[quote=âHangBlaaâ]And JPR was mad for boxing.
[/QUOTE]
He seemed like he was mad for the fighting alright, must have been half mad
For sure though the sort of guy youâd want on your side
[quote=âW.B. Yeatsâ]Not wumming here but when you looked at their repsective post match interviews BOD seemed much more satisfied and comfrotable in himself
Think the burden of captaincy is weighing heavily on POC.
Iâd tend to think that under current circumstances BOD looks like the leader of the team in all but name[/QUOTE]
Hard not to agree with that WB, but like you said perhaps one of the contributing reasons to BODs good form is the fact that he doesnt have the shite that comes with captaincy?
Could help alright but he did start this run of good form during the 6N when he was captain.
Iâd say it started when he handed up the Leinster captaincy.
Personally Iâve never given a fuck about captaincys, trinkets.
[quote=âmyboyblueâ]Iâd say it started when he handed up the Leinster captaincy.
Personally Iâve never given a fuck about captaincys, trinkets.[/QUOTE]
In ways youâre correct however a team needs a leader on the field and this is really true in rugby. Going into a Test against the Boks with POC as captain, unsure of himself, is a recipe for disaster
I dont believe that for a second. There are leaders all over that team, from out half to centre, to front row to back row. Men arent lead, they lead themselves.
Doesnât look that way to me, loads of them are playing for themselves at the moment. Thought Byrnes try was a good example of that.
Men need a leader; every structure in society is based on having one person in charge, thatâs the way of the world
Of course theyâre playing for themselves, theyâre trying to impress.
Captain is hugely important in rugby. Need only look at the succesful teams and no coincidence they all had good leaders. Motivation plays a huge part as does ability to influence the referee.
Byrne - Oozes class, like to see him get more ball in hand
Williams - Didnât really offer enough. Looked sharp though
OâDriscoll - Good performance. Seems to be enjoying himself
Roberts - A beast. Two worries would be Boks will clearly look to target him and his shoulder. Would be huge blow if he was out
Fitzgerald - Huge hunger. Should be test starter
OâGara - Poor enough performace. Didnât get great ball but what he did he did poorly other than place kicking
Phillips - Thought he had excellent second half. Love his aggressioon. Needs better game management probably
Heaslip - Big performance. Hit a lot and ran well. Test starter
Wallace - Average first half performance, very good second. Good at breakdown and ran well. Player on the up I suspect
Croft- Quiet enough. Not sure he has done enough.
Jones - Quiet as well and prob didnât do enough
OâConnell - Average enough again. Looked sluggish. Understand criticism about getting in refs ear but would hope if it had been a test he would have been far more vocal. Locks in general probably is a worrying area especially as Boks so strong in this area
Jones - Did okay
Mears - Very good performance. Threw decently, carried well and should start
Jenkins - Good workrate, not sure what issue was in scrum and not going with Paul Wallace who conceeded more penalties in an Irish shirt than I care to remember
Brian OâDriscollâs been on a good run of form for about 10 years now.
Indeed Bandage but this particular episode of superlative play traces its roots back to the French game
Iâd put it down to the Wasps game at home myself where he realised that he still had it, safely tucked up in his pocket.
Jamie Robertsâ shoulder injury mars Lionsâ thrashing of Sharks⢠Welsh centre suffers recurrence of shoulder injury
The Lions recorded their largest victory over the Sharks last night, but the Welsh centre Jamie Roberts, as close to a *certainty for the Test side as anyone in the squad, left the field with his right arm in a sling.
The Wales centre was substituted after 65 minutes, having twice received attention to his right shoulder following heavy tackles. When he was replaced, by Riki Flutey, his right arm was put in a sling which he took off just before the end of the game. Roberts, like his probable Test midfield partner, Brian OâDriscoll, has had trouble with stingers this year but the Lions head coach, Ian McGeechan, said there was no concern about the 22-year oldâs fitness for the first Test against South Africa here next week.
âThere is no problem with Jamieâs shoulder,â said McGeechan, after the 39â3 victory over a Sharks side missing nine players who were watching the game from the stand with their fellow South Africa squad members. âIt is just bruising and the reason we took him off had more to do with the desire to give Riki a run after his injury lay-off. Jamie took a knock on the shoulder in the first-half, but the *medics are happy with everything and there is no issue there.â
McGeechan denied reports that Andy Powell had broken two bones in his right hand, and said the Wales No8 would be in the frame to face Western Province in Cape Town on Saturday. The head coach declared himself very satisfied with the five-try display, which included 32 unanswered points in the second half.
