This, I am hoping and somewhat confidently, will be a year in which the Sports Axis stops spinning in reverse and goes back to normal and The All Blacks dominate every aspect of the Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Football game. I have some reason to be hopeful as the New Zealand Rugby Sevens team has destroyed its opponents in the first two rounds of play in the Seven series.

Super Rugby: The defending champs from Tswane (Pretoria to the Boer
Nationalists) are struggling with some high profile injuries to Botha and Dewald Portgeiter. Some may argue the return of Gary Botha may not help an aging scrum. With this in mind I boldly state the following rankings for the end of the Super 14 round robin stage and the overall victors in no specific order: Crusaders, Brumbies, Hurricanes and Bulls. The Crusaders will win the tournament for the 7th time reestablishing their dominance in Super Rugby and swing the balance of rugby power back to its righful home New Zealand. What will be interesting is the return of the best and only serious Australian team in Super Rugby-The Brumbies. They will be a fierce team with a youthful pack and Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley Copper running their offense.

What will not be suprising is the poor form of the South African teams like The Cheetahs and The Lions. Not even a great All Black Fly-half like Carlos Spencer (who used to be King Carlos until he joined the Lions is now a lowly Earl of Gauteng) can save The Lions. The Stormers and Sharks will threaten but nothing much will come of it. Australian teams will show little promise with The Force doing nothing and The Reds remaining useless. The ‘Tahs will be interesting especially with Barrick Barnes running the offense. New Zealand under achievers will be Otago and Auckland but I must note that The Blues have made some good changes and thus are my dark house team.

Tri-Nations: All Blacks will win back the trophy for the record 8/9th time. After a woeful tour of the North the Springboks in late ‘09 showed that they struggle with depth at certain key positions and thus are one or two injuries away from disaster. Australia will improve and may thus finish second.

These are the impassioned predictions of an All Black fan but as a fan of Rugby Union Football I would like to see less defensive rugby and more free flowing attractive football. Bok Ball is boring and the whole Rugby world seems to be playing defensive 10man rugby.

Finally I will not be synmpothic to the Bok Nation.
Last year was a great year for the Bok Nation and your fanatical fan base but this year the wrongs of the past to the All Blacks will be righted by The All Blacks and this great team and its franchises will restore itself to the top as the winniest team across all professional sports over the last decade with a winning percentage over 75%.

To All ALL Black fans, I hope good things are ahead.

Simbarashe

P.S. I am aware of the easy retort of our RWC performances and yes fair point but engage us on how we have put the Rugby Union Football brand on the map, how time and time again we redefine the way the game is played and how we play the best rugby on the world. We are aware and yes you (those who love to say this will sing it all day long) but not matter what The All Blacks set the tone in Rugby Union Football.

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Your views on the big man’s return …..

JL is playing for French 3rd division team Marseille .Will he be able to be anywhere near his best ? Or will the fact of playing 3rd division rugby not motivate him enough ?

All in all, its great to see this legend healthy and back on the playing field !!!

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I stumbled across this article on Planet Rugby and thought it made for an interesting debate, given current form of rugby teams etc. not sure which nation ‘owns’ the site, so don’t know if/where any ‘bias’ in decisions would come from:
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16016_5592556,00.html

15 Christian Cullen (New Zealand) - Nobody has yet mastered the art of surreptitiously slipping into an attacking line and then tearing out of it for a score like the former Hurricane and Munsterman. Unbelievable pace was hidden in this long and languid stride that left you gaping every time. 

14 Doug Howlett (New Zealand) - The record Super 14 try-scorer, New Zealand’s record try-scorer… that’s the kind of guy you want on the wing. 

13 Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland) - Europe’s rugby statesman finally added the Heineken Cup and a Grand Slam to an already-impressive list of achievements last season. Good enough to re-invent his game after age sapped his pace, he has become one of the all-round greatest ever. 

12 Tana Umaga (New Zealand) - Ironic, considering his partner is the man who accused Umaga of crocking him out of a Lions series with a spear tackle. But it’s the same Umaga who rushed to Colin Charvis’ aid when the latter had been knocked out on New Zealand turf, and who once famously responded to a refereeing call of heavy no-arm tackling: “we’re not playing tiddlywinks here mate!” 

11 Rupeni Caucaunibuca (Fiji) - How can you leave out Jonah and Bryan Habana, never mind Shane Williams or even Christophe Dominici!? But the Fijian with the flawed temperament did things on a rugby field that nobody else will probably ever do. Just put his name into You Tube and watch. 

