The Kneed for Surgery

Having recently suffered from a knee injury and the resultant reconstruction operation, it has brought a new cringe factor to my rugby watching experience.  The past weekend in the Rugby Championship sent a special kind of shiver down my spine, when I saw Bismarck lying on the field I *knew* what he’d done and I wanted to cry.

4 months ago, in a far less heroic fashion, I ruptured my ACL, tore my MCL and damaged the cartilage in my left knee. I was lucky enough to have one of the top knee surgeons in the country do my operation and rehab is going well. The only effects of my injury were a month off work, a mountain of medical bills and the end of my budding netball league. For a professional rugby player it may mean the end of their career.

Depending on the severity of the initial injury, time off can be anything from two weeks (for a grade 1 MCL tear) to nine months (for a full ACL rupture). The mental process is even harder, your body has let you down and you have to learn to trust it again, this is easier said than done.  Schalk Burger torn his medial cruciate ligament (MCL) in February and was expected to be out for four to six weeks, it is now the end of August and he is yet to make his return. There is a fine line that must be walked with a knee injury, if you come back too soon you will just re-rupture the ligament. Ask Butch James, he's had 5 ACL reconstructions since his debut for the Springboks in 2001. The shining light in Butch's case is that he did come back, and last represented the Springboks at the 2011 world cup. So a knee injury, or five, does not necessarily mean the end of your career but it does hurt you form.

Taking an entire season off means that a comeback may not be all that spectacular. For someone like Bismarck it seems like high treason to even suggest, but it is a worry.  Look at Quade Cooper, you can see from a mile away that he doesn't trust that knee. It's in the way he hesitates to side-step and slows down when faced with a tackler, there is a moment of self-doubt, a hint of fear and that makes the world of difference.  That’s not to say that he isn’t a great player and won’t get back to form, but a year out when you’re at your peak still has its effects.

As the list of knee injuries grows weekly (the Aussies also lost Dave Pocock to the crisis on the weekend) and I squirm in my seat looking at the tv screen, I wish them all the best of luck for the next round of the Rugby Championship. To the boys watching from the couch not the field, a speedy and dramaless recovery to you, from the bottom of my heart. 

Give Heyneke a chance to cock up

There is always mass debate about the team selection and shock horror over who was left out, or rather who was included, before a test series. We were all very pleased when Hymen Heyneke was named Bok coach, but were quick to turn on him when we didn’t all agree with his choices.

What people forget I think is that it is his job to win. That’s what he gets paid for, it’s his reputation on the line and in this country, the vultures are always circling, just waiting for a player/ captain/coach to slip up so that they can dive in devour him while squawking “I was right and you were wrong”.  It is logical to assume then that said player/captain/coach would do all in their power to succeed and to avoid the eagerly awaiting lynch mob.

I think we owe the man at least one game before we all gang up on him. Let him show his thinking on the field, the selection that he has made is genuinely the strongest team he thinks he can field (yes, even Wynand) and we should afford him the opportunity to prove it.  

The man's not a complete novice

You can sharpen your forks and make sure you’re all stocked on paraffin for your torches on Sunday when you are free to lynch away, but until then give the poor man a break…

Form is Foremost

There is so much debate about who will captain the Springboks in the upcoming test against the English that it’s starting to visibly age me. Forgive me for being of the old-school, but I believe that form is the first thing you look at when selecting a team.  We’re trying to win a rugby match, not start a political part.

If you were into politics you would chose a leader first and build the party around that leader. If you’re playing a sport, you pick the strongest team you can and then chose a leader from it. A captain plays a vital role in a rugby team, but having an average player who is a great captain is far more detrimental to success as having a great team with an average captain.

The sports cliché that I hate most in the world is “the captain, leading from the front…” while it is annoying as a phase it is very true. Players are inspired by other players, what you want from a captain is someone who will play their heart out and when you see them playing so hard, you are stirred to do the same. Having an older, more experienced, out of form captain may help with the decision-making part of the role but will it inspire the rest of the team on the field where it counts. Remember, the goal is to win.

A player who is chosen on form and given the job of captaincy will rise to the occasion. You don’t have to look hard to see that in action. Last year Josh Strauss was a no name with a very large beard who was given the role of captain for the Lions and has done a fantastic job. Eyebrows were raised when Keegan Daniel was appointed Sharks captain after Tubby-bum Smit left, but he’s done a great job, again, always in the thick of play and keeps a cool head.  The two most important characteristics of a captain are that they play well and don’t throw punches when provoked. If you pick your team on form, number one is taken care of.

