The ghost of Jannie de Beer

I was sitting at Twickenham in the Boks vs Australia semi in 98. Any inclination de Beer had to drop was loudly boo’ed by the crowd. How ironic that the tactic, much ignored of late, comes back to win a key WC game for England.

Ford executed  well today…but the Bargies applied no pressure. There was no rush…no recognition of the need to limit his time on the ball.

Instead we saw a pathetic,  and I use the word conservatively, display of Bargie bungling. Against 14 men they were clueless. Perhaps the Latin temperament is better suited to soccer. Having watched these guys for 20 years doing the same stupid stuff, I’m not sure if I’d bother again if they aren’t playing the Boks. Clueless clowns coached by a moron,

Still England deserve credit for a brave 14 man win. Their veterans were there for the battle today. That should make the cup a bit more interesting.

Of course that sounds a bit unfortunate for Jannie. So I should add the master of the drop goal  is alive  and purportedly living in Windhoek. He probably had a few nice reminiscences today.

Three years ago the Argies beat the ABs away. I thought they were on their way and don't know what's happened since then, wish I could speak Spanish. 

Strange, I also thought of Jannie De Beer against the Br Lions way back whose drop goals in, I think Bloemfontein blew apart the game.

But I agree with Korn...it's boring. But there are times when it makes an exciting finish, ie Joel Stransky's drop in 1995 final.

I also remember a Welsh flyhalf with bat ears, years ago, who was a dead eye Dick, cannot remember his name, but he rarely ever missed.

Neil Jenkins

I'm sure you are thinking of the England test in the 1999 WC Seb. The Ellis Park Lions test didn't see a drop goal scored, the latter was where those 5 drop goals set a world record. 

Argentina are an oddity. In the first Bok test these severely exposed us for what we are, but then, predictably, went the opposite way in the very next test. They have a lot of potential, and when firing, have a higher ceiling than us at present. They have been virtually man for man more talented than us in the backs. How can one get them to play consistently to their potential? I didn't approve of the selection of Cheika in the first place. I think a Jake White would be a great move for the national team.

The performance yesterday was exceedingly poor from the players, but the inability of Cheika to rouse them to at least apply some intensity was damning. Yet, who knows what to expect? If they exit the group, they remain a team who can rise to beating anyone on the day with sublime and brutal rugby. Credit though must be given to England. I really didn't want the Poms to win, but that pathetic red began to shift my stance. It was dogged and got the job done. I really never expected they'd have such fight in them. To be down to 14 men for so long is a death sentence. In world cup 2007, such resolve took them to a final. I'm not expecting England to be contenders, but it's certainly a reminder not to take anyone lightly. 

I'm thinking of Jannie de Beer with drop goals against Br Lions, cannot remember what year and I think it was Bloem...maybe Mozart can fill you in.

Neil Jenkins, too cannot remember what year, I think it was a different series.

Anyway what I'm saying, you get players like these who are incredibly accurate, Naas was one but sometimes a blessing in disguise to win but ends up in lots of cases, very bland rugby.

The series was played at Newlands, Kingspark and Ellis Park. De Beer played in the third test at Ellis Park and scored 2 conversions and three penalties. 

My humble apologies Deus, it was against England...

https://youtu.be/JMFhnFp7re8?si=iv6ztSZ1Qk9cGI1K

Old Grey Matter volume dilemma .

No apologies needed Seb. It was a hell of a game. I remember as a kid watching it live. The first exchanges were kicks at each other and I nearly stopped watching the game. Thankfully I didn't. 

Congrats to England, showed courage and found a way to win while playing down a man for most of the game. However, I'm not to keen on the drop goal if it becomes a regular thing, I like to see powerful forward play and skillful backs. I hope the drop goal and penalty kicks and cards don't become the dominant thing in this RWC.

The days of skillful backs are gone. Long gone. Now we have multiple units of 20 layers of the onion offensive. It's so watered down that we don't see blockers or sliders anymore, or creative box formations. Just dumb 3 man pod screens and simple switches. 

The Jannie de Beer drop goal fest...I was sitting in the "Inferno"...a pub in Springbok in the Northern Cape...was working in the desert on the Namibian border, we went to Springbok for the match...watch the Semi vs Aus in a garage pub in Fioolsdrift...those were the days!