Fans welcome back the Boks

Monday July 26 2004

The Boks are back!

The Springboks may have lost to the All Blacks on the weekend, but you wouldn't have thought so when perusing our inbox on Monday morning! The Boks had victory snatched from them via a Doug Howlett try in the final minute of the game, but the fans it seems saw enough in the Boks' performance to welcome them back into the upper echelons of world rugby.

Jean de Villiers: Bursting through

WELCOME BACK BOKKE!:

"All I can say is: WELCOME BACK BOKKE! You did your country proud today and we South Africans, across the world, are proud of you!

"As for the All Blacks, enjoy while you can guys, there is a new boy on the block and we can all see it coming."
- Harry Bauskin - Toronto

"I am a biased England supporter and I am impressed with the new style All Blacks but they did catch England very cold in Dunedin and caught a lucky sending off in the second test.

"Against a team playing as a team with real commitment they seem more exposed and it feels strange to say it but: Springboks, it's good to have you back."
- Phil Mcintosh, Prague

"One would have to feel somewhat compelled for the Boks. They won the try count 3-1 and the only thing I'll make of it is the fact that the All Blacks had less than a handful of line-threatening opportunities despite all those statistics in their favour.

"Perhaps the Boks were once again unlucky with giving away penalties at that development area between the tackle and ruck - it seems criminal to penalise a defensive team in numbers at the breakdown over an interpretation or a 'fine-line' technicality. Especially in the first half, the All Blacks were very slow and sloppy in supporting their attacker.

"It was quite fitting that the All Blacks would require no less than a mountainous effort from all at the end to score the try. Still they achieved it and that must say a lot for them. Schalk Burger and AJ Venter teamed up for a 2nd straight week to 'out-do' their much favoured opposite numbers and next week's clash will be even more interesting."
- Stuart Smith, Ottawa

"The All Blacks have got problems in the pack still. Meeuws is not a loose head prop, Jerry Collins is only good at head high's and without Robinson they look weak in the 2nd row.

"Rush is okay, but that's all, he's not really an international No 8. As for their brilliant backs without go forward ball they are average. Carter is a good kicker but outside him Carlos is a bad defender.

"They do break the rules at break down time giving Marshall all the space in the world, however the Boks gave them nothing at the break down and Marshall was rubbish. The Boks look good but the crush will be next week, if they beat the Aussies then it is all on back in SA. Tips are Boks to lose to Aussie in Aus but beat both NZ and Aussie at home, NZ to lose next 2."
- Nick Collins, New Zealand

"A team that has 25% ball possession in the entire game, scores three tries to one, fanatical defense, loses by just two points, AGAINST the ALL BLACKS on home soil, justifies praise and attention! THE BOKS ARE BACK and building. Now maybe the So African administrator's of the game can get half way as functional as the guys on the field?"
- Craig Nyschens, Portland, USA

"I think our boys played their hearts out there, it was refreshing to see a more inspired and hyped Bok team for a change. However be that as it may, I do not think it is good that our most valued players are the ones who win and lose us the game. in this I'm referring to the scores of penalties our boy-wonder loose forward considered.

"Furthermore, I do not know whether it is good for the Boks to have one man who is supposed to have nerves of steel to crack first, I'm referring to the bad lineout throw in the dying moments which resulted in the Blacks retaining possession and the rest is history.

"Lastly it surprises and angers me that year in and year out we have Bok teams that can not finish the match with the same hype and inspiration that they start it with. If it is a matter of fitness of any kind , the coaching staff should focus critically on it and resolve it quickly. because it is disappointing to watch a match and know that at the last moment our play is gonna deteriorate and the opposition can cash in.

"I think the team deserves a pat on the back (for the performance against the blacks) but the amount of work that lies ahead is still a mountain."
- Lawman, South Africa

"I thought that today's rugby match (All Blacks vs New Zealand) was world class and up there amongst the best of Rugby Union matches.

"However, not the same could be said about the referee. He allowed holding onto the ball by the tackled player, missed a few knock-ons and missed giving a five metre scrum. All these went against South Africa except the one forward pass that went in their favour.

