Accountability

Harrassmiss is embroiled in a new spat….yet another windmill to tilt at. This time it’s Mallett who had the confidence and gravitas to be a bit critical. Off he went on another somewhat insane rant.

But he is a genius his supporters opine. What about his record since the WC….2 years of 8/5….no semblance of a challenge for the RC, no progress on broadening our tactics, slow emergence of new talent, embarrassing conflicts with officials.

Ah, say his supporters, that’s not Harrassmiss that’s Nienaber. If Harrassmiss hadn’t handed over the reigns we would have probably won a RC and had a much stronger record.

But here’s the thing Harrassmiss never needed to hand over the reigns. He did that voluntarily. He has been given unprecedented freedom to act, much more than White or Meyer. But with that comes accountability……he is responsible for results. If Nienaber wasn’t competent he should never have been given the job….he decided that.

So Harrassmiss owns the 8 and 5 record. And if that’s because Nienaber can’t do the job he needs to formally become the coach again. What’s that? You say he never left, well that’s just outrageous.

You have very low standards Saffex. The Bok attacking game has never even once been world class under Erasmus. Last year being the most scattershot, ragged, clueless, inaccurate and laughable of his reign. The big tactical gimmick... the sliding second layer to make us even more lateral on top of the crabbing. 

By Harrassmiss’ own words he said he would do anything and everything to make the Bok’s succeed. If we take him at his word that means the best he can do with the Boks is 8 and 5.

Case closed….damages to follow.

The drops, fumbles, poor lines of running and general errors were of no concern to Coach Saffy. Neither were the defensive lapses. This man must have been born with rose tinted irides! 

The lengths he will go to excuse Erasmus is only equalled by the inexhaustible guff he spews out against the likes of White and Meyer. Note how in each and every exchange he has no facts to hand. No references, or anything that can be verified by film. Just feelings enforced by profanity and insults. When I read his scribbles I always do so with the voice of South Park's Eric Cartman, another portly fellow. 

So Erasputin has gone from being a visionary and technical genius to a motivational speaker. 

I'm sorry Saffy, but 8/5 is very much a reality. Imagine a person who routinely calls other stupid telling someone that an 8/5 is far removed from reality. Maybe your dreams are more vivid than your fleeting moments of consciousness, but I assure you, this doesn't make it any closer to being reality. 

Dave he said he would do anything in his power to make the Boks succeed. Nienaber is totally within his power, so poor performances by Nienaber is no excuse.,,,he blew it.

Mattet se bek was nog altyd te groot.

But it was his choice not to be present….accountability for what you can control, these are things he could control. You are arguing he wasn’t there so he isn’t responsible. I’m arguing his role is to deliver results…nobody but he himself made that more difficult.

My guess is Erasmus has done his overseas stint. If he was looking for a major international coaching appointment he wouldn’t have gone after the refs. If the Boks stumble though, he may abandon his contract in a huff and leave for less a challenging environment …but only after the WC. 

AT a stretch you could argue the banning in 2021 was unanticipated, if you naively buy that the release of the tape was a mistake….the banning in 2022 was eyes wide open. 

But at a more fundamental level….Harrassmiss has delivered for  a 3 week period in 4 years….he’s accountable.

Erasmus has a history of bending rules. A long one. 

Another golden thread.

While accountability is supposed to be a pillar in today's society as set by governing principles, gaming accountability actually is the mark of a leader or whatever.

These days, people who let themselves trapped by accountability do not last long in power positions.

Accountability, claim it when it is profitable, dismiss it when it is not. In fact, no accountability.

So this guy should be held accountable. Accountable what for.

For the lack of results: SA rugby are the WC title holder therefore by grace of title holding, the best team in the world.

Incoming failure at the WC: one must set criteria to determine failure: failure to win the tournament, failing in round of 4, round of 8.

Style of play: the best one probably. The issue of SA rugby is larger than coaching. No players to play rugby. This guy had at least one merit: finding a way to get enough out of mediocre players, just enough to win luckily a WC.

Beyond that, if ever this guy was held accountable for the play style, his successor would be not. Successor will use claims to change playstyle as a means to overthrow, when in position, will meet the same wall of lack of quality in players, will probably blame quota players as the cause for his failure, will reduce their number in the team, team still will not play rugby but with more white players in it, SA rugby supporters are pleased.

Guy"s nervosity is understandable: people attacking him have no arguments other than cheap shots. This guy perceived it and will cling in reaction to his position.

"This guy had at least one merit: finding a way to get enough out of mediocre players, just enough to win luckily a WC."

mediocre my arse...bunch of generational world class players in that group...envious pr!ck!

Trad seriously…you should stick with the nonsense you know.

A Swys & Dobbo team will be legendary. 

I honestly have never liked the guy….from the time he was a Bok, and again when he abandoned the Boks right on the eve of the WC 2007. ‘Do anything’ to ensure Bok results my foot.

What he did do right was abandon the ball in hand Rugby we tried to play 2017/18 and go back to defense, and set piece superiority. And  somewhat luckily we won the WC, finishing with a strong performance against England.

A great opportunity beckoned, we had a fabulous core of players, mostly inherited from HM and Coetzee. Instead Erasmus came up with the goofy Nienaber move, took on World reffing and lost the plot. We plunged to 8/5.

In the meantime he did a poor job of building new talent and expanding our tactics off the much improved defense and set piece play.

Admittedly I have never much liked the man, but his tenure post the WC is a waste of a great opportunity. If our press was a bit more critical perhaps he would have been a better coach. But as in politics we just don’t seem comfortable with criticism

The Welsh loss was actually our best performance of the series. That team wasn't so bad. It was amazing how Wales lost the other two. 4 scrums lost to them in the second win. Moodie is a filler selection. There is a core that Rassie trusts, and a lot of utility backs that couldn't crack a starter role. We seem to have the largest pool of utility backs in world rugby. It's a curse, in spite of the depth it may add to our weak core. We have a lot of speed on the wings, but little skill, tactical awareness, aerial prowess, defensive acumen, or work rate off the ball. Mapimpi has gotten lazy under Erasputin, and started showing some cracks despite being out best overall wing. Pollard is another who has regressed under Erasputin, as well as Am. 

Kolisi is playing much better for the Sharks than he plays for Boks….no idea why that would be true, but it’s pretty obvious.

The lower level is more advantageous because of weaker defence and more freely give space. Test rugby is not in a good place, that filters down. Look at Roos. All that endeavour against weaker defending, but what at test level? Nothing. Kolisi is a big back who can make some metres against passive and weaker defences. All things need to be quality tested. The pseudo fans love the personality of the player so much that they ignore the facts. 

Roos kicked arse agaist the Poms last year...fractured rib and all...nex t level.

If that's the quality of performance Roos requires at test level to look vaguely passable, then I rest my case. 

Michael, you are in the camp, with Rooinek/Mrs Searle, who posts lies and errant twaddle without any hint of conviction. I have to continually school you on basic facts, along with Saffex, because your understanding of Bok rugby at even a trivia level is shockingly inadequate. Talking xs and os with karp is a terribly drawn out ordeal. 

Poor old Michael…what better a person not to understand accountability than  a government worker.