Lol. Ah you guys, i share your frustration. And yes, Dean won't be missed at all.
Once again I remain positive, I had a chat with my brother this afternoon (he's a big Stormers fan and he hates the Bulls). And we were in agreement that the Boks and the Argentinians are the only teams that can still improve. Now hear me out before you judge...
The Aussies, under Robbie Deans have shown their capabilities, and we know where they are strong and where they are weak, and how to counter it and use it to an advantage. Argentina showed it again this weekend.
the same can be said about the All Blacks. As John Mitchell pointed out that the All Blacks backline will struggle under their current coaching regime as their coaches are all forwards orientated and all played in the forwards back in the day. With gamebreakers like Nonu, Dagg, Aaron Smith and Ben Smith there's a sense of we know what they are going to do, it's just about trying to stop them from doing it.
As for the Boks. It's very unfair for people to call for HM's head so early in his tenure, and while we all hate the fact that he keeps on cottonballing Lambie and Goosen, there's a purpose behind it. HM has to build towards 2015, and by playing youngsters like Goosen and Lambie in such vital roles such as Fly half and Full Back, it could end their promising career very early... Remember Derick Hougaard?
While we all cringe every time we kick the F-ing ball, or use the forwards with the pick and drive until they knock-on, or get turned over, it's things that teams need to test out until they get it right, or go back to the drawing board. Where else will HM and his coaching staff get the chance to test these things out at international level??? only during this transitional phase can they have the lee-way to do this, and while we tear out our hair or laugh our asses off everytime we see HM scream at that poor old Walkie Talkie, it's a step in the right direction, although the results doesn't show it. If we were to compare the Aussies and Boks games vs NZ in NZ, then the Boks did much much better. geez, we got into double digits against the world Champs!
Now there's an article floating around that PDivvy's record in his first year is much better than HM's. But how can they compare apples with oranges?? Pdivvy got the 2007 World Champs on a silver platter and was told, have fun. HM had to start from scratch almost, getting 10 guys to make their Debuts in 6 Games.
As for the Goosen thing, I am of the opinion that HM is managing him perfectly, his first test, he got 10 minutes, just to give him a taste of test rugby, then he got 25 minutes, enough time to score his first points at test level. Gradually getting him used to the test and the massive expectations that goes with it. Morne Steyn will most probably start the next test, It's after all at Loftus, but my guess is that HM will give Goosen probably a whole half to play.
Chin up my friends, the All Blacks might have won the battle, but they most certainly haven't won the War.