*sigh*
Yeah, that's some crazy shit right there. There are a lot of weird rumours and counter-allegations flying around about the whole incident too. Apparently the cops in question are in a habit of shaking down customers of the strip club Bees left.
Not that this excuses him killing a dude, but like most stories here there are layers of weirdness and complexity.
As for PDivvy's defense of Bees *shudder* what a moron.
Add to this our worst season in a loooong time and I can only hope his head is on the block. A White coach would have been dismissed on the spot for those comments.
As for the Springbok team, there's something desperately wrong behind the scenes. The team is just not even showing up to games and it's hard to tell where the problem is.
Well, one problem is the backline coach is not a big proponent of defense, that's a problem.
Now you see, if SA had a larger Rugby League profile, you could just do what everyone else does and get their defensive coaches from there 
What is it about League defense that makes the coaches so desirable? I think League is probably smaller here than ice hockey, and there are probably only 6 rinks in the country, so it's actually a total mystery to me.
But, as an indicator of the stupidity of the Bok hiring regarding the back-line coach
The guy is called Dick Muir. I was fond of him when he coached my team, The Sharks. We played a really attractive style of running rugby, defense wasn't great, but we scored enough to mean that wasn't too bad during the pool stages. Never won a final with Dick as coach though.
He then went to the Highveld Lions who I think won 1 game during this year's Super 14, largely thanks to the totally porous defense, then he moved to the Boks and suddenly our notoriously physical and active defense disappeared. Bryan Habana has gone from one of the best defensive wings in the world to a total liability.
While the Lions, after Muir left and under Kiwi John Mitchell, have suddenly won 4 in a row including the pre-tournament favourites this last weekend in the Currie Cup.
And a funny story, Jake White, our World Cup winning coach has offered to stand in as caretaker coach until the World Cup. This is particularly funny because the game administrators hated him and sabotaged him badly through most of his tenure, including during the World Cup. If only they could eat a little humble pie and take him on.
Won't happen though, they will stick with a political decision no matter what it does to the team.
I guess the perception is that because there is so much less kicking, and obviously no rucks and mauls, then most of the game is running towards the opposition line. Breaking that line is pretty much the only way you are going to make a gain towards the opposition try line, so the defence is much more based on safeguarding it.
Totally makes sense. The problem though isn't the mechanics of our defense, it's the lack of commitment shown by the players.
It was also noticeable in the English game that when poaching players from RL was all the rage most of them, with a couple of exceptions, ended up as playing in the defensive line at centre (Andy Farrell and Barrie-Jon Mather spring to mind) even when their RL position was at the back of the scrum.
Educated guess here, so feel free to say I'm wrong. I would guess that the emphasis on running and ball carrying in RL means that loose forwards tend to be smaller than their Union counterparts so the positional shift makes sense.
As it is, even in Union the division between loosies and centres is blurring with the emphasis on ball carrying number eights, and flanks getting in on the action too. The loose forward tends to be slightly taller, but that's one of the few differences build wise.
Pretty much so, the rarity of scrums in RL mean that they are more for the breakaways and they obviously don't need to have the size to dominate in lineouts etc.
Enjoying this Aussie/Kiwi game. Australia are playing well. carrotpanic picked a good game for his first live rugby experience.
*edit*
Although I really don't like the running from inside the 22 both teams are doing.
So, the details of next year's Super 15 have been announced.
The Super Rugby competition will not only expand to 15 teams in 2011, it will also undergo a significant format revamp.A new three-Conference system will be in place where the five teams within each country will make up nationally-based Conferences and play their four “local” rivals on a home and away basis (eight games in total).
They will also play four of the other five teams in each of the other two Conferences on a home or away basis (another eight games).
This leads to an overall programme of 16 games per team in the regular season, as opposed to the current 13 -- and separate Australian Conference, South African Conference and New Zealand Conference tables will chart the fortunes of teams in each country.
A three-week finals series involving six teams -- as opposed to the current two-week playoffs for four teams -- will further increase the length of the season.
At the end of the regular season matches, the top team in each Conference will qualify for the finals.
The other three teams to qualify will be the sides with the most number of competition points -- regardless in which Conference they are based.
The Conference winners are also ensured of a home finals match. Therefore, at least one finals match will be played in each country each year.
SUPER RUGBY SNAPSHOT
# An increase in overall matches from 94 to 125 (an increase of 33%)
# A 50% increase in the length of the season in non-World Cup years -- from 16 weeks to 24 weeks
# A 31% increase in the length of the season in World Cup years -- from 16 weeks to 21 weeks
# 40 Super Rugby regular season matches played in each country each season as opposed to 26 in Australia under the Super 14 structure and 32 or 33 in South Africa and New Zealand
# There will be 20 regular season local derbies in each country as opposed to six in Australia, 10 in South Africa and 10 in New Zealand under the Super 14 format
# Half of all regular season matches will be local derbies
# Each team will play 12 of its 16 regular-season games within its own country -- with only four matches overseasFINALS SERIES FACTS
# The top team in each Conference will automatically advance to the finals in positions one, two or three (depending on their individual competition points totals)
# The other three teams to advance will be those with the highest number of competition points outside of the Conference winners
# The teams qualifying in fourth, fifth and sixth can come from any Conference -- they could all come from one Conference
# In week one of the finals the teams qualifying first and second will rest
# The third-placed team, as a Conference winner, will host the sixth-placed team in a sudden-death qualifier
# The fourth-placed team will host the fifth-placed team in another sudden-death qualifier
# The two winners will play the top two sides in semis the following week
# The winners of the semis will meet in the final
To put it politely, this sounds f*cking terrible.
