After the 2019 World Cup, we had more goodwill than we knew what to do with (or atleast it felt that way). The amount of articles/comments I read from fans agreeing that South Africa was a "good champion" not only due to our onfield feats, but also the stories that came with our larger than life heroes.
Jump past an off year and to a mid-covid Rugby year, and we fucked the goodwill boys.
Now Im South African boys, no need to chuck me with the "fuck what other countries think" and "I dont care, Rassie is king and I will stand by him". But hear me out, what if we admit to ourselves, even just a little, that threatening to post something if we didnt get what we wanted, is just a titsy bit childish. And childish is something that never has and never will fit a description of our beloved Bokke. But by failing to do a little introspective analysis, I find that even on here, we are airing on the side of becoming a bit childish in our defence of our beloved Rassie.
What if, we let Rassie just serve his time away (and the man might need some time away judging by charge 1) and we get behind our other boikie Jacques and we start building our goodwill again.
We remain humble in victory and gracious in defeat. And most importantly, especialy now, we respect the outcome of our matches, no matter what calls we might feel went against us. We do this for long enough and this whole thing will blow over faster than a Honda Civic in Durban.
We dont get baited into overly toxic back and forths (but ya we do talk kak like few can so who knows where the line is) and we atleast consider every now and then that we might be wrong.
Obviously its not a full proof plan and there will be those that still refer back to this time, 10 years from now, but if only half the world stops seeing us as a team that cries about everything, then Id say thats a win in my books.
Discuss.
I have been a bit saddened by the opinion pieces published in the aftermath of the Lions series. I felt like in 2019 the Springboks managed to shake off the reputation of being "the bad guys" in world rugby. I also got the impression that people started to appreciate the intelligence of the current squad - specifically their ability to play a variety of styles of rugby. We put 32 points past England (who had just the previous week restricted the All Blacks to only 7 points) which is the 3rd most points scored by any of the 18 teams to make a world cup final. Both of our wings scored tries in quite thrilling fashion. I felt like our excellent forward pack was supported by a backline that was more than capable of quality play. And, if anything, I felt like the neutral was backing the Boks.
Roll forward to 2021 and in difficult circumstances a largely similar squad wins a Lions series. During the series the Lions scored 2 tries in 3 tests, both of which came from lineout mauls. Dan Biggar passed the ball less than 5 times in the entirety of the second test and, prior to Finn Russell's introduction, the Lions offered essentially nothing in terms of backline play. In contrast, the Springboks scored 4 tries in 3 tests, all of which were scored by backline players:
- A scrappy try by scrum-half Faf de Klerk
- A try by left wing Mapimpi after a beautiful cross-field kick by fly-half Pollard
- A try by outside centre Am after a neat grubber (off his weak foot) by scrum-half de Klerk
- A magical try by right wing Kolbe after an excellent read, drift, and pass by full-back Willie le Roux (the comparisons to Liam Williams here are obvious).
Essentially the Springboks key play-makers assisting their outside backs to score tries. Sounds like good rugby to me.
Couple this with dominant forward play and a good kicking game and I would say the team is pretty decent. If this sort of stuff is "boring" to you, then perhaps you just don't like rugby? Or perhaps the reason why you found it boring was a lot more to do with the team in red and what they managed to do than it was the team in green.
There were certainly negative parts to the tour: covid, Rassie's video, the terrible quality of the pitch (Cape Town stadium is a soccer stadium), the weather conditions (Cape Town is very rainy in winter), and the lack of match fitness leading to slowing down tactics to keep the best players going for the full 80. But the Springboks adopted a similar tactical app
... keep reading on reddit ➡...when Saudi police rush in and arrest them.
The mere possession of alcohol is a severe offence in Saudi Arabia, so for consuming the booze they are all sentenced to death. However, after many months and with the help of good lawyers, they are able successfully to appeal their sentences down to life imprisonment.
By a stroke of luck, it was a Saudi national holiday the day their trial finished, and the benevolent sheikh decided they could be released after receiving just 20 lashes.