Decision strategy can be taught, people have leadership in them, the parts are not as important as the whole. Pick a team on current form, the strongest team we can muster, and then pick a captain from that group.

The thrill of the chase

I, personally, am a fan of running rugby, ball in hand and moving it up the field. Kicking away possession causes a rather unflattering vein in my forehead to pulsate and expletives to flow from my lips. I do understand the need the need for gaining ground and booting the ball obviously has its place in the game. Last Friday night, however, said vein was doing the locomotion wearing leg warmers and making my ears ring. I was watching the Lions play the Brumbies and it was ugly. It wasn’t the score that had my blood doing the Kylie Minogue tribute cabaret; it was the lack of urgency in the player’s follow-ups.

My vein - less attractive than her's

One of the most beautiful plays in the game of rugby is the up-and-under, but there is an integral part of that move that was not present at Coca-Cola Park that night. It is the root of the dog’s obsession with balls, the hunter’s kill, the excitement of finding a potential mate; it is all about the chase. Kicking up field without a follow up is like eating a whole cake and then going on the spinning teacup ride at a fair, it may seem ok when you do it, but chances are it won’t end well.

A chase puts pressure on the receiving player; it cuts down their time to react and often forces a fumble from an otherwise well composed player. A rushed boot for touch that comes of the side of the foot, a blunder of a catch resulting in a knock on or sometimes an embarrassing panic induced slip, can all be triggered by simply following up. If it works one out of ten times it’s worth it. Just take a look at the Edinburgh Toulouse game, it was exactly the things mentioned above that won the game – fuck ups caused by follow ups – it’s pure rugby porn.

I know the term “possession is 9/10^ths of the law” is usually used in regards to drugs but it rings true in rugby too. You can’t score without the ball, it’s not rocket surgery. My message is this: don’t give away possession without a fight. If you kick, make sure someone from your team is there when it lands. If not for the obvious, then please, for my vascular health.

Lions put me in the friend zone

It’s taken me a long time to come to terms with this, I am now at the point where I can recognise the problem but can’t do anything about it. You see, I fell in love as a young girl with a team one cold night at Ellis Park. Rain was falling, muddying up the white and red jerseys of the Transvaal team, I didn’t know the rules but I wanted to learn them, such passion was on display and I had to know more about it. I asked every question I could think to ask of my long suffering father who was just glad that someone cared about his Lions. I learned about rucks and scrums and players and teams, what the refs hand signals meant and when to shout. My eyes sparkled with delight and I knew it was love.

The honeymoon phase went on for a long time as we made finals and won some trophies in the next few years (it was the early 90’s, we won, I promise). Then there was a slump, I was devastated, had I done something wrong? Was the end of this blissful affair near? I couldn’t give up, not after the great time we’d had. So I clung on. I stuck by them and they leaned on me when they were down because they knew that I would always be there.

Our relationship was platonic without me even realising it and I wanted romance.  I was the trusted and loyal supporter and they kept me on starved of reciprocated feelings. Every week I would get all dressed up, hoping they’d pass a nice comment or come away with a win and almost every week I would have my heart broken. There were fleeting moments when a win would happen and I would have renewed vigour, but those were few and far between.

The blow came last year at the Currie Cup final, we got drunk and fell into bed together and I thought that they loved me too, we would be happy forever. But, I see now that I was in the friend zone all the time. My passion was not shared and that one emotional night that we had together meant nothing to them.

Like a battered wife I go back every time, they seem so sincere in their losses and so elated in their victories, I have to forgive them, they need me.  The bruises fade and I wait, full of hope, for the next weekend to come where they will run away into the sunset with me.

Recently I rebelled, I picked both the Stormers and Crusaders for the wins at Ellis Park and got the points, but the guilt has sat with me all week and I just couldn’t do it again. A psychologist would call it Stockholm Syndrome, a psychological phenomenon in which hostages express empathy and have positive feelings towards their captors. I have passed the point of no return and I’m stuck with the Lions for life. I do really love them, and if they can’t love me back then so be it.

Sizzling Super Rugby - Dan Carter

I have been trying to educate the ladies that there are some very good looking rugby players that you may not have heard of before. But seeing as the Crusaders are at back home in Christchurch this weekend and delicious Dan Carter is going to have a run (from the bench, so you’ll have to watch out in the second half) I decided that we should all drool over him today.

