Suur druiwe of onnoselgeid?

Ons ou nasie het die vermoe om ons te verlekker in ander se swaarkry.  Vir diegene wat geskok en verontwaardig is oor hierdie stelling, kom ek stel my saak. Na aanleiding van die Bulls se naam weggooi die afgelope naweek teen die Brumbies, het ek tot die konklusie gekom dat sekere rugby ondersteuners dit vreeslik geniet wanneer hulle landgenote swaar kry op die rugbyveld.  Dis beslis nie 'n gesonde wedywering nie, maar 'n geniepsige en vernietigende houding jeens ander spanne.  Lees gerus die kommentaar op Rapport se website na aanleiding van die artikel oor die Bulls wedstryd.  Ene Barney Barnato (hys skynbaar te vreesbevange om sy regte naam te gebruik) vaar uit teen die Bulls en verlekker hom so in die uitslag dat hy waarskynlik 'n kalmeer pil moes sluk.  "Barney" brei breebors uit oor hoe swak die Bulls span en hulle ondersteuners is.  Hierdie verloorder span moet volgens Barney maar liewer uit rugby tree (of so kan mens aflei).  Enige mens sou nou aanneem dat hierdie span waarteen Barney so uitvaar sekerlik heel laaste in die kompetisie moes eindig aangesien hulle die vrotste span in die aarde se bestaan is.  Maar helaas, die "vrot" span het tweede geeindig! En die span wat Barney ondersteun het sowaar sewende geeindig. Noem my onnosel, maar as jou span sewende geeindig het, en ook lelik naam weggegooi het in die kompetisie (as jy dit vergelyk met hulle potensiaal op papier), sou jy nie die insig he om eerder stil te bly as om die voorste span in jou land uitmekaar te trek nie?  Dalk het Barney se lus vir wraak en begeerte om niemand om hom iets te gun nie, hom so blind gemaak vir hierdie werklikheid? Of dalk het hy maar van skooldae af laaste gekom wat insig aanbetref.  Barney is nie die enigste persoon wat sulke kommentaar gelewer het nie.  Dit is vir my hartseer dat ons nie ons land eerste kan stel nie, maar eerder wil he dat ons landgenote moet verloor . Give credit where credit is due!

As ons nou vorentoe kyk na hierdie naweek se eindstryd tussen die Chiefs en die Brumbies, steek hierdie geniepsigheid weer kop uit.  Daar is 'n klein groepie wat wil he dat die Brumbies moet verloor, sodat Jake White nie die beker omhoog hou nie.  Ek weet hy het allerlei goed kwytgeraak wat mense ontstel het, maar die geniepsige dinge wat nou gese word, is nie goed vir ons land of vir rugby nie.

Kom ons ondersteun ons land en rugby. Gesonde wedywering en kwinkslae is deel van die sport en maak dit baie opwindend.  Maar wanneer dinge op 'n punt kom waar dit lelik raak, moet 'n mens mooi besin oor waar jou prioriteite le.

Groete

Be quiet! I'm trying to watch rugby!

With the Super rugby semi-finals coming up, I have a few concerns.  These concerns however, has nothing to do with the two matches.  Yes, as a South African, I want the Bulls to win, but that's not my problem. My problem is with people who can't stop talking while I am trying to watch the game.  If they spoke about the game, it would be okay, I would understand.  But they want to sit and make conversation, while I am trying to concentrate on the game.  I was brought up to respect others and be nice to people.  But when someone tries to make small talk while I'm watching the game,  that's a bit difficult. At first I thought the problem lies with the fact that I am a woman, and people (especially other woman) tend to think that woman is not really that big into rugby. But then I noticed the same thing happening to the guys around me.  You always have that person in the room who's not interested in the rugby and is only there to be annoying.  The second problem I have is people who make comments about the game, but who knows less about rugby than my dog.  They either try to sound smart, or try to anger the rugby watchers.  When everybody in the room supports the Stormers, they will support the Bulls.  They can't tell you any of the players' names, who the captain is or where they are standing on the log, but they are suddenly the biggest supporter of them that has ever existed.  Usually they end up with a black eye or a broken nose, deservedly so.  I therefore ask the non rugby supporters and the trying to be smart supporters, to give us a break this weekend.  Just let us enjoy the game!

Should the Stormers throw the match against the Bulls?

This weekend is the last of the round robin matches before the playoffs begin.  On Saturday the Bulls play the Stormers at Newlands and that's going to be very interesting.  Both teams have a few injuries  and the Stormers will want to end their season on a high note.  If the Bulls win, they can end in top spot insuring a home semi and possible home final.  Now the question beckons, what is best for SA rugby? Should the Stormers give the bulls a chance to end on top, or do they end their season on a high and get some winning momentum for the currie cup?  I have heard people ask why do the Stormers not just throw the game and get a possible home final for SA? But is that ethical?  Now that they have nothing to lose, why not just give the Bulls a chance?  But on the other hand, what about the Stormers fans and sponsors? The players get paid to win, don't they?