The competition is already too long and too split between large teams and minnows, now Australia needs to fund a 5th team. I guess TV rights are what really count.
Typical greedy bastards mentality, where more = better.
As you say, now the Aussies will have to find another team, not sure where from as they are competing against two other significantly entrenched sports. I also suspect that more local derbies may not necessarily mean more spectators.
Enjoying this Aussie/Kiwi game. Australia are playing well. carrotpanic picked a good game for his first live rugby experience.
*edit*
Although I really don't like the running from inside the 22 both teams are doing.
Just found this. I have to say I had fun at the match, but we had terrrrrrible seats. We were in the 7th row in one of the endzones. Couldn't hardly see a damn thing we were so low and on the end. We did get to see the All Blacks come back right at us in the second half (although we were rooting for the Wallabies). I can't say I understand the complete myriad of penalties that seem to dictate the game of rugby union (league was a little more straightforward from what I saw on tv). Union seems at risk of being compromised by terrible ref calls on what seem to be mostly judgment based penalties (although I could be wrong, but how can you see every possible infraction when people are piled up grabbing at the ball?)
In the end, Australia were done in by poor goal kicking and untimely penalties in the second half, which seems like a damn shame.
Beautiful stadium, though.
I can't say I understand the complete myriad of penalties that seem to dictate the game of rugby union (league was a little more straightforward from what I saw on tv). Union seems at risk of being compromised by terrible ref calls on what seem to be mostly judgment based penalties (although I could be wrong, but how can you see every possible infraction when people are piled up grabbing at the ball?)
The refs don't even know what all the rules are in union, what chance have the rest of the world got?
carrotpanic wrote:I can't say I understand the complete myriad of penalties that seem to dictate the game of rugby union (league was a little more straightforward from what I saw on tv). Union seems at risk of being compromised by terrible ref calls on what seem to be mostly judgment based penalties (although I could be wrong, but how can you see every possible infraction when people are piled up grabbing at the ball?)
The refs don't even know what all the rules are in union, what chance have the rest of the world got?
Hisss, booo.....
Actually, you're not wrong. :p It's part of the character of the sport. The reffing for this game was decent, of course the fact that 3 of the world's top 5 (all South African) were running the game helped.
I am not going to complain about the bad reffing that affected us during the first 3 Tri-Nations games. We lost 5/6 because we sucked but we did have some help sucking.
carrotpanic, there is an element of judgment that comes into Union reffing. Ultimately all the teams and fans can ask is that if a ref judges in a specific way for one team they do the same for the other.
Pity you had bad seats, you may have been able to see what went on at the breakdowns better if you were closer to midfield. You can also see better on TV with familiarity.
There are a bunch of offenses that can take place there that the refs will tend to be strict on including; Tackler not letting go, tackled player not releasing the ball soon enough, defending player putting hands in the ruck without supporting his own weight, sealing the ball off to slow it down, entering the ruck from the side and probably a dozen more I'm not thinking of.
Stick with League
Stick with League ;)
I will thank you, why would I trade games like Leeds Wigan last weekend for the dull a thon of the English rugby union domestic league or international rugby union? 
Pity you had bad seats, you may have been able to see what went on at the breakdowns better if you were closer to midfield. You can also see better on TV with familiarity.
There are a bunch of offenses that can take place there that the refs will tend to be strict on including; Tackler not letting go, tackled player not releasing the ball soon enough, defending player putting hands in the ruck without supporting his own weight, sealing the ball off to slow it down, entering the ruck from the side and probably a dozen more I'm not thinking of.
The thing that most confused and irritated me was when Wallabies were stopping All Blacks at the goal line over and over and over again towards the end of the game, All blacks passed it out wide, fumbled, and Wallabies recovered only to have the play get called back for a penalty that happened like 30 seconds earlier? Did not understand that one. Also the names of the penalties don't help. Not rolling away? In real sports they have penalties such as elbowing 
davet010 wrote:Stick with League ;)
I will thank you, why would I trade games like Leeds Wigan last weekend for the dull a thon of the English rugby union domestic league or international rugby union?
Oh, I dunno - Wigan v Leeds was a playoff game and so had a bit more to it, and last night's Northampton - Bath game was pretty good. TBH I prefer that to the 'what's a tackle' 80 point shenanigans of the Super 14, or 15, or whatever it is now.
