Yes that great man from the WP Duanne vermulen.
There are some bad mistakes as I see wee mccaaaw getting the respect reward. They must be mad!
Ex Supersport:
A change is as good as a holiday, that much we all know. And if you watched any of it, you’d also know then that rugby in South Africa spent 2014 on vacation. We’re just not sure yet if it was in Paris or Parys.
< strong> - Rugby 2014: the Year in Pictures
The way the Springbok pack lost its dominance or their breakdown lost its edge, the way Springbok veterans seemed to have turned their backs on the jersey they once so cherished (please note Dr Mozzzzzz)and even the way a World Cup winning coach had to leave a Province tail between the legs after just one season in charge. These were all changes that made us think we were throwing pap from the banks of the Vaal.
But there were also those that made us think we were holding hands with a sweetheart overlooking a moonlit Seine. Think, for example of the way the Stormers turned a dour season around after Gert Smal took over the big office and how that carried through to Western Province triumphantly marched to Currie Cup glory. There was the coming-of-age of some brilliant young players like Nazeem Carr and Jaco Kriel – to name just two – that reconfirmed our belief that this country will never run short of talent.
Most importantly, the Springbok backline – especially in changing their mindset around the flyhalf position – began to show some serious attacking intent; something that can only stand us in good stead in years to come.
There is, however, that old saying that the more things change the more they stay the same. In 2014 the All Blacks still ruled the roost, sweeping (almost) all before them (VIA RAWS!!!! YA DOPE). The much-dreaded “third-year curse” also struck for Bok coach Heyneke Meyer and his charges as their confidence ahead of next year’s World Cup took a serious knock with losses against Ireland and Wales on their year-end tour.
Paris or Parys? We can’t tell you for sure, but what we can do is give you one last reminder of what happened in the world of rugby in 2014.
As this is the season of giving we thought it good to hand out a few trophies of our own. The team here at supersport.com didn’t always agree on all of it (there was some heavy lobbying for certain candidates who didn’t make it) but we feel the following people deserve one last bit of recognition.
Drum roll please, because here we go…
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: DUANE VERMEULEN
There can only be one(AGREE). South Africa’s own Highlander, our own Thor. The brute unshaven force at the back of the Springbok scrum. Duane Vermeulen might have been slighted by those at the IRB, sorry World Rugby awards for the honour of the best player on the planet this year, but there is no doubt he is number one in South Africa.(dUANNE WAS MILES AHEAD OF THAT WEE AB RETARDLICK. WHAT A TRAVESTY!!)
To say otherwise would be foolhardy, to contemplate a Bok team without Vermeulen a travesty. Pierre Spies may be returning to action next season but the Pretoria Bok will have his work cut out for him trying to match the brute that is Vermeulen.
Vermeulen hammered his nomination home with an inspired mixture of power and ability to be in the right place at the right time. His strength at the breakdown is unbelievable for a number eight, and while he perhaps doesn’t mirror the nuances of a more-rounded player like Kieran Reid, he certainly ticks all the boxes.
To suggest any other player could have taken the crown would be ludicrous, but in a year of ups and downs, special mention must be made of Jan Serfontein (wHO SOME ARE FOR A WEIRD REASON TRASHING!!!), Marcel Coetzee, Eben Etzebeth and Willie le Roux, all who were exceptional at times, but none who had the unbelievable consistency that Vermeulen had.
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR: HANDRE POLLARD
It’s easy to forget that Handre Pollard is just 20 years old. A mature head and impressive decision making abilities has made him one of the rising stars in world rugby and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he cements his place in the Bok 10 jersey ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
Pollard is a once in a generation player, and if he continues to develop in this mould, the Boks could be blessed with an attacking flyhalf that keeps opposition guessing, while directing attack and dominating play for years to come.
Sure he needs a bit more nuance in his tactical kicking, and his decision-making needs to develop, but what Pollard desperately needs now in his career is the backing of the coaches involved. That means Frans Ludeke has to swallow his pride and back his 10 for the bulk of the Super Rugby season and Heyneke Meyer should not “punish” him for the Ireland ambush any further.(MEYER AND LUDEKE ARE MAKING TWITS OF THEMSELVES BIG TIMWE RE POLLARD)
Pollard started slowly more than a year back in the Currie Cup but his determination and grit saw him surge into international rugby with aplomb. As he plays more he can only get better, and while there may be a host of local fans with provincial bias ready to write him off, you don’t score two tries against the current All Black team at the age of 20 without having something special inside of you.( HE IS THE COMPLETE PACKAGE NEEDING ONLY MORE EXPERIENCE))
TEAM OF THE YEAR: SA SEVENS
It is sometimes easy to overlook the Sevens team’s exploits as opposed to the bigger stage of fifteens rugby, but this year, under the guidance of Neil Powell they deserve the reward with ease.(bLITZBOKKE MASTERS OF THE WEE ABS!HAHAHAHAHAHA)
Their win in the Commonwealth Sevens final gave South Africa its first rugby gold in an Olympic-style competition and also gave a glimpse of what could happen when provinces decide to work together for the greater cause.
