Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Brendan Venter's bizarre interview after loss to Racing Metro

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Brendan Venter's bizarre interview after loss to Racing Metro

Controversial Saracens Director of Rugby Brendan Venter gave a bizarre interview after last night’s loss to Racing Metro in Round 3 of the Heineken Cup. Venter was fined recently by the ERC for outspoken comments. This was apparently his retort.

The farcical interview came after his side went down 24-21 to Racing Metro in what was a disappointing home defeat for the London club. Sireli Bobo scored a great try to clinch it.

Venter, a former Springbok center and qualified doctor, has never been shy to speak his mind. He has somewhat of a history with the media, recently being fined £23 000 for his comments on refereeing standards after their game against Leinster.

So rather than say anything wrong, Venter chose to make a mockery of the clichéd after match interview routine by repeating everything that was asked of him, using a sarcastic tone that left viewers gobsmacked and dodged answering the questions.

Unfortunately players and coaches aren’t allowed to say what they feel about matches and officials. They are fined if they speak their mind or give honest feedback when pushed by persistent interviewers who, at times, seem as though they’re oblivious to the regulations in place.

This latest episode won’t go down too well though but it has provided another piece of comical entertainment for those who back the cause of being able to speak freely when asked to.

His sarcastic comments on Sireli Bobo's try were perhaps the bluntest part of the interview.

"Bit of Genius. A bit of magic. Sireli Bombo, very interesting, very good ja. Very good.. Three cheers for Sireli Bombo. Very good, very good," Venter said.

The coach announced earlier this month that he’ll be leaving his post at Saracens to return home to South Africa for family reasons. Whether this latest controversy has him in hot water or not remains to be seen.

Time: 0:59

That is absolutely hilarious.

By Anonymous, at December 12, 2010 11:53 am
yeah watched it live, was very odd, but dawned on me afterwards what he was doing...

Fairplay to him to be honest.

By goodNumber10, at December 12, 2010 11:58 am
childish and immature, i expected better from him

By Anonymous, at December 12, 2010 12:01 pm
Good man Venter. You should be allowed to say what's on your mind. It's bullshit that you get fined.

By Anonymous, at December 12, 2010 12:05 pm
"those who back the cause of being able to speak freely when asked to"

Get a grip. You can speak your mind freely without suggesting that every loss isn't your fault. Or that the ref/ERC are crooked. Or abuse fans.

These are the things Brendan "I'm great me; Look at me; I'm a qualified Doctor don't you know" Venter was fined for, not "speaking freely". Speaking sh*te more like.

Childish, immature and proof that thank goodness he is going back to being a"qulaified doctor" (as RD and every other fawning media outlet repeatedly point out he is).

By QED, at December 12, 2010 12:23 pm
Shaun, there's nothing childish or immature about speaking your mind and giving your opinion. Look, you just did it, and you weren't even asked to.

By I want a biscuit, at December 12, 2010 12:35 pm
He sounds like Div now. Only more coherent.

By Bas Horneman, at December 12, 2010 12:36 pm
Brilliant!!

By Leeners93, at December 12, 2010 12:42 pm
I want a biscuit

I agree. But the issue with BV was the childish (and I stick to it) "it wasn't my fault" attitude. Any match they lost was down to the referee, or rule changes or the conditions. Never, ever was his team second best on the day. That is what I fell is childish and immature.

Oh, and I as asked for my comments. It's a "comments" section

By QED, at December 12, 2010 12:42 pm
"I agree. But the issue with BV was the childish (and I stick to it) "it wasn't my fault" attitude. Any match they lost was down to the referee, or rule changes or the conditions. Never, ever was his team second best on the day. That is what I fell is childish and immature."

He's never said at any point that someone was crooked.

he's a coach, he's passionate about his team and his rugby, if he feels decisions cost his side the game he should be able to say so, and question things he see wrong within the game.

It's funny how you feel it's fine to sit on a blog site and say what you feel yet mr, sorry Doctor, venter can't.

Hypocrite? I think you may just be.

