From: pieter@ford.ee.up.ac.za (Pieter Vermeulen)
Subject: Re: All Blacks vs Springboks
Date: 17 Aug 92 16:34:48 GMT
Organization: University of Pretoria, South Africa

wft@math.canterbury.ac.nz (Bill Taylor) writes:

>The final scoreline rather flattered the boks, I thought. One of their two
>final tries came directly from a mile-long knock-on that the ref apparently
>didn't see, and so once again the ABs were robbed of a convincing-looking
>victory on the scoreboard by a terrible reffing mistake. 
Yes, and du Preez made lots of other errors as well. The second AB try
was due to two errors on his part (not the mention the *three* tackles
Botha missed in the same movement; maybe someday he will actually
tackle someone). It is a pity that Garth Wright did not play and won't
be playing against Oz either. He is a far superior player.

>I expect the Springbok supporters will be wildly up in arms about the ref's
>lineout handling. It must seem very unfair to have the laws fully enforced,
>when you've gone a whole season ignoring them happily ! The bok lifting was
>atrociously blatant, but for the most part was picked up. As a result, their
>less athletic forwards were at a grave disadvantage in the lineouts, and got
>quite a bath there; this problem will bedevil the boks for a good while yet,
>I predict. With domestic refs allowing their players to settle into bad habits,
>they will be constantly disadvantaged in internationals. It's a shame that the
>laws weren't so effectively enforced in Oz.
and
>Fitzpatrick, isn't it?). In the loose, the ABs dominated though, and gave them
>a real lesson in the lineouts.
We on the other hand were amazed at the blatant obstruction that was
allowed in the lineouts and the playing of the ball on the ground. But
then, maybe our interpretation of rules will get a hearing now that we
are back in international rugby. 


>One must applaud the spirit the game was played in. Very tough, but with no
>real spite, apart perhaps from one nasty scrum incident which left a player on
>each side bleeding. Apparently a stern talking-to by Loe and Brooke to the
>alleged bok crusher settled this down though. Otherwise, credit to both teams 
>for sportsmanlike behaviour.
O, and then there was the intimidation of Botha by FItzpatrick...

>One must also comment on the double-edged behaviour of the South African crowd.
>Their politeness and respect for the opposition was a real eye-opener. They
>stayed utterly quiet for the NZ anthem and haka; and (apart from a slight raz
>the first time), even for Fox's goal kicks ! They put NZ and Oz crowds totally
>to shame with this gentlemanly concern. And yet, they spoiled all these good
>efforts by deliberately singing through the intended one minute silence in
>honour of those killed in the recent troubles. I don't know what the song was;
>but this display of spontaneous callousness was a deliberate insult, and showed
>what still lurks in the South African soul, the referendum notwithstanding.
>Heaven knows how the visitors will be treated if a Samoan team ever tours, with
>all colored players AND management !
I take the strongest exception to this remark. Not every politically
motivated action in this country is an act of or against racism. There
are other *legitemate* issues and arguments for and against the ANC
and the National Party and other political groupings.

Pieter Vermeulen
 
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