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JJ Harmse
Sometimes I wonder about my friends and foes in the media. It seems more and more to me that so many of those feeding you information via their websites, tweets and other venues of communication are doing a cut and paste job, relying on someone else to do the hard yards or dirty work in getting the information.
Do yourself a favour and look how many stories break at the same moment – most of them after the morning papers have been delivered, or its content being posted on the web.
There is no need to mention names, but very few journalists, bloggers and other opinions with laptops actually attend practices, which is sad, because there you get a real feel of what a team is all about.
You can get a feel of what the mood in the squad is, you can predict a possible starting XV for the weekend by the way the team runs and you can see what aspects of play are getting more attention, again a pointer on what a team will try on a weekend.
Not trying to defend the Pierre Spies dropped goal attempt at the weekend, but to use that as an example, I have seen him slot those at training in Pretoria!
I always presumed that the training ground is exactly for things like that. Spies has kicked a couple of those in training and given the situation, he tried it during a match. Nothing wrong with that, is there?
Going back to the actual effort, I expected the Bulls number eight to rather play to the left, where he had some team-mates in support and Bjorn Basson lurking on that wing.
Anyway, coming back to my point about my fellow media men and women, I was not surprised to see which way the headlines went with the news of Os du Randt not having his contract renewed as a Springbok scrumming consultant.
I have not seen one article probing more on why Os was ‘sacked’. In the original breaking story from Volksblad, it was said that a lack of funds was the reason for his contract not been extended.
I saw no one following up the story or cutting and pasting it for their benefit, going after the money trail. Was Os expecting or demanding more money than before? Why is SARU cutting the Bok budget in a World Cup year?
None of those issues were addressed. Instead, Peter de Villiers was again the easy target, the villain who does not value his own X-factor.
‘Sies man, Peter’, seems to be the easiest way to justify another headline.
You will probably ask why I am not following up that issue, but I can guarantee you that I will do so. I hope to have some answers for all, not only the public, but for my cut and paste foes too.
Also, maybe we will find there is more to this than just money. Has Os handled himself well while on tour with the Boks? Did he perhaps break team protocol at any stage while on tour somewhere? Maybe he did and if so, did Peter de Villiers not then do the right thing to cut the strings?
We can only speculate, because SARU and Bok management has again pulled a veil over their heads. Why has there not been any reaction to this from those who are basically being castigated?
I hate insults, and believe me, on this forum and others, I get a lot, but I have ways and means to defend myself. Which I do, as everyone should have a right of reply.
I am curious though on why SARU and the Springboks are so reluctant to take it up.
Why was Os ‘fired’? Is it really as simple as it being a money issue? Surely not. I have toured with the Springboks in recent times and interviewed Os in that time. He offers massive knowledge and every scrumming session becomes a three year degree in durability, intensity, technique and attitude. He also has this presence that money can’t buy. Yet, he has been let go. Why?
Surely, in the World Cup year where the Springboks are already asking our total support and unwavering loyalty, they should tell us then why one of our icons has been removed from management?
For us, to back them above all, is it wrong to ask for some honesty from their side?
If we want to believe in our team and in their campaign to bring “Bill” back home, perhaps they should trust us too?
In the end, speaking the truth is not only a responsibility, but good manners too.
Read JJ every Sunday in Rapport.
Disclaimer: Sport24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on Sport24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sport24.
Sometimes I wonder about my friends and foes in the media. It seems more and more to me that so many of those feeding you information via their websites, tweets and other venues of communication are doing a cut and paste job, relying on someone else to do the hard yards or dirty work in getting the information.
Do yourself a favour and look how many stories break at the same moment – most of them after the morning papers have been delivered, or its content being posted on the web.
There is no need to mention names, but very few journalists, bloggers and other opinions with laptops actually attend practices, which is sad, because there you get a real feel of what a team is all about.
You can get a feel of what the mood in the squad is, you can predict a possible starting XV for the weekend by the way the team runs and you can see what aspects of play are getting more attention, again a pointer on what a team will try on a weekend.
Not trying to defend the Pierre Spies dropped goal attempt at the weekend, but to use that as an example, I have seen him slot those at training in Pretoria!
I always presumed that the training ground is exactly for things like that. Spies has kicked a couple of those in training and given the situation, he tried it during a match. Nothing wrong with that, is there?
Going back to the actual effort, I expected the Bulls number eight to rather play to the left, where he had some team-mates in support and Bjorn Basson lurking on that wing.
Anyway, coming back to my point about my fellow media men and women, I was not surprised to see which way the headlines went with the news of Os du Randt not having his contract renewed as a Springbok scrumming consultant.
I have not seen one article probing more on why Os was ‘sacked’. In the original breaking story from Volksblad, it was said that a lack of funds was the reason for his contract not been extended.
I saw no one following up the story or cutting and pasting it for their benefit, going after the money trail. Was Os expecting or demanding more money than before? Why is SARU cutting the Bok budget in a World Cup year?
None of those issues were addressed. Instead, Peter de Villiers was again the easy target, the villain who does not value his own X-factor.
‘Sies man, Peter’, seems to be the easiest way to justify another headline.
You will probably ask why I am not following up that issue, but I can guarantee you that I will do so. I hope to have some answers for all, not only the public, but for my cut and paste foes too.
Also, maybe we will find there is more to this than just money. Has Os handled himself well while on tour with the Boks? Did he perhaps break team protocol at any stage while on tour somewhere? Maybe he did and if so, did Peter de Villiers not then do the right thing to cut the strings?
We can only speculate, because SARU and Bok management has again pulled a veil over their heads. Why has there not been any reaction to this from those who are basically being castigated?
I hate insults, and believe me, on this forum and others, I get a lot, but I have ways and means to defend myself. Which I do, as everyone should have a right of reply.
I am curious though on why SARU and the Springboks are so reluctant to take it up.
Why was Os ‘fired’? Is it really as simple as it being a money issue? Surely not. I have toured with the Springboks in recent times and interviewed Os in that time. He offers massive knowledge and every scrumming session becomes a three year degree in durability, intensity, technique and attitude. He also has this presence that money can’t buy. Yet, he has been let go. Why?
Surely, in the World Cup year where the Springboks are already asking our total support and unwavering loyalty, they should tell us then why one of our icons has been removed from management?
For us, to back them above all, is it wrong to ask for some honesty from their side?
If we want to believe in our team and in their campaign to bring “Bill” back home, perhaps they should trust us too?
In the end, speaking the truth is not only a responsibility, but good manners too.
Read JJ every Sunday in Rapport.
Disclaimer: Sport24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on Sport24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sport24.
