Search found 756 matches

by bok_viking
Wed Mar 27, 2024 2:44 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The OFFICIAL English and European Football (soccer) thread
Replies: 45225
Views: 2958014

Re: The OFFICIAL English and European Football (soccer) thread

I definitely think Southgate has underachieved with England considering the group of players he had to choose from over the years. With a proper manager. England most likely would have won one of the last 2 major tournaments. The group of players he has available makes him look better than he is in ...
by bok_viking
Wed Mar 27, 2024 2:38 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: U.S. politics thread and Joe Biden-the Ronan O'Gara of U.S. Presidents
Replies: 18091
Views: 819059

Re: U.S. politics thread and Joe Biden-the Ronan O'Gara of U.S. Presidents

So Trump's latest grift for Easter is to sell $60 Bibles and only these bibles are endorsed by him. Bibles have been around for 100's of years and never needed any endorsements of how good day they are before until now :lol:
by bok_viking
Sat Mar 23, 2024 10:30 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: URC 2023/24 General match thread
Replies: 631
Views: 51731

Re: URC 2023/24 General match thread

What a frustrating performance by the Bulls, school boy errors throughout. Glad they managed to get the bonus point at the end, but that performance did not really deserve it. Chris Smith needs to be replaced unfortunately. He can only play 10 man rugby. Play like that against Leinster next week and...
by bok_viking
Sat Mar 23, 2024 9:32 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: URC 2023/24 General match thread
Replies: 631
Views: 51731

Re: URC 2023/24 General match thread

Hope Chris Smith gets pulled relatively early in the 2nd half. He is so slow in his decision making, delaying everything. There were several attacking chances that just died with his indecision. Very frustrating to watch. Some of those Bulls players have not played a match in almost 2 months. Its li...
by bok_viking
Sat Mar 23, 2024 4:09 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: URCR12 Sharks vs Ulster
Replies: 77
Views: 1392

Re: URCR12 Sharks vs Ulster

Sharks need to just do the basics and get it right, then they try all the fancy stuff. Right now they are just all over the place and as a result they do not even look good on the basics. I did not realise that hooker had that much speed. Unfortunately for him his game time will be limited once Este...
by bok_viking
Sat Mar 23, 2024 3:38 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: URCR12 Sharks vs Ulster
Replies: 77
Views: 1392

Re: URCR12 Sharks vs Ulster

How did they not see that Ulster hand pushing the ball? From the one angle that was quite clear, but they did not look at it until after the ref said he is going to make a decision. :lol:
by bok_viking
Fri Mar 22, 2024 3:14 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: URC 2023/24 General match thread
Replies: 631
Views: 51731

Re: URC 2023/24 General match thread

Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Marcell Coetzee (co-captain), 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (co-captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessell, 1 Gerhard Stee...
by bok_viking
Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:42 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The OFFICIAL English and European Football (soccer) thread
Replies: 45225
Views: 2958014

Re: The OFFICIAL English and European Football (soccer) thread

Only reds... Yellows are competition specific. Correct but this is a red card in the end, so he will be available for the semi finals. He will... thankfully. But still strange that yellow card accumulations are competition specific but red cards aren't. But I'm glad he can be picked for the semi......
by bok_viking
Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:36 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: U.S. politics thread and Joe Biden-the Ronan O'Gara of U.S. Presidents
Replies: 18091
Views: 819059

Re: U.S. politics thread and Joe Biden-the Ronan O'Gara of U.S. Presidents

https://fortune.com/2024/03/15/why-economy-bad-making-most-money-ever-living-by-paycheck/ Living in the US is tough. I struggle to explain this back home in France where the HR think my salary is insanely high (I am paid 2.5 times what I was paid in France, 2 times if you consider all costs for the...
by bok_viking
Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:20 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The OFFICIAL English and European Football (soccer) thread
Replies: 45225
Views: 2958014

Re: The OFFICIAL English and European Football (soccer) thread

They were talking before the game about players on yellow cards who risked missing the semi... Wiped after this game... But not before accumulated bookings take affect? Or the commentators had it wrong? But red cards apparently don't apply... which is odd.. Yes the cards are across all FA competiti...
by bok_viking
Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:19 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: South Africa overflow of rugby players
Replies: 29
Views: 846

