MAILBOX: Stop the madness
Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:32
The readers are, as always, very vocal about the Springbok team selection, with a few choice words for us here at rugby365. There's also some reaction to reports that some Kiwis want to exclude South Africa from Super Rugby. As always, you have the Write of Reply.
"I wish people would stop with this whole 'Axing of Pienaar and Steyn' story. They have not been dropped from the Springbok squad. They have been released for the Argentina game, so they can get some game time in the Currie Cup. Would you rather have them sit on the sideline for the match, or have them have a run against the WP. Honestly, people should start thinking about why a coach would rotate players, especially when is a non important test as the Argie one.
"PDV is clearly using this test to give most of the regulars some continuation, but also to welcome some of the previously injured players back into the squad. Would you bring Fourie du Preez and Jacque Fourie into the starting squad against NZ without them having ANY gametime in a Springbok jersey this year. I guess not. Give them a run against a test of lesser importance, to see if they are actually test fit. And in bringing them into the match 22, they replace Ruan and Frans Steyn, who can then go to the CC to regain some form (albeit from only one match). Im sure Ruan and Frans will be back into the squad for the remainder of the Tri Nations.
"So before everybody jumps on the critisism bandwagon, think about the selection for 5 minutes. Good luck to the Bokke."
- Rual Brits
"First you get rid of arguably the best rugby coach in the World, in Jake White and then you sideline one South Africa's most promising young rugby players, in Francois Steyn. I'd say that the Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has lost the plot altogether. But what the heck it's South Africa, whenever you finally get a winning formula, what do you do? In SA you get rid of it replace it with a puppet.
"It's not surprising that more and younger South African rugby players are opting to go and play overseas and possibly gain English, French or even Australian citizenship! Too much politics in South African sport, I would honestly like to see some sort of quota system applied in South African soccer, the current team does not truly reflect the demographics of the country, and god forbid that with this new system in SA soccer they will quite possibly perform better than what they have done up until now. Don't destroy a winning formula!"
- Joaquim Pimentel
"Hi,You asked if De Villiers has lost the plot? I ask you if he ever had it?! If players like Steyn and Pienaar lived in NZ or Australia, they would be nurtured as moulded into world class players (like Matt Giteau). Instead they are sent back to their provinces to rot.
"As much as it hurts me to say, if they left now, they could be playing for a country that actually wants them in the next world cup!"
- Steven Kitto
"Once again it is made abundantly clear that the 'Bok coach is paying off his (undisclosed) quota debts which brought him his election as coach. In the desperate attempt to have some authentic genetic 'Blacks' in the team we sit with a Zimbabwean as a prop, the son of a radical political activist as flank or eigthman, another Zimbabwean on prop, although everyone will agree that he is a merit selection and a centre who is definitely not superior to Francois Steyn. O am convinced that his team will struggle a bit against the Pumas and that there will be some substantial changes in the team to meet the All Blacks.
"As long as it is not too little too late.
"The Parliamentary sport committee under it chairman and the
hallelujah choir in the form of the ANC members of the committee have proved that their idea of national teams is not one where merit counts but only where some 'laaities' from the 'disadvantaged' crowd (disadvantaged my eye) should share in the millions the Whiteys are earning with emphasis on the word 'earn'. This travesty of a political circus have proved that merit is a strange and unacceptable phrase in its lexicon.
"Is it really unfair to point out that the greater the percentage of disadvantaged players in an international team, the worse they perform against strong teams from other countries: Soccer has no chance of winning a world cup; women's Netball has slumped to depths against teams such as the Aussies and the All Blacks and even Malawi, the former two who are gladly grabbing up SA players leaving for overseas, sometimes for selection and quota reasons. Men's hockey? With the quota in place, no meritious results are
possible. But Rugby and Swimming where the authorities could resist quotas to some extent, are shining on the world scene. Will this remain so if the chief clown of the sport(s) committee and his henchmen get their way?
"How sad....
"It is incredibly heart-rending that the one aspect in our society which could unite races and cultures, is being used as a political weapon to trample one section of the community (Whites, Coloureds and Indians) to score political points for the other section and to make another gravy train available for the laaities of that section..."
- Dion Roder, Ladysmith
"Why does PDV drop Frans Steyn, Ruaan Pienaar and Odwa Ndungani on 'poor form' yet retain a very under par Butch James? James is worn out and needs rest! So Peter Grant is injured, so what? Why not include the likes of Morne' Steyn as a back-up flyhalf? Start introducing his genius at test level!
"It is PDV's job to find the best position for a player and Frans Styen is a better full-back than flyhalf (the majority of the public both locally and internationally can see this,…so why can't PDV?). Come PDV – Frans is one of those 50year talents that you CANNOT waste!! Stop bouncing him around and put him in a position where he is a real threat – fullback!
"There are 3 questionable selection areas (other than these I think PDV has got it pretty much spot on):
1. Front row: settle on a solid front row (Mujati just doesn't cut it and neither does CJ any more).What happened to Sephaka? (sure we can criticize him a fair bit but he is rock solid in the scrum and we need a good replacement for OS,….& Lawrence is it). Its good to see Chilliboy making his way back into the mix and would be great to see how his skills are after the long break.
2. Flyhalf: Butch is solid on defence and an average playmaker – so he's good to have but we need a talisman at
flyhalf (Dan Carter and Steven Larkham prove the value of a playmaking flyhalf). So we need to find the next playmaker WITHOUT sacrificing defence! Sorry but Peter Grant is just not heavy enough to match the likes of Nonu. We need guys like Morne' Steyn or similar who can dominate play and still be solid on defence. Frans Steyn is also good at Flyhalf but nowhere near his lethal potential at fullback.
