Pick a player and liken him to a nation's posters on 606v2.

First topic message reminder :

Every nation and their fans create a perception of themselves through their actions and behaviour, I often sit and read posts on the forum and often it strikes me how similar the attitude or postings are of a specific nation’s supporters. Then there are of course those who are fair weather supporters, they don’t support them home country for a justifiable reason they have cleared in their own minds.

We had that here in south Africa in 1990 when the Sharks won their first Currie Cup and money started flowing to their docks and businesses realised there was a marketing opportunity, before then I knew no Shark supporters, but after the win, the closet supporters and fickle ones came out in droves and acknowledged the fact that they have indeed been hiding their secret as they were afraid to shame the family name.
So based on that I was thinking about if related to a specific position or player in the recent history of rugby, who would I liken to each of the nations represented on 606v2.

As I am one of only a handful of South Africans on 606v2 it would be inaccurate to base SA on only one sample.

New Zealand – Carel du Plessis
So I will start with New Zealand as they are top of the pile. We had the Prince of wings who didn’t play a lot of international rugby due to our sporting isolation, yet he was called the Prince of wings. There was an air of superiority about him, in the eyes of the media he never did anything wrong. He seemed to be knowledgeable about the game of rugby and although always polite never hesitated to be truthful about his opponents, albeit in a semi diplomatic way. He tried never to offend anyone, but now and again his superior attitude or knowledge failed in his obvious attempt to be diplomatic. Looking at our NZ posters here, they are knowledgeable, fair and their confidence comes from the fact that they do have the best team in the world, once in a while a comment they make can spark some negative reaction. Our OZ posters fit well into that category, they represent rugby well when they are on here, but often they can be absent.

Australia – James Small.
James Small was the type of player who wasn’t the fastest wing in the world, neither was he the biggest wing in world rugby, he did however at one stage hold the record for the most tries in a springbok jumper. He wasn’t always interested in doing the right thing and was often to one side having other interests that occupied his time, much like the Australian supporters with their AFL and cricket. Slightly sensitive he would not enjoy criticism and would sometimes respond in a negative way, but overall a real nice guy.

England – John Smit
As we all know John Smit was a big name in SA rugby, the last two years of his career he remained the captain in place of the best hooker in world rugby Bismarck du Plessis, and his reputation seemed to be the only thing that kept him there. The overall opinion was that his time has come and gone, but stubbornly he stuck around for a final hoorah. But it wasn’t all bad, he still wanted to be the best he could be and tried his heart out, sadly his international career ended on a bit of a low and his reputation a little marred by his reaction of Bryce Lawrence on that fateful day, a little bit of a whinger. Much like our English counterparts who some of them still live on the reputation of their team 9 years ago, they have their moments of being objective and peasant, an now and again will whinge about something gone wrong.

Ireland – Juan Smith
Juan Smith is the quintessential professional rugby player, honest hard working and loyal to the core. There really isn’t much you would be able to criticise, yet if you look a little deeper, you may find just a hint of a guy who doesn’t really waste time with casual chat or humour. That doesn’t mean it isn’t there, you just have to prod a little and use some encouragement. That is pretty much the way I see Irish posters, on the whole they whinge the least, they are very honest in their approach and very serious about their rugby, there is also a sense of the conservative much like Juan Smith, just a good old Free state local plying his trade. When coaxed into a little humour they often find it rather enjoyable, but they never stray far away from their roots.

Scotland – Bismarck du Plessis
Much like Bismarck, Scottish posters know their stuff, but just like Bismarck who had to live in the shadow of John Smit, they bide their time and when their team has done well or has shown improvement can they become a little more vocal with their opinions. Now and then their frustration will come to the boil, just as Bismarck showed when he was replaced against Samoa when he was having a blinder of a match. But otherwise, polite, honest and hard working.

