rugby: October 2015

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Old men and and one trick ponies

Once again spouting confidence from some meaningless victory.  This time against the American second stringers.  A South Africa with misplaced confidence is a weak South Africa. Let's be honest.  The Jarpies have had a disastrous few years culminating in their loss to Japan.  Who would want the poisoned chalice that is the national rugby union team? I'm not a hater of Heneke Meyer but he got to where he is on the back of a Bulls pack that used to outmuscle their position and an almost flawless 1st5 (when it comes to kicking!).  The Boks have always shown a stubbornness to move on from this suffocating (for everyone, also world rugby fans) game plan.  They no longer have a pack that can win a top tier game on their own.

They have a habit of sticking with their tried and trusted(?).  Same goes for the retention of players.  While New Zealand is constantly on the ball trying, testing, developing talent, eradicating weaknesses and preparing players for that step up, the Republic seem to have their heads in the sand.

MornĂ© Steyn took a long time to start heading to the exit door.  Constantly criticised by their inability to open a game up they refute this on the back of 50 point wins once breaking the will of lesser opposition and running in 3 or 4 tries in the final half hour.  Steyn is the best proof you have that they have never let go.  Another that owes his longevity and success to the Bulls dour gameplan.

Schalk Burger will alway remain one of my favourite all time players.  Blonde hair, elbows, shoulders and knees flying into breakdowns is a classic sight and he was truly a menace to all teams.  A true old school player that would have been an even bigger legend in the Colin Meads era. He fought his way back from his recent deathbed to reclaim a Springbok jersey but should he still be there today?  His influence is a mere shadow of what he used to bring to the table.  He isn't the player he once was.

The irrepressible Schalk


Captain JP De Villiers.  A knee injury that would have probably spelt his retirement if there hadn't been the challenge of the looming World Cup.  Then back on the field and a broken jaw.  De Villiers has been an outstanding servant to the worldwide game, a true gentleman, but the Boks have shown they have 2 dangerous youngsters.  A depleted captain and player in every sense, he backed up for the cup about 10kg below his normal playing weight.  His loss is a blessing.  Not the player he once was.

Fourie Du Preez was justifiably rated the world's premier #9 for a long time (I remember Graham Henry laxing lyrical eons ago).  Now, in a similar vein to the apparent brimming confidence gained from the US victory, he's back in form?  Time will tell.  An opposition pack achieving somewhere around parity will give us more insight there.  Not the player he once was but possibly still deserving of his squad and starting role spot.

Victor Matfield, lineout kingpin.  Well,....former kingpin.  That mantle seems to sit with the All Blacks' Sam Whitelock now.  Your true one trick pony.  White men can jump.  But this one can't do much else.  I always maintained the best way to stifle a South African attack was to make sure Matfield had inserted himself into the backline somewhere. And one of the weakest ball carrying forwards seen at this level.  South Africa LET GO!!  His injury/ommission is an obvious windfall.  2 huge,bustling young bulls add some real grunt to the engine room when paired up.  Probably still the same player he always was, except for not being quick enough to even put in his late hits.  Apart from jumping there isn't anything else to live up to.  Old enough to be team manager.

This is the closest I could find to an action shot



Bryan Habana our other one trick pony.  South Africa was still giving him player of the year awards when he should of just been a bag carrier to the national team.  He had wheels.  He still has some reasonable pace but what else does he bring? Without that extra metre his chip and regather seems to have deserted him.  Without anything resembling space he becomes a passenger in a team that can't create for their outsides.  Should have been long gone from the Springboks. Not the player he once was.

