Well guys, I was very fortunate to be offered a ticket to last night’s Barbarians game at Wembley at pretty late notice. It was too good an opportunity to pass up, so duly wrapped up in every layer I could find, I proudly donned my Sharks jersey and Springbok beanie and braved the long journey to North London.
It was indeed a long way and had it not been for the Burger King at Charing Cross Station (and, I dare say, The Globe just across from Baker Street tube) I might not have arrived in as good a shape! There were plenty Aussies about, all festooned with all manner of Wallaby supporters gear. Everybody else, including the customary Saffa expat horde, were predictably supporting the Barbarians with varying degrees of fervour.
Now call me a stickler for tradition, but I thought that BaaBaas players were meant to wear their club of provincial socks, not their national ones? I was quite disappointed as I was expecting to see three pairs of black and white socks out there – instead, most were green and gold.
The game itself was a pretty poor affair from the perspective of a Barbarians supporter, though. Any thoughts that a little bit of White-Jones magic would be all that was necessary to ensure victory were quickly dashed, as the Aussies set about showing that they are possibly the best defensively-organised team on the planet. The Barbarians, although individually talented and superbly keen, had no answer whatsoever to the flat Aussie defence and contended themselves with repeatedly bashing it up the middle. A static runner in black trying woefully to barge through a wall of gold defence. Recycle, rinse and repeat. Ad nauseam.
Now, I don’t want to read too much into a festival game – or rather, what was meant to be a festival game yet never really developed into one – but there are a few points that need to be made. The first is that Jake White and his motor-mouthed companion really were well shown up by the canny Robbie Deans. Given the talent at their disposal – dare one say the most talented Barbarians team ever assembled – I think it’s fair to say the showing was a very disappointing one.
Back to the real point of this article, though. Frans Steyn endured possibly the most dire 80 minutes I have ever seen a flyhalf play. After 20 minutes, I was calling for him and Percy Montgomery to swap positions, yet alas that never happened. Steyn started by kicking out on the full from the first kick-off. He then conspired to kill every single backline move in which he was involved, stone dead, through woeful option-taking and poor distribution. His speed of hand, foot and (most crucially) thought are all far too slow for an international flyhalf and this was particularly evident against such a flat defence. He seems to alternate between senseless, poorly directed kicks down field and running headlong into the opposition, with no hope whatsoever of getting through.
Let’s not forget that he missed two drop goals, as well as two sitters of penalties, either of which may have given the BaaBaas an undeserved win.
No, I’m sorry. Frans Steyn may well be a talent but he proved to me last night that he is nowhere near good enough to be considered as a flyhalf option by either the Sharks or the Boks. In a case of a player’s real value only becoming apparent in their absence, we learned last night exactly how good a flyhalf Ruan Pienaar already is.
Tweet
Test
Good thing he’s a Sharks player then 😆
You should have stayed home Rob.
ha ha – very funny. He’s still far better than anything from Province, despite how crap he is! 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 3) : Shoooooweee feeling a tad touchy this morning?!? Burger King haunting you 😆
@robdylan (Comment 3) : i think frans tried 3 drop goals, 1 at the end??
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 1) : Yeah – love the try he scored in the FINAL… FINAL…FINAL…(how does that sound?) 🙂
@VanWilder (Comment 5) : must be honest, by that stage I had decided to keep my eyes firmly closed every time he received the ball. Can’t bear to watch somebody throwing their name away like that.
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 4) : I’m lovin’ it!
@robdylan (Comment 7) : Now I’m not so sad I didn’t watch the game…
@robdylan (Comment 3) : After last nights display id rather have Ignatious Olivier
Steyntjie played like a headless chicken 🙄
@PJLD (Comment 9) : hate to say it, but I agree.
@Charlie (Comment 10) : what to do with the lad? Stick him at 13?
@robdylan (Comment 11) : 😈
The most disappointing part for me was Steyn playing glory boy in the BaaBaas strip.
BaaBaas don’t do dropgoals… and anybody but the precocious Steyn knows that. It’s all about the team and the tradition. In steps Francois Steyn and embarresses us, the BaaBaas strip and the fans supporting with his droppie attempts.
Somebody needs to have a serious word in the young man’s ear that he is not God’s gift to rugby… currently he’s not even satan’s gift to Natal.
If that game told us anythign it was that, in the modern game, structure trumps skill.
I actually thought it was a great game, despite the lack of points.
Some great attacking moves and the BaaBaas pushed and pushed and pushed with the Ozzies soaking up the pressure with smoe fantastic defensive work.
Oh, and this wasn;t a Deans v White/Jones match – how could it be when the BaaBaas only had two practice sessions?
@VinChainSaw (Comment 14) : don’t interfere with my opportunity to have a cheap shot at Jake White, please!
