The fight for No 1, it’s all to play for! | Moonstone
The fight for No 1, it’s all to play for!
By Paul Kruger on 30 January 2012
Gary Kirsten & Graeme Smith
If motivation was required to start this tour well against the Black Caps, this should be it. England’s number 1 ranking is under serious threat after they lost their current test series against Pakistan in the UAE. Coupled with this is the resurgence of Australian cricket in whitewashing the current number 2 side, India. This has put the Proteas, currently third in the world rankings, in the inside track to take the number 1 spot in Test cricket.
Before the Pakistan/England series it was calculated that if England were to lose 2 – 0 and South Africa were to whitewash New Zealand (3-0), South Africa would claim the Number 1 spot by a tenth of a decimal point by the 1st of April, which would also earn them a handy R1.4m from the ICC*.
In reality though, the English haven’t done anything in Asia for 9 years. Having the number 1 ranking and a high quality squad available, the thought of them losing seemed an unlikely event. Personally I didn’t pay much attention to it either, but the likelihood of this happening is now quite possible.
But first there is New Zealand…
Historically, New Zealand is a notoriously difficult country to tour for the Proteas but if we start well with a series win in the 5-day tests, I predict a prosperous touring season for Kirsten and company. If NOT, it could be a massive and laborious uphill battle for the team and fans for the rest of the year.
The New Zealand tour is followed by and England tour and then an end of year Australian tour, which is a lot of cricket away from home and if things don’t start well, touring does become a lonely and daunting journey. On the positive side it has placed the Proteas in an ideal position to earn and cement that much wanted top spot on the rankings which I am sure Kirsten and Smith have as their main goal for 2012.
Much will depend on this first tour. It is all about momentum and confidence.
En toe is dit Heyneke… deur Paul
Heyneke Meyer the Springbok Coach!
As mens terugkyk na die tien afrigters wat sedert 1992 die Springbokke afgerig het, dan is daar, benewens Kitch Kristie en miskien Jake White, bitter min wie se aanstelling soveel verwagtinge geskep het as die van Heyneke Meyer.
Kom ons wees nou maar eerlik. Ons as ondersteuners is meestal onrealisties in ons verwagtinge van die nasionale rugbyspan. Wen is alles, maak nie saak wat die omstandighede is nie. Die enigste uitsondering waaraan ek kan dink is ons laaste wedstryd teen Australië in die pas afgelope wêreldbeker toernooi. Selfs die Bryce Lawrence toets het kritiek, al was dit met gelate aanvaarding, ontlok.
Enige nuut-aangestelde afrigter sal verseker leer uit die foute van sy voorganger. Meyer se idees oor die kaptein en die gebruik van spelers in die buiteland getuig hiervan. Waar De Villiers ’n kern van puik spelers by Jake White geërf het, sit Meyer met nuwe uitdagings, juis weens die uittrede van daardie groep ervare spelers.
Na my mening is Matfield, soos Gary Teichmann destyds, se batterye pap van te veel rugby oor te veel jare. So groot soos my respek vir hom is, so graag wil ek hom die verleentheid spaar om Meyer se eie John Smit te word. Wend hom aan as vaardigheid spesialis, asseblief, maar net as dit.
Die massas gaan wonderwerke verwag van die eerste dag af. Heyneke het dit duidelik gemaak dat hy nie die baba saam met die badwater gaan uitgooi nie. Die kern van die afgelope wêreldbeker span span gaan nog steeds die manne in sy begin-span wees, maar wees verseker dat dit hul spelpeil, en nie hul reputasie nie, die maatskaf gaan wees.
En dit geld ook vir die kaptein.
Enige beroep op geduld van ondersteuners sal op dowe ore val. In Queen se woorde: “I want it all, and I want it now!”
My voorspelling is dat Heyneke Meyer ons weer trots gaan maak op ons span.
’n Span wat sy eie “game” speel, met ’n plan B as die begin-strategie nie werk nie.
Ons afrigter gaan hom goed laat geld met die media en hulle aan sy kant kry, selfs die oorsese joernaliste.
Jurie Roux en Oregan Hoskins gaan dinge agter die skerms professioneel bestuur.
Wat van ons as ondersteuners?
Los provinsialisme wanneer dit by die nasionale span kom. Die “die-hards” in elke provinsie sal wil sien dat sy span, met een of twee veranderings, die land verteenwoordig.
Dit werk nie so nie.
In die dae toe ons net provinsiale rugby as hoofgereg gehad het, kon hierdie vooroordeel nog geduld word, maar mense, dit was meer as 20 jaar gelede!
Heyneke Meyer is letterlik die keuse “van die mense, vir die mense”. Kom ons gee hom die kans om ons trots te herstel.
Die Vader alleen weet. Ons land het dit nou nodiger as ooit.
Cricket, Gary Kirsten, Graeme Smith, Heyneke Meyer, Proteas, Test cricket
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