Sanjay's Rugby World

If rugby is to be more entertaining in 2010, the refs need a kick up the backside!

There has been a lot of talk in recent times how the rules are ruining the spectacle and there is too much kicking in the game. In my mind it is less about the rules, more about the interpretation and much to do with the behaviour of the referee.

Players want consistency, and they want clarity about where they stand, and what they can and can’t do.

There is too much inconsistency from 1 ref to another, and too many grey areas. We have had it right at times, why do they go and mess with it.

As a South African rugby fan, I also have another message for IRB Referees’ boss, Mr Paddy O’Brien. Cut the c#@p once and for all and stop discriminating against the South Africans. Ensure there is one set of rules for everyone, and no one gets special treatment.

I thought 2009 showed just how much the world hates South Africa. In the Super 14 Bakkies Botha got a 3 week ban for striking, whilst Sione Lauaki tried to take Bryan Habana’s head off and get let off on a technicality and Brett Sheehan produced one of the most dangerous tackles I’ve seen and doesn’t even get cited. Why do the Aussies and Kiwis never seem to suffer the same consequences?

In the British and Irish Lions series in South Africa, Bakkies Botha gets 2 weeks for a legitimate tackle?? Are you crazy? Whilst the Lions get away with any indiscretions they produced.

In the Tri-Nations Matt Giteau takes out Fourie du Preez but we hear he’s not a dangerous player. Nevermind he wasn’t even looking at the ball. Let’s forgive him instead. Meanwhile Jaque Fourie gets a ban for a dangerous tackle on Ma’a Nonu that was borderline.

When the Southern Hemisphere teams toured the Northern Hemisphere at the end of 2009, Paddy O’Brien even apologised to the All Blacks for ref Stu Dickinson’s performance after the All Blacks had played Italy. Now O’Brien is a kiwi, but this stinks of favouritism. Italy coach Nick Mallett believed his side should have been awarded a penalty try late in the game after camping on the All Blacks’ line. Did it deserve Paddy O’Brien getting involved?

Where was the apology when Paul Honiss let the Irish score against the Boks after he told John Smit to go talk to his side and let Ronan O’Gara sneakily score a try?

Where was the apology when Bakkies Botha was suspended for a legitimate tackle? Where were the responses when Peter de Villiers sent numerous requests to Paddy O’Brien this year to have the rules clarified?

I hate to use the word “Cheating”, but all I want in 2010 is one set of rules and the refs and citing commissioners to allow the sides to compete evenly so that the best/most deserving side can emerge victorious. It can only help the Bulls and Boks to only have to compete against 15 on the field in 2010!

As a Springbok supporter it was disappointing to read the article “All Blacks: Team of the Decade”

The Springboks currently sit on top of the Rugby World as World Champions, Tri-Nation champions and IRB team of the year for 2009, yet it is probably a fair reflection of the pecking order in the International Rugby World if EVERY game is taken into consideration. I still maintain the World Cup is the holy grail, and it’s prize is the most valuable in World Rugby. Like and Olympic gold, it is the measure of true champions. Every game is important, but some are more important than others!

It is interesting to look at some of the stats from the last decade however. The All Blacks have the highest winning percentage during this time (82%). However the Springboks only rank 5th during this period, with a winning percentage of 60.8%. Sure there were some very bad years (between 2000 and 2003 the win record was 50%, and in 2006 42%), but that is not good enough for a side with arguably the most talent in the world. Interestingly Ireland have the second best win percentage, Australia third and France fourth.

On average the All Blacks won 10 of their 12.2 tests per year, whilst South Africa only 7.6 of their 12.5 tests per year. Those 2-3 extra victories often occurred in clashes between the 2 sides and on the end of year tours. The All Blacks won 16 of their 24 matches with the Springboks for a 67% winning record to the All Blacks and only 33% win record for the Springboks. That is a disgrace given the past history between the 2 sides.

Looking back at the decade whenever the Boks have had a good year, they’ve never backed it up the following season (a trend evident since readmission in 1992).