@VinChainSaw (Comment 13) : kind of ironic, then, that Jake “the structure king” White was coaching the losers…
@PJLD (Comment 9) : Eish – he was poor but Ig? That’s desperation 😆
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 17) : well, you could never really compare them like-for-like, because no one in their right minds would ever pick Ig to play flyhalf for an international side…
@robdylan (Comment 3) : Peter Grant anyone??? 🙄
@VinChainSaw (Comment 14) : I enjoyed the game, dont get it twisted , just thought wonderboy was kak
Problem is that when you’re invited to coach the BaaBaas you’re not actually invited to coach but rather to simply play selector.
@wpw (Comment 19) : 2 things:
1) He’s not much better than Frans at decision-making under pressure
2) He’s not really yours cos you stole him from us 🙂
@VinChainSaw (Comment 21) : kind of explains why so many Saffas made the starting lineup 🙂
BTW, some sad news… Donut-boy hurt himself pretty badly. It might even be career-threatening.
@robdylan (Comment 23) : Never good to hear.
The game needs characters.Fat Mat is one of those.
@PJLD (Comment 24) : agree. Apparently the other prop (Kepu) tore a pectoral muscle, so both look likely to miss the Super 14.
BTW, I am still really annoyed about the sock thing
@robdylan (Comment 26) : I pointed it out to Xtal as well.Swack.So much for tradition.
in fact, lookig at the pictures now, I’ve just realised that everyone was wearing the same socks… black with a yellow band. What’s up with that?
@robdylan (Comment 28) : Maybe you should READ the article you posted about John’s “awesome” experience… 🙄
@robdylan (Comment 28) : Rugby 365 says:
This match was organised as part of the British Olympic Association’s celebrations of the centenary of the first Olympics in London, where the Games will return in four years’ time.
Australia took the Rugby Union gold medal in 1908 with a 32-3 victory over Great Britain, represented by the south-west English county of Cornwall.
The Barbarians, in honour of that match, all wore yellow Cornwall socks as they departed from their usual tradition of players wearing their club socks.
BaaBaas try-scorer Jerry Collins, who last year played for Cornish side Barnstaple, even dyed his hair yellow.
@robdylan (Comment 28) :
For all the lazy ones…
players chosen to don the Barbarians’ distinctive black-and-white hooped jersey must normally do so wearing their own club socks.
This tradition was jettisoned for the first time on Wednesday, however, with Cornwall socks worn by all the Barbarian players.
This was to celebrate the centenary of Australia’s victory over the Great Britain team, represented by the southwestern English county Cornwall, for the rugby gold medal at the 1908 London Olympics.
@PJLD (Comment 27) : I’ll get to the bottom of this…
@blckshrk – BUCS (Comment 31) : oh – shit. Oops!
@robdylan (Comment 22) : blah blah blah
He came to CT to study cos there’s no decent varsity in Natal.
@robdylan (Comment 33) : Seems like some old Reitzworld habits still around…Can I call you vetkadet???
@wpw (Comment 34) : yes… instead we have a decent rugby team. And Grant is primarily a rugby player, not a student. Bad call, Pete!
@robdylan (Comment 28) : thats right.thought i missed something when you said they wore Bok socks.I had 2 draughts in me.
@blckshrk – BUCS (Comment 31) : Aaaaah ❗
@wpw (Comment 34) : Stellies
@wpw (Comment 35) : huh? No, you can’t… I actually have a personality. Anyway, if I were like him, I’d have banned you for that.
BTW, have you worked out yet what your punishment was?
@PJLD (Comment 37) : bear in mind I’m as blind as a bat at the best of times and I had waaay more that 2 in me by the time I got to my seat.
Still, from where I was sitting, they looked like Bok socks…
long lunch, everyone?
@robdylan (Comment 40) : nope…
Did someone say lunch??? 😳 😳
@wpw (Comment 44) : Wes – I’m missing all the pies. You seen them?
With Eddie mouthing off about what a great flyhalf Pienaar is going to make someday, I’m surprised he and Jake chose Steyn instead of him for this game?
@robdylan (Comment 42) : Liquid too. Got to love December.
@robdylan (Comment 23) : How many other Props do you know have kicked a drop goal in their careers ?
had a tin of tuna and an avo for lunch.
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 47) : Ollie?
maybe not
@robdylan (Comment 11) : I have a fear Steyn is going to become a “Gaffie DuToit”… lots to offer the game but never quite reaching his potential (in SA anyway). I think Steyn tries too much, he has so much to offer but doesn’t even know himself what to offer when. The commentators were quite scathing of the lad, saying he has a “drop kick addiction” and suggesting his strike rate is so poor he should give up drop kicking all together… probably a bit harsh, but I would suggest that at the least he should maybe start being more selective. He has a talent for long range drop kicks for sure… but he’s making a fool of himself out there. Imagine what the McCaw’s and Gregan’s of the world must have thought of that?