Re: South Africa overflow of rugby players

By moving the CC to July-Sep brought a different challenge to our URC franchises. 1. To big player squads. The franchise are use to play up to 3 competitions in the same time.Champions/challenge Cup, URC & Currie Cup. 2. Player Union in dispute with SARU about playing 20 months non stop. Springbok ...
by bok_viking
Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:05 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The OFFICIAL English and European Football (soccer) thread
Replies: 45225
Views: 2958014

Re: The OFFICIAL English and European Football (soccer) thread

I think FA Cup bookings/Red Cards stay in FA Cup? Premier League bookings stay in PL matches? According to this article red card bans are across competitions: https://theathletic.com/4901178/2023/09/27/yellow-red-cards-suspensions-premier-league-fa-carabao-cup/ Bans for accumulating yellow cards ar...
by bok_viking
Tue Mar 05, 2024 11:08 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Are the Springboks vs Ireland the mini WC this year?
Replies: 64
Views: 3322

Re: Are the Springboks vs Ireland the mini WC this year?

The worst thing is the scalpers who buy up a bunch of tickets and then resell, on reselling sites the tickets are already selling at 5 times the price. I saw tickets behind the post that originally cost R550 now going for R2300. The viagogo site has 500 tickets for resell already at ridiculous prices.
by bok_viking
Tue Mar 05, 2024 10:49 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Are the Springboks vs Ireland the mini WC this year?
Replies: 64
Views: 3322

Re: Are the Springboks vs Ireland the mini WC this year?

Another article on ticket sales ffs. It was always going to sell out. Hardly newsworthy. That is just because it sold out so quickly, in a couple of hours all the tickets were gone. Normally it takes a few days, sometimes a couple of weeks to sell out. A couple of my friends all missed out on ticke...
by bok_viking
Sat Mar 02, 2024 5:54 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: URCR11 Saffer Derbies
Replies: 70
Views: 2928

Re: URCR11 Saffer Derbies

Bulls Stormers game delayed. Big lighting storm close to the stadium. If the rain starts coming down it will be beneficial to the stormers. They tend to play better than the bulls in the wet. :(( Always thought that but it’s not true Johan Goosen can kick a mile, Libbok struggling when the weather ...
by bok_viking
Sat Mar 02, 2024 4:32 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: URCR11 Saffer Derbies
Replies: 70
Views: 2928

Re: URCR11 Saffer Derbies

Bulls Stormers game delayed. Big lighting storm close to the stadium. If the rain starts coming down it will be beneficial to the stormers. They tend to play better than the bulls in the wet. :((
by bok_viking
Fri Mar 01, 2024 10:41 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: URCR11 Saffer Derbies
Replies: 70
Views: 2928

Re: URCR11 Saffer Derbies

Loftus official sold out. Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 David Kriel, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 7 Rienhardt Ludwig, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortjé (captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaa...
by bok_viking
Fri Mar 01, 2024 9:00 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: URCR11 Saffer Derbies
Replies: 70
Views: 2928

Re: URCR11 Bulls vs Stormers

Only 1500 tickets still available. Yup going to be a sellout. Think quite a few people who normally come to the stadium to buy tickets on matchday are going to be a bit disappointed. The crowds in south Africa has slowly but surely started to get bigger over the last year or so it seems, even the l...
by bok_viking
Thu Feb 29, 2024 2:11 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: URCR11 Saffer Derbies
Replies: 70
Views: 2928

Re: URCR11 Bulls vs Stormers

Only 6000 tickets left as of Wednesday, so about 46000 sold so far. Looks like they are going to get the sell out crowd they were looking for. Glad to me going to the game. Hopefully it will be a game to match as well as a Bulls win at last :nod: :lol:
by bok_viking
Thu Feb 29, 2024 2:08 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: URCR11 Saffer Derbies
Replies: 70
Views: 2928

Re: URCR11 Bulls vs Stormers

I cant remember if the Stormers/WP has ever beat the Bulls/N Tvl so many times in a row. Like BB posted, in Dobson we trust. He mention the Stormers defense DNA after the Sharks game, spot on thats usually the difference between the two teams. The Bulls have also been shooting themselves in the foo...
by bok_viking
Mon Feb 26, 2024 5:32 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: 2024 "SA Rugby Factory" Varsity Cup
Replies: 38
Views: 1148

Re: 2024 "SA Rugby Factory" Varsity Cup

I was just thinking back to my time at UJ(RAU) in the early 90's. We had such a good team then. Guys Like Francois Pienaar, Johan Roux, Hennie Le Roux, Japie Mulder, etc. There were 5-6 players in the 95 Springbok squad that played for RAU in the early 90's. The days when quite a few rugby players s...
by bok_viking
Mon Feb 26, 2024 5:12 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Borthwick OUT!!!
Replies: 107
Views: 2699

Re: Borthwick OUT!!!

