Springbok Appreciation Week

Rugby comrades. A grave travesty has befallen us.  Over the past two weeks, since the Springboks were unduly compromised in their quest for Rugby Championship glory by yet another filthy and unfair refereeing Frak up of epic proportion an even worse rugby culture sin has been committed.

New Zealand fans have besmirched the finest and most holy of all rugby protocols but improperly dismissing the springboks. I'm deadly serious when I say there are some things you just don't do and this is one of them.

Beyond the fact that the inevitable sporting karma will smite the All Blacks in response in the most humiliating way (for example conspiring that we lose to Wales) the fact is beyond selfish self preservation - it's just contrary to all ethics or morality.

So, in part repentance for this haenous and scurrilous treachery I propose to make a mends for my part in this underhanded sculduggery by proposing springbok appreciation week.

Let us celebrate the team that prior to apartheid politics invading sport were the most feared rugby nation on earth. Unflinching brutal giants who pounded the turf with their mighty hooves and swept across the rugby field like their namesake across the wild plains of their fine sun baked country.

Let us rejoice in their plethora of unsurpassable bulls cheerleaders and their insatiable appetite for dried exotic meats.

I recall the shiver of emotional anticipation I felt as a small lad the first time I saw that deep green and gold uniform clad unit run out into a cauldron of fanatical support and realised I'd been gyped for a decade believing it was all about the Bledisloe cup. 

No other team had led me to become quite so physically ill with nervous anticipation as the might of the springboks, out greatest adversaries. The finest pinnacle of combative aggression in sport. Long may they live. Huzzah!

What the ---- did I just read?

Ignore it mate, GE has lost it.

Biltong wrote:Ignore it mate, GE has lost it.

Did he ever have it?

Strange article.

any body seen any good films lately

How is it strange to suggest we spend some time celebrating one of the greatest teams in the world? Seems like a natural thing to do, just for a change from the endless bickering and one-up-manship that goes on.

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:any body seen any good films lately

I saw Limitless a few days ago. Pretty good, though it tailed off a bit at the end.

Apparently GE used to spend 20% of his time on here, but since popping one of those pills he's pushing 100%.

Cyril wrote:

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:any body seen any good films lately

I saw Limitless a few days ago. Pretty good, though it tailed off a bit at the end.

i enjoyed that film . yes went a little bit silly at the end

Saw Stardust. A bit girly but worth it to see De Niro dressed in drag doing the can can. Reminded me a bit of the Kapa o pango in a strange way.

Question to the mods - does a poster have to break a rule to be banned or is a ban possible just for being an annoying t**t ?

offload wrote:Question to the mods - does a poster have to break a rule to be banned or is a ban possible just for being an annoying t**t ?

Sadly annoying doesn't cut it.

If it was up to me........... well, let's just say annoying is unpleasant, but not against house rules.

Reminds me of a guy being tied up in a chair with a smear of jam on his nose, and there is this little fly...

bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


 

However.

"5) Replies should only address the points of a post. Do not make personal attacks on posters whose points you disagree with."

Can we please stick to the topic. Would any one care to share their favourite memory of the Springboks, a Springbok performance, or a Springbok player?

One of my favourites was always Joost van der Westhuizen, when I was younger he seemed like what would happen if Flash Gordon played rugby.

I bet your favourite moment was two weekends ago, eh?

Biltong wrote:I bet your favourite moment was two weekends ago, eh?

Mine? No. Actually I was at a wedding in Poland and missed the game. I watched the replay through a two day vodka hangover.

I enjoyed the last Springbok/Lions series immensely and found myself barracking for the Boks pretty much on my own, aside from one other Kiwi in a pub surrounded by Brits. It got properly fighty near the end when O'Gara gave away that penalty on full time.

GloriousEmpire wrote:How is it strange to suggest we spend some time celebrating one of the greatest teams in the world? Seems like a natural thing to do, just for a change from the endless bickering and one-up-manship that goes on.

The levels of gushing praise and ass kissing are just a little hard to stomach and maybe even a little hard to believe.

It never hurts to let a little of our inner admiration out GG.

GunsGerms wrote:

GloriousEmpire wrote:How is it strange to suggest we spend some time celebrating one of the greatest teams in the world? Seems like a natural thing to do, just for a change from the endless bickering and one-up-manship that goes on.

The levels of gushing praise and ass kissing are just a little hard to stomach and maybe even a little hard to believe.

a Little hard?  