@robdylan (Comment 11) : Use him in the back three…11,14 or 15… 😎
@PJLD (Comment 48) : MOFO
@PJLD (Comment 49) :
@PJLD (Comment 50) :
Me!? Definitely not! Never even played prop (except for propping the bar up) 😈 😆
Ollie kicked a conversion once. Not sure about a drop
Damn but this site is dead…
Rob
I was over to Voldy now and their 1st two threads… I doubt you wanna know???
I suppose its all about hits… 🙄
and u providing it
@Charlie (Comment 52) : He’s too slow for wing. Fullback it has to be. But option-taking at fullback might also be a problem.
@PJLD (Comment 57) :
No. I didn;t post there today… not in the mood for the same old smae old…
@wpw (Comment 56) : Wes – you need to decide what you want. Sure this place is quiet, because it’s now off-season. It will pick up again when the Super 14 kicks off.
We are a rugby site – not a hybrid rugby/cricket site like Keo. Anyway, as you say, they know that if they haul out the political/race card they’re guaranteed to get 1000 comments on the article.
I prefer quality over quantity. You can’t copy Keo’s techniques without becoming just like them.
@wpw (Comment 59) : when you load the page, you give him money. It doesn’t matter whether you post comments
@robdylan (Comment 60) : AMEN
@robdylan (Comment 61) : 😳 😳
@robdylan (Comment 61) :
So I still haven’t figured out my punishment???
Only because you guys are such bullies and like kicking a guy when he is down one observation. I think this is the first time this year that Steyn has played at flyhalf and that against a top test team, taking that into consideration how crap were Jean de Villiers, Jon Smit etc then. Be honest now.
Also are there any “rules” regarding how the Baa Baa’s should play the game. Vinnie suggests that Steyn brought shame on himself and South Africa by attempting a few drop kicks :shock:. In Baabaa tradition shouldnt all penalties then be run, and how about forfeiting conversions to get the game going again.
@robdylan (Comment 61) : Ad Block? 😆
@wpw (Comment 64) : you are nothing if not slow on the uptake!
I’ll give you a clue… why don’t you try edit this comment…
@Salmonoid (Comment 65) : Salmo, the underdogs’ champion 🙂
Fransie played flyhalf against Italy and was pretty crap in that game too, apart from a superb individual try.
@robdylan (Comment 67) : that’s just cruel Rob… 😥 😥
@robdylan (Comment 68) :
Didn’t he also play flyhalf during the S14???
@robdylan (Comment 55) : Okie Geffin?
@Salmonoid (Comment 65) : Frans played flyhalf the last 15 or 20 minutes of the England match. He also played flyhalf for the Sharks in the Super 14 if I am not mistaken.
@robdylan (Comment 67) : You better not let the Tank edit my posts!!! 😈 😈
@wpw (Comment 70) : Yes, but he is still overrated……like most of the Stormers team. 😀
@Dancing Bear (Comment 71) : WWWWAAAAAAYYYYYY before my time 🙂
@Dancing Bear (Comment 72) : he did. At least 2 matches
@Dancing Bear (Comment 73) : Tank ain’t going to be editing so much as the classified section of Huisgenoot 🙂
@wpw (Comment 69) : you can’t tell me you didn’t expect it?
Go back and read the email I sent to all of you when I first gave you editor powers… something in there about the awesome power and responsibility of the edit button 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 75) : I figured that if any prop were to have kicked a drop goal either in a BaaBaas game or an international, it would have been Okie Geffin. He was a prop, and the Boks first choice kicker (and a damn fine one too). Learned to kick so well in an Italian POW camp by kicking balls filled with bits of cloth (no pump available).
@Dancing Bear (Comment 74) :
And yet you would sacrifice your left nut to have JDV in the Sharks side!!!
@robdylan (Comment 77) : The Tank is just a shadow of his former self, I have thrown plenty of bait his way, and his only response so far is Steyn is overrated. 😆 Overrated by whom??? Nobody on this site. 😆
@wpw (Comment 79) : Now, there you are really close. Of course I have become rather attached to both my nuts, so not given up either left or right, but as I have said, JdV is the best 12 in the world right now, and besides that, is a class act, well respected by fellow players and a strong leader. But other than JdV I can’t think of a single Stormer I would rather have start than their Sharks counterpart. 😀
I feel honoured that the Tank has given up using smileys when posting to me. Getting under your skin ou boet? 😀 Nothing but love Wes!
@Dancing Bear (Comment 81) : yeah… I wouldn’t even take Burger over JB
@Dancing Bear (Comment 81) :
Unfortunately Jean tried to emulate Earl Rose in the tackling stakes last ngiht…
@robdylan (Comment 77) : But you did it to me…. 🙄
@robdylan (Comment 83) : hehehe, he was the only one that I was hesitant about, but you’re right, JB is as good at CC and Super 14 level, and has a better attitude. I just wish JB played to the ground a bit more, he is always at the ball, just not usually fighting for it.
