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REUTERS
The Springboks arrived in Sydney on Saturday for the away leg of the Tri-Nations.
IT was an almost eerily subdued arrival for the Springboks in Sydney on Sunday, with barely a soul acknowledging their presence at the arrivals hall when in previous years the full-strength Boks have been accustomed to being trumpeted onto the bus to the tune of Sarie Marais by a Cape-style band, while thronged by autograph-hunting, homesick green-and-gold clad expats.
Maybe the day lost to the recalcitrant Engine No 3 on Friday’s QF 64 spoiled the planning party, and the total no-show of Aussie reporters (not one – never mind the usual TV crews) at the arrivals press opportunity was mostly because of the Test match against Samoa that had ended not long before the Boks landed at about 8pm local time.
“Where is everybody?” captain John Smit smiled rhetorically. “Ah well, I guess they are not excepting too much from us but for the life of me I don’t know why. But I reckon we can be very assured that this loss to Samoa we have just heard about is going to shake things up a bit this week and I think we might see the heat being taken off us being the ones accused of fielding a second-strong side ...”
Smit, though, was not overly surprised to hear that Samoa, the 10th-ranked team in the world, had registered their first-ever win over Australia.”Look, I would not have predicted this result but I think it is indicative of what you could see over the six weeks building up to the World Cup as teams look to win but at the same time have a focus on ensuring their squad arrives in New Zealand in the best possible shape.”
Of course, he could be talking about the Springboks.
“And the other side of the coin is that we are going to get a good indication of how teams are placed before the World Cup,” Smit continued. “This result sends a big warning to us that our Pool (which includes Samoa and Fiji) is going to be very competitive.
“If you look at the Samoans, they have got plenty good professional rugby players in the Northern Hemisphere, and the big thing for them is being able to get their combinations right given that they they do not often play together,” Smit said. “I always thought this would be a tricky game for Robbie Deans because he had to rest players that played in last week’s Super Rugby final (for the Reds) while a warm-up game against Samoa always had the threat of being an ambush.”
Deans called it a “big wake-up call” while stony-faced captain Rocky Elsom growled: “Just not good enough – it is hard to find positives in that.”
Nevertheless, Deans will recall half a dozen-first choice players for the Tri-Nations opener against the Boks at the same venue, the ANZ Stadium on the outskirts of Sydney in the old Olympic precinct.
Notably, Reds half-backs Will Genia and Quade Cooper will return for disappointing debutant (Nick Phipps) and Matt Giteau (who will move to 12). Western Force Flanker David Pocock will return from injury, as will wing James O’Connor and Reds captain and second row James Horwill.
A place will also be found for Reds No 8 Scott Higganbotham and it should also be noted that star Waratahs loose forward Wycliff Palu is only a week or so away from a return from injury.
The Boks, meanwhile, have settled into the famous Intercontentinal Hotel at Sydney Harbour’s Circular Quay, a stone’s throw (perish the thought) from the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.
They will travel across that world-renowned landmark each day to the North Sydney Oval for their daily training sessions.
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DGVW, wrote
I think that is absolutely shocking!!! Visitors from overseas, even in sport, should always be made to feel welcome in your country. Australia you have gone way down in my books and I am sure many other people. I have family there and always thought of coming to visit but "No thank you" Not if you treat our players like that. BAD BAD sportsmanship!!!!!!!!!! Cakes...
Anonymous, wrote
Talk about arrogance...who do we think we are...?"full-strength Boks have been accustomed to being trumpeted onto the bus to the tune of Sarie Marais by a Cape-style band, while thronged by autograph-hunting, homesick green-and-gold clad expats", I as a South African having flown over to South Africa on the same plane as the Wallabies team, I can assure you they were not met at OT Airport with a "welcoming commitee" dancing and playing the Australian National Anthem...They quietly picked up their OWN bags, went through customs and hopped onto a bus with no fuss. Get over yourselves, YOU are the wingers!
Kevin, wrote
Why was there no expats there to welcome our boys? it does not matter whether it was a second or third string team, they are still playing in the Green & Gold.
Spock101, wrote
Now, what do we take out of this; there must have been someone there otherwise there would've been no report. So does that mean that the only journalists there were those that traveled from SA with the team? Interesting... @ Richard - your comment shows a lack of dignity and respect & actually doesn't warrant a response but I will give you one, none the less - I don't recall that they mentioned any lack of streets lined with adoring fans; I believe they were talking about the lack of an OFFICIAL welcome to a visiting sports team by a representative of the host nation's reciprocating sports body - in this case I would have expected there to be a representative of the Tri-Nations Committee or SANZA or SOMEONE official. So the team was late - did they miss their flight or was the delay caused by something totally out of their control? Just as the team management had to make contingency plans, so the official welcoming committee (if there was ever going to be one) should have made similar plans. To the rest of you who want to repay like for like; Don't stoop to their level, always show that, irrespective of how you feel about them, you will afford them the dignity & respect that is their due.
Anonymous, wrote
Anonymous, wrote
Richard, there should at least have been some newspaper reporters and management representatives of the Tri-Nations competition!
Elizabeth, wrote
The Aussies are the worst whingers in the world. Perhaps they're worried about being beaten by, what they perceive, as a second class side. Such an arrogant bunch! Can just imagine the 'reception' they'll receive at Kingspark on 13th August!
k, wrote
Maybe it is because Aussies actually dont watch a lot of rugby. Rugby League and AFL are the big sports there
Anonymous, wrote
To hell with the Aussies, who cares. They a bunch of haters anyway. The Springboks know they have the support of their country and are behind them all the way
Gav CT, wrote
Well....what can you expect from a bunch of convicts licking their wounds from the earlier bashing by Samoa? I hope this spurs the Boks on to give them a right thumping with our "2nd string" side!!
Greg Shark, wrote
dingo, wrote
The point is none of the SA supporters in Oz showed were interested enough to show up- don't turn this into an Oz - SA thing
Steven, wrote
There were only approx 29'000 at the Wallabies Samoa match on Saturday... The poor welcoming of an International Rugby team into the country...Is that indicative of the general demise of Oz Rugby Union in their country? And on the cusp of the RWC!!!! Very interesting....
DD, wrote
No this is not cool hey. Negative article. Our boys need support and their flight did not arrive at the scheduled time?.....If I could afford to take time off work and fly to support the boys I would. Go Bokke and do not pay attention to nay sayers. You are the defending champs and we are proud of you and support you - no matter what!
richard, wrote
Greg Shark, everyone knows that the Aussies are a nation of "cry babies," and we are fast becoming a nation of "excuse makers" and "blamers" Lets just remain focussed and get on with the game......thats what rugby's all about
WTF, wrote
@Richard and this is why South Africans will always dislike Aussies. @Anon 08:13am there's no need to stoop to their level, why should we drag ourselves down so they can beat us with experience?
Greg Shark, wrote
@richard - maybe you have never experienced being "received" by a host country in international sport. it is common courtesy for at the very least to have a representative from the hosting country present to welcome you. this, unfortunately, will not do anything for the relations between our sporting teams. in fact it was down right rude, but do you expect any better from OZ? richard are manners equal to OZ?
Oliver, wrote
Day and a half late, second team,,,or is that 3rd team, Aussie reporters drowing their sorrows after a loss...oh and probably filing reports What do you expect
biffo, wrote
@Anonymous 08.13... NO we have class and we MUST give them the welcome they deserve..WE are NOT bad sports people!!
Anonymous, wrote
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