Wales – Gavin Henson
Gavin Henson has been a promising and talented rugby player for some time, his action off the field and his self obsession with all things Henson is most likely his biggest stumbling block in his career. There has been much hype surrounding him and to this day there are still some that believe he is the real article. He doesn’t really pay much attention to all the criticism levelled at him and continues to believe in himself in spite of any facts to the contrary. That doesn’t mean he is all bad, he does have talent, he does a potential when focused and will most likely be great if he could focus on the necessary. I am also pretty sure he is a nice guy. Welsh fans strike me to be of the same cloth, he is welsh after all. They are passionate about rugby, No other team exist for them, which in all honesty isn’t a bad thing, I truly admire loyalty, but like Henson, criticism doesn’t go down well. Overall they are pleasant, if not for their inability to process criticism in a constructive manner.

The fickle Floaters – You can pick anyone of a number of “residency qualified players”
To the fickle floaters loyalty means little, they change allegiance for their country to whomever is the flavour of the month, or decade. For the life of me I do not understand how you can support a country that you have not lived in for the majority of your life, or at least have actually lived in for some part of your life. If I had to leave SA and live in another country my loyalty to the springboks have been engrained in my DNA, the possibility of supporting another team is unthinkable. Knowledge about rugby is one thing, but opinion based on rugby is another. If a person can switch allegiance to another country for whatever reason, I don’t understand it. Hence the question is how much of the opinions can you really take that seriously.

Anyway have some fun with this and choose a player and liken him to a nation’s posters on here.

CurlyOsp, your view of Welsh posters as like Henson for the reasons you've given could be the very definition of irony.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

miteyironpaw wrote:Scotland England - Jan Hendrik de Beer. Fundamentally on two points. (1) Extremely unlikely to score a try (2) Still responsible for some of the worst nightmares of English rugby supporters.

Fixed for you

miteyironpaw wrote:CurlyOsp, your view of Welsh posters as like Henson for the reasons you've given could be the very definition of irony.

Ooh! Hark at Alannis Morrisette!

miteyironpaw wrote:CurlyOsp, your view of Welsh posters as like Henson for the reasons you've given could be the very definition of irony.

Which makes it accurate?

A good English Hooker : Edinburgh season ticket holders
Neither exists

Scotland: Sean Fitzpatrick Always quick to dish out the banter but never complain when people retaliate and gets up after the torrent of abuse with a smile on the face and ready to take on the next post / ruck.

Wales: Carlos Spencer. Capable of brilliant posts and then capable of foot and mouth disease and making a fool of themselves. A mixed bag but always attracts debate.

England: Sergio Parisse The world´s best tag fits well with them but at the same time they know deep down that the world´s best tag counts for nothing until the team starts performing at the highest level.

We Irish whinge a lot. Most of it is infighting,we end up going around in circles. Probably not as good as we once were but capable of a big performance every now and then. So we are Gordan D'Arcy.

Scotland - Rob Wainwright. A bit posh.

My god ! If Bakkies Botha is a thug then what does that make Courtney Lawes, Hartley etc, etc

England - Rob Andrew,
over inflated ego of self, wade in thinking its still the late 19th century and all subjects must accept defeat when the upper class accent rings out, a habit of survival even when it seems like the wheels will be coming off and go missing when intensity is involved and don't score tries.

View to the top : James Haskell. An egotistical nincompoop jacked up on roids. Would make a lot of England fans happy if he nobbed off to Japan.


(love you really big boy)

i would love to live in Japan i imagine Haskell feels like Superman coming to Earth over there!
Bigger stronger faster and a magnet to women.

Peter seabiscuit wheeler-- Peter Wheeler
a cry baby who cries off when defeated and continually blames the ones in charge when he losses.Hates chirpy Welsh folk

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:My god ! If Bakkies Botha is a thug then what does that make Courtney Lawes, Hartley etc, etc

Gentlemen, mate. Gentlemen.

Nz - quade cooper: Appear to see the game with a clarity and vision few share, but you know the confident exterior masks some demons.