The 'dip' in coaching talent is an interesting claim. What we're certainly seeing now is many coaches coming from a playing background, whereas a great many leading coaches being at least part of a setup historically came from a teaching background. So we're perhaps seeing more technically astute c...
by bok_viking
Mon Feb 26, 2024 3:02 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: URC 2023/24 General match thread
Replies: 631
Views: 51731

Re: URC 2023/24 General match thread

ROUND 11 Friday, March 1, 2024 Munster vs Zebre Edinburgh vs Ospreys Saturday, March 2, 2024 Lions vs Sharks Benetton vs Glasgow Bulls vs Stormers Connacht vs Scarlets Cardiff vs Leinster Ulster vs Dragons It is a shame the Lions/Sharks and Bulls/Stormers games are on the same day. Otherwise I migh...
by bok_viking
Mon Feb 26, 2024 1:45 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Official Springboks thread
Replies: 132
Views: 5187

Re: Official Springboks thread

Although they're good I don't think the combo will work as both Venter and Louw are blindside flankers. Which of the ones coming through are out and out opensides you reckon? Obviously Van Staden is one, but I guess he’s already established. He’s class too. It’s a backrow conveyor belt! Any centres...
by bok_viking
Mon Feb 26, 2024 1:39 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: URCR11 Saffer Derbies
Replies: 70
Views: 2928

Re: URCR11 Bulls vs Stormers

One would think that eventually the Bulls will have a win over the Stormers, particularly at home. Hopefully Dobson and co have got some tricks up their sleeve to put one over the Bulls again. It is always enjoyable to see Jake lose. The last few seasons has been a nightmare for the Bulls against t...
by bok_viking
Mon Feb 26, 2024 10:03 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: URCR11 Saffer Derbies
Replies: 70
Views: 2928

Re: URCR11 Bulls vs Stormers

Netwerk24 Meanwhile, Bulls CEO Willem Strauss told Netwerk24 that 25,000 tickets have already been sold for the clash. “The matches between the Bulls and Stormers all attract more than 40,000 spectators,” he said. “We hope to host the first league match on 2 March where the stadium is fully sold ou...
by bok_viking
Sat Feb 24, 2024 1:02 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Official Springboks thread
Replies: 132
Views: 5187

Re: Official Springboks thread

What happens if 3 teams make the URC semi finals? They will only have Sharks and Japanese based players Yeah that is a big problem. There is a high chance that 2 teams can reach the semis. So if the Bulls and Stormers do reach the semis, then you cannot even say that you will give a runout to young...
by bok_viking
Fri Feb 23, 2024 11:14 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Official Springboks thread
Replies: 132
Views: 5187

Re: Official Springboks thread

What happens if 3 teams make the URC semi finals? They will only have Sharks and Japanese based players Yeah that is a big problem. There is a high chance that 2 teams can reach the semis. So if the Bulls and Stormers do reach the semis, then you cannot even say that you will give a runout to young...
by bok_viking
Thu Feb 22, 2024 9:06 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Interesting article in the Times about White Flight to South Africa
Replies: 88
Views: 2790

Re: Interesting article in the Times about White Flight to South Africa

LandOTurk wrote: Wed Feb 21, 2024 11:56 pm
bok_viking wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 10:29 am I myself lived in several countries around the world while I cleaned up my bucketlist and though I really enjoyed my time in Denmark, Ireland, China and Japan and USA(which I hated) over last 20 years,
Where did you live in the US?
I was in Scottsdale, Arizona
by bok_viking
Wed Feb 21, 2024 10:52 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Ball in Play
Replies: 142
Views: 3343

Re: Ball in Play

In the 2 South African derbies on the weekend, i heard the refs starting to count a couple of times for the SH to get the ball out. It is the first time in a long while that i actually heard a ref start counting down. I think at the one breakdown with the Sharks/Stormers he even said " That's enough...
by bok_viking
Wed Feb 21, 2024 9:20 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Interesting article in the Times about White Flight to South Africa
Replies: 88
Views: 2790

