The Clever Mike Who Wasn't

The Springboks won the 2004 Tri-nations series after NZ, SA and Australia each won 2 tests and the series winner was based on point-difference,   In 2005 SA came second on the log - in 2006 and 2007 was bottom of the log of the Tri-Nations Cup series,   Indeed 2007 was a horrible year for the SA team coached by White - they even lost 33-6 against the AB's after in 2006 losing 52-0 against the Aussies.    So you were wrong about the 2007  - Tri-Nations series,   Fact is White came near to being fired by SA Rugby after a disastrous 2006 and the only thing that saved him was the fact that the WC was in 2007.

2006 was the first year of the expanded Tri Nations, and the Boks suffered a score of injuries. Injuries to Schalk Burger (broken neck), Bakkies Botha (calf surgery), Jean De Villiers (cracked rib), Bryan Habana (cracked rib), Butch James (groin and knee), André Pretorius (groin), Joe Van Niekerk (C5 & C6 vertebrae), Jacques Cronje (cracked rib), Danie Rossouw (hamstring), Juan Smith (left quadriceps), Eddie Andrews (back), BJ Botha (back surgery), CJ Van Der Linde (Leg), Gurthro Steenkamp (broken hand), Pedrie Wannenburg (wrist surgery), Marius Joubert (fractured hand) among other lesser injuries stretched the Bok's depth to its limit. Lets be honest, how would Erasputin's Boks have faired if they lost Eben, Kwagga, Am, Willie, Kitshoff, Marx, Malherbe, Kriel, Pollard, Mapimpi, Mostert, Damian, Wiese? Do you think they'd have had a few problems? Keep in mind, that White faced the last great era of a powerful Wallaby and All Black sides. Jake ended up beating the All Blacks with 4.Muller, 5.Matfield, 6.Spies, 7.Venter, 8.Wannenburg, 9.Du Preez, 10.Pretorius, 12.De Villiers, 13.Olivier, and Fourie at fullback. This was something of a miracle, and he defeated England, setting the tone for a successful 2007 season. 

Of 2007, the Boks lost 3 games. They lost the first All Black test essentially to a Rocokoco try off the bench in a very close game. The second loss was with a patchwork team that held New Zealand to 9-6 with 12 minutes to go. A full strength All Black side, in Christchurch. It was a few penalties by Bismarck which turned the tide. The other loss was, again, with a patchwork team away to Australia. We were actually leading 20-0 at half time, before Larkham and Gregan clawed their way back. The sober look on Larkham's face was priceless. They ended the year with 14-3-0 record and won the hardest World Cup the Bok's have had. It was successful. 

Here's an interesting fact, Jake's Boks scored 21 tries against New Zealand, whereas they scored 22. It was a very hard-fought era between these two giants. Jake's reign was superior to that of Erasputin. He showed in 2006 an ability to manage an injury crisis, politics and interference (he had to submit a team sheet to be approved before games, and had Watson forced in the starting lineup), and an ability to develop tactics, players and expand the player pool. Erasputin has shown none of these things at any stage of his pantomine coaching career. 

Thus far, against the worst New Zealand side of all time, Erasputin has managed 14 tries against New Zealand in four years (8 tests), and conceded 19. Jake's Boks, in against one of the best eras of All Black rugby history managed 21 in 4 years (9 tests). What a difference. Yet, Erasputin is a coaching genius? His record of 6 wins and 5 losses against the last great era of Wallaby rugby is also impressive. Of some of those losses were the last second try by Rathbone away in 2004, the two-point loss in 2006 with a penalty after the siren had gone, by Mortlock. Jake actually ended Eddie Jone's tenure with 4 wins against his side in 2 seasons. 

Are you beginning to see Michael? You lose these exchanges because you have exceedingly poor knowledge of rugby, Bok rugby history, and your only way to compensate is to fabricate everything. Unfortunately for you, I am a much bigger fan of Bok rugby than you could ever hope to be, and I sure as heck know better. Your knowledge of times, places, key game details, or just very basic facts are continually wrong. I am having to correct almost every post you make! 

