What a weekend that was.
I start off by saying the best team in the competition won the Tri-Nations, finish and klaar. The ref even tried to help us at the beginning of that match. I mean since time in memorial jumpers have been supported by lifters and zero penalties and now this bloody northern hemisphere ref wants to blow his whistle, the man was on crack!

It was one of the most nail biting finishes to a game I have ever seen. The difference between the 2 teams was that gollywogs 60m penalties, I mean have u ever? And what a time to get them right?!!
The outcome of the game was how it should have been, but inspite of all I said about the team needing to lose so we can make the big changes, I started hoping and believing that it was possible in the last 20 minutes, they showed the world and myself the true grit of the Abs of yester-year, something that has been lacking in the last 2 seasons.

I tried hard to figure out who the man of the match from a Boks perspective would be and i couldn’t think of any one person. Such is the nature of the way they played. Victor stole line outs, Bismarck was hard and uncompromising Heinrich took 2 loosies to get him off the ball, Fourie did his part, Morne kicked the ball...and passed, i was shocked. Jean intercepted and defended with Jacque Bryan ran hard, tackled hard played hard, odwa ran chasing his dreadlocks and kicked some very useful clearances and Gollywog ran by himself and kicked 60m penalties. John lead from the front as usual. And Pierre was kaka at 8 . But that to me is the mark of a settled team. I really had no hope most of the game till the Abs started to turn it on, but even then it wasnt the confidence of old that I had because there was a steely resolve to this Bok team and the ‘tatteredness’ of this current AB side...not to take away anything from this Bok side.

U know i look at this current Bok team and I quite like the outfit, they have in John Smit a very respectable person and player its littered with talent aplenty, yes Bakkies and Bismarck are hotheads sometimes and Gollywog too, but then again I dislike Tialata and am not Nonus biggest fan either. Love the coaching staff inspite of themselves. Then i thought about it, what is it that makes me dislike the Boks so, and the penny dropped....them damn fans!! A springbok supporter is the most annoying species on this planet, maybe an English/Australian supporter may be worse but i don’t live there so i am not exposed to their ranting and moaning...if its not the refs cheating, its the coach who inherited a team and thats why they are playing so well. But I am making peace with it, one day i will be able to support the Boks for a full game  but congrats to you guys your team deserved their win. Back to the coach inheriting a team, Rudolf Streauli had a pretty decent team and look what he did with them...just food for thought. An article sent to me by Saul giving some credit to Pdivvy... http://www.rugbyrugby.com/news/story_1909155700.php

The main villain of the last 2 test matches though was Supersport, how dare they substitute the quirkiness and quick wittedness of the Oz and to a lesser extent the NZ commentators with one eyed Bob and Matt? I honestly listened to the commentary in Afrikaans, it was too painful, and to be honest the Afrikaans commentary was not half bad. Very relaxed and balanced.

Now onto my problem that is this sliver fern that is looking wilted and gloomy. The prospects for this team excites me in spite of its current state of affairs. I watch Reunion and I have also been catching quite a bit of the ANZ cup and man the rugby is class, even games between Tasman and Counties...I however, really am concerned about the fact that the success of this team rests with DC and Richie. I was really keen on the idea of canning this season and next to build a back up. Yes I am taking this world cup seriously because i don’t think i can take another 4 years of hearing we have 2 world cups and u have just one....when we weren’t allowed to play. The more i think about it too the more i think, even though i didn’t think the 3 wise men (Hansen, Henry and Smith) deserved the axe, the thought of what Robbie Deans could do with what New Zealand has to offer in terms of talent is quite exciting. I can see it in Australian rugby at the moment. Yes they haven’t had the results to date but the way they are playing I am most concerned about them come 2011. But anyway maybe we will get him post 2011. Back to the team. I think Hore is tired, what has De Melmanche done wrong to be treated like Hanyani? Read at 8 is poifect, bring on Newland or Meews or that big Otago prop. Give Stephen Brett or even Daniel Bowden a shot at no 10 for a consistent period, let him work on his defence. Bring on Gear and Masaga, The Ice man Toeava in the centres...anyway enough of that

Looking forward to Saturdays game. Even though its a nothing game its not really a nothing game, id hope that the Abs ring the changes and see what the new bloods can bring, cos some of the old guard are duds at the moment.

Well done again to the Bok team, and the supporters and more importantly for me i guess the coaching staff ;)

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