Posted on March 12th, 2010 by rivalblogger
I was really upbeat about Carlos Spencer joining the Lions. I thought it would add a bit of maturity and responsibility to their backline and maybe prove a guiding hand for the younger players coming through.
For somebody with so much experience, he sure knows how to put his own team under pressure.
The Lions got caned 73-12 by the Waratahs and really there is not a lot of positives that can be drawn out of this performance. If you lose playing to a game-plan that’s great, but when you are just throwing the ball and hoping that something is going to happen then you’ve got problems.
The Lions need a specialist defensive set-up and coach. It is fine to want to play an expansive game, the Springbok coach also wanted to play that way… but you need some basic defence as well.
Sad to see a former great team like the Lions becoming weekly whipping boys despite numerous personnel changes.
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Filed under: Uncategorized tagged Lions, Rugby, Super 14
Posted on March 7th, 2010 by rivalblogger
There were important wins for both the Stormers and the Cheetahs yesterday as they put in credible performances against the Highlanders and the Hurricanes respectively.
I’m a Stormers fan so I am probably going to gush too much if I start with them so let’s take a look at the Cheetahs who were playing against a side which was tipped to thump them.
In Super 14 you have to win your home games – drop points when you have your fans behind you and it makes for a miserable trip on the road. The Cheetahs have dropped points – although impressively beaten the Sharks in the Tuna Tank – and then picked up the points against the Hurricanes last night in Bloem. While the rest of the season will probably be quite tough they can say they have beaten two “big name” teams and still have the chances for points against the Force and against the Lions.
The Stormers got the “bonus point monkey” off their backs with that late try from Bryan Habana but for me the critical point was that they did not concede a single point against the Highlanders. Everybody knows the Stormers can attack but it appears that they’ve now stepped up their defensive game as well and showing a lot more composure at the back – maybe the influence of Jaque Fourie?
It was also very noticeable that the team spirit is really high at the moment – smiles all round from Wicus Blaauw, Fourie and Schalk Burger just highlighted the upbeat attitude in the team.
It was also good that the youngsters such as Deon Fourie, Juan De Jongh could put in such measured performnaces and that Lionel Cronje was given some gametime as well.
One person who does deserve a mention is our big Fijian wing Sireli Naqweluviki. I had pretty much written him off as a contributor and couldn’t understand why they kept him around. He was potent yesterday and he went looking for work which was very pleasing to see.
It is still early days in the Super 14 but its good to see two SA sides wracking up wins after the less than thrilling performances last week…
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Filed under: Uncategorized tagged Cheetahs, Rugby, Sharks, sport, Stormers, Super 14
Posted on March 5th, 2010 by rivalblogger
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Filed under: Uncategorized tagged Cricket, Fantasy League, IPL, Motorsport
Posted on February 27th, 2010 by rivalblogger
Hhhhmmm the South African rugby teams didn’t have the greatest weekend now did they…?
The Sharks were once again turned into Fish Paste… gonna be a long season for their supporters methinks while the Lions simply don’t look like they have the firepower to be competitive this season.
The Stormers did everything in their power to throw the game and then Brock Harris (that’s such a porn star name – no offence) gifted George Smith that freebie pass and Joe Pietersen couldn’t sink that last kick… Hopefully next weekend it’s a bit prettier.
The Cheetahs I really thought had the chance to score a win this weekend but they also couldn’t pull it off and their fans are likely to be looking forward to a game against the Lions to score at least a second win in the competition!
The Bulls… well they looked pretty impressive again. Good side – classy players.
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Filed under: Uncategorized tagged Cheetahs, Lions, Rugby, Sports, Stormers, Super 14
Posted on February 22nd, 2010 by rivalblogger
The big debate from this weekends Super 14 rugby is whether the 130+ point thriller between the Lions and the Chiefs was a fantastic display of running rugby or an absolute farce and a bad advert for the game?
The argument from the rugby purists – including Mark Keohane – is that too many points were scored and in fact it made a mockery of the game.
Keohane wrote a really good column on his site and in the newspapers today and it makes for interesting reading, particularly for those who are interested in Dick Muirs coaching history with the Sharks and what you are seeing with the Lions.
Its funny – the purists disliked the scoreline but the armchair rugby fan that I spoke to on Monday describes it as one of the most exciting games they’ve ever watched.
Thoughts?