Your clothes are making me uncomfortable Dan, please take them off…

...Thanks, I feel much better now

Sizzling Super Rugby - Benson Stanley

It's starting to look like whoever I proclaim as my hottie of the week ends up having a shocking rugby game. Last week Mike Harris who was sitting on 24 consecutive successful kicks at goal before the game (ladies who don’t yet watch rugby, this is like finding 24 pairs of jeans that make your ass look great in a single shopping trip, nearly impossible) had a complete catastrophe of a game against the Rebels. So this week’s looker is to help the Stormers along ;)

Benson Stanley - a name that sounds like it should come with a castle, a few acres of rolling green hills and some peasants that you routinely extort for taxes to fund your fur coats - is the 27 year old outside centre for the Auckland Blues. He will be in action on Friday night against the Cape Town side in what I expect to be a very tight and rough game (in a manly way).

Enjoy...

Throwing things is never good

Throwing things onto the field of play or, worse, at a player’s head is a terrible thing to do and people could get hurt. It’s a very stupid and unsportsmanly act and I don’t condone it at all.

The bottle incident last weekend at Loftus where a fan hit Kevin Mealamu with a projectile water bottle after getting onto the field is what sparked this and it is the public reaction to it that has me annoyed.

Many comments were thrown around about “only at Loftus” and “typical of Bulls fans” etc etc. These unfortunate incidents happen all over the world and it is unfair to paint all Bull’s fans with the single stupid action of one. It happened and we’re all in agreement that the guy is a tool and has embarrassed us.

I remember being at Ellis Park for a Tri-Nations match against Australia years ago, where fans threw beer cans at George Gregan and I was embarrassed then too.

But this doesn’t only happen in South Africa. When looking for the video I found this gem of a clip of folks throwing beer bottles at Eden Park, the beginning is a bit fuzzy, so skip to about 30 seconds, it’s crazy.

Sizzling Super Rugby - Mike Harris

This weekend’s hottie is 23 year old Mike Harris who is filling Quade Cooper’s ballet slippers for the Reds while Quade is out injured. He was headboy of his high school (aww sweet) and isn’t a bad rugby payer either. It will be interesting to see him flex his yummy muscles against the Rebels on Saturday which is sure to be a runaway win for the Queensland team (if my Superbru picks can be believed)

So enjoy… oh, if you’re in a rush just scroll to the bottom, it’ll be worth your while ;)

mmmmmmm......

bye bye now

Southern Kings...set up to fail?

Let me just say right off the bat that I am a Lions supporter and, as such, am horribly bias about this topic, I will, however, attempt to put that aside and rely on logic alone.

Reason - listen to it

Thrusting a team that has not played in the first division provincial tournament into an international club tournament is suicide. If it’s one season only, they won’t have a chance to improve in the Super15.

Let us examine 2 teams who entered the competition at a later stage.

Western Force 

Debuted in Super Rugby in 2006 and finished last on the log. They rebounded in fairytale style the next year, climbing up to 7^th, tinkered around there for the next two years, and then slipped back down closer to the bottom of the table again. This year David Pocock is captain and I’m expecting them to creep up a few places.

Melbourne Rebels

Had their first season of Super Rugby in 2011 and also took the wooden spoon back home. In 2012 new signings Kurtley Beale and James O’Connor should make an impact and improve the team’s standing but we’ll have to wait and see if they can follow in the Force’s footsteps

Welcome to your spanking

The point that I am trying to prove here is that on debut, a new team in Super Rugby is likely to be mopping the floor of the table. If the relegation format is used to decide on the 5^th South African team in the conference then the bottom ranked SA team (it pains to say, but probably the Lions or Cheetahs in 2012) with be dropped and the Southern Kings will enter in 2013, come last, and be dropped again.

Following that, will they get back in? It is one thing to force the entry of a team into a competition at the expense of another, but if they are not performing do you then scrap the relegation structure that you just implemented in order to give them a fair chance? One season does not a team make, and expecting greatness is asking too much.

Going down - not as fun when it's relegation

Grass roots level sport needs to be funded and talent needs to be nurtured from a young age, it’s the only way to create a solid team. Exposure and financial backing are needed to develop a foundation for a franchise and attract better players and sponsors to the union.

I say lay off the Super Rugby pie in the sky ideals for a few more seasons. Admit the Kings into the Currie Cup premier division and let them grow a bit before throwing them in the deep-end with their ankles tied together and attached to a rusty truck. It won’t end well… we know this.

I hope that SARU can come up with an actual workable and sustainable plan in the next 12 months, or I'm afraid the Kings, like Vanillia Ice, will be a one hit wonder.

Word to your mother