âIt was a strong performance, full of patience and discipline,â he said. âWe did not panic after missing scoring opportunities in the first half, and I was also pleased with the way we defended. Things are coming together, but there are areas we still have to work on.â
The Lions so dominated territory and possession that it seemed they were at times employing training drills to give the match an edge. They spent the first period playing into a strong wind, mainly driving around the fringes. âThe Lions certainly changed their tactics in the second half,â said the Sharksâ head coach, John Plumtree. âThey still have work to do at the breakdown, but they are not far off being the complete side and I think we pretty much saw their Test line-up today.â
It is likely to be the last appearance before the first Test for a number of players, including Roberts, OâDriscoll, the captain, Paul OâConnell, the full-back Lee Byrne, No8 Jamie Heaslip, the scrum-half, Mike Phillips and the flanker David Wallace.
âI think we are getting the respect we deserve from people here,â said *Phillips, the man of the match. âWe are really *coming together as a squad.â
Victor Matfield, South Africaâs totemic lock, is confident of his sideâs chances against the Lions despite memories of 1997
Victor Matfield is acutely aware of what happened the last time South Africa faced the Lions. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images
There is a little lesson for us to learn if we look back," Victor Matfield says *cautiously and with none of the arrogance he might be expected to show as the worldâs best lock forward and a talismanic figure in South African rugby. âTwelve years ago, just like now, the Springboks were world champions and most people made the mistake of thinking weâd stuff the Lions 3â0. And look what happened. The Lions shocked everyone by winning. It was a painful defeat and that memory makes me careful not to make any big statements before the first Test [a week on Saturday] in Durban. Itâs best we prepare ourselves for a real battle.â
The Lions have been puzzlingly *inconsistent on this tour â with an outstanding midweek display sandwiched between two unconvincing victories. But they should be as disconcerted by Matfield highlighting that bitter Springbok defeat in 1997 as a means to offset any lingering complacency in the hosts. âItâs important we donât forget it,â he urges, âbecause the Lions could spring some surprises again. Wednesdayâs game showed me how impressive they can be. The Golden Lions were not good but you donât score 70 points against a Super 14 team without producing something special.â
Yet Matfieldâs beloved provincial side, the Bulls, managed virtually the same feat in a far more meaningful encounter. Ten days ago, while the Lions struggled to win their tour opener against a second-rate invitation XV, Matfield led the Bulls to a crushing 61â17 victory over New Zealandâs Waikato Chiefs in the Super 14 final. âIt was one of the happiest days of my life,â he says, âbecause it went perfectly. It was one of those incredible days where youâre preparing for a game you think is going to be the toughest of your life and then all of a sudden everything you try comes off.â
That supremacy prompted Warren *Gatland, a Lions coach and a Waikato man, to suggest the Bulls would have beaten most leading Test sides. âI think so,â Matfield agrees. âSix months together gave us an understanding a Test team canât *create in two weeks. The best comparison I can make is that when the [Canterbury] *Crusaders dominated the Super 14 they were harder to beat than the All Blacks.â
Nine of the Bulls have been chosen for South Africaâs squad that gathered *yesterday to prepare for the first Test â and the addition of hardened World Cup *winners such as John Smit, Schalk Burger and Juan Smith along with *skilful playmakers such as Ruan Pienaar and *Francois Steyn mean the Springboks will be formidable. Matfield might have *preferred a couple of warm-up Tests before facing the Lions but the Springboksâ *collective desire to avenge 1997 should bind the team together. The 32-year-old grunts *meaningfully when reminded of a *conversation on the night the Springboks won the World Cup in October 2007.
His thick black hair was still wet from the showers and he admitted to feeling as weary as he was jubilant but Matfield suddenly lit up in Paris. He told how the prospect of facing the Lions would shape his future. With the Webb Ellis Cup being passed from one Springbok to another, Matfield stressed how much he wanted to play against the Lions. It seemed a striking urge in the midst of his greatest moment as a player.