Other than that Ruan over our local Natal boy Grant by a long country mile. 😀
@VinChainSaw (Comment 84) : Didn’t see the game Vin, although a little surprised to hear that. Like I said, he is a class act, and a superb player, unlike him not to tackle well. It was the BaaBaas though.
@wpw (Comment 85) : Sorry, it was Vinnie 🙄
@Dancing Bear (Comment 81) : Andries Bekker???
Schalk ‘headless Chicken’ Burger??
Luke ‘Puke’ Watson
Well I hope that this match has quashed any idea that Plumtree may have had to have Ruan and Steyn share the 10 jersey in the Super 14. I would like to see Steyn at FB, with our new centre acquisition JdV at 12 and Adi at 13. 😛
@VinChainSaw (Comment 84) : Vin
I think Jean has played a hell of a lot more games than most.
He didn’t miss 1 S14 game. Played about 5 CC games and all of SA’s tests this year (except Italy)
@wpw (Comment 89) : Dries Bekker?????? You must be joking. There is one thing you must learn hanging out on a Sharks site WPW, Sharks locks do not play centre, they play lock, therefore neither Bekker or Matfield would make the Sharks lineup. 😀 I have already addressed Schalk, and we already had Puke Flotsam at the Sharks, we didn’t like him so we let you lot have him. Don’t try to send him back, we don’t want him, besides, like most Stormers’ forwards, he plays centre too!
@wpw (Comment 91) : Yes, but he had a nice three week break while the rest of his Bok teammates were playing in the CC semi and final!!!! 😈
@wpw (Comment 88) : when did Vinnie edit one of your comments? Starting to think I might need to start wielding a big stick here 🙂
Nah – I just kidding. I am planning on reinstating your editor rights anyway… just need to get around to it.
But editing my comments is not a good idea – unless it’s to fix my (sometimes atrocious) spelling.
I can’t believe I am going to say this, but Mujati is by far the best of the Stormer’s forwards, he actually works in the tight/loose, and with another Super 14 season may become a very good scrummager.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 92) : just to extend that argument, the Sharks wouldn’t even take Matfield who is far better than Bekker when it comes to playing flylock.
Was great to see Muller and Bakkies as a combo last night.
@robdylan (Comment 94) : I want to edit…… 😛 😛
@robdylan (Comment 96) : PJLD informed me that I was playing Matfield out of position at centre, since he is clearly a right wing. So no, he is not even a flylock apparently. 😆
@Dancing Bear (Comment 95) : someone’s been spiking DB’s drinks again.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 97) : well, in theory it goes hand in hand with submitting regular articles and helping me to maintain discipline on the site.
We won’t get too involved in the first point, but you guys are all so well behaved here, the second point is moot. So people like Wes (and dare I say Vinnie?) obviously get bored…
I am very disappointed in Jannie’s performance against England, Mujati far outplayed him in every facet other than the scrums, and he was only slightly worse than Jannie in the scrums. I really am starting to warm to Mujati, I still think I was right and he should have been given another year to develop before getting called up. The problem is that PdV had him in the squad the entire time, and he rarely started a test match. He had very little game time at tighthead prop because of this. I would have preferred to see him play an entire CC season at TH, and then after this coming Super 14, get his international call up. I am afraid he has lost a season of development by being called up to early and being relegated to the bench. Also, how did it affect his psyche being told that TH prop is the hole in the Bok lineup, so in order to accommodate Bissie, they would play John at TH (because our other options there were not good enough).
@robdylan (Comment 100) : I’m doing my best to keep them entertained.
@robdylan (Comment 100) : True, I’m probably the worst behaved of the bunch. 😀
@Dancing Bear (Comment 101) : must say, I can’t really blame Jannie for maybe being a little bemused at this stage… they haven’t exactly played open cards with the guy. They always seem to be leaving him out, only to rush him in to do an ambulance job at the 11th hour. It has to affect your confidence.
As for Mujati… let’s see him play another full season at tighthead first.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 103) : not by a loooong shot, dude!
we have one or two peeps who like to try and flaunt the “no politics” rule…
My Sharks lineup for the Super 14:
Beast
Bissie
John
Sykes
Muller
Botes
Deysel
Kanko
Rory
Ruan
JPP
Adi
Murray/Swanepoel
Odwa
Steyn
Carstens
JdP
Albert (if he isn’t in an old age home by then)
Keegan
(the new young scrumhalf I don’t think it is Mathie)
Murray/Swanepoel
Terblanche
@Dancing Bear (Comment 95) : I take it you drank the banana rum stash you had!
