are 2 more games to be played and after that we shall see...Shame pooor Australia, its like the world has forgotten that it is the TRI nations.
Happy viewing boys and girls
Y
The only difference between the 2 sides on the weekend in my mind was desire and hunger i think the Boks fell into the trap of believing the hype and just thought they would just pitch up and do the job, but they have learnt i am sure. I read Rugby365 and some of those idiots really anger me no end. The boks lose one game and its PdVs fault, but when they win its the teams fault, go figure...
I am not much a fan of Meisiekind, but i dont think he did anything wrong to warrant being dropped. i do like the combo of Jean and Jacques as i said last week. What i like about PdV is he has shown faith in the same team that didnt deliver last week, I think Jean will be better this weekend. The only thing against both him and Brian, is the fact that they both come in for the intercept and as a result they will get exposed by a team with half a brain. I have said this many times. John Smit is pretty toilet as a hooker. Cant question his captaincy or interviewing skills, but as a mobile hooker he is lacking. I say bring on Chiliboy and Tiaan Liebenberg, but it wont happen, shame Chiliboy, hes going to get the Hanyani treatment and its not fair. If John gets busted now, Gary Botha will step over him or someone.
Danie at lock is perfect, he has been doing the business for the Bulls and the Boks this year and why he didnt start i guess the powers that be have learnt...its life. He gives away the odd yellow card but its through enthusiasm more than ill intent.
The pack may be stronger now with big man CJ in for the deck of cards Du Plessis, cos man he was folded more than origamist folds a flower. CJ is a big guy and i am sure they are using him to negate the loss of push power that Bakkies provided, but i think his scrummaging ability is second to BJs, but time will tell.
Pierre was nowhere, why because he was not part of a dominant pack and that meant Ricky also struggled and Steyn was also pretty random.
For the Blacks i was really impressed with the effort from the players who have hardly played this year, Donnelly, Mills and Ma'a. I guess the latter had points to prove and prove it they did. i wasnt impressed with Jimmy at all. He did ok in the early stages but started to fall off in the second half. The selectors have given Piri the reigns ahead of him. Another change is Ranger on the wing. i like him but i fear that he may try and be too much of a hero at the wrong time and not pass but we'll see.
The game on saturday will be a much tighter affair. The Boks wont be so dozy and i doubt the Blacks can bring the same intensity and execution.
There really isnt much to be said about the game on the weekend, its part one of a 3 battle war, there is much work to be done so i wont be going off on a tangent if i was a supporter of either country, well not at this stage. it was a home game for the Blacks and good money should have been on them winning, but their form of late particularly against the Boks has been woeful at best. Some might argue that it was the boks that were better, others might argue that it was the Blacks that were toilet either way there are 2 more games to be played and after that we shall see...Shame pooor Australia, its like the world has forgotten that it is the TRI nations.
Happy viewing boys and girls
Y
Friday, July 9, 2010
Tri nations 2010-week 1
Finally time for a game where when you fall down its because you are properly hurt and when you are going to score a try and someone fouls you the try is still given, yesss boys and girls, its time for the toughest rugby competition in the world to start for 2010.
Shoo i am excited for tomorrow and also nervous all at once...in the past i used to be edgy about the Bok v AB tests, but in the back of my mind i knew there was a 75% chance that we (ABs) would win, not so much any more man, now its 50:50. And praises to PdV and his troops! I know many of you are still on the bandwagon of he's not a great coach he has a great team, but my dear friends we have all seen that great players dont necessarily win games. he has won 4 out of the last 6 games against the ABs, he has won in Dunedin and in Hamilton, 2 places the Boks have struggled to win in the past. Argentina and France, both had great players in their football teams, but they had a spiritual leader and a personality bankrupt Maradonna and Domanech (spelling) leading them, they fell apart...
I look at the Boks at the moment and i see a team that is beatable yes, but with great difficulty. They have confidence aplenty and a pack of forwards that is one of the best if not the best in the world at the moment...as a unit. In the past if you had to do a man for man comparision between the ABs and the Boks, it would be 80% ABs, but now, if i can get 4 ABs who are head and shoulders above their counterparts, it would be impressive (the 4 being Mills, DC, Richie...ok maybe 3).