This belongs in the twilight zone.

Its going to be weird in about 10-15 years time when you see youngs local chaps called Esterhuyse, Claassen, Weise, Botha, Pretorius, Le Roux, Burger etc etc turning out for their first cap for NZ & AUS.

Favourite springbok moments...

Press conference of PDV after 2nd Lions test.
Bakkies Botha headbutting Jimmy Cowan.
SA vs. Wales 2004, the introduction of Burger to the NH.
Pieter Hendriks goose stepping the great one at Newlands.
Francois Pienaar dummying Mike Catt at Twickenham after he called him an average player.
Schalk Burger vs. Freddie Tuilagi in the RWC07.. am sure it caused an earthquake somewhere in the pacific.
James Smalls acting skills during the RWC95 final. He had to go off "to injury" during extra time (period before subs were allowed).
Rudi Straeuli complaining that Martin Johnson was "a bully" during the RWC03.
The boks score 3 tries to 0 vs Lions in the 2nd Lions test in 97 but still lose the match by 3 points.
Joost van der Westhuizen completing the first actual man for man tackle on Jonah Lomu in test rugby (it was his 7th cap).
Frans Steyn 2 drop goals at Newlands vs AUS in 2007 3N.

The best of that has to be Ras Dumisani though in France 09... one of the funniest moments in Bok history ever.

My least favorite Bok moment was when they beat France in '95 in torrential rain in the semis. France really deserved to win that one IMO. Once they won I was glad SA went all the way and Piennar and Mandela had their moment but I really felt for France in one of the most horrible games Ive seen mainly because the rain was incredible and the game should have been abandoned.

http://www.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/story/98309.html

There were also some real home town decisions including a disallowed France try in the dying minutes.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AmSK-IkzK0‎Cached

This year has been interesting in that Australia has clearly gone down a peg or two. They lost to the Lions and they've looked shabby or flabby up front and their backs haven't combined well. Comments that the Australian backline is the best in the world have dried up this year. There have been injuries and attitudinal problems but the Aussie backline danger is as mythical as French flair. We just haven't seen it.

SA clearly have a pack that can apply pressure on us. Their rush defence often cancels out our desire to use the width of the field. There is always room for improvement in any side but I for one am glad that NZ's biggest traditional rival clearly stands out today as just that.

The 95 loss still provides the biggest heartbreak for me from our many RWC disappointments. 1995, 2007, 2003, 1999, 1991 in that order for me. But you can't have it all your own way all the time. It's always good to be reminded that you can't rest on your laurels and always have to look to improve. Praise be to the Springboks indeed.

Y'know GE I think I've mined the depths of your paranoia and subconscious. Your other thread The Yellow Card Stands made me think about THAT yellow the first the one we're all talking about. But no you were meaning the other one the deserved one. So why the rather misleading ambiguity? It seems you were subliminately hinting he should have been sent off. Which rather flies in the face of your paeon of praise. Gotcha!

most unplayable match in history... they might as well have been playing in the Indian ocean close by.

fa0019 wrote:most unplayable match in history... they might as well have been playing in the Indian ocean close by.

It was unbelievable wasnt it. Was sure it was going to be stopped.

As the hosts were due to play, that match was going ahead no matter what. I think the IRB would have been strung up somewhere in the veld had they cancelled the match and France put through to the final (went on disciplinary record... not the boks strong point).

fa0019 wrote:As the hosts were due to play, that match was going ahead no matter what. I think the IRB would have been strung up somewhere in the veld had they cancelled the match and France put through to the final (went on disciplinary record... not the boks strong point).

Yes that's true. I remember that.

GloriousEmpire wrote:

Biltong wrote:I bet your favourite moment was two weekends ago, eh?

Mine? No. Actually I was at a wedding in Poland and missed the game. I watched the replay through a two day vodka hangover.

I enjoyed the last Springbok/Lions series immensely and found myself barracking for the Boks pretty much on my own, aside from one other Kiwi in a pub surrounded by Brits. It got properly fighty near the end when O'Gara gave away that penalty on full time.

Did the Polish authorities escort you from the terminal to the plane just to make sure you didn't overstay your welcome?

Tigeleghorn

How can the authorities escort a ghost???

fa0019 wrote:
Frans Steyn 2 drop goals at Newlands vs AUS in 2007 3N.

That was a killer for me. We were in the lead, near the end of the game, and we kicked out of our 22, didn't find touch (criminal in any suitation) and Steyn near the half way line puts it over and wins it for the boks.