@Dancing Bear (Comment 106) : McLeod.
I want to phase Frans in at 15… would still start with him at centre for now and keep Stef at 15
@robdylan (Comment 104) : I don’t know what it is about TH props in SA, they all seem to be treated like shyte. BJ was treated very poorly, they said they dropped him because he was off to Ireland, but CJ was also off to Europe to play and they didn’t drop him. I don’t get it, but they just don’t seem to care about treating THs properly. Then by moving John to TH (personally I don’t think is such a bad idea), they are telling all the THs (BJ, CJ, Mujati) that they are so bad that they would move a Hooker to their specialist position. I don’t get it, just seems like very poor man management.
@PJLD (Comment 107) : believe it or not, I still have three bottles. I feel bad, can’t bring myself to drink them because I know they belong to you. 😳 😳 😳
@robdylan (Comment 108) : I have been wondering if Waylon might not make a good 12 instead of 13. He is so big and strong, and if he could just work on his distribution, he might be a super 12. What do you think? I understand about Steyn at centre and phased into 15, and we do have Stef who is playing superb rugby at the twilight of his career. He just seems to fit in so well with the Sharks, and clearly plays his best rugby in Durban.
@PJLD (Comment 107) : It’s just driving you nuts that I am coming around to Mujati isn’t it? 😀
Pirate walks into a bar and orders a drink
Bartender looks at the pirate and says “did you know you had a wheel sticking out of your pants?”
Pirate says “Aaaarghh…..it’s driving me nuts!”
@Dancing Bear (Comment 110) : Ok dude, we need to finish this deal.Ive had bottles of K Dub, but i likes my brannes and i drank them.Luckily im a Fish Eagle drinker now and really stick to that
@Dancing Bear (Comment 112) : It makes me nervous
@PJLD (Comment 113) : You still have my e-mail address? If so, send me an address, and I really will send them off this time, I promise. They are sitting on top of my fridge, so every time I open the fridge, I feel bad looking at them. 😳 😳
@Dancing Bear (Comment 115) : Nah i dont, mail me to provincejoulekkading at sharksworld and we can take it from there.
@PJLD (Comment 114) : hehehe, come on PJLD, you know I call them like I see them. I also think I am fairly good at analyzing front row play. Mujati needs to improve his scrummaging, but I believe it is much harder for a young tighthead to excel than a young loosehead. I believe there is more technique involved at TH. This is why Beast has been able to excel and Mujati not so much. That being said, watching Brian play, he is really fantastic around the field. There were so many times at the end of the England game when the crowd bayed “BEAST” while it was actually Mujati carrying the ball, more often and even more effectively than the Beast. I am very happy with Mujati’s general play, and I do believe he is plenty strong enough to be a good prop, just needs the time. My concern (and don’t take this wrong not intended to insult WP) but who does he really have to learn from at WP at this point?
@PJLD (Comment 116) : You have mail.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 111) : Waylon might just be another Halstead at inside centre… is that a good or a bad thing?
Not really sure he offers much more (or less) than Frans Steyn does… Waylon would need to learn to run straighter. Then again, Frans often forgets to pass…
No, I think that Adi and Swannie are probably the best 12s we have now. Frans and Waylon should possibly fight it out for 13. Then again, Waylon at right wing and Odders at fullback also works well
@Dancing Bear (Comment 109) : you are spot on… it’s kind of like we neither appreciate our good tightheads, nor even know what makes a good tighthead.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 117) : I do enjoy how you explain to me daily
My only thing is theres going to be nobody to have an argument with…hell man i never said you were wrong i just enjoyed get you worked up.
Hmmm doent come on often enough.
Moller is back next season hopefully but he has been gone for so long I cant remember whether he was LH or TH.All i know he was decent.
Other than that their isn’t many folks to look up to at WP, the boy is going to have to learn by doing.
@robdylan (Comment 119) : I always liked Trevor at 12. If he does not offer more or less than Steyn at 12, why not put him at 12 and Steyn at 15. Odders has become such a fantastic right wing, I don’t want to move him, even though he would probably excel at FB as well. My only concern with Adi and/or Swanepoel at 12 is neither is particularly large, and the crash ball option would not be as effective. I don’t believe in crash ball after crash ball, but it needs to be an option to keep the defense honest. I think both Adi and Swanepoel are better 13s than 12s. I think Steyn and Waylon may be our best 12s with Adi and Swanepoel our 13s. But what do I know, I was a hooker that actually played hooker not centre like Brits. 😆
@PJLD (Comment 121) : I’m fairly sure Moller is a loosehead. I really would like to see Mujati get a chance to work with someone like Balie Swart for a season or two.
Well umh WPW said he saw Peter Div(the prop) in Town last week, maybe he will be in the cape for a while.He owns a farm around these here parts.