âThatâs the power of the Lions,â Matfield says now. âThe fact that their tours to South Africa only come round once every 12 years. I also like this concept they bring to Test rugby by joining four unions together and thatâs why I was so keen to stick around for this tour.â
Over the past four years Matfield has been world rugbyâs most dominant lock â symbolised by the bearded wonder from Pretoria being named the IRBâs player of the 2007 World Cup. Matfield, if anything, has become an even more imposing and canny presence since that tournament as he steals the oppositionâs *lineout ball with regularity.
His admirers speak of *Matfield possessing a highly mathematical brain which allows him to break most lineout codes. Matfield laughs at the speculation â with the *likelihood that his secret *strategies are more attuned to him studying the *involuntary trigger movements of the opposing locks as their hooker prepares his throw. The big man has still *revolutionised *modern lineout play.
âPeople have called me an innovator and that humbles me,â he says proudly. âI think Iâve introduced some new ways of winning the ball but the other analysts are studying me on tape and so Iâm always trying to develop new techniques. So far it seems to be working.â
Such confidence allows Matfield to react with amusement when hearing that Willie John McBride, the great old lock and captain of the triumphant 1974 Lions, believes he will be âbossedâ by Paul OâConnell. âThatâs very interesting,â Matfield chuckles dryly. âOâConnell is the Lions captain and itâs good heâs supported by his people back home. But the idea of being âbossedâ by him makes me smile a bit. Weâll see what happens.â
Matfield, who is as smooth a diplomat as he is destructive in the lineout, removes the sting from his reaction. âI respect OâConnell. Heâs big and physical and our matches against Ireland have been tough in recent years. But itâs been a while since I played against him so that makes it even more interesting.â
His partnership at the heart of the Springbok pack, with his fellow Bulls lock Bakkies Botha, could be decisive. The two Afrikaners have become so inseparable on the team-sheet that it is mildly surprising to hear Matfield reveal that they are not especially close off the field. âBakkies and I are quite different. Heâs happiest on the farm while Iâm much more of a city guy. We have a very good understanding, and great respect for each other, but we donât go to each otherâs homes or spend time together away from rugby. Bakkies is very quiet but on the field he unleashes the *animal in him. The Super 14 final was unusual because, just before the game, Bakkies spoke very powerfully. It was strange for him to use words rather than actions â but they had a big impact.â
Botha and Matfield have both recently added to their families â with Matfieldâs second daughter, Giselle, being born eight weeks ago while Bothaâs third child *followed last month. But after their Super 14 success they celebrated in contrasting ways. Botha retreated to his isolated farm north of Pretoria, where he shot a couple of wildebeest, while the more gregarious Matfield took his family on a leisurely break down in the Cape.
That brief spell away allowed Matfield to reflect on the way his post-World Cup fears have been replaced by sustained *satisfaction. In late 2007 the *victorious Springbok coach, Jake White, was *apparently forced from his post because of political pressure to increase the quota of black players. His replacement, Peter de Villiers, seemed to have been picked on the basis of his colour â with the *expectation he would break up a predominantly white side. âI was worried,â Matfield concedes. "I didnât know much about Peter de *Villiers â apart from him being an assistant coach of the Bulls when we were having a rough period a few years ago. My choice as coach was Heyneke Meyer [the former Bulls coach who worked with Leicester last season].
âBut then I sat down with Peter and my perspective changed. He was very impressive when he outlined the way we would take South African rugby forward. And heâs had an outstanding first year â topped off by the fact we beat the All Blacks in New Zealand [with the Springboks captained by Matfield that day]. The whole situation is very positive. Apart from being world champions, and winning the Super 14, weâve just won the IRB Sevens World series. All we now need to do is to beat the Lions and win back the Tri-Nations.â
Matfieldâs decision to limit a lucrative sojourn in French club rugby to a short contract last year with Toulon seems increasingly inspired. The money might have been enticing but the rewards, in rugby terms, for returning to South Africa have been justified.
