The 'principle' of the matter

Fri, 04 Jun 2010

rugby365's oracle, Paul Dobson, gives us his very forthright and exclusive view on Butch-gate - the saga of a Springbok being selected and dropped three times in one week.

Thoughts on a defeat

Tue, 01 Jun 2010

rugby365's oracle, Paul Dobson, takes a look - in his unique way - at the outcry against referee Craig Joubert, following the Bulls' victory over the Stormers in the Super 14 Final.

Ruben Kruger: A Personal Memory

Fri, 29 Jan 2010

rugby365's oracle, Paul Dobson, recalls some of the fondest memories of a legend, the late Ruben Kruger.

Sadistic iconoclasts at large

Wed, 13 Jan 2010

rugby365's oracle, Paul Dobson, tries to make sense of government's obsession with interfering in succesful sporting codes and ignoring those who fail dismally.

Which is the toughest league of all?

Mon, 28 Dec 2009

rugby365 Oracle, Paul Dobson, takes a look at the various competitions in Rugby Union to determine which is the toughest 'league' of all.

It's not the laws' fault

Wed, 09 Dec 2009

rugby365's oracle Paul Dobson agrees with former England lock Paul Ackford, who feels it is "the mentality of the players and the coaches which corrupt the product", not the way the game is set up.

School vs Country

Tue, 25 Aug 2009

We have had the tug-o-war between club and country, especially in Europe between country and professional clubs. In such a tug-o-war there is always a loser. The same has just happened in South Africa, this time between country and school with school the loser.

Manners Maketh Match

Tue, 11 Aug 2009

For once the mannered were better at Newlands on Saturday when the Springboks played the Wallabies. They applauded the visitors onto the field, stood for their anthem and applauded it, sang the South African anthem with gusto and applauded the Wallabies when they scored. It was not perfect but so much better and enjoyably so. That was pleasing - much more pleasing than what has been happening at times in schools rugby.

Springboks and Wallabies at Newlands

Thu, 06 Aug 2009

The Springboks and the Wallabies have met nine times at Newlands, starting in 1933. The Springboks have won six times, the Wallabies three times.

The 1949 All Blacks on a 'slow train' in SA

Mon, 27 Jul 2009

rugby365's oracle Paul Dobson brings us more of his interesting anecdotes on how the 1949 All Blacks, on their tour to South Africa, managed to wind their way through the country - from as far south as Cape Town to as far north as Salisbury.

Steep ticket prices and empty stadia

Fri, 24 Jul 2009

rugby365's Oracle, Paul Dobson, takes a look at the fact that not even a much-anticipated match between the world's biggest rivals - the Springboks and All Blacks - can sell out a stadium anymore.

1949: Travelling travails - getting there

Thu, 23 Jul 2009

Itineraries for touring teams are always important because travelling/touring is always hard, often better recollected in tranquility afterwards than experienced at the time. Nowadays they are worked out carefully by the tourists who are a business. Then they came as guests to receive hospitality which they repaid by playing the game and being friendly.

SA v NZ 1949: The trials

Wed, 22 Jul 2009

The first job was to pick the teams. The All Blacks were chosen in 1948 for the 1949 tour. The Springboks were chosen in 1949 for the 1949 Tests, as we remeber what happened 60 years ago.

1949 - the Year of the Whitewash

Mon, 20 Jul 2009

In 1949 the All Blacks toured South Africa and were whitewashed. That is 60 years ago. It was the first whitewash of a touring team in South Africa, in the sense that the touring team lost all the Tests in the series.

Winners are worth watching

Fri, 10 Jul 2009

rugby365's oracle, Paul Dobson, tells us why it is worth watching winners and when it is worth paying good money for a good game!

South African Lions

Fri, 03 Jul 2009

In this - the 13th in a series of articles on the British and Irish Lions - rugby365's oracle, Paul Dobson, tells us about South Africans who played for teams from the Four Home Unions that toured abroad.

The expectant Lions

Thu, 02 Jul 2009

In this - the 12th in a series of articles on the British and Irish Lions - rugby365's oracle, Paul Dobson, tells us about a time when South Africa were the kings of world rugby.

The first 'Lions'

Wed, 01 Jul 2009

In this - the 11th in a series of articles on the B&I Lions - rugby365's oracle, Paul Dobson, tells us about the first team that was officially called 'The Lions'.

The hard, hard fields

Sun, 28 Jun 2009

In this - the 10th in a series of articles on the B&I Lions - rugby365's oracle, Paul Dobson, tells us about the quality of pitches the Lions first experienced.

The 'rebel' Lions

Thu, 25 Jun 2009

In this - the ninth in a series of articles on the B&I Lions - rugby365's oracle, Paul Dobson, tells us how the 1910 tour, the first truly British and Irish representative outfit, was almost stopped.