10 Dan Carter (New Zealand) - a three-way tie between Carter, Wilkinson and Stephen Larkham if we were honest. But the team needed a goal-kicker as well as a playmaker, so Carter’s total points were just higher than the other two. The greatest ever? 

9 Gus Pichot (Argentina) - Again, how do you leave out Gregan, who has the most Test caps of any player, or the scintillating Joost? But Pichot brought qualities to scrum-half play, so often in adversity and so often with the extra responsibility of leadership through the adversity, that neither of the others had. We always wonder what his talents would have done for a team like New Zealand, but his rugby is so responsible for Argentina’s accession to senior Test status that we’d not have it any other way. 

8 Lawrence Dallaglio (England) - Another close-run thing, with Sergio Parisse snapping at Dallaglio’s heels, but the Italian’s blotted disciplinary copybook - we know Lol is no angel, but he never gouged - saw him relegated to second. And let’s face it, would you not like to go into battle with Dallaglio on your side? 

7 (openside) Richie McCaw (New Zealand) - Undoubtedly the greatest exponent of openside play there has been. George Smith deserves a mention, and maybe Heinrich Brussow will eclipse McCaw in a few years, but until then the All Black captain is in a class of his own. 

6 Richard Hill (England) - The most unsung of all English rugby heroes, but he’d have it no other way. If you didn’t see him much, it was he was forever at the bottom of the ruck, putting limb and digit where others feared to put but many trod… 

5 Martin Johnson (England) - The biggest, darkest and most brooding of the driving forces behind England’s World Cup win. We reckon the moment when he hoisted Bill was the first time he had smiled on a rugby pitch! Now bringing that menace to England’s national team, Johnno takes the captain’s armband in this team as well. 

4 John Eales (Australia) - This one will have Saffers everywhere raging; how can we leave out Victor and Bakkies? Because Johnno’s meaner than Bakkies, and because Victor was not nicknamed ‘Nobody’ as Eales was (because Nobody’s perfect), despite his obvious talents. We felt Eales offered perhaps just a little more grunt. We’re now running for cover… 

3 Carl Hayman (New Zealand) - This one was much easier. Hayman has been peerless at tighthead for some time now - New Zealand still miss him. 

2 John Smit (South Africa) - Has now won every honour going in the game except for the Super 14. We know he plays tighthead now, but for a solid anchor in the scrum, an extra dose of leadership and some pinpoint line-out throwing, Smit’s the man - just edging out Rafa Ibañez. 

1 Rodrigo Roncero (Argentina) - The Argentine beefcake was so close to being our player of the 2007 Rugby World Cup after a series of stellar performances. Discipline remains an issue, but you’d be hard-pushed to find a number one in the world who has contributed so much so regularly to his team’s loose play.

I have a few things L’ld like to add firstly:

Christian cullen - undesputedly the best attacking fullback in history, in my humble inexperienced opinion. Set the world alight, almost literally! No other fullback has done on the field what that maestro did.

I think that Os du Rant deserves at least a mention at loosehead…outstanding player for a front rower.

I think Sean Fitz and Zinzan Brooke deserve mentions for their short stint in the professional era.

Habana and Victor Matfield both deserve mentions, I’d have said it was a close call between Matfield and Eales. Johnno, you couldn’t really leave him out and I’d like to see him and Bakkies match up for enforcer of the decade award.

Richard Hill and Lawrence Dellaglio? I am seriously not sure about these two. George Smith and others like Michael Jones and co come to mind. Gary Teichman, leader and player, Zinzan et al. How do you even mention Sergio Parrisse when he’s only recently come about?

Interesting point here, Aussie and SA have 2 RWC’s, yet either of them only has 1 representitive?

Anyways, just some thoughts to get the debate going: lets crack it on gents!

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Two years ago, the All Blacks were a dominant force, once again the smart money was on them to take the RWC until France, once again, trounced their hopes in the quarters, leaving the Boks the last team standing with the golden cup. 2 years down the line, the tide has changed. After a rocky 2008 for the Boks in general, wooden spoon for the Bulls in the S14 and for the Boks in the Trinations, they’ve followed that up with a commanding performance in 2009, taking every piece of silverware available to them, bar possibley the ‘home nations’ title, which surely they’d have taken had it been for the offering on the end of year tour.

Looking ahead to 2011 after the current Trinations tournament where the currently ranked top 3 teams do battle, it seems more than likely that the Boks are in the driving seat and, on current form, look like the All Blacks during non-RWC years. The Boks will be hoping that they can continue to improve and this form doesnt dip. PDV will be the architect of their own demise as i feel they have the players to take the golden cup once again, even in the All Blacks back garden.

