rugby: Old men and and one trick ponies

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.

Morné 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.

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