Hi all

It feels like ages since I logged into my account and posted something, maybe I am still trying to get over our dismal performance in the UK tour

But on a positive note, Super 14 is just round the corner, and is undoubtedly the best rugby competition in the world, thank goodness I am not married, as I would be sleeping outside for the entire part of February,March, April and May, because I cannot miss a game in this compo, im just ADDICTED.

For all of you who read this blog who know that I am a Sharks supporter but do have a very special place for The Lions, as i was born in Gauteng, oh and did i mention my never fading “dislike” for The Bulls. Right so here are my predictions for the semi-finals, the 4 teams will be:

• Stormers
• Hurricanes
• Chiefs
• Sharks

As much as i like the Lions, i think they will definitely finish top half of the table, and might dominate the 2011 season, they have some new exciting players but will take a season or 2 to gel i think. The Stormers on the other hand have one of the best coached in the world in my opinion, Rassie Erasmus is just brilliant, you can see that the team fully trust him and his decisions. The Stormers are going to have a cracker of a season this year! (It’s about bl**dy time too!!!)

Click HERE for the 2010 Super 14 Fixtures

Kroogsiboi OUT

Ok so if there is a game that we need to win its this one! I honestly feel that this will be the real test on this tour for the Boks, it’s the end of a long season and it will be a real character test for our boys. Ireland looked so dangerous when they played Australia, if it was not for the early intercept try I believe Ireland would of won that game! Yes people say the O’Gara is over the hill but he played a great kicking game that day which allowed them to apply pressure on the Aussies for most of the game.

As i have said in many blogs before this Brian O’Driscoll is one of if not my favourie centers of all time, he is a greaet leader for Ireland and give 150% every game, he will be up for this game after the loss in the British Lions tour. Personally I am a bit worried about BJ Botha at prob as i believe he is a good scrummager but that it, he does nothing else around the park he doesn’t carry the ball much and cannot tackle! I would have started with the beast. (Oh Os Du Randt we miss you!)

I hope that Jean Deysel gets a run as i believe that he is definitely one for the future, the boy is big and strong and makes yards every time he has ball in hand, did i mention he is a Shark I am so excited for the game tomorrow, it’s going to be a cracker! Dewald Potgieter has been impressive all year and i will be interested to see what he does when he comes on, a real test for him.

Not much else to say really, Bob Skinstad said yesterday in one of his blog interviews that the new Irish 10 is talented, so Burger and Brussow will need to put pressure on him early and make sure he knows who he is playing against..

Live tweets tomorrow @SArugbyNews

Kroogsiboi Out

Teams

Ireland: Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Brian O’Driscoll (captain) , Paddy Wallace, Keith Earls, Jonathan Sexton, Tomas O’Leary, Jamie Heaslip, David Wallace, Stephen Ferris, Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan, John Hayes, Jerry Flannery, Clan Healy.
Reserves: Sean Cronin, Tony Buckley, Leo Cullen, Sean O’Brien, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara, Gordon D’Arcy.

Springbok team: Zane Kirchner, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Danie Rossouw, Schalk Burger, Heinrich Brussow, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, BJ Botha, John Smit (captain), Tendai Mtawarira.
Reserves: Bismarck du Plessis, CJ van der Linde, Andries Bekker, Jean Deysel, Dewald Potgieter, Ruan Pienaar, Jean de Villiers.

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales), Kick-off: 4pm SA time. TV: M-Net/SS1

Oh well chins up boys, need a strong performance next week!

Here’s the highlight if you brave enough to watch…

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I quote: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen (a South Africa pack) as bad as that, especially from a coaching perspective. We were given a bit of a lesson at the scrums,” assistant coach Dick Muir said.

Come on we are supposed to be the best team in world, yes it was not South Africa’s full strength side, but its a loss in the green and gold and thats how it has been written. Rugby players are paid a huge amount to play, therefore i say put a side on the field that you know will perform, not that you hope will perform!

I hope that the Boks put in a huge effort on the training field this week, if not the France game could be embarrassing. I hate talking badly about my country but come on boys, that was dismal!

