Boks humble after their win

ThomasH

From reporters that were at the game.

Rugby World Cup, Springboks | October 15th, 2007

It was a circumspect and humbled Bok team that left the Stade de France in the early hours of Monday morning.

All week the Boks had been respectful of the Pumas and the occasion of the World Cup semi-final. The media had drummed up Fourie du Preez calling his opposite Gus Pichot ‘irritating’, but it was a compliment, qualified by Pichot’s strengths, as viewed by Du Preez.

As the Boks left the Stade de France, victors by 37-13, the second biggest Rugby World Cup semi-final winning margin, they were as subdued as they had been all week in the build-up to the semi-final.

They were confident, as they were 24 hours ago, but they were not arrogant, cocky or thinking beyond next Saturday night.

They praised the Pumas and the coach and captain cautioned the South African media that nothing had been won. They’d merely earned the right to play in a final.

Ernie Els, having won a record seventh World Match Play, was the first at the team hotel to welcome the Boks. He had hopped on his jet and made it in time for their arrival. Johan Rupert was also at the hotel, as were many others. But the players were calm and the calmest of the lot was coach Jake White.

He enjoyed a few beers, brought a few supporters a few beers, and then headed off for bed by 1.30. Given that the Boks only arrived back at the hotel a shade before 1am, it took some self-discipline.

Captain John Smit spoke of the responsibility to a nation. He spoke of the meaning of making it to the final, but significance of actually winning it.

This has been the most remarkable Bok World Cup campaign, mainly because of the honesty between coach and players when it comes to selection and the freedom with which each player has been allowed to operate. This has been a sporting campaign and not a political coup.

It has been a joy to follow these guys around France because they’ve come to play in a sport’s event, knowing they were good enough to win it.

There hasn’t been scandal because there has been honesty. There have been difficult moments, but that’s to be expected and there has been unhappiness because only 15 can start.

But there has been a bond that was as evident when they arrived back at their team hotel as their was when they were pounding the Pumas into submission.

This is a team with everything to win on Saturday, but until they do it they aren’t even talking about having succeeded. It makes for a change from previous campaigns.

This is also the first squad that has not asked to be judged at the World Cup. The players here have won Currie Cups, a Super 14 and a Tri Nations. All that remains is a World Cup and they’re not getting ahead of themselves.

They whipped the English 36-zip the last time, but they’ve disregarded that result, saying a final is a 50-50 game. They’ve praised the mental strength of the English in winning in Marseilles and Paris, but they’ve also given themselves a pat on the back for winning by 24 points against Argentina and scoring three tries in 40 minutes against a team that in five previous World Cup matches had conceded 3 tries.

This is a team in touch with their own ability and very much in touch with what it will take to win the World Cup.

This is a team that deserves to be backed.

Come on the World, support the boks in their final match against the poms!!

mikeruurds

Confident, passionate but never arrogant. This is why I remain a green-blooded bok supporter.

pucan

ThomasH wrote: »

From reporters that were at the game.

And i sure that they were unbiased saffer journos yeah?

mikeruurds

pucan wrote: »

And i sure that they were unbiased saffer journos yeah?

Actually one of the girls that I work with (irish) who doesn't often watch rugby commented to me yesterday that she was surprised how little emotion the boks showed after the game.

I saw the goings-on after the final whistle and the boks appeared very humble to me. They congratulated the pumas and appeared very respectful of their opponents even though they'd just drilled them. There was no jumping around and cheering by the players. That'll happen if they manage to win the final.

ThomasH

And i sure that they were unbiased saffer journos yeah?

No, an outside reporter that did the interview.

Sangre

mikeruurds wrote: »

Actually one of the girls that I work with (irish) who doesn't often watch rugby commented to me yesterday that she was surprised how little emotion the boks showed after the game.

I saw the goings-on after the final whistle and the boks appeared very humble to me. They congratulated the pumas and appeared very respectful of their opponents even though they'd just drilled them. There was no jumping around and cheering by the players. That'll happen if they manage to win the final.

That would probably be more due to the fact they knew they were going to the final for the last 25 minutes.

jkehoe101

don't even bother trying to get the Irish on your side..we don't do praise very well......

Unless it's for our world beating, best in the world, best trained blah blah blah team

I am was quite impressed with the way SA played that game and yes they seemed quite reserved after the win almost as if they had switched to getting ready for the next match.

LordSutch

For me it would be a Fairytale if England won the World Cup, considering their very poor start in the tournament & the way they have grown and beaten all the odds (and their Irish critics).

South Africa seem a little too clinical for my liking (emotionless) to a man, almost robot like, & cold too > England on the other hand are our neighbours & we know them all well in Rugby circles, and the Irish players play Rugby with them, week in week out, so I certainly wont be shouting for the Bok's ................. but if Bok's win, then so be it :cool:

C'Mon England & make the Fairytale come true.

Erin Go Brath

ArthurF wrote: »

For me it would be a Fairytale if England won the World Cup, considering their very poor start in the tournament & the way they have grown and beaten all the odds (and their Irish critics).

South Africa seem a little too clinical for my liking (emotionless) to a man, almost robot like, & cold too > England on the other hand are our neighbours & we know them all well in Rugby circles, and the Irish players play Rugby with them, week in week out, so I certainly wont be shouting for the Bok's ................. but if Bok's win, then so be it :cool:

C'Mon England & make the Fairytale come true.

You're a quare breed of an Irishman if it's your fairytale dream come true that England win the World Cup :eek:

Personally I wouldn't begrudge England, but I'm still 50/50 about who to cheer for in this one.

jkehoe101

No SA players playing for Munster then..........