2000 – The end of the Nick Mallet reign and the start of Harry Viljoen. Whoever appointed Viljoen should be shot!
2001 – A very poor year as Harry Viljoen lost the plot and resigned
2002 – The Boks showed signs of promise, scoring some great tries in the Tri-Nations
2003 – A year of disaster on and off the field and our worst World Cup ever
2004 – A great rebuilding year and our second Tri-Nations title
2005 – Unable to repeat the heroics of the previous year
2006 – One of our worst years ever (again!) as we lost 5 tests in a row
2007 – Not a great Tri-Nations, but we won the World Cup making it all worthwhile
2008 – With an experienced side we fail to deliver when we should have been dominating
2009 – A great winter season, but ominous signs on the end of year tour. I hope it was just a blip on the radar

We need to exhibit greater ruthlessness and keep winning even when we don’t play our best, have injuries and need to blood new players. The All Blacks rarely lose more than 2-3 tests a year, and never produce a bad side. I can’t think of the All Blacks having had too many bad Northern Hemisphere tours, yet we’ve often gone of the rails losing to the likes of Ireland, England, France, Scotland and Wales. Our back-up players need to step up and display greater pride and passion in the jersey and their performance. It is not acceptable to lose so often to weaker nations.

New Zealand also scored the highest number of tries per test (4.3) followed by Australia (3.2) and the Springboks average 3.1. It highlights one of the major differences between the sides, and indicates an area we need to keep working on.

Since the IRB World Rankings came into effect the All Blacks have dominated them too. The challenge is out to South Africa to resume number 1 position, and when we do not take top spot, we must surely not slip below second!

The Super 14 competition has produced similar results as the International arena. The Crusaders and Hurricanes for New Zealand and the Waratahs for Australia have consistently been good. The Bulls have been great over the past 4-5 seasons except for a hiccup in 2008, but the other South African franchises have been extremely poor. The Sharks have conspired to shoot themselves in the foot, the Stormers can never win games they need to, whilst the Lions and Cheetahs are a joke.

There is no reason why South African rugby cannot dominate internationally over the next decade. We have the raw talent. Greater pride in performance, better mental application and smarter coaching is needed to ensure we remain at the top and produce the results needed to keep us supporters satisfied!

Captain in the Cauldron – The John Smit Story

John Smit is one of the legends of South African rugby, and perhaps the most successful Springbok captain ever. He is the most capped Springbok forward ever, the most capped captain of any International side, and has led the Springboks to every title they can achieve.

This book is his story, told to one of the icons of the South African rugby media and close friend, Mike Greenaway of Independent newspapers.

Smit was born in Pietersburg (Polokwane), and one gets a great insight into a typical boy growing up on the veld of South Africa, ensconced in tremendous values from a young age from a very loving value. As one reads, one can tell that Smit always remains true to these values and has left his legacy on the Springboks who have become fantastic ambassadors for the rainbow nation.

Sanjay with Springbok Captain John Smit

In his book, Smit reveals:

Reading Smit’s  story you gain a fascinating insight into a man who is fiercely patriotic towards his country, and who surprises at times with his character. I was surprised to learn how tennis was one of Smit’s great passions, and the extent to which he still follows it today.

It came as no surprise to me to learn how important his family, especially his parents, wife Roxy and kids are to him.

For the first time in a rugby biography, John Smit tries to take the reader behind the scenes and learn what truly happens off the field and in the change rooms. Smit shows how much pride and passion the Boks have, and it is comforting to know the side cares as much as us supporters do!

There are some great tales, interesting stories and I was surprised to learn just how much of a character Smit truly is off the field, as he has always come accross as the consumate professional. Whilst he never strays from his responsibilities, he does let his hair down and like to have a good jol too!

In a recent survey by Sport 24, the results revealed that the South African public would rather offer a lift to Smit the Springbok captain that South African beauty Lee-Anne Liebenberg (and just over 70% were male!). The Springbok skipper also topped the polls as the ultimate dinner partner, showing just how much he is admired and revered by the South African public.

Whilst he has achieved so much already, I fear the true value of John Smit will only be felt once he retires from the game. In 2000 when he made his Springbok debut, I was not sure he was one of the best hookers in South Africa. Consequently I thought Jake White man a bad choice in selecting Smit as his Captain. However after 2007, he is the first man I’d select in my Springbok side and deserves to play anywhere he is needed.

I wish John Smit all the best of success for the future and can’t wait to see him become the first man to successfully lead a rugby side in defending the World Cup. No one deserves it more!