Whoop whoop, the tank engine has arrived. Though I highly doubt we'll actually get to see him run on. He's been having another great season with Tendai being at the boks, the guy can scrum! His opposite numbers are often not as happy before the second scrum of the game as they were the first
I'm glad Leyds isn't getting tossed away after not missing one tackle and having the most carries for the boks. Not only does he provide extra cover but he's shown he wants to play, imo you can't really argue that Rhule is a step up from Leyds as things stand. AC obviously wanted to protect him after the Albany test, I'm just glad the team's interest seemingly come first.
Not happy with the ref, I think French refs are way too reactive in their officiating rather then proactive and they tend to muddle the result of these bigger games, hopefully we have a better time adapting to him then the kiwis but it's unlikely given our history with French refs.
It's all about the margin, I had hoped we would've been within 10 in the Albany test, way too optimistic so I'll double it and say to be within 20 will make this an acceptable outing. Here's hoping we don't get nilled again.
I'm really chuffed with the comments from the bok camp about us changing the way we play rugby, and that we wont play conservatively just to please the masses. Equally pleased with Hansen saying we can become quite dangerous should we choose to stick with our transition to running rugby. I would have expected the same old "Teams shouldn't try play like NZ." or calls for us to stick to our traditional strengths from their side.
I think it strange that when other teams are building a squad or a brand new ethos the media and fans give them breathing room to grow. Here in SA we expect after a loss to Arg, a drubbing by NZ, a loss to Italy and our current team only being together for about 4 months that if we "just" choose the right overseas players and play conservatively enough we will be able to pip NZ overnight. We're deluded to think we're so superior to other nations that we don't have to build a squad, or fight for our wins. I pity AC trying to create something special amidst such defeatism from old boks, pundits and fans alike. Seems the only praise we get of late is from our opposition who can obviously see the signs of reform more clearly.
Rugby is not what it was 10 years ago, 07 and the machinations that won us the cup are dead, 2011 was our last chance to win the old way, and Bryce saw to that. HM proved that conservative rugby was good enough to get us so far until we were totally out-classed and helpless against better opposition. Teams are changing and evolving across the board and bok fans should be pleased we're finally starting to get with the times. I can watch the boks loose a thousand times if they play exciting rugby and can win a thousand after a lot of refinement, I can't do the same if the only points we get are off Morne's boot. Not to say kicking doesn't have it's place! but we shouldn't rely on the luck of the boot to rule the result, rather use kicking to augment our running game then the other way around.