âI found the rugby quite frustrating in Toulon because the standard wasnât great. But it opened my eyes to another culture. I had been expecting it to be low-key but the fans were even more full-on than South Africa and I couldnât go anywhere without being stopped. It showed how passionate they are about rugby over there.â
That rugby passion still beats deeply in Pretoria, where the second Test against the Lions will be played, and Matfield relishes the prospect of facing OâConnellâs men at home. âIt reminds me of 1997 again. The one happy memory I have of that tour was that the Lions lost in Pretoria to the Bulls [then Northern Transvaal]. It was a close match but we won [35â30] and that was the only game the Lions lost until the last Test. I was nowhere near the Bulls team but I remember a lot of happy people in Pretoria that night. My one regret is that we wonât get to see the Bulls play the Lions on this tour. But Iâll be even happier to beat them with the Springboks this time.â
Victor Matfield, South Africaâs totemic lock, is confident of his sideâs chances against the Lions despite memories of 1997
Victor Matfield is acutely aware of what happened the last time South Africa faced the Lions. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images
There is a little lesson for us to learn if we look back," Victor Matfield says *cautiously and with none of the arrogance he might be expected to show as the worldâs best lock forward and a talismanic figure in South African rugby. âTwelve years ago, just like now, the Springboks were world champions and most people made the mistake of thinking weâd stuff the Lions 30. And look what happened. The Lions shocked everyone by winning. It was a painful defeat and that memory makes me careful not to make any big statements before the first Test [a week on Saturday] in Durban. Itâs best we prepare ourselves for a real battle.â
The Lions have been puzzlingly *inconsistent on this tour with an outstanding midweek display sandwiched between two unconvincing victories. But they should be as disconcerted by Matfield highlighting that bitter Springbok defeat in 1997 as a means to offset any lingering complacency in the hosts. âItâs important we donât forget it,â he urges, âbecause the Lions could spring some surprises again. Wednesdayâs game showed me how impressive they can be. The Golden Lions were not good but you donât score 70 points against a Super 14 team without producing something special.â
Yet Matfieldâs beloved provincial side, the Bulls, managed virtually the same feat in a far more meaningful encounter. Ten days ago, while the Lions struggled to win their tour opener against a second-rate invitation XV, Matfield led the Bulls to a crushing 6117 victory over New Zealandâs Waikato Chiefs in the Super 14 final. âIt was one of the happiest days of my life,â he says, âbecause it went perfectly. It was one of those incredible days where youâre preparing for a game you think is going to be the toughest of your life and then all of a sudden everything you try comes off.â
That supremacy prompted Warren *Gatland, a Lions coach and a Waikato man, to suggest the Bulls would have beaten most leading Test sides. âI think so,â Matfield agrees. âSix months together gave us an understanding a Test team canât *create in two weeks. The best comparison I can make is that when the [Canterbury] *Crusaders dominated the Super 14 they were harder to beat than the All Blacks.â
Nine of the Bulls have been chosen for South Africaâs squad that gathered *yesterday to prepare for the first Test and the addition of hardened World Cup *winners such as John Smit, Schalk Burger and Juan Smith along with *skilful playmakers such as Ruan Pienaar and *Francois Steyn mean the Springboks will be formidable. Matfield might have *preferred a couple of warm-up Tests before facing the Lions but the Springboksâ *collective desire to avenge 1997 should bind the team together. The 32-year-old grunts *meaningfully when reminded of a *conversation on the night the Springboks won the World Cup in October 2007.
His thick black hair was still wet from the showers and he admitted to feeling as weary as he was jubilant but Matfield suddenly lit up in Paris. He told how the prospect of facing the Lions would shape his future. With the Webb Ellis Cup being passed from one Springbok to another, Matfield stressed how much he wanted to play against the Lions. It seemed a striking urge in the midst of his greatest moment as a player.
âThatâs the power of the Lions,â Matfield says now. âThe fact that their tours to South Africa only come round once every 12 years. I also like this concept they bring to Test rugby by joining four unions together and thatâs why I was so keen to stick around for this tour.â
Over the past four years Matfield has been world rugbyâs most dominant lock symbolised by the bearded wonder from Pretoria being named the IRBâs player of the 2007 World Cup. Matfield, if anything, has become an even more imposing and canny presence since that tournament as he steals the oppositionâs *lineout ball with regularity.
His admirers speak of *Matfield possessing a highly mathematical brain which allows him to break most lineout codes. Matfield laughs at the speculation with the *likelihood that his secret *strategies are more attuned to him studying the *involuntary trigger movements of the opposing locks as their hooker prepares his throw. The big man has still *revolutionised *modern lineout play.