By goodNumber10, at December 12, 2010 12:52 pm
goodNumber10

Eh, good self promoting moniker there, are you sure you're not Venter?

And "it's not my fault" Venter is a doctor? My my, I never knew that...

Every coach is passionate. Most coaches will accept when their team hasn't performed well on the day. Venter doesn't.

Hypocrite? Maybe. And yet you don't want me to have my say and get personally abusive when there is a difference of opinion. Did your parents not show you enough affection as a toddler? Do you just need a big hug? There, there, go and have a nap, you'll be fine after

By QED, at December 12, 2010 12:56 pm
This comment has been removed by the author.

By QED, at December 12, 2010 12:56 pm
Or are you a Safacens fan in disguise.

Come on, admit it, you know you want t, it's the 1st step to recovery

"My name is averageNumber10ButIlikeToBigMyselfUp and I'm a Saffacens fan. It started when I fell in love with a big self-promoting Saffa called Brendan - or Brendie as I like to call him..."

By QED, at December 12, 2010 1:00 pm
it sounds like he has had one too many.

By Anonymous, at December 12, 2010 1:03 pm
This comment has been removed by the author.

By QED, at December 12, 2010 2:03 pm
From a self-declared Saffacens fan on another Blog

"Venter embarrassed himself and the club with that 'interview' - as a supporter of Saracens I'm actually quite glad he's buggering off if all he can contribute is a childish and petulant display of pedantry.

What's worse is that Saracens were dreadful for 70 minutes of the 80 and didn't deserve to get anything out of the game. Quite frankly the group table is a fair reflection of how we've played in the Heineken cup."

By QED, at December 12, 2010 2:04 pm
hahaha awesome!!

By Anonymous, at December 12, 2010 2:45 pm
This could have been a scene from ''The Fast Show''. Quite hilarious on one hand, quite embarrasing on the other.

I would like to say that NOT ALL SOUTH AFRICANS ARE LIKE THIS BUT...a lot of comments I read after a South African Team or coach looses are:
- the ref was crap
- the rule changes are crap
- our coach is crap
- the quota system is crap
- Richie was offside...all the time!!!

Venter is exactly like that in my humble opinion. Surely he doesn't expect the rest of the world to take this seriously does he. Besides, in the SH he is going to get fined for those offences too. Didn't Matt Giteau get a punishment for a similar offence recently?!

Love SA rugby, just not fond of the mentality of some South Africans.

By InMyHumbleOpinion, at December 12, 2010 2:47 pm
Obviously, you've got your mind made, Shaun. That's great, but it seems a little "childish" that you can't let any other comment here go unchallenged on a rugby forum.

But hey, at least you've got priorities.

Regarding the video, I thought it was a bit silly - funny yes, but I imagine if any NFL (or Stade Francais) coach were to respond like that when his team is losing major games...he certainly wouldn't be doing his job security any favors...but I guess if he's already decided he's leaving, I'm sure he's got no problem with letting his frustration be known. So good for him, then - I agree with goodNumber10's initial comment.

By fry, at December 12, 2010 2:54 pm
One side of me is with Brendan here - Those interviewers must piss you off after a while with their proding questions - the one thing you dont want to here while nursing a defeat.

Bad tactic tho - once the interviewer knew he had got under Venters skin he just dug deeper and deeper.

By BigBucks, at December 12, 2010 2:55 pm
This comment has been removed by the author.

By QED, at December 12, 2010 2:58 pm
fry

I have to let other comments go? Ignore comments on my comments?

Like yours?

I haven't responded to all comments fry, only those who had a go at mine - go and read. I started off by commenting on the article - then others came and had a go at my comments. Eh, including you....