I look at the Boks backline for starters, many people mock Ricky, but id much rather play against Fourie dP than Ricky, because Ricky is troublesome, he is a terrier, he just spoils your ball, Fourie is great at what he does, but he is structured, he isnt in your face. Jimmy Cowan isnt the best no 9 around and if you get in his face he loses his head and his game gets shot and then the rest of the backline is poked. Ricky does that Fourie doesnt, Fourie is a nice guy, Ricky not so much. Steyn is very underrated. He WAS just a kicking flyhalf, but he has shown in the S14 and the june tests that he can adapt his game, i guess its because everyone expects him to always kick so now he has space to try other things. And as well, when his pack is giving him go forward ball most people can look good. Thats the difference between him and DC i guess. In the matches where the Bulls forwards were shut down or bullied, i think the Highlanders and Blues games if i am not mistaken. Steyn was no where to be seen. Even his kicking game went awry.
The centre pairing of Meisiekind and Jacques, wouldnt have been my first choice, but its not a bad one at all. in that you have South Africas best inside centre of the S14 competition pairing with one of the best outside centres in the world, some will say he is the best and i guess thats your choice. I personally would have preferred Jean and Jacques because they were building something lovely but Jean on the wing isnt the worst thing that could have happened, he is a great defender and intercepter and cool calm and collected, because Zain will need all the help he can get. He hasnt been the player he was a year or so ago man, he hasnt really shone on the international stage, or S14 this year but we will see. Bryan Habanna has become a try-hard in my opinion. He always looks for intercepts and when he doesnt get it he just looks ordinary and sulks. I have always said the guy is fast and thats all. i havent seen him create tries other than intercept and run. I cant put him in the league of Drew Mitchell, Shane Williams, Sivivatu, Cory Jane, Gear, or even Joe. He is like Lachlan Turner, just fast!! He shoots the line so often and if a team can read his actions they just lob him, boom overlap, try.
The forwards, its good John is back at hooker, because the front row looks stronger. i think when he tried loosehead, he did a better job than at the other side. the locks well we know what they bring, hope Bakkies gives us some more yellow cards the idiot. Loose trio, yoh i shake my head!! as a unit the Boks loosies are way ahead of the ABs this year. Big and fast. Francois Louw deserves his day in the sun, cos the man worked hard for it.
The ABs are under the pump a little. They looked good in their first 2 games, yes against Ireland they played against only 14 players and 13 for 10 minutes, but Ireland were down to those numbers because of pressure the ABs put on them. In the 2nd test against Wales however, they didnt look so hot, but thats a good game though, because it was tight and they managed to grind out a win. i liked the look of the youngsters that were brought into the mix, also liked the look of some of the Maori players, like Luke, Hosea and Liam. the biggest concern for me at the moment in the ABs is what happens if DC comes a cropper? Who takes over? Do we not have a better no 9 than Cowan? Ma'a is big and fast and powerful but is he the best 12 around? Mills is mr dependable, but can you say Izzy Dagg? Our forwards are good, but if Brad Thorn gets injured which brut is there to take his place? Keven's throwing is suspect, give Aled a chance, oh wait his is also pretty toilet...ai ya yaaai.
Anyway, i am prepared for another record being broken this weekend, i hope not though, but i also realised after the support of the Black Stars, even though i like the ABs, a loss is bearable...its just the after gloating, thats what annoys me most.
We will speak about the Aussies another time....
I am looking forward to some rugga this weekend, hopefully not aerial ping pong because i will vomit
Happy viewing
Shoo i am excited for tomorrow and also nervous all at once...in the past i used to be edgy about the Bok v AB tests, but in the back of my mind i knew there was a 75% chance that we (ABs) would win, not so much any more man, now its 50:50. And praises to PdV and his troops! I know many of you are still on the bandwagon of he's not a great coach he has a great team, but my dear friends we have all seen that great players dont necessarily win games. he has won 4 out of the last 6 games against the ABs, he has won in Dunedin and in Hamilton, 2 places the Boks have struggled to win in the past. Argentina and France, both had great players in their football teams, but they had a spiritual leader and a personality bankrupt Maradonna and Domanech (spelling) leading them, they fell apart...
