Heinrich Brussouw is fast cementing his claim for the #6 jumper

The Springbok lineup for the 3rd and final test match against the B&I Lions was dramatically different to that of the 1st and 2nd test matches, with PDV choosing to give every player in the squad a chance to stake his claim for a spot in the upcoming Tri Nations games. In doing so we missed an opportunity to make history in whitewashing the B&I Lions, I do however think it was fair to give most of the players a run against the B&I Lions, an opportunity that few players get more than once in their careers.

We may have lost the test, it wasn’t all doom and gloom though. I think alot of questions were answered for the likes of PDV and the selection team.

Firstly I was quite disappointed with Wynand Olivier’s performance. It’s no secret that I think Wynand Olivier is a great player, but that something happens to him once he wears the Green and Gold, in that his game goes out the window. After a superb Super 14, Olivier said that he was relishing the idea of getting his first chance in a couple of years to try and secure the Springbok #12 jersey. I think Olivier will be disappointed with his performance on Saturday. Jean De Villiers remains our best #12.

Which brings me to my next point. Jacques Fourie was a revelation in the #13 jersey, again. After spending the last year struggling with injury, then playing second fiddle to an, at the time, in-form Adrian Jacobs. Jacques Fourie has really shown his worth every time he has taken the field in this B&I Lions series. His strong running, all-out pace and direct approach keeps any opposition on their toes. I think Jacques Fourie has shown that he is the best #13 in the country, if not the world at the moment. His extra work at the breakdown was as if we had two Heinrich Brussouws on the field. Lookout for the reunited centre pairing of Jean De Villiers and Jacque Fourie come the Tri Nations. Without a doubt the best centre “pairing” in world rugby. Anything less would be an injustice to the team. Adrian Jacobs will do well injecting that extra energy from the bench for the time being, he is a great player and still has alot to offer the team.

Another question I feel was answered was that Morne Steyn is not our 1st choice flyhalf. Although Morne Steyn  is an exceptional kicker of the ball, he lacked command of the backline, not being able to really get them going. Although Ruan Pienaar came on as a replacement scrumhalf, he showed his class as a player. Pienaar might not be the finished product as a flyhalf, but he is good enough to hold his own on the world stage, and in time I feel he will be worth his weight in gold, in the footsteps of the Stephen Larkham, one of the greats of the modern game.

Another replacement that showed he should undoubtedly be the first choice in his position is Francois Steyn. Zane Kirchner showed that he isn’t quite ready for the international game, but by no means should be discarded. Watch this space, I think he will be around for a long time to come. Steyn is an extremely talented rugby player, being one of those extremely rare examples of a player who from the tender age of 19, was ready to play international rugby. His massive boot, one of the biggest in the world, is an asset to the Springboks. His willingness to try things and back himself is one of his best qualities, and I feel he is the exact kind of player that fits into the game-plan that PDV says he wants to play. I hope that the Springbok management select him from overseas, whilst he plays in France at the end of the year.

In a largely disappointing forward pack, Heinrich Brussouw remains the best. I can’t wait to see him show his talents against two of the worlds breakdown superstars, Goerge Smith and Richie McCaw, come the Tri Nations. I’ll put my money on Brussouw holding his own.

Key Moments: Read More >>

Match Officials need to be rated on their performances

Some of you may remember the previous posts I have written, here and here, about the lack of consistency in the International Citing and Judicial processes respectively. Well, it would seem that the unfair suspension of Bakkies Bothahas forced the IRB’s hand in getting them to finally take notice of our pleads to put together some kind of system to standardise the disciplinary process. whatever it is, something must be done quickly, to rectify this process, before it causes irreversible damage to the game of rugby.

Like professional sportsman all over the world are accountable for their individual performances, so too should referees at top levels be. They are professionals, and any professional around the world is responsible for performance in their given tasks. We have experienced too many incidents of late where referees, TMO’s or touch judges make the wrong calls, overlook certain aspects, or just seem to have a general lack of knowledge of the game of rugby. Referee’s should follow a clear rating system, these ratings should also be freely published, along with performance ratings. The IRB should not wrap their referees in cotton wool and protect them from any criticism. With such protection they have no reason to ever improve their performances.