Gutted I was, to use a pommy term, but have to admire the blokes enormous drop kicking range!!!

OzT wrote:

fa0019 wrote:
Frans Steyn 2 drop goals at Newlands vs AUS in 2007 3N.

That was a killer for me. We were in the lead, near the end of the game, and we kicked out of our 22, didn't find touch (criminal in any suitation) and Steyn near the half way line puts it over and wins it for the boks.

Gutted I was, to use a pommy term, but have to admire the blokes enormous drop kicking range!!!

and he was 19 to boot.

Yeah, thought he was going to go places but to me anyway, seems to have done good for a few seasons then stagnated, never for me quite reaching the peak.

Sad to think those moments are now behind him when he should be in his playing prime. Players like Juan Smith who would bleed for an opportunity to play top flight rugby must be tempted to think you were dealt a harsh hand in life whereas others make donkey folds.

Hes too good a player thats the problem. By 21 he had won the world cup, not only a squad place but starring starter.
He was the most natural player in SA, was big enough to take on anyone physically and had real ability hand and foot.

but he was/is lazy by nature... just does enough to be the best... never smashes anyone off the park, just always 1 or 2 steps ahead.... and sometimes it comes crashing down when others raise their game.
Watching him in RWC11 was bad, still so important to the boks but he looked like he did his pre tournament training with Gazza.

Someone like Goosen will help him though... no longer is he the poster boy of SA and the most skillful.... will give him a target and hopefully will bring out the best in him.

The hair wouldn't have helped.... LOL!!

and the 10kgs of puppy fat he developed eating all those pastries in Paris.... they must have been shocked when he turned up to practice during the 3N in 11.

Thanks for getting in the spirit.

What about you BT? What was your most proud springbok moment?

Biltong - Danie Russouws cover tackle in 07 perhaps??

What ranks higher. World Cup successes in 95 and 07 or a 3 - 0 whitewash of NZ in 2009 for example.

In many ways I'd take our only series win in SA than either of our World Cup successes. It's a shame we don't get the chance to play 3 or 5 test series in SA anymore. To me that would be the ultimate tour rather than a World Cup tournament.

It would be amazing for NZ to tour SA like the Lions do. Perhaps we should change the RC to be only every 2 years and in the interim the RC sides have 2 series i.e.

something like the below

2014 - AUS tour of NZ , SA tour of ARG
2015 - RC & RWC
2016 - NZ tour of ARG, AUS tour of SA
2017 - RC
2018 - SA tour of AUS, ARG tour of NZ.
2019 - RC & RWC
2020 - NZ tour of SA, AUS tour of ARG
2021 - RC
2022 - NZ tour of AUS, ARG tour of SA
2023 - RC & RWC
2024 - SA tour of NZ, ARG tour of AUS.
2025 - RC

and then the cycle repeats itself.

So here would be the breakdown

hosting years

SA - AUS 2016, NZ 2020, ARG 2024
NZ - AUS 2014, ARG 2018, SA 2022
AUS - SA 2018, ARG 2022, NZ 2024
ARG - SA 2014, NZ 2016, AUS 2022

so that every 12 years we would see a return of the ABs in SA etc.

Good idea???? It could be built like a Lions tour and be say 8 games in length 4 tests, 4 provincal (need less warm up then Lions do). Surely the tour is worth more then a RC???

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:any body seen any good films lately

Rush.

Would they treat it with the respect of the tours of old?have a tour once every 4 years
that year.Dedicated to a full blown tour No July,Autumn,4Ns or Super matches just ITM,
and Curry cup.Provincial matches and other matches Wed,and Sat four tests organised
as of old.FULL STRENGTH Provincial sides playing strong Touring sides in your dreams
money men wouldn't allow it.BUT it would be great to have proper tours again including
Europe to NOT just tests clubsides too.

95 will always be the most gutting...illness rather than a red card 'ruining a potential great spectacle'.

81 Eden park must rate as the most spectacular test in history in terms of drama, unbelievable events...

a plane flying into the stadium , the dropping of flour bombs onto the park, one decking Gary Knight, barbed wire and police covering protests outside, 3 Ray Mordt tries, a brilliant try to Wilson and a cliff hanger ending, Mark donaldson tap and run to catch the boks offside, finished by Hewsons penalty to win the match, and a Welsh ref wondering what on earth he had gotten himself into.