Weeeee!! look at me! I'm gonna break the record for most World Cup tries on the back of games against crap teams like this 2nd string American lineup.
No way are they going to go all the way.  They will have trouble against a Welsh team with a severe limp.  But then again they did win the '07 edition with possibly the worst Springbok team there has ever been.  Definitely the weakest World Champions to date.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

#RUGBYWORLDCUP2015: Quarter final show downs

South Africa v Wales

No questions as to what the Boks are going to attempt to bring to the party.  It's going to be a destroy mission upfront and they will try to steamroll a severly winged Welsh outfit.  But they haven't shown the ability to bring their one and only gameplan all year and once again, like clockwork, they spout new found form on the back of an easy victory.  Let's remember this was the USA second stringers, South Africa with misplaced confidence is an almost guarantee of another below par showing.  On the plus side the old man injuries have given them a stronger starting line up, though they could have done with 1 or 2 more falling over.

The Taffs have shown a tendency this cup to keep on hanging on.  Kudos to a lot of hard work from a line of NZ coaches.  If they had had any idea on attack and concentrated on looking for space instead of continuous 1st and 2nd channels versus a 13 man Australia they would be playing Scotland instead.  George North in the 13 jersey is a liability in defence and attack.  He gets his D lines confused and, as with most wings, is no distributor.  The young Bok centre pairing while a handful on attack do have their own defensive weaknesses but North isn't capable of exploiting that.  If Ainscombe plays at the back we could be in for a treat. An unknown at international level and relied on more than a few injuries to make his way into the squad but has shown to be a real handful in Super rugby.  With all the kicks he's likely to receive, it could cause some real problems for South Africa.

Not sure I want to pick this one, so let's say 'go Wales!'.

Ainscombe....somewhat of a silent assassin


All Blacks v France

The Frogs couldn't get up versus a very one dimensional Ireland.  They couldn't defend versus a gameplan that involved minimal offloads meaning no support runners.  Can they hold the All Blacks out? Hopefully the All Blacks won't disappear into their shells again on this one. Or can Les Bleus pull another performance out of the hat just for NZ fans?  

The ABs have received their share of flak and have had problems implementing against lesser teams but they have a tendency to do what is required when necessary.  Expect to see New Zealand's #1 game plan from here on.  A pack going full on into contact (they showed the intent in their last pool game) and trying to outmuscle every other team at the breakdown, then that ball going wide the moment there's some space and mismatches for the backs.  Hansen has surely put the hard word on his front 8. Live or die by the sword. Pave the way for the team and country to the Cup. Then the backs will be able to display their wares and finally end this notion that attacking rugby can't win the World Cup, which will bode well for both the All Blacks and rugby at future cups. One feels McCaw and co have too much to prove this time round.  A chance to bury some ghosts.

Always impossible to pick scores when France is involved but let's say ABs by 16.

Dusautoir....if the French pull this one off it will be in no small part due to him

Ireland v Argentina

For all Ireland's pre cup optimism I have a feeling it's once again a quarter final exit.  Their seemingly dominant performance versus the Frogs was one dimensional stuff.  Schmidt's plan was "Don't lose that ball!" and Ireland played basically ball up your jumper rugby with every carrier tucking it under 2 arms and never looking to offload.  Their final pool victory was more down to a vacant French team. The Paddies climbed as far as #2 in the world rankings but there was always a falsity about it as the Boks and Australia always drop placings due to constant matches versus each other and the All Blacks. Now with the loss of key and experienced personnel surely the bookies will be forced to favour the Pumas.  

The Argy Bargies will meet the Irish pack with pure determination and there are going to be some sore bodies from the Emerald Isle after this one.  The Irish backs have gone ok but with Sexton seemingly out most of that goes out the window. And the Argentine backs are looking pretty lively themselves. 

Argentina to outmuscle the Irish and take this one by 10.

Santiago Cordero....no monster at 5ft9" and 79kg but give him some space and see you later


Australia v Scotland

Aussie definitely look the form team but a hurt, and uninspiring when it counted, Wales gifted them this draw. Pocock out, Australia's best player to date, is obviously a loss but you still expect the Wallabies to canter this.

The Sweats are triers and can turn on the odd gutsy performance but nothing tells me to expect one this weekend. I'll leave it at that.

Aussie by 20.

Jonny Grey, little brother of Richie.My main interest in this game is to watch this kid.