3. Loose forwards – the Wallabies have proven the strength of having at least 1 fetcher if not 2. Our loose trio did little against George Smith and Phil Waugh. PDV needs to find a strong, quick trio. Skalk, Spies (although he needs to raise his form), Big Joe or someone like Kabamba Floors / Hilton Lobberts (who has a fantastic physicality at the breakdown and clears away oppents at the rucks).
"There lies my thoughts on the selection process. But I agree that the Boks need to settle on a squad and stop chopping and changing every week. The odd strategic replacement to combat the opposition strengths and exploit their weaknesses is totally in order but stop playing so much with combinations.
"Having said that, I think PDV is doing a great job. I think he has proved his worth beyond a great initial concern (including myself) and I really do like being proven wrong when I am judge mental. Please Peter, just don't let pride cloud the greater good! It is the great down-fall of all our past Springbok Coaches."
- Jason
"In the 80's we had a large percentage of our rugby supporters boycotting rugby as a result of racially selected sports teams arising from the government policies of the time. We have finally gone full circle with the selection of Jongwe Nokwe for the Springboks. After 16 years of selecting wingers at all levels of the sport we have finally eradicated the gene pool of white wingers that produced so many that left their mark indelibly on the history of the game. We have consigned our rugby
to the level of business in this country where all values are reduced to the level of the lowest common denominator i.e the participation of the appropriate proportion of people of colour irrespective of their worth. Pieter de Villiers has well and truly nailed his colour to the mast. Zimbabwe here we come."
- Dave Johnstone
"Its an excellent team, I only question the Springbok management who scheduled 4 games in a row. It will be because of that decision and not the players or the coaches that the boks do not win the Tri nations this year.
"Glad to see Habana and Burger are been rested, I guess Nokwe over Chavanga as he is injured. du Preez and Fourie should replace Jacobs and Januarie early in the second half. Percy will need a run at 10. Maybe Juan Smith should have been rested and Big Joe should get a run."
- Victor Kaidatzis
"Look I know Fourie is one of the best outside centres in world and on a good day he is the best, but are we always so keen to go back to the tried and tested when the guy there right now has given you no reason to doubt him.
"Ad Jacobs and Jean have been an awesome combination, making linebreaks at will and solid on defence. This is the same guy who has been shining the bench at the Sharks for about 4 seasons. PDV believes in Ad and he has been vindicated in this selection.
"I think its high time to let the players play until they do wrong and then call on those tried and tested guys who've had to sit out because of injury. The same applies to the Ricky January/Fourie Dupreez saga."
- Mpho Titus
"Fleckie. I am getting very tired of your constant contradictions not to mention your highly inaccurate predictions. You were a top notch player and I was a big fan but your column is quite frankly an embarrassment.
"I am sorry to say this but just because you were a good player that does not lead onto you being a good columnist or rugby pundit. Your recent criticism of Peter De Villiers selection policy is completely contradictory of your comments as to his ‘great changes' (your words not mine) for the Wallaby game down under. Make up your mind, if his selection policy is poor then he doesn't make ‘great changes' presumably
"As for your game predictions, admittedly these are never easy and not an exact science as you have rightfully pointed out. However, getting every single prediction wrong (practically) should perhaps send you a loud and clear message – ‘stop with the predictions'
"Lastly, please stop being such a pessimist about the Springboks. All of your columns praise the AB's and Wallaby's but always manage to criticize Peter De Villiers and the Springboks. Give the guy a break, in my opinion his has done bloody well so far and needs the rightful support of South Africans. Let's not forget that his has just coached the side to first ever victory over the AB's in Dunedin. Remember too that Jake White, as a phenomenal a coach as he was, never guided the Boks to victory in New Zealand
"The home leg of the Tri-Nations will be tough yes and certainly no walk-over but we will win our three home games and be crowned Tri-Nations champs. Now, hows that for a prediction."
- Niko Patrikios
*** On the New Zealand proposal for Super Rugby...
"Actually guys, the reports said the 9 NZ provincial unions wanted a trans-tasman comp with SA included in an HC-type tournament.
"SA has the Currie Cup and the S14 has shown how difficult it is to travel weekly between NZ-Aus-SA, so a Pacific based tournament involving the NZ provinces is a better option than franchise sides.
"A competition where sides travel to SA for a 1 off game with rounds held every few weeks would surely be better for all countries? NZ sides usually aim 50% success in SA on tour,
and SA sides have a far worse record on the road. So why not reduce these to one-off games every few weeks as most sides have shown they can win the odd game away from home. Wouldn't this even things up a bit?"
- Andy Neilson
"I've said it so many times and I'll say it again, with friends like these (A/NZRU) you don't need any enemies. I hate to admit it but agree though that Superrugby has gone a bit stale (not the rugby being played, just the competition) and this announcement could present a positive opportunity to put some real spice back into the Currie Cup. The winner of the Currie Cup can then represent in a different tournament etc. etc. (similar format to Football tournaments). This should up the ante and be a great motivational factor to draw bigger crowds to local stadiums, BUT, I don't think we should continuously dance to the tune of whatever nonsense other rugby unions are playing (at).
"With so many South Africans already playing in Europe, it might be worthwhile to lend an ear to what European rugby unions have to say. Another alternative would be is to stick to the same routine but let the unions go sell themselves across the globe, The Sharks vs. Toulousese at 13h00, followed by the Stormers vs. Pontypridd followed by the Bulls vs. the Shoguns, you get the idea.
"One last thought, the World Cup showed us there's an abundance of talent around the World, let's get them envolved."
- Francois, London