By QED, at December 12, 2010 3:01 pm
Maybe the interviewer was trying to lure Brendan into doing the one thing he hasn't done yet, before moving back to South Africa: either verbally or physically abuse someone from the media. LOL

By Dutchrugbyplayer, at December 12, 2010 3:03 pm
i think a coach should be allowed to speak his mind, of course it can end it conrotversy which is good because it challenges thinking

BV was obviously not happy and not in the mood for an interview, obviously he wasnt in for communication and every sensible person would have wished him success for the next couple of games and left him alone this interviewer got the wrong job if he cant even read this situation

wonder when will these journalists ever start asking good questions (question with some sort of backround knowledge, challenging and inquisitve rather), it is worse in other sports though

By seb, at December 12, 2010 3:43 pm
i'm surprised he didn't knock that interviewer out.

By Anonymous, at December 12, 2010 3:47 pm
LOL @ Shauns rage.

By goodNumber10, at December 12, 2010 4:03 pm
To Shaun(the sheep)and inmyhumbleopinion, this is what one of his young English players had to say about Brendan Venter:

http://www.espn.co.uk/rugbyunion/sport/video_audio/61052.html?sport=2

Brendan Venter has done more for Saracens than any other director of rugby has done for their club. South Africans are passionate rugby supporters and passionate people. The UK has become so soft and afraid of standing up and saying what they think in public, that they have this culture of whingeing on blogs. I would trust Brendan Venter's judgement any day of the week ahead of yours.

By Anonymous, at December 12, 2010 4:06 pm
It was actually quite a good game but Saracens contributed to their own downfall through a charged down kick for the second try and a guy trying to pop it back over the try line to a team mate only to give the opposition a try on a plate.

It probably would've been better for Venter to allow another member of the coaching staff to speak in his place if he really dislikes not being able to speak his mind.

By John F, at December 12, 2010 4:09 pm
Poms will always kick you when you down. They do it to their own celebs in the press. They don't like it when a South African proves them wrong and when a South African does better than them at their own game ha ha ha. I had some arrogant pommie telling me that English rugby team were going to thump the boks before the recent test where they got absolutely pounded ha ha ha

By Anonymous, at December 12, 2010 4:19 pm
I have to say as an English teacher, coach and a sports fan, that the questions asked before and after matches of both players and coaches really don't ask for much more than that. History behind why he did that aside, maybe if interviewers asked more thoughtful questions they'd get more thoughtful replies.

By Anonymous, at December 12, 2010 5:19 pm
Lol @ Shauns Rage!!! RAAAARGGGHHHH!!! roffle!

"Hypocrite? Maybe. And yet you don't want me to have my say and get personally abusive when there is a difference of opinion. Did your parents not show you enough affection as a toddler? Do you just need a big hug? There, there, go and have a nap, you'll be fine after"

Er, where have I said you shouldn't have your say?

Personal abuse? Calling you a hypocrite is an observation not abuse - unlike your deranged rant at my parents and personality.

Saracens fan? nah, I wouldn't piss on their club house if it was on fire, wasps boy through and through.

control the rage mate, or don't post on blogs - they are NOT a good combination.

toodle pips!

By goodNumber10, at December 12, 2010 5:52 pm
what an absolute asshole

By Anonymous, at December 12, 2010 6:25 pm
Venter is a bellend. Every interview he bangs on about rule changes killing the game and how loads of decisions went against him. Do we really want rugby to become like football and have managers criticising the ref all the time? Even if the ref has a poor game, 90% of the time the best team wins. And as for this interview in particular, its the most childish and pointless thing i have ever seen. He is an embarrassment, assuming some of you on here are old enough to be working, would you ever act like this in your line of work in a professional environment? The sooner he is out of English rugby the better

By Rich, at December 12, 2010 6:47 pm
My team lost the match, so now I'm going to act like a little faggot and refuse to do a proper interview. WAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!