"But otherwise, everything else went against them as has become the standard, including a few dodgy penalties. These South Africans are remarkable and exceptionally tolerant to be blown off the park year-in and year-out by buffoons with whistles in their hands.

"But in the end rugby will be the loser. We need to get top class referees to blow these exceptional games and not simply neutral referees as they often end up, is in the case of Mr Cole, really dodgy.

"Lets bring back the honour in refereeing rugby union and leave the mediocre ones out of the game, especially top class international fixtures."
- Rushdi, South Africa

"I assume that having dominated possession but having been comprehensively outscored in the try stakes, shown few flashes of any creative genius and having stayed in the game by virtue of goal kicks only to snatch victory at the death the ABs will be as magnanimous in defeat as they always expect England to be in similar circumstances?"
- Andy, Crawley

"Certainly not the prettiest of wins, but considering we had the Springbok team actually camped IN our backline most of the night ,we'll take it.

"Clearly there's a gap between the four forwards missing from what would be considered the first choice pack to those that stepped in.

"Also being an Aucklander does not exclude me from wanting Carlos Spencer replaced with either Mehrtens,or shifting Carter in a place, Kelleher also showed why he's a better halfback than Marshall has ever been.

"On the plus side, the performance of the South Africans was encouraging indeed. For the good of world rugby as a whole we can but hope that this revival of theirs goes from strength to strength."
- J Stewart, New Zealand

"It is time for Rugby to go to the 7-point try. Today's SA-NZ match was a travesty of justice, with the referee's performance really quite pathetic. But even with the ridiculous penalty count against the SA team, they would have still won with 7 points for each try.

"A final score line of 27-25 to SA would have been a better reflection of the just deserts of the game. With only 2 decent referees it seems in international rugby it is about time the game did something more to encourage the sort of football we all want to see, and to see to it that teams like SA today are not robbed by incompetent officiating!"
- Bill Kempster, South Africa

"What a great performance by South Africa !  NZ play great rugby until it comes to World Cup time. But hopefully for them they can persuade more players from other countries like the Pacific Islands to play for them."
- Ray, USA

"Both teams took their chances and tried out new ideas which was refreshing. There is no doubt that if Jake is allowed to continue his reign then the Boks will continue to improve in leaps and bounds. I am sure that the Aussie whinger will go crying to the ref before the next match to try and get an advantage over the tough tackling Bokke."
- Steve Taylor, USA

"Unfortunately the win did not go our way, but we must focus on what the realistic odds were a probable 10-15 point discrepancy. The end result was that NZ was outscored by tries.

"It is clear the writing is on the wall - WE ARE BACK.

"This all proves how important the coach is in a Game. I wonder what the score might have been under in infamous Rudolph Straeuli."
- Russell, South Africa

"I had let slip from my mind that nothing, but nothing, gets the blood flowing like an All Black - Springbok test match. It took less than a minute to be reminded. Congratulations to a South African side that showed no lack of invention on the counter and solid structure on defence.

"On the strength of that performance they can look forward to test rugby with renewed confidence. I am ecstatic that the All Blacks ran them down, even if it did take until the final act of the match to gain the victory.

"What was disturbing, though, was the fact that, even without the ball for the majority of this test match, the Boks were able to exert much of the pressure. With that much possession we should have been able to dictate the game."
- Grant Crawford, ABs fan in the Middle East

THE BOKS WERE OFF-SIDE!:

"Well, I must say well done to the All Blacks, they had the guts and determination to weather a storm of rushing plus bruising defence, and they finished off an emphatic win.

'But I'm sure some people will be praising the South Africans for their performance. I do not however. I saw them score one legit try, and stand 10m offside the whole match!"
- Random, New Zealand

"At the end of the day, the Boks didn't deserve to win. The off side play bordered on the farcical and Cole just gave up in the interests of S12 type 'continuity' when he should have yellow carded a few of the men in green well before half time.

"It's not excusing an inept performance by Marshall but really the reffing was a joke. The fully deserved victory of the ABs was a true testament to character - strength in adversity."
- Andrew Nichols, Christchurch, NZ