While reading a New Zealand website i came across some analysis of the All Blacks and their current choices for players in 2011, which i thought would be good if we could do an analysis of all Trinations teams and see where we end up. we’ll start with what they’ve gone with, and then having to make our own way with the Bok and Aussie teams respectively following a similar format as below:

http://www.nzrugbyworld.co.nz/Article.aspx?id=423
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I came across an interesting article on the internet today. A journalist was of the opinion that the current Bok team was the best Bok team ever (I assume he means post-apartheid). He then went on to compare it to the 1999 Bok team that won 17 Tests in a row (yes, the same team that was dumped out of the RWC’99 by an amazing Wallaby team) and concluded that the current team shaded it in his eyes because the current Boks have a better lock combination, have the best Bok scrummy ever, have a reliable goal-kicker and have a better backline.

I have always thought the 95 Bok team was a very good side and I was surprised that the journo didn’t mention it. Nonetheless the teams of 1999 and 2009 are below.

What are your thoughts? Is this team the best Bok side since 1994?

Class of 1999: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Stefan Terblanche, 13 Robbie Fleck, 12 Pieter Muller, 11 Pieter Rossouw, 10 Henry Honiball, 9 Joost van der Westhuizen, 8 Gary Teichmann (c), 7 Andre Venter/Bobby Skinstad, 6 Rassie Erasmus, 5 Mark Andrews, 4 Kraynauw Otto, 3 Cobus Visagie, 2 James Dalton, 1 Adrian Garvey.

Class of 2009: 15 Frans Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn/Ruan Pienaar, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 John Smit (c), 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

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There is no doubting that the Springboks are a team in great form right now and a large part of this has to go down to Heinrich Brussow. For the first time in a while, the Boks now have a ‘fetcher’ who has shown us that he can even match, if not better the best in the business in Richie McCaw. This coming weekend he will have arguably an even sterner test when he is up against Australia’s George Smith and David Pocock.

But what does the great form of Heinrich Brussow mean to the future of Schalk Burger, the man whose jersey he took? Let us not forget that Burger was the darling of SA Rugby not too longer ago. An name that would be first on the coaches team sheet. This is a guy with 50 test caps under his belt and was named IRB World Player in 2004. Brussow has gotten his chance to make the number 6 jersey his own due to Burger’s eight week ban from the game for his eye gouging during the Lions Tour. Brussow came in to replace Burger and he has looked amazing. He has just added another dimension to the Bok game at the point of break down. Brussow may not be as big as Burger thus you do not see him crashing the ball up but his low center of gravity is what has enabled him to become one of the best in the business.

Brussow may only be 23 years old but he looks like he has been in the game for years. What I would like to find out from you is what you think is going to happen when Burger’s ban is over and he is legible to be selected for the Boks again? Does PdV stick with Brussow or he calls back Burger? There is no doubting that PdV has two quality players at his disposal to choose from. But then again with Burger’s injury problems, PdV may not have much of a decision to make in Burger maintains his injury proneness.

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There has been a lot of controversy over the last couple of days following Bakkies Botha’s two week ban for ‘dangerously’ charging into a ruck without binding during the Second Test against the Lions. Botha subsequently dislocated Jones’ shoulder after the charge. Many Springbok fans and rugby fans thought that this ban was a bit too tough. The Springboks took the matter into their own hand during the Third Test against the Lions and they decided to wear white armbands written “JUSTICE 4″ to protest the two week ban handed to Bakkies by the IRB.

My question is, “Why are the Springboks protesting?” The IRB rules for a ruck clearly state this:

16.2 JOINING A RUCK
(a) All players forming, joining or taking part in a ruck must have their heads and shoulders no lower than their hips.
Penalty: Free Kick

(b) A player joining a ruck must bind onto the ruck with at least one arm around the body of a team-mate, using the whole arm.
Penalty: Penalty Kick

(c) Placing a hand on another player in the ruck does not constitute binding.
Penalty: Penalty Kick

(d) All players forming, joining or taking part in a ruck must be on their feet.
Penalty: Penalty Kick

Source IRBLaws.com

So according to Law 16.2 (b), Bakkies was in the wrong and a penalty had to be awarded. Bakkies also did not use his arms to ‘clear’ Jones away, instead he just barged into him with his shoulder. Another penalty offence. And looking at the footage again in slow motion, Bakkies can also easily be cited for breaching Law 16.2 (a) as Bakkies’ head was lower than his hips as he went into Jones, a free kick offence.