White was the only rugby coach ever to be effectively fired after winning the WC trophy.  There was a reason for that.   White was very unpopular with the smaller unions - but he would have been retained as coach bar for the motion not to renew his contract being supported by the Bulls and the Cheetahs.  Reason was the Bulls and Cheetahs wanted Meyer as coach.   The Sharks and Western Prince voted against Meyer's appointment and the effort by the Bulls and Cheetahs failed as a result.   Although De Villiers was not a coach's arsehole - or perhaps he was - Meyer was any time as bad as De Villiers as a coach on international level. 

Really? Did Jake White not have the backing of the president? He did. Furthermore, Snor had been campaigning for the coaching position months before the World Cup commenced. Who could forget his boasting of a list of nearly 70 black players who he said were good enough to represent South Africa. Jake was not given the chance to continue because they wanted a black coach who they believed would implement the changes to representation. It had nothing to do with rugby, especially given that Thabo Mbeki openly recommended that Jake continue on as coach; it was "the only sensible thing to do". 

So Pollard never reached the elvel he reached under Meyer.     Meyer used him four times in 2014 and then he dropped out of site and Lambie was mostly used with Pollard on the bench.   That went on till the Japan Disaster in 2015    After that disaster Pollard for the rest of the tournament played at flyhalf - but he was not a house on fire against stronger teams.   How the hell was he better under Meyer than under Erasmus?    He was 10 times a better player in 2019 than he was in 2014 and 2015. 

This si why you cannot ever be taken seriously as a member of this site.   In your case shit reigns supreme.   

Meyer used Pollard 9 times in 2014. He was only the reserve twice, in the last two games of the season against Wales and Italy. He then played 11 games in 2015, where he was, again, reserve twice. I don't know where the heck you got your information from Michael, but it sure as heck wasn't in reference to anything in this particular universe. Yes, Lambie started two games in 2015, the Argentina test and the Japan test. That was it, before his career was ended by an airborne arse, thus summing his career. You say that Pollard was 10 times the player in 2019? This is going to be uncomfortable for you, so have your hanky with you as you sob your way through it: In 2015 Pollard had 29 defenders beaten compared to 12 in 2019. Pollard had 126 passes in 2015 compared to 89 in 2019. He also made many more tackles, with 78 in 2015 to the 42 of 2019. It was clear that under Meyer, Pollard was given more possession, and given more of a platform to use his skills. He was a dead-end runner under Erasputin. Lets put it this way, Pollard was outplayed in all but two tests under Erasputin. So, please do tell me how Pollard was 10 times better under Erasputin?

We can turn our attention to Willie as well, another player who was much better under Meyer. It all shows that Meyer's Boks were far more dynamic. You lose again Michael. 

90% excuses and the rest total BS.   Not worth reading.    

Their numbers were down from 2015. They did not play "ball-in-hand" expansive rugby. In the two warm-up games, their numbers fluctuated. Their output was down even from that in the second Puma test, and, surprisingly, their run and pass figures dipped very low against the Japanese in their first encounter (74, 70). 

In the WC opener, their numbers were up. Yet, as we see, the backs were not getting ball. Mapimpi had 0.9% team possession. Two measly runs. Am 2.8%. Kolbe had an unusual high for us at 4.5%. It was incumbent upon Kolbe to generate our entire offence. We were quite toothless, inspite of New Zealand struggling to get out of their half. This was another game where Damian was given a glut of front-foot ball to bash aimlessly away, at 5.7% (a little lower than usual). His run percentage being 71.4%. Lets put it this way, our passing percentages across the backline were: 

1. de Klerk - 80.7%
2. Pollard - 47.6%
3. Mapimpi - 0.0%
4. De Allende - 28.6%
5. Am - 16.7%
6. Kolbe - 9.1%
7. Willie -55.2%

The ball wasn't circulating around very much. A lot of bashing up front too. Steph bashing away 77.8% of his ball away. It was a case that what little ball the backs received would either be moved back to the forwards, or bashed up and recycled, to another POD. Therefore, the likes of Willie merely become links between static phases. 