The same could be said for the Citing Commissioner, as well as the Judiciary Panel. These “professionals” are paid for their services, and should deliver upon what is expected from them. Perhaps one International Citing Commissioner should be appointed. That way the citing process will atleast be standardised. Andre Watson would be a good choice.

I’m not 100% sure what the best medicine would be to fix the current problems facing this process. All I know is that something has to be done. We can’t keep having so many serious incident overlooked, whilst so many minor ones are punished.

What are your thoughts? Does anyone have a good idea to rectify this problem?

Zane Kirchner will become the latest Springbok in Saturdays final B&I Lions test match

Congratulations to Zane Kirchner who will receive his 1st Springbok cap in tomorrow’s final B&I Lions tour test match.

This is something, however, that I am very much against. Capping a player just for the sake of capping him. It goes against the whole ethos of the Springbok. There is no doubt that Zane Kirchner is a talented player, and his time as a Springbok will definately come (tomorrow in-fact), but I feel he showed, during the Emerging Springboks VS B&I Lions game, that he needs more time. He has had a great Super 14 season this year, but is one great season in the Super 14 enough?

I feel Zane Kirchner showed us in both the Super14 final as well as the Emerging Springboks game, that his decision making needs work. Don’t get me wrong, I think that Zane Kirchner is a talented player, but there was no need to call him up to the Springbok squad at this point. We have more that enough cover for fullback with the likes of Francois Steyn, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen and even Jacques Fourie being able to slot in the #15 jersey. (I wouldn’t play Jacques Fourie there, but if he is needed, I’m sure he will do fine.)

If PDV absolutely wanted to call someone into the squad for worst case scenario, why not call in Stefan Terblanche, who is already a capped Springbok, and more than showed he still has what it takes. Terblanche would also bring a calmness to this new look squad.

Give Kirchner another Super 14 season, let him work at the few aspects of his game that need work and bring him in next year, the best he can be.

Like I said, I do rate him as a player and wish him the best of luck for tomorrows test match. Give it horns. Go Bokke!

Peter de Villiers needs a coach

There are alot of upset people since the post match press conference of the B&I Lions VS Springboks 2nd test. Most of the unhappiness has to do with Springbok coach, Peter de Villiers apparently “condoning” Schalk Burger’s actions at the weekend.

PDV doesn’t exactly have the gift of the gab when addressing the media, often seeming to make up sayings as he goes along. Some of them to the absolute confusion of both the media and sports fans alike. I think the fact that most of these interviews are conducted in English, his second language, doesn’t help either. Not that I think this is any kind of excuse.

Any coach around the world will have his followers, and those who call for his head. PDV doesn’t by any means have a shortage of the latter. His often over the top, confusing as hell explanations or comparisons rub alot of people up the wrong way.  The South African rugby fraternity is still in some senses quite conservative, and I can understand how alot of people get frustrated with de Villiers when he goes on one of these tangents.

Lets take a step back here and think for a while. His primary role as a head coach is coaching right? Although I often don’t understand some of the decisions he makes, or the inclusion of some unwarranted players, is he really doing a bad job? After all we are winning aren’t we?

Some might argue that he “inherited” the best Springbok team of modern times, perhaps ever. This is true. When de Villiers took over the reins as head coach, he did “inherit” a great group of players. Let’s also not forget that he made the choice to stick with the bulk of those players instead of making wholesale changes. Now I’m not saying I’m a fan of PDV, to be honest I still sitting on the fence. I do however think that as long as we keep winning we should keep his head off the chopping block and give the guy a chance.

I think the issue that needs to be addressed here is that whilst we are winning on the field, we are consistently losing in the press conferences. PDV needs a “media relations coach” of sorts, to keep him from digging himself into these mile deep trenches.

He doesn’t always get it wrong though. The media also have a nasty habit of sensationalising things. They often manipulate his words, use sections, taken totally out of the context in which he means them, or try and coax him into a trap. Anything to sell papers.

Below is a copy of the full transcript, of the press conference held recently, from the RuggaWorld website.

It’s clear that he needs improvement in this aspect of the job, SA Rugby need to put measures in place to rectify this problem. I think it would also be totally acceptable for him to answer one of two questions in Afrikaans if he is struggling to get his point accross in English. I’m sure someone can translate to the foreign press.