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Filed under: Uncategorized tagged Chiefs, Lions, Rugby, sport, Sports, Super 14
Posted on February 21st, 2010 by rivalblogger
Yup another win for the MIGHTY MIGHTY Aston Villa as we thumped Burnley 5-2… C’mon Villa you good thing!
We’re looking really good this year – European qualification is definately on the cards.
Interesting football rumour doing the rounds… apparently a South African consortium is going to announce a bid for the embattled Portsmouth Football Club. Yes please! South Africans are taking over the world.
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Filed under: Uncategorized tagged Aston Villa, Burnley, Football, Portsmouth, Soccer, Sports
Posted on February 20th, 2010 by rivalblogger
Earlier this week the Sharks announced they would be signing England flyhalf Andy Goode to try and assist with their flyhalf “crisis”. The Stormers fielded some Argentinian prop and they still have Sireli sitting on the bench for a couple of minutes of game time.
I appreciate that the Sharks got dropped in the dwang when their pre-season flyhalf Meyer decided to suddenly retire two days before the start of the campaign, but SURELY there has to be some good young flyhalves coming through the ranks SOMEWHERE In the country to represent one of our premium franchises?!
Ditto for this Argentinian prop and Sireli – we have good players here. Yes we live in a professional era and players can play wherever the money is best but surely you have to be little choosy about the right kind of players?? A few years back the Sharks brought in Freddie Michalak and he was a great asset to them. Todd Cleaver is another example of a quality player who has added value at the Lions, but he has been a part of the setup from the start – it is a longer term investment.
Last year Matt Toomua came in to the Stormers for a short period of time – top quality player, filled a specific gap.
Should he have been allowed to play for a handful of games? I’m not so sure…
I dunno – I just think that by allowing stop-gap players to come in after the start of the season, they are sending the wrong message to the local talent…
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Filed under: Uncategorized tagged Andy Goode, Freddie Michalak, Lions, Matt Toomua, Rugby, Sharks, sport, Sports, Stormers, Super 14, Todd Cleaver
Posted on February 20th, 2010 by rivalblogger
… and the Bulls weren’t too bad either.
This Stormers side looks seriously classy. Obviously it is still early days in the competition but they now have 2 out of 2 in South Africa and to drop the Waratahs takes some doing. For me there were a couple of key performance points:
- Stormers defence was top quality against some physically big opponents
- They stayed on the boil for an extended periods in the game and were less hot and cold than last week
- Juan de Jongh looks like a superstar in the making – mark my words he will be a Bok centre
- Jaque Fourie has brought lots of composure to the backline and Habana has brought some good quality finishing to the side
- How was that hit from Ricky Januarie on Phil Waugh?! He’s coming back to form nicely!
- There was a moment in the first half where Gio Aplon was defending against that big Waratahs full back and he showed no fear making a great tackle – I don’t rate him as the ideal for the position but wow he showed guts!
The Bulls also showed their class today. The Brumbies made them sweat a bit but in the end the quality came through. Maybe the Brumbies have been softened up a bit for their clash next week against the Stormers… hope so!
Speaking of next Boks… Francois Hougaard and Gerhard van den Heever must be right up there. Van den Heever in particular is a potent finisher for such a young kid. Cracking player!
At least the Stormers and Bulls restored some pride to the home sides early in the competition!
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Filed under: Uncategorized tagged Bryan Habana, Bulls, Francois Hougaard, Gerhard van den Heever, Jaque Fourie, Juan de Jongh, Rugby, Sports, Stormers, Super 14, Waratahs
Posted on February 20th, 2010 by rivalblogger
It has been a bad couple of weeks for the Sharks in the Fish Bowl.
Maybe there is a branding opportunity for Mr Price and Pecks?
Sharks = …
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Filed under: Uncategorized tagged Branding, Rugby, Sharks, Super 14
Posted on February 19th, 2010 by rivalblogger
If you are a little bit sensitive PLEASE don’t read this joke. Ditto if you are a sensitive Blue Bulls fan…
For anyone else who has a bit of a sense of humour here we go:
Two Jews walk into the Loftus Versveld ticket office and ask to buy season tickets. The Lady behind the counter asks “Are you circumcised?” One replies “Yes, of course!” The lady then says “I’m sorry, sir, but you have to be a complete dick to be a Blue Bulls fan…
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Filed under: Uncategorized tagged Blue Bulls, Humour, Joke, Rugby, Sports, Super 14
