OPINION

Soapbox

Mailbox: Wallabies thumped

Tuesday 02nd September 2008

53-8: Australia brought back down to earth

The Wallabies were in a mess last weekend against the under-fire Springboks, going down by 45 points in a bid to end a 45-year winning drought on the Highveld.

They had headed to Ellis Park with the sincere belief that they would achieve this for the first time since 1963 - two successive Test victories on South African soil.

After the win in Durban seven days earlier, the Wallabies came back to earth in Johannesburg to suffer the humiliation of the country's biggest Test loss.

If Saturday's win gives Springbok supporters hope, then the Tri-Nations tournament should evoke an emotion of anger because it is one in which there were good enough players to win it.

This is what you had to say about it...

I'm completely and utterly unsurprised with the first half performance of the Wallabies, they still have the chinks in the armour and mental issues from last year. They weren't at all good last weekend so its no surprise they've been pasted this weekend. They need to actually learn from these thumpings they get following comfortable wins, not right them off as flukes. When everyone knows the opposition is likely to be more desperate and hungry and has more to lose the Wallabies assume that they won't have to improve either, and actually get worse. And there's no way Polota-Nau is the second best hooker in the country.

Hopefully they actually learn, but I won't hold out any hope.

- Pissed off Wallaby fan

It was woeful, absolutely woeful. But no matter what happened last Saturday, the fact remains that the World Champions have comprehensively come last in the Tri-Nations and lost the Mandella Cup to boot. They have only had two victories out of six games against the two super powers they didn't have to play to win the RWC. The truth is they have little to crow about and they are still saddled with an absolute fruit loop for a coach who thinks he is Jesus like. Long may PDV remain the Springbok coach.

Disappointing though Saturday was, the fact remains that the Wallabies are number two on the rankings, they have the Mandella Cup and are in with a shot of taking the Tri Nations Cup and the Bledisloe Cup as well. I think we can comfortably live with last Saturday's loss if they win next week. Not a bad outcome really for a team that is in it's first year of development. Even if they don't win next week at least they were still in the game until the end.

One more win and the only worthwhile silverware missing will be the Webb Ellis Cup (currently out on loan) and the Cook Cup. Everything else we can play for would be in the bag. Now that wouldn't be a bad season's work, would it, for a team that most of the blow hards don't rate?

- Mark

Well, anyone still worried about the letting the Argies play in the Tri-Nations after the Wallabies great effort on Saturday?

- Perry

Simply, the time had to come. Such a brilliant Boks performance. Why couldn't they play such rugby in the past few weeks. South Africa have the best set of forwards and today they combined well with their much talented backs. They did the basics well (breakdown, line-out, scrum) and their passes stuck together. From what I have seen today, South Africa still are the best team in the world. Way to play an expensive game with their much feared forward power. Lethal combination. I haven't seen the All Blacks play this well this year and neither has the Wallabies in any of their victories. But look at the irony, it would be either the ABs or Australia winning the Tri-Nations, not the team that has given us the best performance of the series. No matter what people say, this Boks performance was outstanding!!!

- Fijian in NZ

All I can say is that I have never been happier to have been proved so wrong in my life. It is late in the day but a record win was what us SA supporters needed as much as the Springbok team. Great game guys.

- Richard Milbank

Ricky Januarie has to be banished from rugby before that thug blinds someone. That gangster once again showed his total lack of class and breeding by gouging Stirling Mortlock in the eyes in a totally unprovoked situation.

He is a pig and an utter disgrace to the jersey he wears.

- Ashamed Bok supporter

The Boks reverted primarily to a game they know, and it worked. Peter de Villiers needs to take heed and not re-invent the game! Gone are the silly passes where kicks were appropriate and with it, form returned to Butch James. Tactical kicking from Butch and Conrad Jantjes were often magnificent, but then, so was the quick following-up.

It was a real pleasure seeing Victor Matfield return to form and to a large extent also Fourie du Preez and Juan Smith. It was Pierre Spies's best game this season, and what a pleasure to watch Schalk Burger hurling himself around and running effectively. Adrian Jacobs once again proved a real find and Brian Mujati exceeded my expectations. A super team effort.

- Rob Porter

Kick, kick, kick, kick, free kick, kick, free kick, kick, free kick... etc... etc...(for 80 minutes).

I don't think I have ever seen so much kicking. They have to change some of the ELVs, the amount of kicking is becoming a joke. Whenever someone has the ball in their own half, they kick.

Well done South Africa, you outplay Aussie in all aspects of the game (except at number ten). Just a pity that rugby has become such a kick-fest. Game of forceback anyone?

- Tony (lamenting the demise of modern rugby)

While I've never been a fan of the Springboks, if they had played with the intensity and honour for the whole Tri-Nations tournament that was shown or Saturday, the Aus v NZ match on Sept 13th would be a moot point.

They played like the World Champions they are. Just too little, too late. A few bad calls didn't derail them ... as it should be for a World Champion.

Truly, kudos, and "Hail to South Africa!." They shook off whatever fog invaded them after the World Cup, and finally played as they are capable.

- Reid Parker (Huntington Beach, CA)

As impressive as the Boks win was on Saturday - one cannot help to question whether this is how we wish South African rugby to be perceived as Peter de Villiers questionable reign continues. International rugby is not about week to week results - it is a culmination of team building and future planning. It is a concern that so many detractors have done an about turn after the Australia result following three previous weeks of abominations and disasters, and it is these inconsistencies that will eventually lead to De Villiers' total failure.

- Hilton (South Africa)

Well done Peter de Villiers. Past Bok sides were always criticized for their lack of offensive rugby. PDV should be praised for the direction he is taking South African rugby. Adding an offensive edge to the foundations laid by Jake White.

- Paul

My twenty years plus years in the game, as a player and now coach has taught me one thing, once you cross that white line on Saturday it is all about what is inside you...the training sessions help that along, but if it ain't there from the first whistle...forget it, you're buggered!

The Boks on Saturday finally woke up, I would have loved to been a fly on the wall during the captain's meeting with his side in the run up to the match. The Boks played brilliantly, despite PDV...his constant lamentation about patriotism and now the comparison to Jesus, at the very least, proves he is a wanker! SARU needs to think more about the game as a game and less about the political correctness of it's selections, players and coaches both!!!

I believe, the players said lets put all of this bullocks aside and play as South Africans, ELVs and PDV be damned! South Africa's proud rugby heritage was on the line Saturday and the players responded as they should have, out on the pitch, not behind a microphone in the post match press conference as some sort of Talking Head for someone's political agenda at SARU.

It looked to me that SA came at it the way it has always been done by winners, a gut full of gravel and a "I will not back down for one second" attitude. This comes from the player and the team... no coach ever puts that there, he just puts the right people in the right place.

Where was this new style of play that PDV is pushing? South Africa has always been a gushing fountain of talent so how tough has it really been for PDV, or rather how unnecessarily tough has PDV made it on the team and the fans, and in turn, the nation for which he is always so quick to throw out there to shift the spotlight from his lack of performance?

Please, someone, anyone, figure out a way to buy that man out of his contract and get a rugby coach back in there as soon as possible!

- Joe Barauskas (Winchester, VA)

The Boks were great, but I still maintain that they need a new head coach. He has verbal diarrhea and constipation of the ideas. It is just very embarrassing sitting and watching him stumble through each interview and giving the media plenty of fuel for criticism. Maybe he should just shut up and let Dick Muir handle the press.

Bringing the bible (and preaching like a zealot) into a sporting matter is just so unnecessary. Honestly there is a time and place.

- Richard

Yes - all hail the almighty De Villiers. And from hereafter, he will single-handedly be responsible for the Boks beating the All Blacks and Wallabies by 50 points every time!

- The Balls (Canada)

Your most recent criticism about Peter de Villiers are absolute rubbish. You can't say that he is claiming to be the son of God. You are taking his words out of context completely. We all know that Peter is a devoted Christian. Give him a break.

- Charmaine

As I've stated before on Planet Rugby, Peter de Villiers talks utter drivel. But now he is into imbelic rantings!

As to the game against Australia in Johannesburg representing a coming together of his ideas and influence, horse manure! Yes the ball was moved out to the wings in a manner that must have Bryan Habana salivating, but most of the other play, the more disciplined and structure approach, was nothing more than we came to expect when Jake White was coach. What happened to that approach after Peter de Villiers took charge? Did someone whisper in his ear prior to yesterday's game? Was it Devine intervention?

With Butch James back to form with his tactical kicking, Fourie du Preez more himself, and Conrad Jantjes having a blinder, the Australians found themselves in reverse. The Boks ploughed into rucks and mauls in a manner they haven't for at least the three previous games, followed up high kicks, and held onto the ball instead of throwing it around willy-nilly to be intercepted or dropped. Suddenly it was the Wallabies in disarray.

The question is, why did the Boks and supporters have to go through weeks of misery before the Boks returned to what was primarily a style of play they understand?

- Rob Porter

PDV is a joke and an embarrassment to South African rugby. The reason the Springboks won had nothing to do with his plan but more to do with some very poor play and tactical kicking from Australia. By contrast Butch was spot on with his kicking and Conrad had an absolute blinder. What was evident was the Springboks abandoned a large part of the so called "vision" and instead committed more players to the breakdown therefore winning heaps of turnovers.

- Gordon (Australia)

Big win for the Boks, 4 tries for the new winger. The Boks have some monsters in the pack, the lock Bekker, the Beast at prop and Spies are all huge and that's without mentioning Burger and Matfield.

Rarely do you see the Ozzies thumped, they will need to get back off the floor to face the ABs in Brissie!

- Scottie (Englishman in Oz)

I cannot believe the audacity of the man, comparing himself with the son of God . Albeit in a so-called joking manner.

Quite frankly, this was a blasphemous statement and I personally don't feel he is in a position, mentally or verbally to represent our country. This man is an idiot.

- Alice

Let's stick to the facts. Tri-Nations 2008: Springboks played six, won two. That says something don't you think?

- Ken

Peter de Villiers obviously doesn't - like most biased SA supporters - believe in cold hard facts.

1. SA have finished last in this year's Tri-Nations.

2. SA didn't have a team in the final of Super 14.

3. Compare the record of say the last five years of internationals won and lost, by SA.

4. SA have now achieved number three in world rankings after a rather fluke run in the Rugby World Cup.This has only taken PDV 8 months of his magical team building and coaching, to push SA down the ladder.

5. And finally if he is to rise to the stature of JC, to shut his mouth and learn more about the basic fundamentals of coaching and sportsmanship. Maybe this approach would rub off on both team members and supporters.

- Hugh Richmond (UK)