Kia,define the word tour to my knowledge the last one between NZ v SA was the 1986
Cavaliers and that was unofficial.Nz series wins 1994,1996 for want of a better word
DOES`NT really count to ME as a Series.To win 4 tests in the same year,3 in SA was
a Great Feat BUT NOT of the same calibre as the Boks 1937 one.By MY definition the All
Blacks have never achieved a Grand Slam in Europe i.e on a full TOUR including numerous
Club/Provincial matches.The 1925,67 sides were unbeaten but didn't for various reasons
play all 5 NH sides.1964 unbeaten in Tests but one was drawn out of 5.
Don`t local supporters feel cheated watching shadow sides being thrashed by full strength
Lions teams.Whilst there stars are hidden in training camps.Save the excuses about giving
your side it`s best chance the AB`s didn't hide theres in 2005.THE great thing about a
traditional tour was local sides could beat touring sides unlike MOST today.

emack2 wrote:Kia,define the word tour to my knowledge the last one between NZ v SA was the 1986
Cavaliers and that was unofficial.Nz series wins 1994,1996 for want of a better word
DOES`NT really count to ME as a Series.To win 4 tests in the same year,3 in SA was
a Great Feat BUT NOT of the same calibre as the Boks 1937 one.By MY definition the All
Blacks have never achieved a Grand Slam  in Europe i.e on a full TOUR including numerous
Club/Provincial matches.The 1925,67 sides were unbeaten but didn't for various reasons
play all 5 NH sides.1964 unbeaten in Tests but one was drawn out of 5.
Don`t local supporters feel cheated watching shadow sides being thrashed by full strength
Lions teams.Whilst there stars are hidden in training camps.Save the excuses about giving
your side it`s best chance the AB`s didn't hide theres in 2005.THE great thing about a
traditional tour was local sides could beat touring sides unlike MOST today.

1986 simply werent the ABs, nor sanctioned by the NZRFU nor did it have all our best players. 76 was the last 'tour' of the republic in the real sense of the word.
Take your point about the grand slam. In NZ we interpret it as doing what France would have had to do when it was the 5 Nations- ie beat the four home unions. So if youre going to rule out the 78 and 04/05 etc as slams then by the same account would you rule out those by France in the 5 N- the effort being identical. Its just interpretation- neither is right or wrong and neither is any grand slam official unless its done within the tournament proper anyway.

I miss the old tours, the Lions 77 for me the closest I have followed. Full blown tour which took in every single NZ province even if some were combined efforts. Subsequent tours were scaled back and only had value in the tests.

We have planes now Alan. Your definition of a tour will only happen if we go back to using boats. Touring then was a necessity in those days. Now you can fly anywhere within a day.

Your definition of a series I think is more realistic to achieve. Would love to go on a tour like that as a fan. It would be the ultimate.

Would we quickly get tour burn out and wish for a change to more diverse one off tests? Are we just fickle as fans?

I'm not sure I'd want to see more than a 3 Test series against one side (with a couple of warm-up/mid-week games thrown in). We need variety.

You can see it with The Ashes in cricket. I'm sick of watching England v Australia now (I thought repeatedly smashing them in Test series would never lose its attraction, but it has).

You'd be hard pressed to sell me the virtues of a one off test GE. The 6N is just one game and I can see the attraction of saving the rematch until the next year. Look at how we'll approach the England match. But generally this licorice allsort touring has never done much for me as the one off matches come and go and we never learn anything from them.

Yet with a tour there is nobody left wondering what might have been? A series shows your true place. The 3 match series in June have been disappointing in terms of a contest - Wales Australia being the best in that sense but I'd much rather have three tests than one as a way of a rugby yardstick. You can't flatter to deceive over a series. You get found out if you're not up to it.

Playing SA at home and then away is all very well but put a series in and nobody is left in any doubt who deserves bragging rights after a series.

Cyril having a tour which would come around much less often is a way of getting variety. Every year we play England in November and usually Wales as well. Beating us every ten years is not enough to get the excitement levels up. But if you had to wait 6 or 7 years until a match against England occurred then you'd be a lot more enthused about a series over that team.

In 30 years time we'll probably see NZ win perhaps another 2 RWCs... So there will be say 4 captains in NZ history over 50 years that have lifted the RWC..... In 70 years there was only 1 NZ captain to win a series in SA.

The Everest of rugby is not the RWC it's winning a tour in SA or NZ.