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT Read More >>

Below is the footage of why Springbok second row, Bakkies Botha was cited, and subsequently banned for 2 weeks. Watch the footage, you be the judge.

I feel that it’s and absolute joke. Botha goes in to clear the ruck, staying on his feet. There really isn’t much in it. Certainly not enough to condone any kind of ban.

As I did in my previous post about how the international citing process is FAIL-ing us, I refer to the IRB laws of the game:

Adam Jones was not carrying the ball, so the law that Bakkies Botha was cited for infringing upon is wrong in the 1st place. There is nothing more in it than a standard ruck clearance. Much like any the B&I Lions handed out during the test match. 

It is unfortunate that Adam Jones got injured, but it’s just one of those incidents where contact was made at a place, at an angle and at a time that caused an unfortunate injury. The fact that Jones was injured should not justify Bakkies Botha being cited for no apparent reason. Rugby is a contact sport, and sometimes injuries occur for what doesn’t appear to be so bad.

If you remember a few weeks back, during the last leg of the Super 14, I posted how the SANZAR Judicial Commitee’s citing process was a joke. In that post I listed a whole host of on the field incidents that were unfairly treated differently.

I said, “Something has to be done to ensure a more standardised system across the board. I do understand that certain situations have mitigating circumstances, but at the same time certain offences should have a due punishment regardless.”

Now let me 1st say this, I am not arguing Schalk’s punishment, it was just. In my post match analysis I stated that he would get a minimum of 6 weeks for that incident, end of story.

What bothers me about this whole thing is that in an equally physical contest, with both teams giving as good as they got, not one of the B&I Lions players have been dragged over the coals for their part in the battle for dominance. Ordinarily I wouldn’t really care, as the Springboks won the series, but both the citing and subsequent judical process must be standardised as far as possible.

At least three incidents that B&I Lions should have been cited for: Read More >>

Schalk Burger reflects on his actions from the sin bin

Perhaps not as big a winning margin as I expected, but a win non the less. South Africa managed to wrap up the series with the 2nd Test match win at Loftus on Saturday. Much like the game between the B&I Lions VS the Emerging Springboks, the B&I Lions took an early lead, and lead most the way through the test match. I felt the Springboks showed great composure to come from behind to secure the win. That is the sign of a great team.

The match was at times marred by negativity. Both teams giving each other a go in trying to force their dominance. Perhaps the worst of this being Schalk Burger’s sin binning, 32 seconds into his 50th test match, for careless use of fingers in the eye area of B&I Lions #11, Like Fitzgerald. Burger has been cited for the incident in accordance with IRB Law 10.4 (l) which states: 

Acts contrary to good sportsmanship.

“A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship in the playing enclosure.”

I have seen the replay of this a number of times and I must say the incident still baffles me. Why would Schalk do that? He is a senior Springbok. It was his 50th test match. He knows the consequences. It was right in front of the touch judge and camera crew. The list goes on…

The incident unfortunately does look clearly malicious on the replay, expect atleast a 6 week ban.

I felt referee Christophe Berdos missed quite a number of things during the game. The B&I Lions continually came off scott-free for infringements at the breakdown and were often quite offsides at the breakdown (see replay below). Most notably Brian O’Driscoll’s offsides, high, swinging arm tackle on Dannie Rossouw, resulting in the players concussion, effectively ending his tour. Bakkies Botha has also been cited, which seems a bit one sided, as Andrew Sheridan was also involved in alot of off-the-ball incidents.

Another gripe of mine with the Christophe Berdos is that he struggles to communicate with the players and officials. Maybe not the most politically correct subject, but I just feel that a referee at international level should be able to adequately communicate with everyone involved. We saw last week that a lack of communication between Cristophe Berdos and then referee Bryce Lawrence almost cost the Springboks dearly. Luckily Bryce Lawrence had his wits about him and over-ruled TMO Christophe Berdos.

Adi Jacobs was shown up yet again. He went from the best Springbok backline player last year, to this years worst so far. I felt PDV made the wrong decision in replacing Jean De Villiers. Adrian Jacobs should have been replaced by Jacques Fourie, who showed great strength and skill in going over for his try in the 75th minute of the game. Jacobs was not only shown up in defence, but also runs Habana dead in attack with his far too lateral running. One has to feel that PDV wont be able to justify Jacob’s selection in next weeks final test match.