By Brendan Venter, at December 12, 2010 7:32 pm
The truth is usually somewhere in the middle.
Journalists should look for interesting points and not contraversial ones and coaches should try and be positive in their approach.
Whinging about refs and rules is something I'd rather leave to soccer, but fining someone for negative comments rather than having his club adress how he represents them on the screen is a bit over the top in my opinion, (and anti-constitutional by the way)

By Anonymous, at December 12, 2010 8:09 pm
I guess its funny at first, but I can see why a lot of you are saying its childish... I mean there is freedom of speech and there is personal criticism about the way a referee handles a game.... Generally speaking there aren’t often that you can sit back after a game and say the referee was completely equal.... I mean that in the sense that if teams keep infringing the referee may issue a warning, the next team that infringes gets a card....there are always sour feelings about that, especially in a high tempo game. There is always cases where a key player may get sin binned for in a crucial part of the game... Scott Murray so many years ago got a red card against wales in the first half of the game (possibly even the first 15 mins) now it wasn’t the worst offence when you look at the incident itself, but letter of the law says otherwise...But personally it takes a bigger coach to turn around and say ‘well there were decisions that went against us, but thats the way the game goes.’

By Anonymous, at December 12, 2010 8:26 pm
Hmm agreed its somewhere in the middle, I feel venter was daft to behave as he did, but i understand why he did it....

And yes reporters do ask some dumb questions....I have been trying to find the video on the net but i cannot remember the circumstances or who was involved.

I believe it was Andy Robinson after scotland just lost an extremely close game, the interview went on and then the reporter asked 'So Andy, Whats the mood like in the dressing room right now?' to which he replied 'what do you think?'

I quite admired that response as it was not rude, however highlighted the stupidity of the question.

By (u-p)rick, at December 12, 2010 8:38 pm
Wonder if BV will get fined for this interview too..?? Why conduct an interview in the 1st place if you not interested in the coaches sentiment? And now I refer to the interview where BV got his hefty fine for commenting on the ref. The breakdowns,rucks and mauls is and has always been a bone of contention for the law makers at the IRB. Just look how many times the rules around the ruck and maul have changed over the last 20 years and we wonder why players and coaches are frustrated...?? Imagine the LBW rule changed every season. How happy do you think the cricketing fraternity would be then??!!! Fact of the matter is the rules and their interpretation is causing a lot of confusion and frustration with little consistency. The same could be said for the touch, pause, engage trilogy before every scrum!!! Sorry but WTF where the cretins who decided that thinking??!! (How many free kicks for the early engage have we seen this season already)??!! The same cretins telling players not to go off their feet at the ruck or that a tackler not rolling away from a ruck while you at the bottom of a pile of bodies is a penalizable offence. The stupidity of it is mind boggling. So Brendan verbalizes his frustrations in an interview and gets fined for it and he's the childish one????!! Do me a favour!!! Those wank ers at the IRB need to get off their high horses and start contributing something more significant to the game of rugby other than, TOUCH, PAUSE, ENGAGE!!!!

By Unknown, at December 12, 2010 9:22 pm
Who can blame him

By Anonymous, at December 12, 2010 9:27 pm
I can't believe that there are so many people here defending this asshole. I mean you're all saying that he should be allowed speak his mind. But he only speaks his mind after he loses, to say that his team were robbed and that the referees and the IRB are fools. If he said it in a neutral setting, or even if he said something after his team won a match, it wouldn't be so bad. But he's obviously just being a moany little baby. I mean if every coach and player when interviewed gave the same BS that he does, the whole system would be a joke. If the interviewer had said "Brendan you're being an absolute wanker", he'd be fined, and rightly so. You're allowed say what you think, but within reason obviously.

By Exasperated Individual, at December 12, 2010 9:52 pm
Thought this was pretty hilarious, and aside from that he has a good point after being fined by the ERC..

Also was a pretty accurate parody of typical coaches. Sounds like Warren Gatland.. or every other Welsh coach bar Dai Young. "Happy with the team, will look at ______. Disappointed not to have one."

More honest answers from coaches and interested interviewers please.

By Anonymous, at December 12, 2010 10:15 pm
what a twat

By Anonymous, at December 12, 2010 10:24 pm
Good on him.
He has every right to do this.
If the tv ididots don't like coaches actually speaking their minds and telling the truth, this is what they egt.
Ridiculous, pointless interviews which serve no purpose.