As they were preparing for their punishment, the sheikh announced, "It's my first wife's birthday today, and she has asked me to allow each of you one wish before your whipping."
The South African was first. He thought for a while, then said, "Please tie a pillow to my back."
This was done, but the pillow lasted only 10 lashes before the whip went through. When the punishment was done, the South African had to be carried away bleeding and crying with pain.
The Australian was next up. After watching the South African's horror, he said smugly, "Please fix two pillows to my back." But even two pillows could take only 15 lashes before the whip went through and the Australian was soon led away whimpering loudly (as they do).
The New Zealander was the last one up, but before he could say anything, the sheikh turned to him and said, "You are from a most beautiful part of the world and your culture is one of the finest. For this, you may have two wishes!"
"Thank you, your most royal and merciful highness," the Kiwi replied. "In recognition of your kindness, my first wish is that you give me not 20 lashes but 100 lashes."
"Not only are you an honorable, handsome and powerful man, you are also very brave," the sheikh said with an admiring look on his face. "If 100 lashes is what you desire, then so be it. And your second wish"?
"Tie the Australian to my back."
Just had a thought...the South African Rugby Season is basically all year round. Currie Cup just ended, now URC began, and when that finishes Currie Cup starts maybe 6 weeks later. How will SA teams cope, particularly in later rounds of the URC?
Are the squads bigger to cater for this?
The drama spans many threads
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Cricket/comments/qg41eo/comment/hi3r6ys/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Cricket/comments/qg41eo/comment/hi3nv4y/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Cricket/comments/qg41eo/comment/hi3nkgo/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Cricket/comments/qg41eo/comment/hi3pcdd/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Cricket/comments/qg3d75/comment/hi3jw6z/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
For a bit of context all players have been showing their support for the movement through various gestures.Quinton de kock was the only one who hadn't and he has now pulled out of the match as kneeling is mandatory
I know about O'Malley's, but i met some South Africans at Barra (sadly since closed) who mentioned a spot where South Africans go to watch the rugby. I foolishly did not write the name down and now can't remember where it was...anyone here possibly know?
As the title suggests, I am hopelessly lost on the future of South African teams in Super Rugby. I understand the pandemic threw everything off, but now I see Australia/NZ playing their own sort of "league". I then also see rumors/suggestions that South Africa will be moving to PRO14. My team are the Stormers and I am trying to decide if I should get Peacock Premium to catch PRO14 now?
I have looked all over and can't great answers and maybe that's because no one knows either. Anyone have any guidance? Should I start looking towards PRO14? Stick with the Super Rugby? What exactly is going on?
...when Saudi police rush in and arrest them.
The mere possession of alcohol is a severe offence in Saudi Arabia, so for consuming the booze they are all sentenced to death. However, after many months and with the help of good lawyers, they are able successfully to appeal their sentences down to life imprisonment.
By a stroke of luck, it was a Saudi national holiday the day their trial finished, and the benevolent sheikh decided they could be released after receiving just 20 lashes.
As they were preparing for their punishment, the sheikh announced, "It's my first wife's birthday today, and she has asked me to allow each of you one wish before your whipping."
The South African was first. He thought for a while, then said, "Please tie a pillow to my back."
This was done, but the pillow lasted only 10 lashes before the whip went through. When the punishment was done, the South African had to be carried away bleeding and crying with pain.
The Australian was next up. After watching the South African's horror, he said smugly, "Please fix two pillows to my back." But even two pillows could take only 15 lashes before the whip went through and the Australian was soon led away whimpering loudly (as they do).
The New Zealander was the last one up, but before he could say anything, the sheikh turned to him and said, "You are from a most beautiful part of the world and your culture is one of the finest. For this, you may have two wishes!"
"Thank you, your most royal and merciful highness," the Kiwi replied. "In recognition of your kindness, my first wish is that you give me not 20 lashes but 100 lashes."
"Not only are you an honourable, handsome and powerful man, you are also very brave," the sheikh said with an admiring look on his face. "If 100 lashes is what you desire, then so be it. And your second wish"?
"Tie the Australian to my back."