Kroogsiboi Out

South Africa’s Team and my comments :

1. Gurthrö Steenkamp – Got lots to prove if he want to be in the test team
   
2. Chiliboy Ralepelle (captain) – Absolute Joke, seriously how can he be out captain when he comes off the Bench for the Bulls?
   
3. Jannie du Plessis – Lets see…
   
4. Danie Rossouw - needs a good game just to make the bench for the test team
   
5. Andries Bekker – great player, always consistent
   
6. Dewald Potgieter – Quality player, lets see if he can do it in grean and gold
   
7. Davon Raubenheimer – Peter de Villier is on drugs, this dude is not Springbok material!
   
8. Ashley Johnson – Outstanding Currie Cup, will hurt the Pommie team tonight for sure
   
9. Heini Adams – CRAP
   
10. Ruan Pienaar – Needs a miracle, Morne is 110 % better than him at the moment – alot of pressure for him
    
11. Jongi Nokwe – Average
    
12. Wynand Olivier – Just dont like this “prince charming from Shrek” look alike- needs to learn to pass
    
13. Juan de Jongh – Has something to prove lets see it
    
14. Odwa Ndungane – Ok
    
15. Earl Rose – Can win or lose a game for you, for his sake i hope he performs- many eyes on him at the moment!

Replacements

16 Bandise Maku,17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Jean Deysel(What a player, will cause extreme pain), 20 Francois Hougaard(dont rate him – stick to modelling), 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Riaan Viljoen.

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Full list of Award winners:

SA Rugby Player of the Year – Fourie du Preez (Vodacom Blue Bulls)<- well deserved, but thought Heinrich Brüssow should of won

Players’ Player of the Year – Morné Steyn (Vodacom Blue Bulls) <- Totally agree

SA Rugby Young Player of the Year – Heinrich Brüssow (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs)<- He is just quality

Test player of the Castle South Africa 2009 Lions Series – Morné Steyn (Vodacom Blue Bulls)<- Has been so consistent

Provincial player of the Castle South Africa 2009 Lions Series – Heinrich Brüssow (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs)<-

SA Rugby Team of the Year – The Springboks<- Were there any doubts???

Absa Coach of the Year – Peter de Villiers<- Dont agree with many things this man does, he won coz of the team!

Vodacom Super 14 Player of the Year – Morné Steyn (Vodacom Bulls)<- Again well deserved

Absa Curie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year – Luke Watson (Vodacom Western Province)<- Well done, performed very well

Absa Curie Cup First Division Player of the Year – Allistair Kettledas (Pumas)<- Dont know him.oops!

SuperSport Try of the Year – Jaque Fourie, 2nd test v British & Irish Lions (Loftus Versfeld)<- Quality try, Quality Player

Sasol Sevens Player of the Year – Frankie Horne<- Agreed

SA Under-20 Player of the Year – Lionel Cronjé (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs)

Vodacom Cup Player of the Year – Jonathan Mokuena (GWK Griquas)<- Outstanding season

SAA Club Champs Player of the Year – Dustin Jinka (Hamilton)<- Great display in throughout the tournament

SA Rugby Women’s Rugby Achiever of the Year – Saloma Booysen (Eastern Province)<- Dont watch women’s rugga

Marriott Refereeing Achievement of the Year – Jonathan Kaplan<- What an idiot, had a terrible final

Coca-Cola Craven Week Player of the Tournament – Andile Jho (Border)

Kroogsiboi Out

Enjoy

Morning all

For those of you who regularly read my blog, you know that I am pretty anti-Bulls, I must stress that it’s not because i do not like some of the players in the Bulls squad because i do, its more of a rivalry thing and i guess it could also be coz they one of the best teams in SA and a big rival for my team (The Sharks).

