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OomStruisbaai wrote: Thu Feb 24, 2022 7:46 pm Good to see our rivals want to play us for a Bledisloe Cup and chuck the Wallabies.

Bring back long tours between us.

average joe wrote: Fri Feb 25, 2022 8:22 am The Bled is a very old historical rivalry between the land of the long white and the land of Oz. We have the Freedom cup and Madiba shield.

Even though the Ozzies has proven to be a bunch of dishonest vipers, I'm afraid the rugby world still needs them, just.

In Ian Foster’s “ideal world”, the All Blacks head coach would love to have South African franchises competing in Super Rugby.

That’s the verdict he delivered while speaking on The Breakdown after being asked whether New Zealand teams are missing their former South African rivals following their departure to Europe’s United Rugby Championship.

South Africa’s four Super Rugby franchises – the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers – left the competition after the global outbreak of Covid-19 two years ago, playing against each other internally before joining the United Rugby Championship, formerly known as the Pro14, ahead of its current season.

At the time, the South African Rugby Union [SARU] blamed their franchises’ move to Europe on New Zealand Rugby’s [NZR’s] “unilateral” decision to continue on with Super Rugby in a domestic format in the form of Super Rugby Aotearoa.

Rugby Australia [RA] followed suit, creating its own Super Rugby AU competition, before the two unions combined to create Super Rugby Trans-Tasman last year, which has now evolved into Super Rugby Pacific this season.

The decision by NZR and RA to forge ahead with Super Rugby on their own stemmed from uncertainty over how the competition would operate in its old format in the midst of border closures and travel restrictions at the height of the pandemic.

However, SARU considered it a slight to not be considered for any future Super Rugby competition, which resulted in the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers replacing the Cheetahs and Southern Kings as the South African representatives in Europe.

“Our members are excited about the prospect of closer alignment with PRO Rugby Championship and seeking a Northern Hemisphere future, but we would not have been taking this decision but for actions elsewhere,” SARU chief executive Jurie Roux said two years ago.

That hasn’t stopped Foster from sounding his appreciation for South Africa’s former Super Rugby outfits, telling The Breakdown that those teams provided Kiwi sides with a “different style” to what they were used to.

Foster added that, without any South African presence in Super Rugby Pacific, NZR must find new ways in which to expose its teams and players against their South African peers.

“I could say something and it’ll probably give a few headlines, but, at the end of the day, it’s been well-documented why South Africa aren’t in it at the moment,” Foster told The Breakdown.

“The travel would have been impossible the last two or three years, and before that, a lot of the South African top players were leaving and playing in Europe, which sort of weakened their teams.

“In an ideal world, I loved having South Africa in the competition. They brought a different style, and now we’ve just got to find other ways to grow our experience of playing them.”

FalseBayFC wrote: Tue Apr 26, 2022 7:24 pm Getting up at 4am for those 1981 tests as a kid was just amazing. My dad was a Round Tabler and all his mates would arrive to watch. I can remember them drinking Red Heart rum and coffee while watching. The All Black-Springbok rivalry is the ultimate for me.

I think more and more now,” Robertson told RNZ when asked whether New Zealand teams missed the South African sides.

“In the first year we thought we wouldn’t miss them because we had [Super Rugby] Aotearoa and that was tough enough as it was, while in the second year we had two competitions.

“You then looked over your shoulder and watched them play, or when you watched those Test matches and realised that their mentality to the game, their style, their strengths, [is] what makes our game great.

“It’s just different, a different flow or a different game and when we play them I think we’re better for it and so we do miss them.”

OomStruisbaai wrote: Thu May 12, 2022 8:08 pm Scott Robinson

I think more and more now,” Robertson told RNZ when asked whether New Zealand teams missed the South African sides.

“In the first year we thought we wouldn’t miss them because we had [Super Rugby] Aotearoa and that was tough enough as it was, while in the second year we had two competitions.

“You then looked over your shoulder and watched them play, or when you watched those Test matches and realised that their mentality to the game, their style, their strengths, [is] what makes our game great.

“It’s just different, a different flow or a different game and when we play them I think we’re better for it and so we do miss them.”

NEWS: New Zealand has made a bold move to start mending some broken bridges with South Africa.

According to the Stuff website two second-string outfits – an All Blacks XV and South Africa ‘A’ – will go head-to-head in Montpellier in November.

According to the Kiwi website, it is part of New Zealand Rugby’s attempts to stay connected to their greatest rival and mend the impaired relationship that malfunctioned after the Kiwis’ decision to sideline the Republic in the SANZAAR partnership.

The report also stated that a New Zealand Under-19 side will tour South Africa for three or four games in October.

