Comments on: Craig Dowd: A spaced-out rugby oddity

By: MySon

MySon — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:20:22 +0000

@ Eugene

But everybody has their view of who the best 15 are. I have seen too many good black players sidelined after one bad game, whereas a white player gets a second chance. Not everybody is consistent all the time in their game.

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By: Siyabonga Ntshingila

Siyabonga Ntshingila — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:04:55 +0000

Ian, let it go mate. paranoia is just not becoming.

On a happier note-BOKKE!

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By: Eugene Marais

Eugene Marais — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 06:03:06 +0000

The seven “black” player thing will fall away soon anyway if you see the talent coming through. I think what sometimes irks the white supporters at the moment are the obviously “transformation ” selections.
But as more and more African South Africans are being exposed and introduced and encouraged to play this marvelous game everything will sort itself out. The demographics of the country will see to that.
Believe me, when 15 Habanas or Januaries run on, no-one will complain.
For most supporters it is not about getting white players selected. It is about getting the best players selected, and trust me if those 15 players are black, the cheering will be no less. Nor the joy of beating the ABs in their backyard.

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By: Po

Po — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 19:51:23 +0000

When a white man in power makes a mistake, it is because he screwed up. If a woman in power screws up, it is because it is a woman in power. It seems the double standards exist for black people too. Any previously oppressed group has to be perfect to prove their worth.

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By: Michael Trapido

Michael Trapido — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:57:18 +0000

Guys wouldn’t it be great if we could get Pete to take the piss out of the media?

We all know he’s never going to be a great orator so why not tell the Aussies after the next Test :

“I always tell my players too many cooks spoil the silver lining and they couldn’t put Humpty together again…”

:0)

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By: Iain de la Rosa

Iain de la Rosa — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:03:11 +0000

Good one, Traps.

I’m still undecided about the true meaning of the Puppet remark.

Is he supposed to be the puppet of the dark ANC forces who are taking the real decisions? In which case all credit to him for starting with only four players of colour because he trusted his own judgement of what constitutes merit.

Or is he supposed to be the puppet who appears in front of the microphone while the real coaching is done by the clever white folks? In that case, all credit to him for empowering his assistants to do their job to the best of their abilities. That is what distinguishes top managers from good administrators.

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By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:46:32 +0000

SARU president Oregan Hoskins: ‘De Villiers has not been picked for “purely rugby reasons”.’

Dowd was just taking that logic one step further, although calling a first rate coach a “puppet” is perhaps one step too far.

But, yes, the Boks did do well today.

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