By Jono, at December 12, 2010 11:41 pm
He was right when he said that refs make a hash of the breakdown in the HC.
It slows the game down and makes for shittier rugby. It leads to shittier rugby players. He was right.
No wonder he doesn't want to do interviews now, he just got fined thousands of dollars for telling the truth.

By Tom, at December 12, 2010 11:53 pm
Agree (u)prick. I like Robinson's interview style. But the most honest and straight to the point is O'Gara. I'll defend that guy to the hilt just for his interviews alone.

RE: This

Its understandable in a way. He was actually right about the ref in Leinster game, but not in the way he went about it and got fined Eur23000 (which is huge considering Premier League coaches who earn 10 times Venter get 5g fines).

By Huh!! the 3rd, at December 12, 2010 11:56 pm
Isn't this classed as an intelligent interview in South Africa?

By Anonymous, at December 13, 2010 1:38 am
Lmao... Well it falls in line with Pdv so you could be right

By Anonymous, at December 13, 2010 3:14 am
Shaun, whilst I somewhat agreed with your starting argument (childish etc) I got the impression you were just a saffa hater..... I am th first to stand up and say I hate it when saffa fans cannot just say 'ah shit, they beat us, well done' yet there is a general trend to look over and beyond the game at hand and make up some excuses about someone/something etc etc but the way you use te term 'saffacens' makes me think your issue is with SA and not anything else..... Also the way you moan people have insulted you then you do the exact same thing back....pretty weak that's all.....

Anyway, I just recalled another interview where I think a winger had been red carded for the weakest head butt ever on a hooker (winger was Tom Payne, Tim Payne? Idk) and the coach was intrrviewed after and asked abou the red card, he said something along the lines of 'well certainly in my day we didn't see hookers going down like that' and said that by the letter of the law it was probably a red..... I enjoy after match interviews and I think coachs and fans should remember there is a way to say things:

When politicians refer to terrorists we all know they mean 'spineless filthy little w*****s' yet they do not use that term...... Its a case of having tact

By (u-p)rick, at December 13, 2010 5:28 am
Terrorists? Doesn't that mean, "people exercising the right to a free press"

By Jimbo, at December 13, 2010 6:24 am
When he was asked why didn't you win he should have answered "we had less points than they did"

By Anonymous, at December 13, 2010 10:11 am
I think the reason he loses a lot of respect is down to the fact he can never just accept a defeat might be down to his team not playing that well. He started the match with the 2 first choice props on the bench, his 10 has 3-4 top level games with no replacements (down to the fact his other option is doing a tv dancing show, what was PDV's comment last year?) and his main line breaker is out with one of the dumbest self inflicted injuries that the premiership has seen. Add to it that Racing Metro seem to have some form (and Saracens haven't over the past month) and I think there's some decent reasons for a loss.

Being passionate about something doesn't give you free reign to throw the toys out of the pram every time you get asked a question about why you didn't win.

By Nick, at December 13, 2010 10:24 am
i love it !! it reminds of jerry Seinfeld somehow !!!

Ferry ferry goot !!!

8-)

By Anonymous, at December 13, 2010 10:59 am
Wow, he's a qualified doctor huh? Hmm, that's amazing.

If he keeps working hard maybe one day he can be as well-qualified and experienced as former All Black captain David Kirk.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Kirk

By Mata Hairy, at December 13, 2010 11:12 am
It wasn't as funny as when guys swear on live tv and everyone gets the vapours, but it was pretty good comedy anyway. It was coming, however, and he might have done it anyway even if Sarries had won.

The ERC fine against him from earlier this year was harsh - I thought he was pretty constructive in that interview, making valid points about interpretations at the break-down, and to get fined for it was a severe punishment. If you are going to hold coaches to their media obligations, you've surely got to give them some latitude talk about the game - direct insults towards officials is obviously not on, but there has to be some allowance for critical comments, at the moment there is none and inevitably it took a guy like Venter to point this out.

If he gets fined again, maybe next time he can stand in front of the interviewer with his mouth covered and "Justice 4 Brendan" written on his forehead.

