Hello Ladies (I’ve been in trouble recently for forgetting out lovely ladies recently) and Gents!

My first crack at this blog vibe. Must say I’m quite excited about the possibilities, but I’m also a little nervous! I’m not quite as nervous as the English rugby team - hell, i’m not going to be physically abused this weekend! - and I’m very excited with the work Dave has already put in on the staff blog.

Anyway, I thought it was time for me to get my pants dirty and get posting!

If you aren’t getting excited about Springbok prospects for the World Cup later this year then you are falling behind. The rumblings of concern have been coming out of New Zealand and other parts of the globe and it is also good to see that Australia are sitting up and taking notice after our super Super 14 and the mauling of England last weekend.

Here is what leading rugby journalist Greg Growden has to say on the Bok renaissance.

For so long, the only World Cup threat was New Zealand. But the Wallabies are now paying close attention to South Africa and believe they will be a serious danger in September-October. Wallabies defence coach John Muggleton yesterday said the Springboks were as big a threat as the All Blacks. “You saw the job they did on England last weekend,” Muggleton said. “They’re actually the form team at the moment. Their teams were one and two in the Super 14. They had big monsters in one team, and in the other team, they had speed and a bit of guile. You put them together and, if the coach is allowed to get the team he wants, they are definitely a threat.” However, as the Wallabies well know, political interference could easily bring Springbok coach Jake White and his team down. Each week, there seems to be another disturbing example of squad selections being changed because administrators or government officials want certain players in the team. White is forever being compromised, and the Wallabies are naturally hoping that continues to be a divisive factor.

 

Read the full article on ruck and maul by clicking here. 

Go on, you’re allowed a little smile!