Re: Interesting article in the Times about White Flight to South Africa

Never been to saffa land- do the chicken runners going home live in gated communities with other white folk? What? Estates/complexes have a wide range of people of colour living in them. I live in a house in a fairly upmarket suburb of Sandton. 2 of my 4 neighbours are Black and one is Indian. Have...
by bok_viking
Wed Feb 21, 2024 9:14 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Interesting article in the Times about White Flight to South Africa
Replies: 88
Views: 2790

Re: Interesting article in the Times about White Flight to South Africa

The thing is, even with all the problems SA is facing at the moment it is still a really good place to live if you earn at least a middle class salary. And the kind of lifestyle that many people live here in SA is difficult to find except maybe in Australia. If you enjoy an outdoor/active lifestyle...
by bok_viking
Tue Feb 20, 2024 1:57 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Official Springboks thread
Replies: 132
Views: 5187

Re: Official Springboks thread

Yes I think it is quite difficult to go for a slam these days. As you mentioned there is rarely a chance of playing 4 games against 6N opposition these days on the year-end tours, let alone the 4 home nations. and normally if there is a 4th game, it tends to be against the Barbarians lately. I thin...
by bok_viking
Tue Feb 20, 2024 1:54 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Andre Esterhuizen back to the Sharks?
Replies: 46
Views: 1898

Re: Andre Esterhuizen back to the Sharks?

That is why i did not like that the Bulls got Wiese, with guys like Hanekom breaking through this year, someone like Wiese could move him back onto the bench for many game just because Wiese is an established Springbok. Some of the Bulls signings made a lot of sense in the forwards and it has been ...
by bok_viking
Tue Feb 20, 2024 10:29 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Interesting article in the Times about White Flight to South Africa
Replies: 88
Views: 2790

Re: Interesting article in the Times about White Flight to South Africa

The thing is, even with all the problems SA is facing at the moment it is still a really good place to live if you earn at least a middle class salary. And the kind of lifestyle that many people live here in SA is difficult to find except maybe in Australia. If you enjoy an outdoor/active lifestyle ...
by bok_viking
Tue Feb 20, 2024 9:43 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Official Springboks thread
Replies: 132
Views: 5187

Re: Official Springboks thread

Is a NH grand slam even possible anymore? The international window in November only 3 weekends nowadays, and if we do get to play a 4th test against a home nation, it’s usually against Wales outside of the window. The last time we had a Grand Slam attempt was the 2010 end of year tour and we blew i...
by bok_viking
Mon Feb 19, 2024 3:49 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Andre Esterhuizen back to the Sharks?
Replies: 46
Views: 1898

Re: Andre Esterhuizen back to the Sharks?

The Sharks also have Jurenzo Julius who is highly rated. I don't like to see SA teams lose but seeing the Sharks this season and this type of recruitment does give me a smile. I don't think Rassie likes this type of recruitment either. He has talked about overseas clubs paying our best players wage...
by bok_viking
Mon Feb 19, 2024 3:32 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Official Springboks thread
Replies: 132
Views: 5187

Re: Official Springboks thread

I haven't been this optimistic about the future of Bok rugby in my lifetime. For once we are coming out of a RWC cycle without drama. 2019 should have been like that as well, but Covid in conjunction with the Lions tour realy derailed our player development pipeline and we couldn't really capitalis...
by bok_viking
Mon Feb 19, 2024 3:28 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Ball in Play
Replies: 142
Views: 3343

Re: Ball in Play

And make the scrum half play as soon as the ball is available. We are seeing resets for scrum collapses well after the ball could be played Yeah there are many resets where the ball was at the no8's feet. I definitely think the SH should be told to play it instead of resetting. It should be a bit l...
by bok_viking
Mon Feb 19, 2024 9:07 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Official Springboks thread
Replies: 132
Views: 5187

Re: Official Springboks thread

Dweba and Fassi are not good enough. Surprised about Dayimani though "Buy my shoes" Dayimani?! I am not at all surprised about him not being invited. Would you think he fits into the current Bok environment?? No dickheads, no egos, the team above everything else... He only gets to plug his shoes wh...