This dramatic about-turn comes after the well-documented reports that the New Zealand game was suffering from the lack of exposure to South African teams.

South Africa joined the now very popular and lucrative United Rugby Championship after NZ Rugby’s decision to walk away from Super Rugby in 2020 – effectively cutting South Africa and Argentina’s Jaguares out of the picture.

The All Blacks XV versus SA ‘A’ game will be part of the two countries’ plans to give players in their wider squads additional international exposure.

Both countries will be touring Europe as part of their annual year-end ventures to the Northern Hemisphere.
Two fixtures had previously been announced for New Zealand’s backup squad – against Canada on October 29, and against the Scott Robertson-Ronan O’Gara-coached Barbarians.

A fourth opponent will also be locked in.

The Springboks will play four Tests – against Ireland, France, Italy, and England – while there will also be a midweek game where SA ‘A’ will tackle English club Bristol Bears.

SA Rugby said in a recent statement that negotiations were also underway to arrange two more midweek games.

The game between SA A and the All Black XV shapes up as the most significant fixture for both countries’ back-up squads.

More importantly, it will start the mending process of the battered relationship between the two Southern Hemisphere rugby giants.

South African bosses have pointedly referenced that Super Rugby’s demise was not their choice.

That is why the Sharks, Stormers, Bulls and Lions have joined the URC and will now also feature in the Europe Cup from next season.

OomStruisbaai wrote: Mon Jul 25, 2022 3:17 pm ... The report also stated that a New Zealand Under-19 side will tour South Africa for three or four games in October ...

OomStruisbaai wrote: Thu Mar 03, 2022 7:05 pm 1981 Springboks team song

Hempies du Toit made his test debut in the first match of the 1981 series against the All Blacks in New Zealand, only to be dropped immediately afterwards.

The Springboks lost by 9 points to 14, but Du Toit feels that this had little to do with his demotion.

“During the night after that game, management had a roll-call. Eighthman Rob Louw and I were absent as we were out celebrating with the All Blacks.”

There’s more to the story than that. The Springbok tour of New Zealand was the topic of much political contention, with many taking the view that by permitting it, the New Zealand government was providing tacit support to the apartheid regime.

Throughout their time there, the Springboks were to encounter public protest, the night after the first test played in Christchurch being no different. The team was quartered in squash courts near the ground, and the order to assemble was precipitated by a tip-off that activists were approaching.

“Sportsmanship means being a good loser,” says Du Toit about his carousing with the opposition. “I felt done in. I decided that I would play such good rugby that there could be no doubt that Hempies du Toit was the best tight-head prop in the country.”

When a South American composite side toured South Africa the following year, he had regained his place in the starting line-up, and would go on to earn five test caps in all.

One of the legendary hard men of South African rugby, Du Toit made his provincial debut for Western Province in 1979 against Northern Transvaal at Loftus Versfeld. “I was sent straight to the cooler box [a time behind the poles for foul play],” he chuckles ruefully. “The crowd bombarded me with naartjies, so I just picked them up and ate them.” He would earn 66 caps for his province, his last game in 1987.

Du Toit is as much renowned as a winemaker as a rugby player. His father Piet took over at Stellenbosch farm Alto as part-owner and winemaker in 1959, with the six-year old Hempies in tow. “Growing up on Alto brought me unbelievable joy,” he recalls.

By 1976, he was helping Du Toit Snr with the winemaking duties and when his father retired in 1983, became manager and winemaker fulltime at a farm that is famed for its Cabernet Sauvignon and a red blend simply called Rouge.

Du Toit, however, secretly harboured the desire to make his own wine, with ownership of Alto always having been shared with The Bergkelder, an arm of the then Distillers Corporation. He draws a rugby analogy to explain. “Making wine for a company was playing the game. Making wine for myself was playing at test level.”

He acquired Annandale not far from Alto and began planting vineyards in 1996. Initially, the intention was to use Distillers resources to get Annandale up and running but this plan unravelled when Alto became part of the Lusan Premium Wines group in 2000, the collective marketing umbrella for Alto as well as Le Bonheur, Neethlingshof, Stellenzicht and Uitkyk. He was given an ultimatum: he could stay on at Alto but would have to relinquish Annandale. “I decided to board my own ship.”

Was it sad to leave the farm where he’d spent the previous 40-odd years of his life? “Not so much sad as scary,” he replies. “I just finished planting 45ha of vineyard which I’d financed myself and I had two children at university.” But like all good props, Du Toit was bloodied but unbowed. “I’d built Alto into a success story. I knew I could do it for myself.”