Balie worked with the Bokke for a while and I don’t remember him doing too much of a great job.
@PJLD (Comment 124) : I think Balie was instrumental in bringing BJ through with the Sharks, but maybe I am wrong. Excellent point about Pieter de Villiers (prop). He was a world class TH, it would be fantastic for the Stormers to bring him in to help with front row technique.
Speaking of PdV (prop) it is amazing how many South Africans have played for other international teams. Clearly there are more Saffers playing in other teams than any other country. England, France, New Zealand, Aus, US, all had Saffers playing for them.
I am almost certain the Prop is Pieter and the coach is Peter.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 126) : Coach was also Pieter but had it changed just over a year ago.
@PJLD (Comment 127) : Is that right? Why would he change it?
President Elect Obama called Ileana Ross Layton (representative from Florida) to discuss some foreign affair issues. She didn’t believe it was him so hung up the phone on him three times. She thought someone was playing a joke on her. Eventually Obama had to call her chief of staff and have him call her to tell her that it really was Obama. 😆
@Dancing Bear (Comment 128) : Only he knows
@PJLD (Comment 130) : Seems strange to change it at this stage in his life. Perhaps just trying to make it easier on the foreign press???? 😀
@PJLD (Comment 127) : really? I didn’t know that, but did find it strange he was “Peter” when he is quite clearly Afrikaans speaking
@robdylan (Comment 132) : That’s OK, you changed Bob Dylan’s name to Rob! 😆
ok i gotta run
@PJLD (Comment 127) : Don’t want to contradict you, but check out this article when he was coach of the U21s. His name was listed as Peter then as well.
http://www.sarugby.com/news/News/article/sid=4551.html
@Dancing Bear (Comment 133) : true dat 🙂
BTW, Clayite, Moller’s definitely a loosehead
@Dancing Bear (Comment 135) : Of course I have found other articles from the same era where he is listed as Pieter. So the confusion continues.
And here is another article from sarugby.com a week after the one above where they list him as Pieter.
http://www.sarugby.com/news/News/article/sid=4590.html
Rob, can you please get to the bottom of our coach’s naming issue?
@Dancing Bear (Comment 137) : and given the quality of rugby journalism in SA, you are surprised why?
@Dancing Bear (Comment 139) : I can try… CHARLIEEE?????
@robdylan (Comment 140) : Hey, you’re a South African rugby journalist! 😈
@robdylan (Comment 141) : 😆 there was a time you would actually research things like this. Now you just call for Charlie???? 😆
@Dancing Bear (Comment 142) : yes, but I like to think I’m a cut above 🙂
@Dancing Bear (Comment 143) : it’s been a long year
@robdylan (Comment 144) : Without a doubt a cut above…. 😀
Have you been playing your guitar enough Rob? Sounds like perhaps you are not.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 145) : no… I need to do so a bit more. Recently restrung my Ibanez RG
name was pieter but was always called peter.so i scheme he just dropped the i.
@robdylan (Comment 146) : Nice, stringing is fun, now actually play the thing 😀 I actually broke my G string on my acoustic, and didn’t have a spare. I have never broken that string before. 😯 I played with my strat recently, it has been too long.
@PJLD (Comment 147) : Then we must start calling him Petey!
haha g string
@PJLD (Comment 150) : 😆 It was riding up my ass!
@Dancing Bear (Comment 151) : oh god! Please don’t ever go there again 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 152) : It’s PJLD’s fault! 😳
So Rob, back to rugby, what do you think about playing Smit at TH, with no hooker on the bench, with Carstens and JdP on the bench in the Super 14?
@Dancing Bear (Comment 154) : I also think Muller should still captain the Sharks with John being allowed to concentrate on TH play. Besides, would not be a bad thing for John to just play without the responsibility of captaincy in the Super 14.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 148) : I need to get a hardtail of some sort…
@Dancing Bear (Comment 154) : agree with that… reckons it makes lots of sense.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 155) : not so sure I agree with that, though… I reckon Joe would quite gladly hand the captaincy back to John.
@robdylan (Comment 157) : I’m sure he would gladly hand it back, John is the best captain in the world right now, but not being captain does not mean he can not lead. I am thinking more of taking some pressure off John while he gets strong at TH, and even take the pressure off on an ongoing basis at provincial level. I think of Sean Fitzpatrick and Zinzan Brooke, Sean was a superb captain for the ABs, but Zinzan always captained Auckland and the Blues. Johann is a strong leader, and he has an excellent grasp of the game and its nuances. He makes good decisions as captain.
John is a natural leader and will lead whether he is captain or not, but perhaps if he does not need to worry about the decisions during the match, and can just concentrate on his game rather than the team, would give him the opportunity to catch up on TH skills. He is a superb rugby player, intelligent and incredibly strong, and has played TH before, but he has a gap of 8 or 9 years of not playing TH and has to make up for that gap. He will make up for it quickly, no doubt in my mind. With his size, strength, and his mojo (for lack of a better word) just being John, there is no reason he can’t become the best TH in world rugby.