SA - David Pocock: accept the stereotypes at your peril. Living through a complex history has developed a reason for deep thought and a complexity the bulk tends to mask.

Wales - Dylan Hartley: when Hartley gave McCaw a bloody nose, you sensed he would have enjoyed it for all the digs that he wasnt good enough to make it in NZ. Wales beating England always seems to come with the same added sweetness.

France - Dean Mumm: I know he's out there and this year I'd like to hear more from him.

The Switchers - JOC: huge contribution, but there is an underlying fear that he is missing the point. It's not about the best brand James, its about your country.

Australia - G Hensen: no one blames you for your outrageous good looks, being able to dance like Fred astaire, or for pulling all the chicks, but you have to get in the game more and stop being distracted by every sideshow that comes to town.

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:My god ! If Bakkies Botha is a thug then what does that make Courtney Lawes, Hartley etc, etc

PJ Holybloke will tell you, him and I have established that the south African thugs just aren't in the same league as the Lawes and Hartley's of this world.

In fact Bakkies Botha is a poor man's Lawes.

boomeranga wrote:Nz - quade cooper: Appear to see the game with a clarity and vision few share, but you know the confident exterior masks some demons.

SA - David Pocock: accept the stereotypes at your peril. Living through a complex history has developed a reason for deep thought and a complexity the bulk tends to mask.

Wales - Dylan Hartley: when Hartley gave McCaw a bloody nose, you sensed he would have enjoyed it for all the digs that he wasnt good enough to make it in NZ. Wales beating England always seems to come with the same added sweetness.

France - Dean Mumm: I know he's out there and this year I'd like to hear more from him.

The Switchers - JOC: huge contribution, but there is an underlying fear that he is missing the point. It's not about the best brand James, its about your country.

Australia - G Hensen: no one blames you for your outrageous good looks, being able to dance like Fred astaire, or for pulling all the chicks, but you have to get in the game more and stop being distracted by every sideshow that comes to town.

Thanks for the compliment, I think.

biltongbek wrote:Our OZ posters fit well into that category, they represent rugby well when they are on here, but often they can be absent.

That beer's not going to drink itself Biltong.

Quade Cooper - France. Either brilliant or awful.

Matt Dunning - Scotland. Capable but can be painful to look at.

Scott Higginbotham - South Africa. Loves a kick from anywhere on the field.

Tom Carter - England. Can't stand either of them.

Wales - Jordon - often relies on an orange glow and two talented front rowers - surprised many with ability to be successful, although still a bit too much 'confidence' for many

Scotland - Jodie Marsh - Wants to play the running game like Jordon, but was always second best - recently bulked up and became a contender. Needs more prime time success to shake the unlucky performer tag

Ireland - Kelly Brook - had a golden age a few years ago, when everyone thought she would kick on. Seemed to fade with some poor film performances, but has the odd 3D flash of brilliance that gets the crowds interested - aging parts need replaced soon


England - Sam Fox - you would have then, when she ruled the roost, but past it just now. Hoping for some new medical cure to roll back the years to former glory

The other point with Sam Fox is that shes the one with the biggest t its.
( AKA Haskell and Cipriani)

Also, with Sam Fox, due to her size, she has a slightly unbalanced back row

England - Brian Moore
Tough, no nonsence player with intelligence...and the ability to wind people up no end.....and who is hated by everyone but the teams he played for...

GeordieFalcon wrote:England - Brian Moore
Tough, no nonsence player with intelligence...and the ability to wind people up no end.....and who is hated by everyone but the teams he played for...

Which is why heterosexual males invariably like the guy.

Unlike England, sam fox has a preference for 'selecting' her own, erm, kind....

Jordans and Wales...both spent a fair bit of time getting humped by Australians recently, ending in heartbreak.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Jordans and Wales...both spent a fair bit of time getting humped by Australians recently, ending in heartbreak.