Of the 45ha, most is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest is Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Shiraz. “The close proximity to Alto meant it was not a difficult decision to stick to red.”

Contrary to conventional practice, Du Toit likes to delay the release of his wines and the Cabernet Sauvignon currently on sale is from the 2001 vintage. “It was a tradition at Alto never to release a wine younger than six years from vintage, and I’m following that here.”

He admits that this hinders cash-flow, but says he’s “not in it for the money” and that the appreciation he gets from his clients who enjoy drinking wines a little older is also a form of reward. “My wines are like my children. I like to see them grow up but I don’t like to see them leave home,” he says on a sentimental note.

The Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 spent three years in 100% new French oak, and Du Toit is unapologetic when he states that he is trying to make old-style “dikvoet” wines. He is not partial to the fruit-driven “in-your-face” wines that currently find so much favour, and much prefers wines that are more “gutsy” and have length. He admits that the relatively severe oaking regime he applies means that his wines might have relatively less freshness than some but in their favour, he feels that they can be kept “almost indefinitely”.

Total production of the Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 was 1 400 cases and it costs R90 a bottle from the farm. “I like to think that by offering a six-year-old premium wine at that price, I’m giving people value for money.”

The Annandale flagship wine is the Shiraz 2003. Total production was 1 000 cases and it was released in April this year, selling for R180 a bottle. This spent four years in 100% new French oak, and is about as robust and muscular as the person who made it. At the time of writing, Du Toit was also about to release a special-project Shiraz from the 2002 vintage, which spent five years in barrel, done to honour the five generations of winemakers in his family.

He intends selling this wine as a collector’s item in three-bottle cases, with an asking price of somewhere between R1 000 and R1 500 a case. This is especially not for the faint-hearted, but neither are Springbok-All Black test matches. . .

More approachable in every sense is Du Toit’s red blend called Cavalier. Current release is again from the 2001 vintage, total production having been 3000 cases and the wine selling for R75 a bottle. It contains 40% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Shiraz and spent three years in a combination of new and second-fill barrels. “It’s basically a Bordeaux blend although I find the Shiraz smoothes off the edges and fills in the gaps.”

Du Toit also makes a Cape Vintage Port, intriguing in that it is made entirely from Shiraz, not a variety that is traditionally associated with this sort of wine. The 2003 vintage is currently available at R150 a bottle and, although not unappealing, drinks more like a red dessert wine than a full-blown Port.

Annandale is purported to be the oldest farm in the Helderberg Valley with the Dutch East India Company’s Governor Simon van der Stel having granted title to Jan Wismaar, the property’s first owner, in 1688. The farm was for a long time known as Brakelsdal, until in the early 1800s, the then owner fell in love with a girl from the Annan River Valley in Scotland, and changed the name of the property accordingly.

The Annandale label carries a motif of a horse, and Du Toit relates that before he bought the property, it was a riding school and haven for abandoned and abused horses. Along with a myriad dogs, visitors to the farm will be greeted by Du Toit’s very friendly miniature horse.

Much about Annandale evokes a time when winemaking was less commercial. The buildings are charmingly ramshackle but that’s not surprising as they include a cellar which predates 1700 and a manor house built in the middle of the 1700s. A river runs through the property flanked by trees planted in the late 1600s as a result of Governor Van der Stel having mandated that any tree cut for homestead purposes needed to be replanted.

And over all this presides Du Toit, who describes his farm as a place that is “good for people, animals and nature”. He delves into his personal wine collection to provide me with a bottle of Alto Cabernet Sauvignon 1971 to commemorate my birth year, and remarks, “Wine is not about monetary wealth but about wealth of life.” Sadly, an increasingly unusual sentiment these days.

Dan54 wrote: Thu Mar 03, 2022 7:12 pm

average joe wrote: Fri Feb 25, 2022 8:22 am The Bled is a very old historical rivalry between the land of the long white and the land of Oz. We have the Freedom cup and Madiba shield.

Even though the Ozzies has proven to be a bunch of dishonest vipers, I'm afraid the rugby world still needs them, just.

I will say the Bled although being around since the 1930s isn'tpart of historical rivallry, think when Aussie's won it in 80s the NZRU struggled to find where it was even stored. Before that I doubt many rugby fans even knew it existed.

Jethro wrote: Mon Sep 04, 2023 12:09 am

Dan54 wrote: Thu Mar 03, 2022 7:12 pm

average joe wrote: Fri Feb 25, 2022 8:22 am The Bled is a very old historical rivalry between the land of the long white and the land of Oz. We have the Freedom cup and Madiba shield.

Even though the Ozzies has proven to be a bunch of dishonest vipers, I'm afraid the rugby world still needs them, just.