Bissie really needs to work on his throwing, otherwise John can still throw in and scrum at TH.
New sailing speed record set today at Walvis Bay in Namibia. 47.6 knot average over a 500M course in only 22 knots of wind. Here is a pic.
http://www.sailinganarchy.com/fringe/2008/sail%20rocket%20record%201.jpg
On the second run, they broke the 50 knot barrier and then went airborne, literally flying over 30 feet in the air and upside down, another pic:
http://www.sailinganarchy.com/fringe/2008/sail%20rocket%20record.jpg
sorry – been playing my new piano 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 162) : It’s OK, I have been having fun talking to myself. 😉
Hi Mense!!
Just wanting to let you know I am still alive…barely….but…alive!! 😉
@Ice (Bébé de Glace) (Comment 164) : Very glad to hear that!!!
@Ice (Bébé de Glace) (Comment 164) : hallo icey!
@Dancing Bear (Comment 161) :
Holy cow! Is that a person flying through the air to the top right of the boat? 😯 😯 😯
I new that the wing design for a boat was effective, but 50knots in 22knot wind!!!!! 😯
@Ice (Bébé de Glace) (Comment 164) :
Got the flu, Ice?
@Ollie (Comment 168) :
Ha ha …I am a really harworking person now, and one of these days you are going to call me Dr. Ice…
Well…I really wish i could talk some more, but family duties!! Please pray I win the lotto….I really miss you guys!! 😀
@robdylan (Comment 166) :
Hi Robs!
By All!
@Ollie (Comment 167) : That is the skipper going for a short flight. He was fine, and excited about the record run.
@Ollie (Comment 167) : Oh I see what you were looking at, no, that is a bird. Skipper is getting launched from his pod when this picture was taken.
Ollie, check this out. This is the former record holder at 46.38 knots average. Difference is Hydroptere is a true ocean going foiler and they intend to break the round the world sailing record after they secure the 50 knot barrier in the 500M. Amazing really, like a marathon runner also holding the world record in the 100M.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 173) : Here is the site:
http://www.hydroptere.com/_en/
Amazing day.
Cold,windy ,spent the day renovating my shop.
Popped out at lunchtime,
cast a little sedge and spent
thirty-three minutes
reeling in a 4.23 kg rainbow.
Brilliant.
Had a brownie and another Bogie
of about 900G each
which went back.
The big ‘un is off to the mother-in-laws
for christmas dinner.
When it cleared the water
what a sight,
bent the 7 weight,had a 1,25KG leader
hence the 33 minutes.
Want a photo Morné?
photo?
Stii no photo RobD.
Hallo Bear!!!
@Duiwel (Comment 176) : have you tried uploading one? Or you could mail it to me and I’ll do it
I do think we should remember that Frans is still 21 – he has lots of time to mature.
I think part of the problem is the messianic role he has been forced into by most of the public and the coaches he has worked under – its only really Plumtree and especially PDV who have not tried to set him us as a wunderkind.
I think Muir and White, with comments about him being given special dispensation etc largely set him up for this – he not only believes that he must do something special every time, but he maybe doesn’t realise fully that many of his teamates can also do magical things – he needs to allow them that pressue and opportunity too.
Lets not forget the roles played by others in getting us the Frans of today, and lets hope that Plumtree and PDV can mould him into the great player he can be.
In your happy place today Fish?
I haven’t read the article but saw a bit of the game on TV and can only say, that Steyn need to play somewhere other than 10.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 181) : Come on. Give it a read. It’s not so bad 🙂
Good morning gents!!!
@wpw (Comment 183) : Ladies 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 182) : I hope you read it while you were writing it Rob…
@PJLD (Comment 180) :
Nah – at work. 🙁
On the udder hand darren, its Friday! 😆
@robdylan (Comment 182) :
I just got outta bed, cracked that spiced gold LAST night rather than the night before . 😳
Will read it when i am awake.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 187) : Phuza Thursday… 🙂
@blckshrk – BUCS (Comment 188) :
Hehehehhehehe. I didn’t have a lot actually just got to bed really late. 😛
@robdylan (Comment 184) : when do i get my powers back??? 🙄
@wpw (Comment 190) : don’t screw up again.
Merry Christmas
@wpw (Comment 190) :
Isn’t it when you dont cut your hair or something?
@robdylan (Comment 191) :
😳
Claytie
Did you hear the rumour that Dollie will be playing for the Brumbies next season???
Somehow I find that hard to believe. 🙄
@wpw (Comment 194) : wow – that has now been posted twice on two different threads… where does the rumour come from?
