Mike Greenaway
12 November 2004
Dublin — Last night at Lansdowne Road Stadium, the occasion being the launch of a book celebrating Ireland's 2004 Triple Crown triumph, Eddie O'Sullivan remarked: "If we beat the Boks on Saturday, please God let the first question to me be: 'How many Boks would you select for your Ireland team'?"
The Ireland rugby coach was being mischievous but mostly malevolent in his caustic reference to the "disrespect" shown his team by Springbok coach Jake White.
White had said that there were only three Irishmen worthy of places in a Springbok 22, and only one (Brian O'Driscoll) who could challenge for a place in the starting team.
White's observation, made in reply to a question from an Irish reporter, sparked outrage from an Irish camp that has complained of "insults" and disrespect for Ireland's rugby heritage.
Well, O'Sullivan's red mist will take on a deeper shade of crimson when he hears of White's response to the Irish indignation.
"Well, what I said is true," White said today.
"The Irish say I have shown them disrespect, but I simply told the truth. If I had lied and said I would pick a whole bunch of them, would that not be disrespect?
"Another answer I considered giving to that question would have been even less popular: 'OK, I'll take the whole lot but then you must give me time to coach them to the standard required for the Springboks'."
Holy smoke! Anguished Eddie is not going to like that one bit.
The Springbok coach then picked up the newspaper that carried O'Sullivan's anti-White rant and said: "Eddie says here that he agrees that the Boks are the better team. So why, then, is he getting annoyed because I rate my players above his?"
White then tossed the paper on to a table and said dismissively: "I don't understand the fuss. Since when does this stuff (newspaper reports) win rugby games?
"When the first whistle blows, what has been said in the press means Jack S...t.
"People think I am crazy because I am providing motivational fodder to the Irish. Well, if this is what they need to beat the Boks, heaven help them."
Tact and diplomacy aside, White is quite right.
At international level, no team should rely on sideshows to get a psychological edge. Both teams should have equal desire and motivation to win for their country.
It is then down to skills, concentration and the whims of the rugby gods and the bounce of the ball.
And White reckons the Boks have an advantage on all counts.
"I keep on being called arrogant because I point out facts. Why should I be castigated because I highlight the fact that Ireland have seldom posed a problem to us?
"It is like Wales last week. They had beaten us once in 18 tests. Ireland have beaten us once in 16 tests, and it is not like we will be under strength tomorrow. If we play properly, we will win. That is not arrogance, that is fact."
White's confidence has arguable merit.
Again, he perhaps should hold his tongue instead of giving it free rein, but the admirable truth is that he speaks from the heart and South Africans should be thankful that they have a rugby coach who doesn't have a negative fibre in his body.
"I look at our game against Wales and where others bemoan the mistakes, I am reassured by the wonderful potential we showed.
"For every bit of sloppy play, there was a brilliant passage of play. A team can try and eliminate mistakes but it can't manufacture brilliance if it is not inherently there. You either have it or you don't. We have it (brilliance) and we can cut down on our mistakes. That was our first game since August. We will be much better this week than we were last week. Why should we be afraid?"
What about the fabled Irish passion at their ancestral home?
"What of it?" asks White. "Referee Paul Honiss (of New Zealand) is famed for his no-nonsense approach. He sees the rules in black and white. If Ireland get carried away, they will be punished by the referee, and Monty will kick the goals."
If only it were that simple.
All the test teams
Tonight
Cardiff:Wales v Romania (7pm SA time)
Wales: Gareth Thomas (capt), Rhys Williams, Tom Shanklin, Gavin Henson, Hal Luscombe, Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel, Michael Owen, Colin Charvis, Dafydd Jones, Luke Charteris, Gareth Llewellyn, Adam Jones, Mefin Davies, Gethin Jenkins. Bench: Steve Jones, Duncan Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams, Gareth Cooper, Ceri Sweeney, Sonny Parker.
Romania: Valentin Maftei, Vasile Ghioc, Cristian Sauan, Romeo Gontineac, Ioan Teodorescu, Ionut Tofan, Lucian Sirbu, Marian Tudori, Alin Petrache (capt), Costica Mersoiu, Cristian Petre, Florin Tatu, Marcel Socaciu, Bogdan Zebega, Petre Balan. Bench: Razvan Mavrodin, Bogdan Balan, Valentin Ursache, George Oprisor, Iulian Andrei, Flavius Dobre, Ionut Dimofte.
Referee: Kelvin Deaker (NZ)
Tomorrow
Dublin: Ireland v South Africa (4.45pm SA time)
Ireland: Girvan Dempsey, Geordan Murphy, Brian O'Driscoll (capt), Shane Horgan, Denis Hickie, Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer, Anthony Foley, Jonny O'Connor, Simon Easterby, Paul O'Connell, Malcolm O'Kelly, John Hayes, Shane Byrne, Reggie Corrigan. Bench: Frank Sheahan, Marcus Horan, Donncha O'Callaghan, Eric Miller, Guy Easterby, David Humphreys, Kevin Maggs.