By edbok, at December 13, 2010 11:37 am
Apparently ¨ Brendan Venter's bizarre post-match interview following Saracens' Heineken Cup defeat to Racing Metro was reportedly inspired by the film - Mike Bassett: England Manager. ¨ Another source

http://www.mymovies.net/player/default.asp?filmid=1356&url=/film/fid1356/trailers/trid562/wm/high.asx

By Anonymous, at December 13, 2010 11:45 am
"In the world of rugby there is not one person I genuinely dislike other than Brendan Venter," says Dawson. "He is one of the most hypocritical, cynical, dirty and underhand players I have ever played against. I can't stand anything about him. He is a bad loser and a bad winner, an all-round horrible person.

Good enough for Matt Dawson, good enough for me.

By morgan, at December 13, 2010 12:08 pm
Is Shaun ever coming back or has he exloded in a fit of Venter-esq rage and destroyed his keyboard?

:(

By goodNumber10, at December 13, 2010 12:18 pm
Venter is too clever to have to adhere to ERC rules, he is above them and should never get punished. So intelligent and balanced.

By Anonymous, at December 13, 2010 1:05 pm
I think he has smoked too many cones...

By Anonymous, at December 13, 2010 1:13 pm
He's a good coach. I can understand why he did that - it must be very frustrating not being able to say what you think. On the other hand, I can understand why the authorities have to shield refs from too much criticism - without refs, there's no game at all, and if you chase out the top tier ones with criticism, the ones who replace them will only be worse.

By Mike, at December 13, 2010 1:51 pm
Is there any chance of getting his interview he got fined for up? Or even a transcript or something? Only at the moment I'm only assuming the content of his interview he got fined for.....

By (u-p)rick, at December 13, 2010 4:31 pm
Try as he might, Venter couldn't pull it off as well as they did in "Bull Durham"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeVca9MwDX8

I'm just happy to be here, hope I can help the ball club.

By cheyanqui, at December 13, 2010 6:04 pm
ya ya very very good interview three cheers for brendan venter ya ya ya

By Anonymous, at December 13, 2010 6:45 pm
"look at me look at me i'm so funny"

if he put as much effort into tactics ect then maybe the team could have done a bit better, sarries will be glad to get someone who is in it for the team when he's gone.

By mat, at December 13, 2010 11:59 pm
EXPLAINED - The man is a Hero.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzZ2cf-3R7Q&feature=related

By Anonymous, at December 14, 2010 12:38 am
How can they justify 23,000 though? This isn't premiership football the players and coaches cannot afford that

By Jack, at December 14, 2010 8:49 am
T.W.A.T.

By Anonymous, at December 14, 2010 12:19 pm
@ Morgan its sad that the opinion of a substandard scrumhalf is good enough for you. This from a man who didnt want to play for the Barbarians cause they "spanked" him after bad performance. Venter stated he tried to apologise to Dawson for the stiff arm, but he refused to shake his hand.

Obviously the reaction was childish but this was clearly to make a point.

By Pirates Oldboy, at December 14, 2010 3:55 pm
I was embarassed for him to be honest.

By Anonymous, at December 14, 2010 5:45 pm
what does 'ja' mean?

In the original post it says

'Sireli Bombo, very interesting, very good ja. Very good.. '

I have heard it before so i know its not a typo, but I have also seen it being used in reply to something funny:

'jajaja'

so im kinda lost as to what it means.

Im assuming the way venter used it was:
Yes - yeah - yah - ya - ja

By Anonymous, at December 14, 2010 9:45 pm
ja means yes.
And he has every right to answer interviewers any bloody way he wants to. The ERC are idiots.

By Tom, at December 14, 2010 11:13 pm
classic bok

By Anonymous, at December 15, 2010 1:25 am
Anonymous at Dec 14, at 9:45pm,

"Ja" means "yes" in Germanic languages - it's where "yea" originates from, and subsequently the English word "yes".