And like the Welsh forwards has a reputation for dumping people nastily

boomeranga wrote:Nz - quade cooper: Appear to see the game with a clarity and vision few share, but you know the confident exterior masks some demons.

SA - David Pocock: accept the stereotypes at your peril. Living through a complex history has developed a reason for deep thought and a complexity the bulk tends to mask.

Wales - Dylan Hartley: when Hartley gave McCaw a bloody nose, you sensed he would have enjoyed it for all the digs that he wasnt good enough to make it in NZ. Wales beating England always seems to come with the same added sweetness.

France - Dean Mumm: I know he's out there and this year I'd like to hear more from him.

The Switchers - JOC: huge contribution, but there is an underlying fear that he is missing the point. It's not about the best brand James, its about your country.

Australia - G Hensen: no one blames you for your outrageous good looks, being able to dance like Fred astaire, or for pulling all the chicks, but you have to get in the game more and stop being distracted by every sideshow that comes to town.

These were genuinely brilliant

+1 although those demons were largely exorcised last year.

New Zealand - cheryl cole - Even though they manage to bend the rules and assault the opposition (not in toilets) they get away with it as generally loved due to their great play. Most aspire to be them, but even they struggle on live performances on stage, and tend to lip sync the ref.

Australia - Pamela Anderson - Blond and bouncy, and less reliant on Hasslehoft. Used to have the plays that would make a great s e x tape, but unsure they could record one in HD now that people would want to watch.

SA - Lyndsey Dawn MacKenzie - Huge Forward power that makes them formidable opposition, but once you get past that, you realise that they are not that attractive to watch. Effective, but agent may be limiting potential

Pick a player and liken him to a nation´s POSTERS.

See me afterwards. All this talking in class is not helping your schoolwork.

Del Boy - Scotland - "this time next year we'll be............."

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Pick a player and liken him to a nation´s POSTERS.

See me afterwards. All this talking in class is not helping your schoolwork.

True, but I was having too much fun with myself

Eeeerrrrrr

For what it's worth I enjoyed reading your homework. I just felt you didn't read the question properly.

Onanism will make you go blind.

RubyGuby wrote:Del Boy - Scotland - "this time next year we'll be............."

Scoring tries? Was the France game the "Peckham Spring" episode?

I might have to see you after class too kia as I'm guilty of the same mistake. It's much easier to make fun of another team than it's supporters.

I think we need to ask Biltong to create a dual thread for likening players to teams as I agree it could be fun. But that doesn't excuse your behaviour young man.

PS No I´m not Graham Henry.

Full Credit wrote:I might have to see you after class too kia as I'm guilty of the same mistake. It's much easier to make fun of another team than it's supporters.

Lots of Englishmen twisting uncomfortably in their seats.........hmmmm, like Wales for instance? I think you might have a few on 606 who would give it a good go.

BB - I assure you in my clumsy way it was a compliment. I admire pocock like few in our (oz) sporting world, and I wouldn't hand his name out lightly. He and Quade are two that are important to me.

Biltong, all those compliments about SA posters being like Fourie and Pocock must about you! I'm more like any isolation-era springbok: not really able to do as much posting as I'd like, and mostly, the only thing I can do is watch other people post.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Australia: Zinzan Brooke or David Campese. Loud, brash and in your face but always good for a laugh. Very knowledgeable and their team is able to do things that other teams are not capable of.

Ive actually found the Oz posters quite subdued and not as flambouyant as their very extroverted stars (Warny, Gregan, Campo, Cooper etc) but instead very knowledgeable and practical about the Oz sporting scene, rather refreshing given some of the boisterous articles coming out of Oz. But I do love the Oz attitude overall. Free spirited, not bogged down in detail and in their sports just get on with the job of performing and looking good while doing it. Sun and surf as a country and in their personality's.

Good post Biltong...lot of fun reading these. Bit early in the morning to start analysing personalities on these boards for me so I'll rest on it...