Now this white armband protesting has not gone down very well with the IRB. The IRB will bring charges of misconduct against SARU with the IRB stating that the act by the Springboks demonstrates a clear disregard of the disciplinary process and does so in a manner which brings, or has the potential to bring, the game into disrepute.

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I have a lot of respect for Robbie Deans. I feel he is one of the best coaches to ever coach the game we all love. But I feel his thoughts that the Springboks are a better team than the All Blacks right now are nonsense! Let’s forget about the IRB rankings for a second, even if they show that the All Blacks are at the top of those rankings with South Africa second and Australia third. One could easily just say that let’s look at the IRD rankings and silence what Robbie Deans has to say but those rankings do not lie and even without those rankings, it is clear the All Blacks are better than the Boks right now. Why do I say that you may ask. Here we go…

Robbie Deans has said that the Boks’ year-end form showed they are better than an All Black team that won a Grand Slam against the four Home Unions. Deans’ also says that the Boks’ humiliating thrashings of Australia (53-8) and England (42-6) were better value than the Kiwis’ unbeaten run on their year-end tour.

Now Mr. Deans, are you forgetting that apart from the All Blacks Grand Slam-winning exploits on the six-match year-end tour, the Kiwis also retained the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup trophies. Looking at it from a head to head between the All Blacks and the Boks last year, the series ended 2-1 in favour of the All Blacks and that victory by the All Blacks in New Zealand was down to a lucky bounce in favour of Ricky Januarie. If it were not for that it would have been 3-0 to the All Blacks. Besides that, the All Blacks thrashed the Boks at Newlands 19-0 last year. The first time the Boks have failed to score at Newlands.

Just because the Boks walloped you (Australia) 53-8, it does not mean they are better than the All Blacks. I quote Deans and he has said “They were the stand-out performances in the calendar year. (Meaning the Boks) Sure the All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup and walked away with the Tri-Nations but in terms of compelling performances they belonged to South Africa.”

Does having two compelling performances in an entire year make you a better team than the team that wins everything?

I still think you the best coach Robbie Deans but I disagree with you that the Boks are the best in the world right now.

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It dawned upon me yesterday that Valentines Day this year falls on a Saturday and that is also the first weekend of the Super 14! I know we are all lovers of rugby here and chances are high that you also have a loved one out there who is looking forward to Valentines Day. So what will it be come February 14: Time with your loved one or time infront of the TV or at the stadium watching Super Rugby? Not an easy call to make but you have to make one. Mind you, we having been waiting for soooo long to watch rugby again and the day it comes back is Valentines Day!
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The independent of the UK has released a list of the top 50 rugby union players on the planet. Without wasting too much of your time, here is the list.  

1. Richie Mccaw (NZ) 2. Juan Martin Hernandez (ARG) 3. Dan Carter (NZ) 4. Sergio Parisse (ITA) 5. Victor Matfield (SA) 6. Matt Giteau (AUS) 7. Shane Williams (WAL) 8. Bryan Habana (SA) 9. Schalk Burger (SA) 10. Juan Smith (SA) 11. Jean de Villiers (SA) 12. Mike Blair (SCO) 13. Ma’a Nonu (NZ) 14. George Smith (AUS) 15. Pierre Spies (SA) 16. Stirling Mortlock (AUS) 17. Fourie du Preez (SA) 18. Vilimoni Delasau (FIJ) 19. Paul O’Connel (IRE) 20. Luke Mcalister (NZ) 21. Nili Latu (TON) 22. Tony Woodcock (NZ) 23. Brian O’Driscoll (IRE) 24. Nathan Sharpe (AUS) 25. Thierry Dusautoir (FRA) 26. Mario Ledesma (ARG) 27. Jean-Baptiste Elissalde (FRA) 28. Mils Muliaina (NZ) 29. Martyn Williams (WAL) 30. Bakkies Botha (SA) 31. Joe Rokocoko (NZ) 32. Nick Evans (NZ) 33. Sailosi Tagicakibau (SAM) 34. Ryan Jones (WAL) 35. Lote Tuqiri (AUS) 36. Yannick Jauzion (FRA) 37. Sebastian Chabal (FRA) 38. Conrad Smith (NZ) 39. Rodney So’oialo (NZ) 40. Ricky Januarie (SA) 41. Lee Byrne (WAL) 42. Andrew Sheridan (ENG) 43. Patricio Albacete (ARG) 44. Sitiveni Sivivatu (NZ) 45. Felipe Contepomi (ARG) 46. Aurelien Rougerie (FRA) 47. Ali Williams (NZ) 48. Adam Ashley-Cooper (AUS) 49. Euan Murray (SCO) 50. John Smit (SA)
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