Powell took over from Paul Treu at the right time, and enhanced the structures his predecessor had put in place, adding the likes of Warren Whiteley to the side and almost capturing Bryan Habana and Schalk Brits for the games had their leagues not stopped them from playing.
But it is the ability to draw on these “fringe” fifteens stars that has given the team the edge, something Treu never quite got right in his negotiations with the provinces.
The impetus of players such as Rayno Benjamin, Cheslin Kolbe and Whiteley at crucial stages in competitions this year gave the team the depth off the bench to make a marked impact, resulting in beautiful victories in Dubai and Port Elizabeth.
With Frankie Horne and Kyle Brown still leading from the front, and Cecil Afrika and Branco du Preez still as dangerous as ever, the development of players such as Werner Kok and Kwagga Smith into match (and tournament) winners could not have come at a better time, so much so that a Sevens star like Chris Dry struggles to find a place in the team. For their Commonwealth Games medal the Sevens team easily beats out the Western Province Currie Cup team, the Sharks Super Rugby side and other contenders. For winning Dubai and Port Elizabeth the choice only made more sense.
COACH OF THE YEAR: JOHAN ACKERMANN
This was a huge bone of contention in the supersport.com offices, with no real standout this year. Each of the coaches had their pros and cons and other than perhaps Sevens coach Neil Powell, few delivered consistency that this award needed. Powell’s end of season slump last year possibly cost him the title, while in other cases – as in Jake White with the Sharks (not a popular choice) and Allister Coetzee with Western Province/Stormers, one half of the competition killed off their hopes as well.
Johan Ackermann was the name that came out tops, not only for the style of rugby that his Golden Lions team played during the season, but also for the professionalism in dealing with the media, and the results that the Lions got in returning themselves to be a force of South African rugby.
From the Super Rugby wilderness a season earlier to recording their best Super Rugby win ratio in 2014, and from improving their lot as Currie Cup semifinalists in 2013 to making the final this year round, Ackermann’s Lions not only were fun to watch, but looked like a team enjoying themselves on the field.
Off the field they were more than friendly, courteous and professional, with Ackermann’s side producing no less than six Springboks after some excellent performances during the year.
Few can argue that their scrum was by far the best in the country this season, and deservedly earned call-ups for Julian Redelinghuys, Ruan Dreyer and Robbie Coetzee on the end of year tour, while Jaco Kriel’s exceptional form made him a Bok tourist as well.
TRY OF THE YEAR: FRANCOIS HOUGAARD V ALL BLACKS
It was named the International Rugby Players Association’s world try of the year and who are we to argue. A length of the field score initiated by Pollard, who took the ball up and created the space on the outside by drawing in two defenders. From there the ball shifted and perhaps there was a bit of a forward pass in the end, but it mattered not. The Boks scored a glorious try, an exceptional one to remember, and what made it all the better was that it was against the old foe, in a game where they ticked the boxes they needed to.
With 2015 promising to be a massive season in terms of the World Cup and all that surrounds it, supersport.com also has chosen five players to watch in 2015, the rising stars we feel should surface at the top. Keep in mind our criteria was that they could not have been selected or the Springboks yet, and showed enough promise to make it in the next 12-24 months into a Bok jersey.
So without much fanfare, these five players are the ones we believe will be the next best thing in SA Rugby.
1. Jesse Kriel (Blue Bulls) – powerful runner who can play anywhere in the backline. A firm showing for the Junior Boks followed by some good performances in the Currie Cup make him a big talent for the future.
2. Kobus van Wyk (Western Province) – another one who is slowly coming into his own, Van Wyk is growing in stature and his versatility will be something that the Bok selectors are unlikely to ignore for too long.
3. Armand van der Merwe (Golden Lions) – The angry warthog has stolen out hearts with his bullocking cameos in the Currie Cup. If he can back it up with similar intent in Super Rugby, he has a bright future ahead of him.
4. Andre Esterhuyzen (Sharks) – The big running midfielder needs to get an extended run in Super Rugby and should be backed. Loads of talent, strength and vision make him an easy choice.