I felt PDV got his tactics wrong again regarding the bench. The Springboks battled at the breakdown for most of the game. Schalk Burger should have been replaced by Heinrich Brussouw straight after his yellow card, as he wouldn’t have been able to take any chances at the breakdown, in-case a second yellow card was handed out. Once the scrums went uncontested, either Bismark Du Plessis or Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira should have been replaced by Danie Rossouw, as no specialist front row was needed.

Lets take a look at a few of the key moments: Read More >>

1 214m above sea level - you do the math

One can’t help but  think that the Springboks have a pretty good chance of wrapping up the series at Loftus tomorrow. Now again, I don’t want to talk out of turn, but to think that the B&I Lions can cut it at altitude is a bit far fetched.

Like John Smit said in yesterday’s Cape Times, “They will discover the difference when their lungs start burning”

South Africa is in the unique position of having the countries stronghold of rugby situated at altitude, roughly 1 214m above sea level, and hopefully tomorrow we will exploit that advantage against the B&I Lions.

Can the locals fans outshine the tourists?

Loftus is also one of the only stadiums in the world were the local support might be able to outshine the B&I Lions support when it comes to dressing up or wearing team colours. Lets hope the Bulls supporters all have their Springbok gear on tomorrow.

I’m a bit worried about referee Christophe  Berdos after last weeks TMO fiasco. The B&I Lions may be at an advantage this week with the Northern Hemisphere referee and his interpretation of the laws, especially at the breakdown. I do however feel that the Loftus factor of playing at altitude will outweigh this though.

I feel a bit sorry for Heinrich Brussow after a great showing in last weeks test. It was clear for all to see that the turnaround started once he left the field. I have stated before that I’m a big fan of Schalk Burger, but I feel it would have been better to introduce him from the bench this week, especially after such a long lay off. It is his 50th test cap though, so I do understand. Let’s hope Brussouw gets a decent amount of time on the field to poach the B&I Lions ball once fatigue starts hitting them hard.

Another factor that I feel will influence the game is the number of Bulls players on the team sheet: Read More >>

Willem de Waal Kicks from the touchline during extra time to level the scores 13 all

What a closely contested game, the Emerging Boks trailing right through to the end and never giving up.

Well done to those of you who braved the icy Newlands conditions. I was there and let me tell you, it was cold! At one point it even started hailing on the field. A brave 39 000 odd spectators pitched up for the game, even in those conditions. I guess that’s why we are called the Newlands faithful. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric.

A special thank you to HO de Villiers for the great tickets.

I think the Emerging Boksdid extremely well to come off witha draw. I must tell you though, that I was a bit disappointed with a few of the selections, as well as individual players performances.

When I hear the name ‘Emerging Springboks’ I think of players who just missed out on Springbok selection, or atleast players who have proved themselves in the Super 14 for a season or two. There were a few players in the team who I have never seen in a 1st class game, namely Bjorn Basson and Deon van Rensburg. I do understand the fact that the Emerging Boks purpose is to give players a chance to show what they have, but I feel those players should atleast already have shown that they can handle the tempo of the Super14. The concept of even having such a team, being to show us the future/fringe players who will soon be representing the Springboks. I can think of a whole host of names who could have been included instead. I don’t want to sound overly critical, but here it goes: Read More >>

Jason Robinson & Brian Habana supporting a great cause

I found this video on YouTube of Jason Robinson & Brian Habana giving their time towards the development of grassroots rugby. In connection with HSBC Kit Collection and SOS IRB Kit Aid, they held a rugby clinic for 400 local township kids at St John’s College during the HSBC rugby festival in JHB.

We here at Blogspotrugby are firmly committed to the development of grassroots rugby within South Africa, so I decided to do a little research.

 The SOS/IRB Kit Aid Website had the following to say:  

Mission Statement

SOS/iRB Kit Aid is a rugby project that gives less advantaged children around the world a chance to play and develop rugby in emerging nations through the collection and distribution of unused/unwanted kit from the UK and Ireland. Read More >>