Found an interesting article from the official wc site (just to put the arogant comments to bed. ) Sorry for harping but I think a lot of ppl just jumped on the local (Irish) press on the arrogance thing. For once I think this team is just very focused and the comments below seems ot suggest it.:




PARIS, 16 October - South Africa say they are putting their previous victory over England out of their minds as they prepare to meet them again at Stade de France in Sunday's final world cup final.

The last time the teams met, in the Pool A match on 14 September, the world champions were beaten 36-0.

But Springboks flanker Schalk Burger on Tuesday said his team were trying to put that win out of their minds and focus on the final.

"It's a final. We are starting over," he said. "That game has been forgotten. We have now got a job to do on Saturday.

"It's a brand new week and it's a brand new game. That game was in the pool matches a couple of weeks ago and they came through the rest of the tournament pretty well. We are starting at zero-all on Saturday and that previous win against them is long forgotten."


Fly half Butch James said his team would not be using the earlier victory to build confidence for the title decider.

"There's no point in beating them in that game if we don't beat them in the final. We've forgotten about that game and we're looking forward to Saturday," he said.


"I think they have come a long way since then. They have been playing in form, they have all their players back so they are going to be really tough this weekend."

Coach Jake White said although England had built a lot of confidence on their way to the final, the match would be different from any other in the tournament.

"It's a whole new ball game. They will have a lot of confidence after beating France, after beating Australia, but it's going to be a completely different game when we go out there on Saturday."

come on England - don't know why I'm saying it but I am. Their spirit and honesty has won me over. Imagine if Ireland had been able to turn it around like they have. Plus I agree with the other poster about the boks being somehow devoid of emotion and uninspiring. They are counter-attack / interception / preying on the other team's mistakes type rugby players rather than actually dictating the game or making their own moves- that's what turns me off I think.

mikeruurds

glasso wrote: »

come on England - don't know why I'm saying it but I am. Their spirit and honesty has won me over. Imagine if Ireland had been able to turn it around like they have. Plus I agree with the other poster about the boks being somehow devoid of emotion and uninspiring. They are counter-attack / interception / preying on the other team's mistakes type rugby players rather than actually dictating the game or making their own moves- that's what turns me off I think.

And England dictate the game and make moves? Come on. That's a bit one-eyed when England play some of the most boring (though effective) rugby on the planet.

The only reason that the Boks were devoid of emotion is that they are focused on the final. You will see the celebrations if they win.

You obviously don't know anything about the team spirit in the SA squad if you believe that they are "devoid of emotion and uninspiring".

World class rugby is all about forcing your opponent to make an error and then capitalising on that error. The Boks are masters at it. I'd rather watch the Boks score 4 tries in one game than have to wait 3 games to see England score one.

I don't know about you, but I found the 36-0 drubbing quite inspiring. Bryan Habana was incredibly emotional when he scored all of his 8 tries, as were the other Boks when they scored theirs.

MooseJam

I'd like to see England win to show up EOS plus the boks said it was like already having won the tournament when NZ and Aus went out, how arrogant can you get

The bok's play just doesn't turn me on... and I think that Alain Rolland will penalise their blatant offside play in the final. It was obvious against the Argies.

Oilrig

Oilrig's a Paddy, spent time in ZA (God's Country btw )

You must get to know these guys before you can accuse them of being arrogant, similar to the Swedes, once you get to know them you realise that they are not really arrogant - just that sometimes they can come across that way to an outsider.

As for the Boks, I think they have played some really good rugby and have conducted themselves well. I haven't detected any arrogance - ala Kiwis - in terms of their approach to other teams, certainly not in terms of the upcoming final, any of the interviews/quotes etc I've read from the players & staff have been very respectful of the threat England pose.

This Bok team came through a very difficult time during preparations for the WC, many see this as ZA's last chance for many years.

May the best team win... but, Go Bokke!

Santa Claus

ArthurF wrote: »

For me it would be a Fairytale if England won the World Cup, considering their very poor start in the tournament & the way they have grown and beaten all the odds (and their Irish critics).

Simple reason why England can't win......the queen would have to give the lads remaining from 03 knighthoods as they're already MBE's. Arise Sir Lawrence Bruno Nero Dallaglio, Johnny Wilkinson, Mike Catt, etc ????

So I reckon the queen will get the SAS to spike their cornflakes thus ensuring the boks win.
Right i'm off to the conspiracies forum now to see if there's any other mysteries they need solved :D

mikeruurds

MooseJam wrote: »

I'd like to see England win to show up EOS plus the boks said it was like already having won the tournament when NZ and Aus went out, how arrogant can you get

I'd like to see a verifiable quote from a reliable source that this was said by the team. Zola Yeye is a government plant who knows sweet f'all about rugby so he's not a team representative.

The Boks are not arrogant.

ThomasH

don't even bother trying to get the Irish on your side..we don't do praise very well......

I know, been living here for 7 years and thought I could inject the passion we have into the Irish!

I'd like to see England win to show up EOS plus the boks said it was like already having won the tournament when NZ and Aus went out, how arrogant can you get

The boks actually had to play and do well to have reached the final or maybe you just know squad diddle do about rugby...

The bok's play just doesn't turn me on... and I think that Alain Rolland will penalise their blatant offside play in the final. It was obvious against the Argies.

So it's our rugby players fault now for not turning you on

They are counter-attack / interception / preying on the other team's mistakes type rugby players rather than actually dictating the game or making their own moves - that's what turns me off I think.

And that's bad because....you haven't really seen to many SA matches have you. We actually do dictate the games and do have plenty of moves on the pitch to make sure the other teams makes the errors so we can score plenty of tries in the process. Don't tell me Eng's boring "dictating" rugby with 1 try every 3 games is exciting rugby!!