However, when you see it as "jajaja", that's the Spanish onomatopoeia for laughter, akin to "hahaha" in English.

By The more you know..., at December 15, 2010 5:43 am
the erc is a joke in this respect

By Anonymous, at December 15, 2010 10:45 am
Hi Pirates Oldboy,

No one know's do they? for all I know Dawson could be a complete arse and venter a real nice guy. Just that Dawson has always come across as a decent sort of bloke but to me (and a fair few others)Brendan comes across as nothing but ego. Not quite sure where you are going with sub-standard scrum half comment, I always thought he did fairly well at the game.

By morgan, at December 15, 2010 1:31 pm
I have watched thousands of games of rugby live and on TV and never ever once have I seen a ref making a mistake, never mind a ref showing bias. Obviously it is pure fantasy that a ref might have a habit of favoring one team or being unfair towards another. Refs could show god a thing or two! Venter must be smoking something.

By Anonymous, at December 15, 2010 1:57 pm
Hi Morgan,

You are aboslutley right when you say no one knows. I guess I just tried to defend Venter seeing that he is a fellow south african. I have no idea what the guy gets upto in his private live and only have post game interviews to judge him by which seems a bit unfair.

As for the sub-standard coment that might have been harsh and maybe my inner troll coming out.
Standard scrumhalf is propably more correct. Sub-Standard would be if you compared him to the best in the game like: Fourie du Preez, Justin Marshall, George Gregan or Joost van der Westhuizen. Then again they were the best.

By Pirates oldboy, at December 15, 2010 3:27 pm
Hi Pirate me ol'mucker,

All brilliant scrum halfs my friend. It's just for me, the world cup win and oustanding Lions performances (do you remember that dummy against the Boks) is what puts him right alongside those names.

By morgan, at December 15, 2010 5:28 pm
Hi Morgan,

Well that must be a very patriotic opinion, cause 99.9% of the time one of the guys I mentioned would be in a rugby legend´s all time xv. I think Dawson would have to fight numerous other scrummies to make the 0.1%. Its a insult to use Dawson´s name in the same sentence as thier´s.

A world cup medal isnt really much of a factor. South Africa have a lot of guys with RWC medals who should not have them. Kobus Wiese, Ballie Swart, Bobby Skinstad and Ricky Januarie to name a few.

No I dont remeber that dummy not that it wasnt memorable cause it is for you. Sorry

By Pirates Oldboy, at December 15, 2010 10:07 pm
Hi Pirate me ol cockled eel!

Oh how these things escalate, before you know it, one is going tit for tat with a fellow rugby fan from across the globe.

You are most likely right. A player who has won Grand Slam's, Premiership titles, A World Cup Winner (including the first ever &7s world cup)and a lions Series in South Africa does not mean that he can be considered as one of the greats. What was I thinking.

You really should Youtube the try. I doubt you will see four blokes in green shirts as perplexed ever again.

By morgan, at December 16, 2010 12:18 pm
He is just a manager quite fragile who has just lost a game. This is never easy to accet a defeat. that's simply the case of Venter. Fair enough.

By Anonymous, at December 16, 2010 12:35 pm
Hi Morgan,

I agree this may turn into a mudslinging contest. Congrats for keeping it civilised, cause it seems I´m "attacking" a personal hero of yours. Whereas Venter is mearly a compatriot of mine.

Glad to see you agree with me that he isnt a legend or a rugby great ;) Take Richie McCaw for example he will certainly go into the history books as a legend even if he stops playing now. Even though he hasnt won a RWC yet.

As for the try I youtubed it, but the closest thing they have is a great run from Matthew Tate in the RWC 2007 final. Sorry I will request that Rugbydump upload that video. You can consider that a xmas gift from me to you, as I feel we had a nice conversation and am embarrassed that I didnt get you anything. Not to mention that I´m a cheapscate.

By Pirtes Oldboy, at December 16, 2010 3:57 pm
*cheapskate*

Seems a dictionary might be a good gift for me.

By Pirates Oldboy, at December 16, 2010 4:01 pm