5. Seabelo Senatla (Western Province) – We know he is a Sevens superstar already but we’re hoping he gets a chance in Super Rugby to show just how good he is.
Honourable mentions: Bongi Mbonambi (Western Province), Malcolm Marx (Golden Lions), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Western Province), Marvin Orie (Blue Bulls), Lizo Qoboka (EP Kings) and Thomas du Toit (Sharks)
(Misses a few here. Willemse, Jean Kleyn and Ruan Botha etc etc)
Okay, that about sums up the serious side of this article, now for a bit more of a light-hearted look at the season in our alternative awards.
THE WORST REFFING PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR: GEORGE CLANCY (AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA, PERTH 2014)
Let’s be clear, there were a lot of contenders for this position, from Romain Poite to Jerome Garces to our own Craig Joubert and Jaco Peyper but nobody comes close to the horror show by George Clancy in Perth. First he penalised Duane Vermeulen for a perfectly legitimate (and awesome) hit, and then yellow carded Bryan Habana for a high tackle that even his TMO said was not worth a card. The result was an Aussie comeback, a shocker of a clearance kick by Morne Steyn and a late Wallaby victory. The Wallabies won by one, Clancy contributed 13 points with two decisions. For this he joins our honour roll alongside Poite, Bryce Lawrence and a few others.
(CLANCY AS JUST A TYPICAL DOWN UNDER BENT REF!!!)
MOST CONTROVERSIAL PENALTY OF THE YEAR: CRAIG JOUBERT PENALISING RICHIE MCCAW IN THE SUPER RUGBY FINAL.
It still took massive guts to slot a massive penalty by Bernard Foley, a kick which gave the Waratahs a Super Rugby title and denied the Crusaders. But was it a penalty? The debate raged on for weeks afterwards, with many saying that because there was no ruck, McCaw couldn’t have been offside. We tend to agree, although we must point out, this was probably karma for all the times Richie has spent on the wrong side of every ruck in every game he has played in. (BUT NOTE HE GIVES THE MOST RESPECT VOTE TO MCCHEAT!! THE MIND BOGGLES!!)
THE RESPECT AWARD: RICHIE MCCAW & MA’A NONU
Love him or hate him, Richie is a legend in world rugby. The most successful captain of all time, and he even had us liking him a bit more when he paid homage to Jean de Villiers and Bryan Habana on their 100th caps with a bottle of champagne after the test in New Zealand. Considering the Aussies did nothing, it was only fitting to respect such a gesture, showing that despite the rivalry, the bonds of rugby run deep.(DONT EVER LET THE KIWI CHARM OFFENSIVE UNARM YOU I SAY!!)
On a par was Ma’a Nonu’s gesture of making sure his jersey got to De Villiers even though the All Black headed for hospital.
THE MEDIA SAVVY AWARD:
We go up to Europe for this particular one. Italian prop Martin Castrogiovanni gave us a press conference to remember after his Toulon team recently lost to his former club Leicester. There is no love lost between Castrogiovanni and the guys who let him leave one year short of the end of his contract, as the following will make clear:
“I thought f****** Leicester were f****** amateur,’ said Castrogiovanni. “He was saying that people go for the money but he has a lot of f****** squad players who get paid as well. I paid my own f****** money to leave this club. I don’t need the money to play rugby. I love this game and I used to love this club.(I CAN ONLY WONDER IS SNAPSTER IS HIS SPOKESMAN! HAHAHAHHAHAHA)
“I still love this club but I never want to speak with Cockers any more. I am not fake. If I hate you, if you have been a ****, I will never speak to you again. I don’t hate anyone. Peace and love. I just don’t like ****s.”
“I never had the opportunity to defend myself when I left,” added the 33-year-old. “Cockers talks about the money, but the real reason I left this club is because you have Cole and you have me. Cole paid gets paid half the money from the RFU and I am foreign.
“You have a good f****** tighthead prop playing for England and a hairy, fat Italian. The thing is that they made it look like I went for the money but I paid £100,000 from my pocket to leave this club because I want to play rugby. That’s it.”
Come now Martin, tell us what you really think.
THE AFRIKAANS IS GROOT AWARD
The Waratahs certainly seems to have hit the Jaq-Pot in former Springbok Jacques Potgieter playing the best rugby of his life since joining the Sydney-based franchise. The big man himself still looks to his roots for inspiration, though:
THE WORLD’S SCARIEST HAKA AWARD
This one has to go to Madagascar. Watch out All Blacks!
That about wraps it up for 2014. From all of us here at the supersport.com desk: Happy Holidays!