âPeople have called me an innovator and that humbles me,â he says proudly. âI think Iâve introduced some new ways of winning the ball but the other analysts are studying me on tape and so Iâm always trying to develop new techniques. So far it seems to be working.â
Such confidence allows Matfield to react with amusement when hearing that Willie John McBride, the great old lock and captain of the triumphant 1974 Lions, believes he will be âbossedâ by Paul OâConnell. âThatâs very interesting,â Matfield chuckles dryly. âOâConnell is the Lions captain and itâs good heâs supported by his people back home. But the idea of being âbossedâ by him makes me smile a bit. Weâll see what happens.â
Matfield, who is as smooth a diplomat as he is destructive in the lineout, removes the sting from his reaction. âI respect OâConnell. Heâs big and physical and our matches against Ireland have been tough in recent years. But itâs been a while since I played against him so that makes it even more interesting.â
His partnership at the heart of the Springbok pack, with his fellow Bulls lock Bakkies Botha, could be decisive. The two Afrikaners have become so inseparable on the team-sheet that it is mildly surprising to hear Matfield reveal that they are not especially close off the field. âBakkies and I are quite different. Heâs happiest on the farm while Iâm much more of a city guy. We have a very good understanding, and great respect for each other, but we donât go to each otherâs homes or spend time together away from rugby. Bakkies is very quiet but on the field he unleashes the *animal in him. The Super 14 final was unusual because, just before the game, Bakkies spoke very powerfully. It was strange for him to use words rather than actions but they had a big impact.â
Botha and Matfield have both recently added to their families with Matfieldâs second daughter, Giselle, being born eight weeks ago while Bothaâs third child *followed last month. But after their Super 14 success they celebrated in contrasting ways. Botha retreated to his isolated farm north of Pretoria, where he shot a couple of wildebeest, while the more gregarious Matfield took his family on a leisurely break down in the Cape.
That brief spell away allowed Matfield to reflect on the way his post-World Cup fears have been replaced by sustained *satisfaction. In late 2007 the *victorious Springbok coach, Jake White, was *apparently forced from his post because of political pressure to increase the quota of black players. His replacement, Peter de Villiers, seemed to have been picked on the basis of his colour with the *expectation he would break up a predominantly white side. âI was worried,â Matfield concedes. "I didnât know much about Peter de *Villiers apart from him being an assistant coach of the Bulls when we were having a rough period a few years ago. My choice as coach was Heyneke Meyer [the former Bulls coach who worked with Leicester last season].
âBut then I sat down with Peter and my perspective changed. He was very impressive when he outlined the way we would take South African rugby forward. And heâs had an outstanding first year topped off by the fact we beat the All Blacks in New Zealand [with the Springboks captained by Matfield that day]. The whole situation is very positive. Apart from being world champions, and winning the Super 14, weâve just won the IRB Sevens World series. All we now need to do is to beat the Lions and win back the Tri-Nations.â
Matfieldâs decision to limit a lucrative sojourn in French club rugby to a short contract last year with Toulon seems increasingly inspired. The money might have been enticing but the rewards, in rugby terms, for returning to South Africa have been justified.
âI found the rugby quite frustrating in Toulon because the standard wasnât great. But it opened my eyes to another culture. I had been expecting it to be low-key but the fans were even more full-on than South Africa and I couldnât go anywhere without being stopped. It showed how passionate they are about rugby over there.â
That rugby passion still beats deeply in Pretoria, where the second Test against the Lions will be played, and Matfield relishes the prospect of facing OâConnellâs men at home. âIt reminds me of 1997 again. The one happy memory I have of that tour was that the Lions lost in Pretoria to the Bulls [then Northern Transvaal]. It was a close match but we won [3530] and that was the only game the Lions lost until the last Test. I was nowhere near the Bulls team but I remember a lot of happy people in Pretoria that night. My one regret is that we wonât get to see the Bulls play the Lions on this tour. But Iâll be even happier to beat them with the Springboks this time.â
More importantly that chasing the egg Matfieldâs best trophy is his wife Monja⌠a fcukin crackerâŚdo your thing MBBâŚ
What is Willie John at. OâConnells gonna get a spanking by them boys, coming out with that rubbish is just going to make it worse!
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2007/Oct/Week3/1599044.jpg
Willie John is a cunt.
the nicest piece of flesh i ever saw was on a beach in Durban.
it was Percy Montgomerys bird, blonde like Victors wan, unreal body and even with a few small kiddies flocking around them her tits were pointing upwards.
those saffers have the best birds.