South Africa: Percy Montgomery, Breyton Paulse, Marius Joubert, De Wet Barry, Ashwin Willemse, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Fourie du Preez, Joe van Niekerk, AJ Venter, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Eddie Andrews, John Smit, Os du Randt. Bench: Hanyani Shimange, CJ van der Linde, Gerrie Britz, Danie Rossouw, Michael Claassens, Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie.
Referee: Paul Honiss (Australia)
London: England v Canada (4.30pm SA time)
England: Jason Robinson (capt), Mark Cueto, Mike Tindall, Henry Paul, Josh Lewsey, Charlie Hodgson, Andy Gomarsall, Martin Corry, Andy Hazell, Lewis Moody, Steve Borthwick, Danny Grewcock, Julian White, Steve Thompson, Graham Rowntree. Bench: Andy Titterrell, Andrew Sheridan, Ben Kay, Hugh Vyvyan, Hall Charlton, Will Greenwood, Ben Cohen.
Canada: Derk Daypuck, David Moonlight, Ryan Smith, Marco Di Girolamo, Stirling Richmond, Ed Fairhurst, Pat Fleck, Colin Yukes, Stan McKeen, Amie Cudmore, Mike Burak, Josh Jackson, Forrest Gainer, Aaron Abrams, Kevin Tkachuk. Bench: Mark Lawson, Garth Cooke, Dan Pletch, Christophe Strubin, David Spicer, John Cannon, Sean O'Leary.
Referee: Scott Young (Australia)
Paris: France v Australia (10pm SA time)
France: Nicolas Brusque, Aurelien Rougerie, Tony Marsh, Yannick Jauzion, Cedric Heymans, Frederic Michalak, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, Imanol Harinordoquy, Olivier Magne, Serge Betsen, Jerome Thion, Fabien Pelous (capt), Sylvain Marconnet, William Servat, Olivier Milloud. Bench: Sebastien Bruno, Nicolas Mas, Pascal Pape, Clement Poitrenaud, Julien Bonnaire, Julian Peyrelongue, Christophe Dominici.
Australia: Chris Latham, Clyde Rathbone, Stirling Mortlock, Matt Giteau, Lote Tuqiri, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (capt), John Roe, Phil Waugh, George Smith, Daniel Vickerman, Justin Harrison, Al Baxter, Jeremy Paul, Bill Young. Bench: Brendan Cannon, Matt Dunning, Mark Chisholm, David Lyons, Elton Flatley, Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor.
Referee: Chris White (England)
Rome: Italy v New Zealand (4pm SA time)
Italy: Kaine Robertson, Ludovico Nitoglia, Gonzalo Canale, Andrea Masi, Walter Pozzebon, Rima Wakarua, Paul Griffen, David Dal Maso, Mauro Bergamasco, Aaron Persico, Marco Bortolami (capt), Santiago Dellape, Salvatore Perugini, Fabio Ongaro, Andrea Lo Cicero. Bench: Giorgio Intoppa, Salvatore Costanzo, Enrico Pavanello, Silvio Orlando, Pietro Travagli, Luciano Orquera, Matteo Pratichetti.
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Rico Gear, Conrad Smith, Tana Umaga (capt), Joe Rokocoko, Daniel Carter, Byron Kelleher, Mose Tuiali'i, Richie McCaw, Jerry Collins, Norm Maxwell, Chris Jack, Carl Hayman, Anton Oliver, Saimone Taumoepeau. Bench: Ma'a Nonu, Luke McAlister or Aaron Mauger, Jimmy Cowan, Steven Bates, Ali Williams, Greg Somerville, Corey Flynn or Keven Mealamu.
Referee: Joel Jutge (France)
Perth: Scotland v Japan (7.30pm time)
Scotland: Hugo Southwell, Chris Paterson, Ben Hinshelwood, Andy Henderson, Sean Lamont, Dan Parks, Chris Cusiter, Jon Petrie, Donnie Macfadyen, Allister Hogg, Nathan Hines, Stuart Grimes, Gavin Kerr, Gordon Bulloch, Allan Jacobsen. Bench: Robbie Russell, Craig Smith, Scott MacLeod, Jason White, Mike Blair, Gordon Ross, Graeme Morrison.
Japan: Ryohei Miki, Koichiro Kubota, Seiichi Shimomura, Yukio Motoki, Hayato Daimon, Keisuke Sawaki, Waturu Ikeda, Takuro Miuchi, Hajime Kiso, Naoya Okubo, Hitoshi Ono, Takanori Kumagai, Ryo Yamamura, Takashi Yamoka, Yuichi Hisadomi. Bench: Mitsugu Yamamoto, Masahito Yamamoto, Feletiliki Mau, Takatoyo Yamaguchi, Kiyonori Tanaka, Masatoshi Mukoyama, Hideyuki Yoshida.
Referee: Andy Cole (Australia)
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2004 Cape Argus. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