I will say the Bled although being around since the 1930s isn'tpart of historical rivallry, think when Aussie's won it in 80s the NZRU struggled to find where it was even stored. Before that I doubt many rugby fans even knew it existed.

You seriously don't follow Kiwi rugby do you.

OomStruisbaai wrote: Mon Sep 04, 2023 8:34 am Tours is back on the cards according to Rapport. Both rugby boards discussions about this. The tours will be 3 tests and 5l mid week matches.

I knew long tours will spin a lot of money for both countries

Gumboot wrote: Mon Sep 04, 2023 8:52 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: Mon Sep 04, 2023 8:34 am Tours is back on the cards according to Rapport. Both rugby boards discussions about this. The tours will be 3 tests and 5l mid week matches.

I knew long tours will spin a lot of money for both countries

Great news if it happens. Back to the future.

Jethro wrote: Mon Sep 04, 2023 12:09 am

Dan54 wrote: Thu Mar 03, 2022 7:12 pm

average joe wrote: Fri Feb 25, 2022 8:22 am The Bled is a very old historical rivalry between the land of the long white and the land of Oz. We have the Freedom cup and Madiba shield.

Even though the Ozzies has proven to be a bunch of dishonest vipers, I'm afraid the rugby world still needs them, just.

I will say the Bled although being around since the 1930s isn'tpart of historical rivallry, think when Aussie's won it in 80s the NZRU struggled to find where it was even stored. Before that I doubt many rugby fans even knew it existed.

You seriously don't follow Kiwi rugby do you.

Dan54 wrote: Mon Sep 04, 2023 8:13 pm

Jethro wrote: Mon Sep 04, 2023 12:09 am

Dan54 wrote: Thu Mar 03, 2022 7:12 pm

I will say the Bled although being around since the 1930s isn'tpart of historical rivallry, think when Aussie's won it in 80s the NZRU struggled to find where it was even stored. Before that I doubt many rugby fans even knew it existed.

You seriously don't follow Kiwi rugby do you.

Well I have since 50s, and that's what I talking about. Noone in NZ considered Wallabies as any kind of rival up until 90s, and that's what I meant about rivallry and historical . As I said, the Bledisloe wasn't even spoken about during 60s and 70s, and was actually buried somewhere in NZRU offices and had to be found when Aussies won it. I not arguing they considered rivals now, many NZ fans have only been around since the game went professional, which is ok. You do understand the difference between rivallry and historical rivallry don't you. Really going back over years the whole country just went ape shit when it was Springboks and Wales as they were 2 countries that every AB would speak of as hardest place to play, and were games that had us glued to radios etc. Not playing down other countries and the fact they all get to raise in our thoughts at times, I would suggest at moment most would put France right up there, as well as Ireland etc. But there a difference between that and people having games etc that are stilled stewed over up years later, Deans non try in Wales, 56 Bok series etc, as well as 2 countries that have a passion for game that we do
. Wallabie biggest thing is they beat us at turn of century, and with travel etc many kiwis live there and visit easily, but the general Aussie doesn't really have a passion for game so in the end it not deep in their hearts like NZ,SA and Wales.

average joe wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 5:31 amYou do understand that history keeps going right and that your generation is on the way out? The 90' was 30 odd years ago. People who were born back then are in their thirties now. For them history only started in the 90'

Gumboot wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 5:34 am

average joe wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 5:31 amYou do understand that history keeps going right and that your generation is on the way out? The 90' was 30 odd years ago. People who were born back then are in their thirties now. For them history only started in the 90'

Every generation's on the way out. FFS

average joe wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 5:38 am

Gumboot wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 5:34 am

average joe wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 5:31 amYou do understand that history keeps going right and that your generation is on the way out? The 90' was 30 odd years ago. People who were born back then are in their thirties now. For them history only started in the 90'

Every generation's on the way out. FFS

Some more so than others, old timer.

average joe wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 5:38 am

Gumboot wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 5:34 am

average joe wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 5:31 amYou do understand that history keeps going right and that your generation is on the way out? The 90' was 30 odd years ago. People who were born back then are in their thirties now. For them history only started in the 90'

Every generation's on the way out. FFS

Some more so than others, old timer.

average joe wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 5:57 am Ja and thank you for cooking it. Now will you fuckoff so we can begin with the repairs.

average joe wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 5:57 am Ja and thank you for cooking it. Now will you fuckoff so we can begin with the repairs.

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 6:16 am

average joe wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 5:57 am Ja and thank you for cooking it. Now will you fuckoff so we can begin with the repairs.

Leave your phone alone for 5 minutes then and get on with it along with the rest of us that do actually give a shit.