@robdylan (Comment 195) :
The WP Club Rugby website.
The official WP site has Grant and De Waal as their contracted flyhalves for 2009.
ANother surprise: Hilton Lobberts and AJ are both contracted as locks. 😯
@wpw (Comment 196) :
Hilton Lobberts and AJ – where’s the surprise???
There’s only one Jean Deysel…
@wpw (Comment 196) : are you really surprised that Dollie isn’t in the contracted group? He has never been rated there… he’s obviously just very slow on the uptake.
@robdylan (Comment 198) :
Not really surprised. So WP have 2 contracted flyhalves. What if either one gets injured???
Oh wait, we’ve got a fullback/winger called Joe Pietersen who did a mighty fine job in the CC. 🙄
@robdylan (Comment 198) :
I have it on good authority that he didn’t want to leave CT due to family reasons.
A buddy of mine knows his Dad quite well.
@wpw (Comment 199) : man, that Stormers squad is mighty thin. You okes will be lucky to end in the top half with that lot.
Wes, if Dollie was going to make it as a top flyhalf in senior rugby, we would have seen it by now. He’s too little and too fragile and, quite honestly, just isn’t that good.
Interest bit of news.At the Sharks breakfast this morning in response to a question of whether Ruan Pienaar would be playing at 10 for the Sharks next season.
Firstly Ian Mac as a selector confirmed that the Bok selectors see Ruan as the fly-half for the Boks for the next season.
Plumtree on the other hand said that Ruan would be alternating between 9 and 10 with the other 9 being Cockott and the other 10 being Steyn.
@Dive Pass (Comment 202) :
Well Rob. If something happens to Ruan (injury) or loss of form you guys are stuck with Steyn at 10.
Dan is julle innie k$k.
Some more juicy news from the Cape.
Peter Jooste’s son was offered a contract by WP. 😯
And yet he only played SA Schools the other day.
It is however not a senior contract.
Other well known young players contracted as ‘colts’
Nick Koster
JC Kritzinger
PJ Vermeulen
Dabeon Draghoender
Terry Jacobs
Hayden Groepies
The first time I ever saw Steyn play was at flyhalf for the Sharks against WP on a very wet Kingspark. He single handedly destroyed WP. I wonder what happend since then 🙄
It was a good Sharks breakfast hosted by John Allen.
Unfortunately with the time of the year a number of the Bok Sharks were not there – Smit, Steyn, Pienaar, Kanko, JP, Adi, Beast, Odwa and Bismarck.
But big kudos to Johann Muller for pulling off a miracle and getting to the breakfast, despite having played in the Baabaas match on Wednesday night. He had a Baabaa’s training jersey signed by all the players which was auctioned off for about R 30 000 for charity.
Also no new big signings for the new season the Sharks intend to rely on the existing team and local talent from the Academy and clubs.
@Pokkel (Comment 205) : he was selected by Jake White. 😉
@Dive Pass (Comment 202) : that’s a mistake. I hope they change their mind.
@wpw (Comment 203) : No – hopefully they’ll bring in Len Olivier instead
@Dive Pass (Comment 207) : that’s a good call. There really isn’t anyone out there that the Sharks should have signed and didn’t.
Well, except for Duane Vermeulen
The words used by Plumtree before he said that Steyn would be the other Sharks fly-half was that “Steyn had aspirations for fly-half” and offered a lot for the direct rugby that Plumtree had reintroduced to Sharks rugby , that is he is big, physical, strong defensively and has a massive boot…. I wonder if Fransie is feeling the same way after Wednesday night.
Steyn is in dire need of some coaching, even if he plays at 12.
Interesting that Plumtree is talking about “direct rugby” (which made Mac very excited consider that is his term). He also focused on pride and the history of the Sharks, particularly in the 90s.
Both Muller and Plumtree said in the 2 weeks leading up to the Currie Cup final both had absolute belief that the Sharks were going to the win the Cup. The only brief moment of doubt was when the Bulls won the scrum in the last minute of the match. But Muller said he knew no team could be so unlucky as to lose in the same fashion twice. He said he looked Carstens, who was playing at tighthead, in the eyes and had confidence the next scrum would be won. John Smit had a talk to the front row and the rest is history.
@Dive Pass (Comment 211) : direct rugby is every bit as applicable today as it was when Mac coined the term in the late 80s. It was the basis of the Boks’ recent win over England, anyway… anyone else notice that?
@robdylan (Comment 212) :
Yip, direct/defensive rugby beat the Baabaas on Wednesday night too….
What’s up….
I was sooooooo looking forward to the Barb game and was sooooooo disappointed that I made time to watch it…..
@Hmmm (Comment 214) : you’ve been scarce
@robdylan (Comment 216) :
I see I am sooooo far down in 4th place it is actually alarming….LoL
And 5th placed ICE is on my heals….