The Bulls really have some great players that i admire, the likes of Victor Matfield, Pierre Spies and Morne Steyn to name a few are great ambassadors for the game. The reason that these 3 players have made a huge impact on me is not necessarily what they do on the field, but the way they conduct themselves off the field. In every interview I have ever watched Victor in, he always comes across as a humble man who always compliments and uplifts his team mates! You can clearly see that on the field he has a huge presence and is someone who the entire team and opposition look up to. Victor I wish you and your team all the best this weekend. God Bless

In the last few months Heinrich Brussow has gone from strength to strength, he is definitely one of the best if not the best fetcher in the world, in the last game against the Bulls he managed to turnover the ball 9 times! He has impressed me game after game and i believe he will be a huge influence on tomorrow’s game. The beauty of rugby is that in a final of this magnitude any team can win on the day I wish the Cheetahs the best of luck and God Bless.

One more sleep, YAY!

Kroogsiboi Out

I was blessed to grow up in a loving Christian home. Both of my parents had committed their lives to the fulltime ministry of serving God and His people. Our little family, my parents, my elder sister Johanni, younger sister Steffani and I were instructed in the Way of the Lord – always placing Him first. We were taught the Word of God from an early age – learning it verse by verse and reciting it to guests visiting our home, Psalm 1: 1 was my recital verse and I rehearsed it over and over again. We were basking in the Love of the Lord and I felt blessed and at a young age was starting to comprehend the Fathers Heart for His children here on earth.

In Primary school I was excelling at academics and sport. I was a happy child and was experiencing Gods true blessings in my life. My parents loved each other and protected and challenged us on every level – always offering their support and motivation. My Father instilled a strong champion spirit within us teaching us to believe that we are winners and most importantly that: “The best is yet to come.”That is what God wants for you, the BEST,to PROSPER. My mother taught us the art of survival: to live with endurance and perseverance. She taught us diligence and nurtured a fighter spirit within each one of us. Never to give up in challenging times and to have patience and perserverance.
At the time I went to highschool things started to change. I was going through the typical changes a teenage boy experiences. Wanting to impress the girls but feeling insecure, looking terribly out of proportion with extra large ears and feet and experiencing problems with my skin, didn’t play for the A-team, and wasn’t popular. A good thing was that my attitude was right and I always participated in as many events as I could. Knowing through what I had been taught that hard work and a good attitude is what pulls you through.

My parents were going through a crisis in their marriage and it became evident that my pretty picture of home was going to change. Satan has a way of stealing your inheritance and happiness if you do not nurture and take good care of what God has entrusted to you like your marriage,your talents or gifts.
At the age 15 my parents chose to get a divorce. I was asking more and more questions about life and God – especially, how a loving God could allow this to happen? Why does bad things happen to good people? Why do families get separated? I realised only later that this isn’t Gods plan but we live and die by the decisions we make…like in Deutoronomy 30 God says “I lay before you life and death, blessing and cursing, so choose life..” and alot of times we blame God for the decisions we make.
This was a very big blow to my world. My picture of family was shattered – no more family holidays or Christmas’s. This security was plucked out from under me. Through this pain I made a decision that one day I would make a success of my marriage and I would learn from the mistakes my parents have made. You also have to make that decision…its not good enough to say because your parents did it, thats why you are doing it, you’re better than that!
Turn your pain around. Learn from it. You can do it!

Instead of seeking God in all of my pain I found consolation with my friends and became more and more influenced by the group. Peer pressure like what people thought of me, trying to be someone else, initiated a lifestyle of self centeredness, always in pursuit of acceptance and acknowledgement but ironically only feeding the void in your soul. Being empty when i was alone.
I was living with my mother and two sisters and as a family we were going through some really challenging times. My elder sister Johanni was a full time student studying law. Myself and Steffani were both still at high school. At 40 years old, having been a stay at home mom, my mother decided to study a degree in law in pursuit of her independence and financial freedom. This was adding a lot of pressure to our situation and financially we were straining to make ends meet. I remember a time I invited friends over to our house, advising them that they could only visit our home but could not eat there because we did not have enough money for food to entertain our guests. It was during this time that my sister Johanni, in her final year of LLB and 22 years old fell pregnant with her long time boyfriend from high school. This was another blow to my understanding of life and family. A family so committed to serving God? What would everyone say? How would this look to the world? