The Silver Fern

Tickets went on sale straight after the Lions v Canes game and there was a long queue to get them tickets. I don't suspect the full house signs will go up, but I reckon a respectable 50k supporters to pitch up.

80% already sold as of Monday Morning.

@canefan said in Super Rugby News:

Top qualifier without facing a single NZ side? Rubbish. Here's to the canes running rampant on the veldt and putting these pretenders in their place!

The Lions finished 2nd on the 2016 Super rugby log, and that was when they were facing NZ opposition.

Like the Blues, the Lions represent the economic hub of their respective country, and like the Blues they have been under-performing for a good number of years. However, unlike the Blues they have managed to turn their ship around.

I think that they deserve a little bit of credit for what they have managed to achieve, considering they werent even in super rugby a couple years ago.

@Frank said in Azzuri v Bokke:

there is equal opportunity for blacks and whites.
Both have access to the same Super coach, nutrition experts, physios etc.
How are they disadvantaged at this level in terms of equality of opportunity?

Apparently the coach/selectors do not give black players a chance, and will pick a white player over a black player if they are on par.

Saw this post on rugby365 which hits the nail on the head IMO:

Sad state of affairs in SA Rugby. There are fundamentals that need addressing, and it starts at the top.

1. SARFU does not have the money to get the best coaches, or keep the top players in SA.
   Lets ask why?
   I believe that the answer is 2 x fold?
   Firstly, they are too scared to stop funding the unions who are clearly underperforming.
   Secondly, they do not want they best coaches available...they want the best coaches who will adhere to their transformation plan, and will accept not being in control of the ship. Hence you will only attract A.C. type coaches who blindly say yes to SARFU, and critically, are not set KPI's on winning rugby, but rather on transformation goals.

2. Professional rugby is not based on merit, neither is selection policy.
   Lets ask why?
   The Politicians believe that addressing Apartheid's wrongs, are to do it in reverse. This happens in all government enterprises, and I would suggest that the state of corruption, the currency volatility and the potential ratings downgrade are all the 'benefits' of BBEEE.

3. Player drain abroad.
   Lets ask why?
   Its not just money, but a great young 24 year old with 6-8 years of professional service ahead of him, will not want to be coached by a 30 year old with no coaching experience who quite frankly, he does not respect. This will continue to erode the player base in SA. More and more young players from Craven week will be welcomed by professional Aussie / Kiwi / European feeder clubs due to the professional set up, and ability to secure a financial future from rugby by being well coached.

4. Coaching drain abroad.
   Lets ask why?
   Why on earth would Brendan Venter lead the SA indaba, and then a few months later, assist Italy coach to beat SA for the first time ever? Why on earth would White, Mallet, Meyer, De Villiers etc etc, not be involved in any way in SA rugby going forward? Simply, they are not wanted, even though they are probably still the most experienced, and smart coaches SA have produced. Simply, they don't believe in the new system really, and have no desire to help a sinking ship, cause under the conditions imposed by SARFU, I don't believe that even they think SA can be a force anymore.

The problem is systemic, and I predicted at the start of the year, that we will be lucky to finish the world at number 6 in the IRB rankings once I read the transformation charter, and I saw the coaching plans, and the strategic initiative published on SARFU website that says one of A.C's KPI's are to groom Mzwandile Stick to be the next SA coach.

NOTHING IN SARFU IS BASED ON MERIT AND BEING NUMBER 1.
NOTHING IN THE SARFU STRATEGIC PLAN IS BASED ON IRB RANKINGS AND BEING NUMBER 1.

With that said, how can people be surprised to see SA failing? Quite frankly, our performance is in line with the professionalism and coaching set up.

Talented players in a weak set up who are badly coached will not beat marginally less talented players in a professional set up who are excellently drilled!

@Bones said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@PN said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

only to realise how insipid the people I work with are

We work together?

That depends, are you the bum whose been undercutting my price on carpark handies?

@Stargazer said in Super Rugby News:

Player welfare no consideration in Japan? This is just ridiculous. If I remember it correctly, many players also had no break before the SR season.

I've never understood this.

If the players felt their bodies needed a rest, they wouldn't sign these lucrative off season contracts.

They are adults who are capable of making grown up decisions. They know their clock is ticking and all of them who choose to play more are doing so out of their own free will.

my 2c

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Boks:

no Boks supporters on this thread or are their hands too busy covering their eyes to type?

I'm here. Nothing left to say really.

@chimoaus said in The Semenya Rule:

Probably not an issue in Synchronised Swimming.

The bulge in the one swimsuit will break the illusion of synchronisation

@bovidae sanzar have activated a doomsday device. Pitting two opposite forces together, a Blues victory vs Home game for the blues with hometown reffing it.

Load up with canned beans boys

He should have taken it on the chin and moved on, now he looks like a bit of a tosser. Boks don't need any more incentives for AB players to play well!

Old dog Stannard with no fucks to give

Strong support in cape town for the home team.

Getting an error when editing my posts so to add:

It took a doping Russian to beat Semenya in the 2012 Olympics, and Mariya Savinova only just beat Semenya too.

I created a little spreadsheet that pulls data from superxv and like to open it up after each round. thought I'd share some of it:

NZ conference by far the most successful, with SA and Aus on par if you disregard the Sunwolves/Jaguares. Strangely Aus ahead of SA on head to head, but fall short against NZ comp. Begs the question as to why they cannot win a game vs NZ since they seem to be on par with the SA teams.

Rugby is a funny game.

6 day turn around, Boks having won the Rugby Championship in a RWC year.

Odds against them.

Can't allow the Poms to simultaneously hold Bill & ICC trophy