The next four tests were against Namibia, Italy, Canada, Japan. None of those teams posed a physical threat to the Boks.

Namibia were the most easily disposed of. We did put the ball much more in the hands of the backs, yet our handling deteriorated as a result. 16 handling errors in that test compared to the 9 against New Zealand. It wasn't an accurate performance. It should be noted the role Am played, as he led the way, halfbacks excluded, in distributing the ball. Damian was even more of a basher. Eben and Thor's passing figures were up considerably. Damian with 7.3% of team possession bashed away at 78.8% of that possession (one offload) was a cul-de-sac. 

Italy mounted little challenge for the Boks. Handling errors still persisted at an unacceptable rate. Damian's possession was at 26, at 8.7% team possession. Rather high. Bashed a little less, but distribution figures still low considering how much possession he was handling (38.5%). 31 backline kicks a little more than against Namibia.

Canada: Handling errors were much lower. We still concentrated a lot of possession through Damian (7.1%). Willie's figures spiked, yet the rest of the backline wasn't any more involved. 

Against Japan, all of our numbers were lower. A little more involvement from Am. Our kick was about average for a Rassie team. Our handling errors were high again (17). We went for long stretches without the ball, hence our tackling stats were significantly greater across the board. Our turnovers won is where we killed the Japanese off. The Japanese almost matched our metres, and beat more defenders. 

Against Wales our kicks went up by 6. Damian again bashing away 8.0% team possession at 78.6% of that possession. Movement a little more sterile than usual. 

England. Our kicking does drop considerably to 21. Damian bashing away 8.6% of team possession at 66.7%. Am's possession and distribution totals increase. Willie and 14's numbers decrease from the Welsh test, as well as distribution figures from Willie. Movement geared towards direct running off 9, 10 and, to a lesser extent, 15. There were 10 passes from centre in 28 possessions. These being predominantly from scripted sequences off 12. 

The stories above are all BS again.   The AB side in 2007 was not even comparable with the 2018 and 2019 teams of the AB's   There was a lot of newbies in the AB team  brought in after the 2003 performances in the WC.   That helped the Springboks in 2004 but the AB newbies started performing  better in especially 2005 to 2007.   So the lie that the AB's was weakened was what one can call hysterical BS.   

Then there was another story about Springbok injuries - from the list there were indeed injuries but they did not happen all at the same time - they were spread over a period of 4 years.    The so-called try scoring stats of  the Springboks was only 1 try less than that of the AB's is another fake story,    In 2004 there were 2 AB-Springbok matches - in 2005 to 2007 there were 4 matches per year,    So under White the Springboks played in 14 matches against the AB's.   In 2018 they played in 2 matches and that was also the case in 2019 - in 2021 and 2022 there was still 2 matches per year.  So to this date there were 8 matches played between the two teams.   So the 2004 to 2007 evaluation of tries scored is total BS as well.   How many of the tries were scored by playing 15 man rugby and not the normal White method of 10 man rugby?         

If l'Grande Merde wants to raise real comment on rugby performances he should actually provide technically substantiated facts and not BS spreading.   Then his total disregard of real backline performances in especially total BS.   The assertion of the 2007 Springboks performing better than the 2019 team was a similar case of total BS.

from the list there were indeed injuries but they did not happen all at the same time - they were spread over a period of 4 years. 

That list of injuries is from the entire 2006 season exclusively! You are again a liar Michael. 

In 2004 there were 2 AB-Springbok matches - in 2005 to 2007 there were 4 matches per year,    So under White the Springboks played in 14 matches against the AB's.

You are incorrect. The expanded Tri Nations took place in 2006 only, returning to two-apiece in 2007 in preparation for the World Cup. The "so called try scoring stats" are therefore factually true. Again, stop lying Michael. 