The thing that most confused and irritated me was when Wallabies were stopping All Blacks at the goal line over and over and over again towards the end of the game, All blacks passed it out wide, fumbled, and Wallabies recovered only to have the play get called back for a penalty that happened like 30 seconds earlier? Did not understand that one.
It's called playing the advantage. The alternative would be way more irritating.
To make an example, say New Zealand is in possession and an Aussie player commits a foul, say a late tackle on a NZ player after he passes. Rather than stopping the game for the penalty (this isn't the NFL ) the ref allows NZ to have the advantage for a short time. It isn't indefinite. If NZ loses possession or momentum during the advantage play goes back to the point of the original infringement, if the advantage period ends then it is open play again.
The idea is to allow the team with the advantage to keep it and keep the game moving. If the game stops for every minor infringement it would be horrible.
Also the names of the penalties don't help. Not rolling away? In real sports they have penalties such as elbowing :)
Well, elbowing is a very serious penalty and should have the player sent off for 10 minutes if it happens. :p
'Not rolling away' is a disruptive action during a ruck. If players lie over the ball it's impossible to get out so everyone would stand there for 40 minutes each half and nothing would happen.
Again rugby is all about momentum, the team with the ball tries to keep it and the team without the ball tries to end it without giving away penalties.
Started lock on saturday.
We beat OSU 48 to 3.
Gratz on the start and the win. How has the bulking up been going? I'm assuming you're playing the Number 5 lock because that tends to be the smaller, more athletic, position?
On a regional note, watched one of the best games of the year in the Currie Cup on Saturday.
My team ended up losing 20-22 to the Lions who have been resurgent since hiring John Mitchell. It was two team coached by Kiwi coaches and it showed; a really spectacular running game, but with great defense both sides. Both 20 year old flyhalves had a bad day with their goal kicking, and spotty reffing allowed a try on each side that shouldn't have happened, but these factors balanced out at the bottom line.
I was sorry to see my team go down, but if it was going to happen I'm happy it happened like this. Sadly, the Super 15 is going to do a lot of harm to the Currie Cup from next year.
Not a bad debut:
http://www.espnscrum.com/celticleague-2010-11/rugby/story/124195.html
Oh nice. I'm a huge fan of Ruan Pienaar. I worry when he misses an early kick at goals though, he has a fragile temperament and tends to fall to pieces when that happens, obviously not in this game.
Nice weekend for my team in the Currie Cup. One round left and the Sharks can't be knocked out of the top spot, so home semi and final, if they win the semi.
So our starting 5 came back from injury this week against texas, I was first sub.
In the b game, scored a try on a maul after I caught the 5m line out. First try.
We lost the b game 12 to 10 but played basically all in their 40.
A game. We won 61-8. I got 10 minutes at the end and sprung a center for a try after a UT knock on.
So our starting 5 came back from injury this week against texas, I was first sub.
In the b game, scored a try on a maul after I caught the 5m line out. First try.
We lost the b game 12 to 10 but played basically all in their 40.
A game. We won 61-8. I got 10 minutes at the end and sprung a center for a try after a UT knock on.
Been enjoying the Commonwealth Sevens games. The South African semi against Scotland was a nail-biter ending 10-7, Wales made NZ sweat in the first half of their game, but the Kiwis came back strong in the second half.
Semis are:
NZ - England
SA - Australia
In about 45 minutes, one nice thing about Sevens is how many games they can play in a day.
*edit*
Urk. NZ are rampant, destroyed England. We're up on Australia already, but if we reach the final we need to up our game.
*edit again*
Out muscled by the Dingos, they had a way more experienced team and it showed. Good luck to them in the final. We meet England in the 3rd place playoff.
The Commonwealth Games. Rugby Sevens.
Are you finding that the ads are targeted towards you by name, a la Minority Report ?
Hey, it's either this or VH1. :p
I do enjoy Sevens though, it's good fun.
*edit*
To finish off talking to myself:
NZ - Gold
Aus - Silver
SA - Bronze
Pretty much the natural order of things in rugby.
To continue my grand tradition of talking to myself.
Currie Cup semi-finals yesterday. After a bee delay of 40 minutes my team, the Natal Sharks, managed to defeat our evil arch-enemies, the Blue Bulls, is a bruisingly physical encounter. I was too nervous to even watch the game, so I just had a score feed going.
Western Province, the other coastal team, had an easier game against the Free State Cheetahs, so they will be coming to visit us when we host the final in two weeks time.
It's good there's a two week break, I'm sure there are a lot of bruised Sharks players that could use the recovery time. Anyone who can watch the game via some arcane means should try, it should be beautiful flowing, running game with very tough defense.
Sorry, I was watching the Great Britain vs NZ Maoris rugby league.
I must admit that Sky did show highlights of both semi finals, and the thought did cross my mind that it was nice of you to invite your pet bees along. They looked reasonably docile, as these things go, albeit somewhat indiscriminate.
Final might well be on live, depending on the timing of the kick off.
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