Oh, the joy in the anticipation of the week leading up to a big test. And with three more to come. What bliss ! No watching this game on replay for me. I shall be up and very awake in the middle of the late winter night here in Qld., with a bottle of Bushmills at hand to ward off the chill, soaking up every minute of this epic clash.
This stirred a memory. "Ox Nche’s cake recipes are dense:" But maybe more important, I mused, "This boy was born when beef was cheap" This I recall from a long gone game, with a now "forgotten the name" commentator of South African birth , waxing lyrical on a very large Bok prop.
I find I am actually looking forward to this series far more than any of the Lions series in recent times. And that is probably because as I grew up and came to love this game in Ireland, it was the Springboks and the All Blacks that stood above and beyond all other teams on earth. I'm sure it was also the long tours of the pre professional era that helped a lot. when the tourists came to our province, played at Ravenhill., or trained at Eaton Park in Ballymena. And one could see them close up, marvel at the size of the big forwards, the slick handling of the backs.
Great piece Harry. I hope you will be at all games ?
I may have to go back and edit my post, it is starting to look like a prose writing
competition. It is exciting with the type of rugby played in SRP and DR as a coach, there is some reason to believe the ABs will be throwing out a big challenge. It should;d be the battle of the heavyweight champions, but it will be devastating if the Boks remain untouchable.
🤣 A Wednesday article on the All Blacks? I just assumed (yes I know) another gem from Lawrence. Two paragraphs in and I realise the football booted poet had ridden into town. Looking forward to more guest posts.
Like an HSC exam I looked deeply between the lines for true meaning.
Much as I liked Rennie, and appalling as his termination was, I still believed he was trapped in a game plan the Wallabies could not execute. Hence my excitement at his appointment to the All Blacks at this particular time, game plan meets players who could execute it.
Personally I cannot wait to see the ABs playing this style of rugby for a full series of games (maybe overly full) against the world number one team who have opened up a big gap on all other nations over the last two years. Perhaps the more things have changed the more they stay the same. If the Springboks contain the ABs and cannot be contained themselves, does Rennie have a Plan B?
Nice article Harry. I think the Boks will target the AB’s potential weaknesses. ‘What weaknesses?’ I hear the Kiwis asking. Could be a big game for whoever runs on in the Black’s 15 jersey. And their scrum. Will be interesting, that’s for sure.
High quality piece of writing Harry. You really do have a gift with words.
Personally I think that the Boks should be hot favourites. It's a very mature set up with the coach and most of the first choice team, especially the forwards, together for a long time and only one or two of the eight in their 20s. And obviously they're the best in the world. Whereas Rennie is brand new and most of his forwards are in their 20s. It's a huge ask, especially away from home.
BTW I watched one of your Lekker videos. Maybe it feeds your core market, but for me the whining voice, complaining about the Eden Park ref and writing off of certain All Blacks were pretty unclassy by your standards. Just a bit of friendly feedback and I have absolutely no problem with your technical analysis or praising the world number ones.
Howzit JD. A few hours of podcasts a week leading into the RGR so it’s not easy for me to know which part of a rant you disliked but I tend not to do much whining. I think you might be referring to lock picks; I’d have gone with Sam Darry and Paddy T. Lord’s low GL% and Holland’s age and potential to join Luke in card-land are concerns. I’ll be sure to be better. Don’t like whiners. Hope I’m not one.
Oh, the joy in the anticipation of the week leading up to a big test. And with three more to come. What bliss ! No watching this game on replay for me. I shall be up and very awake in the middle of the late winter night here in Qld., with a bottle of Bushmills at hand to ward off the chill, soaking up every minute of this epic clash.
This stirred a memory. "Ox Nche’s cake recipes are dense:" But maybe more important, I mused, "This boy was born when beef was cheap" This I recall from a long gone game, with a now "forgotten the name" commentator of South African birth , waxing lyrical on a very large Bok prop.
I find I am actually looking forward to this series far more than any of the Lions series in recent times. And that is probably because as I grew up and came to love this game in Ireland, it was the Springboks and the All Blacks that stood above and beyond all other teams on earth. I'm sure it was also the long tours of the pre professional era that helped a lot. when the tourists came to our province, played at Ravenhill., or trained at Eaton Park in Ballymena. And one could see them close up, marvel at the size of the big forwards, the slick handling of the backs.
Great piece Harry. I hope you will be at all games ?
I may have to go back and edit my post, it is starting to look like a prose writing
competition. It is exciting with the type of rugby played in SRP and DR as a coach, there is some reason to believe the ABs will be throwing out a big challenge. It should;d be the battle of the heavyweight champions, but it will be devastating if the Boks remain untouchable.
"This boy was born when beef was cheap"
😂🤣
Brilliant post MZ - as usual!
🤣 A Wednesday article on the All Blacks? I just assumed (yes I know) another gem from Lawrence. Two paragraphs in and I realise the football booted poet had ridden into town. Looking forward to more guest posts.
Like an HSC exam I looked deeply between the lines for true meaning.
Much as I liked Rennie, and appalling as his termination was, I still believed he was trapped in a game plan the Wallabies could not execute. Hence my excitement at his appointment to the All Blacks at this particular time, game plan meets players who could execute it.
Personally I cannot wait to see the ABs playing this style of rugby for a full series of games (maybe overly full) against the world number one team who have opened up a big gap on all other nations over the last two years. Perhaps the more things have changed the more they stay the same. If the Springboks contain the ABs and cannot be contained themselves, does Rennie have a Plan B?
Thanks, Allan!
Nice article Harry. I think the Boks will target the AB’s potential weaknesses. ‘What weaknesses?’ I hear the Kiwis asking. Could be a big game for whoever runs on in the Black’s 15 jersey. And their scrum. Will be interesting, that’s for sure.
The anticipation of the aerial game could be very interesting for ABs selection, Loosie, for sure..
He used a whiny voice talking about people who mentioned that the All Blacks had led for a long time in both 2024 tests.
Ah, OK. Yes, I just find that (in the context of the worst loss to SA in history) to be obtuse. I was likely poking fun at that, then. Sorry.
You did say matches, rather than match I thought.
More importantly, I thought your post match Megafoon was classy.
High quality piece of writing Harry. You really do have a gift with words.
Personally I think that the Boks should be hot favourites. It's a very mature set up with the coach and most of the first choice team, especially the forwards, together for a long time and only one or two of the eight in their 20s. And obviously they're the best in the world. Whereas Rennie is brand new and most of his forwards are in their 20s. It's a huge ask, especially away from home.
BTW I watched one of your Lekker videos. Maybe it feeds your core market, but for me the whining voice, complaining about the Eden Park ref and writing off of certain All Blacks were pretty unclassy by your standards. Just a bit of friendly feedback and I have absolutely no problem with your technical analysis or praising the world number ones.
the whining voice?!? 😄
Howzit JD. A few hours of podcasts a week leading into the RGR so it’s not easy for me to know which part of a rant you disliked but I tend not to do much whining. I think you might be referring to lock picks; I’d have gone with Sam Darry and Paddy T. Lord’s low GL% and Holland’s age and potential to join Luke in card-land are concerns. I’ll be sure to be better. Don’t like whiners. Hope I’m not one.
He used a whiny voice talking about people who mentioned that the All Blacks had led for much of the two 2024 tests.
A whiny voice? Writing off certain ABs is ‘unclassy’? He writes opinion pieces JD.