The AB side in 2007 was not even comparable with the 2018 and 2019 teams of the AB's  

Are you really that devoted to Erasputin? Lets have a look:

Wrong again Mr Clever. Muliaina, Howlett, Umaga, Tuitupo, Mehrtens, Marshall, the list goes on. In fact, half of the 2007 WC side were involved in the 2003 loss to Australia. Michael, your denial of the truth is extraordinary. I cannot believe the same person posts such different quality content in the Beeno section. It's like Jekyll and Hyde.   

Australia in 2003/2007 was massively better, having only lost WC2003 because their scrum failed them. NZ too was clearly better then as was England. 

l'Grande Merde

Burger broke his neck in 2004 not in 2006 - just one to start with.   De Villiers injury occurred in the Samoa match in the 2007 WC.   I did not even bother to look at the rest of the BS.

The lies continue unabated.    Pollard started  in 4 matches in 2014 - Scotland, AB's, Ireland and in of the other end of year matches out of 12 matches played.    He played in 1 of the 3 RC matches as a starter and after the Japan disaster in 6  WC matches - where he definitely was not a house on fire.   He could not be since Meyer knew bugger-all about backline attacking play and evens aid the SA players did not have the ball skills to play ball-in-hand games and Pollard was forced into a kicking game - while in 2019 he had opportunities to play his natural game.  Meyer was even a worse coach than White was in coaching backline players, 

Massively better 2007 than they were in 2019,    The WC results showed a different story completely,    France in 2007 beat them in the quarterfinals and then lost to the poor England  team in the semi's.     In any event the Springboks was desperately poor in the RC inn 2007 and lost badly against the AB's that year - so they had the luck of a pox doctor in not meeting the AB's in the series at all.    SA even struggled against Tonga and suddenly you two BSters elevated  Fiji - against which the Springboks initially struggled as well - elevated to be a better team in 2007 than Japan was in 2019.    Have to laugh at the BS - Japan beat Ireland and Scotland to head their Pool - amazing total loss of reality in the case by two rugby morons. LMAO.             

Schalk injured his neck in the Scotland game of 2006, the very first game of the season.

https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/sport/schalk-backs-zidanes-head-butt-559965

Jean did sustain an injury in the 2007 opening game against Samoa, but he also broke two ribs in 2006.

https://www.news24.com/news24/another-centre-shock-for-boks-20060613

How many more times must you be exposed as a liar? Not even an apology? But wait wait, you continued on... 

Pollard 2014

1. Scotland (Start)
2. Argentina (Start)
3. Argentina (Start)
4. New Zealand (Start)
5. Australia (Start)
6. New Zealand (Start)
7. Ireland (Start)
8. Italy (Reserve)
9. Wales (Reserve)

"The Clever Mike Who Wasn't"

. . . and the Doos XL who was.

Another brilliant contribution from Quisling’s bunny.

DoosXL/l'Grannde Merde

So as expected from you you left out some tests in 2014 and you also added a non-existent 2nd RC game against Argentina in 2015.    There was nothing like that - there was a warm-up game for the WC series against Argentina.   It was in fact a farce - Argentina picked a team with virutaly no test regulars.    You also shied away from the 2015 RC tests.

So what have you came up with - the normal BS based on skewed BS you dreamed up.      

I didn't say the was a second RC test against Argentina. I also didn't say that Damian played against Japan. 

So lets go to the games played which you fucked up totally.  There were two tests against Wales in Jine followed by the  Scotland test    Willie had a fantastic game against Wales - Morne was a bug ger0-up and he was then dropped from the Springbok team playing in Argentina.   Like ws always th e xcase throughout Meyer's coaching   

 Are you switching to 2014 now? 

Michael, you are sounding more and more like a bumbling old fool. If you aren't going to have enough self respect to post something intelligible then I'm simply not going to engage you any longer. You are wasting my time. Get your act together. 

No I am not - you did.   Wake up or do you not understand your own unbelievable crap.   

Michael, if I had to post material that was on your level of comprehension it'd be little scribblings done in crayon. 

So you prefer shit contributions on every level and you think that your statements were based on fact.    That level of thinking is weird BS.