I look at the Boks at the moment and i see a team that is beatable yes, but with great difficulty. They have confidence aplenty and a pack of forwards that is one of the best if not the best in the world at the moment...as a unit. In the past if you had to do a man for man comparision between the ABs and the Boks, it would be 80% ABs, but now, if i can get 4 ABs who are head and shoulders above their counterparts, it would be impressive (the 4 being Mills, DC, Richie...ok maybe 3).
I look at the Boks backline for starters, many people mock Ricky, but id much rather play against Fourie dP than Ricky, because Ricky is troublesome, he is a terrier, he just spoils your ball, Fourie is great at what he does, but he is structured, he isnt in your face. Jimmy Cowan isnt the best no 9 around and if you get in his face he loses his head and his game gets shot and then the rest of the backline is poked. Ricky does that Fourie doesnt, Fourie is a nice guy, Ricky not so much. Steyn is very underrated. He WAS just a kicking flyhalf, but he has shown in the S14 and the june tests that he can adapt his game, i guess its because everyone expects him to always kick so now he has space to try other things. And as well, when his pack is giving him go forward ball most people can look good. Thats the difference between him and DC i guess. In the matches where the Bulls forwards were shut down or bullied, i think the Highlanders and Blues games if i am not mistaken. Steyn was no where to be seen. Even his kicking game went awry.
The centre pairing of Meisiekind and Jacques, wouldnt have been my first choice, but its not a bad one at all. in that you have South Africas best inside centre of the S14 competition pairing with one of the best outside centres in the world, some will say he is the best and i guess thats your choice. I personally would have preferred Jean and Jacques because they were building something lovely but Jean on the wing isnt the worst thing that could have happened, he is a great defender and intercepter and cool calm and collected, because Zain will need all the help he can get. He hasnt been the player he was a year or so ago man, he hasnt really shone on the international stage, or S14 this year but we will see. Bryan Habanna has become a try-hard in my opinion. He always looks for intercepts and when he doesnt get it he just looks ordinary and sulks. I have always said the guy is fast and thats all. i havent seen him create tries other than intercept and run. I cant put him in the league of Drew Mitchell, Shane Williams, Sivivatu, Cory Jane, Gear, or even Joe. He is like Lachlan Turner, just fast!! He shoots the line so often and if a team can read his actions they just lob him, boom overlap, try.
The forwards, its good John is back at hooker, because the front row looks stronger. i think when he tried loosehead, he did a better job than at the other side. the locks well we know what they bring, hope Bakkies gives us some more yellow cards the idiot. Loose trio, yoh i shake my head!! as a unit the Boks loosies are way ahead of the ABs this year. Big and fast. Francois Louw deserves his day in the sun, cos the man worked hard for it.
The ABs are under the pump a little. They looked good in their first 2 games, yes against Ireland they played against only 14 players and 13 for 10 minutes, but Ireland were down to those numbers because of pressure the ABs put on them. In the 2nd test against Wales however, they didnt look so hot, but thats a good game though, because it was tight and they managed to grind out a win. i liked the look of the youngsters that were brought into the mix, also liked the look of some of the Maori players, like Luke, Hosea and Liam. the biggest concern for me at the moment in the ABs is what happens if DC comes a cropper? Who takes over? Do we not have a better no 9 than Cowan? Ma'a is big and fast and powerful but is he the best 12 around? Mills is mr dependable, but can you say Izzy Dagg? Our forwards are good, but if Brad Thorn gets injured which brut is there to take his place? Keven's throwing is suspect, give Aled a chance, oh wait his is also pretty toilet...ai ya yaaai.
Anyway, i am prepared for another record being broken this weekend, i hope not though, but i also realised after the support of the Black Stars, even though i like the ABs, a loss is bearable...its just the after gloating, thats what annoys me most.
We will speak about the Aussies another time....
I am looking forward to some rugga this weekend, hopefully not aerial ping pong because i will vomit
Happy viewing
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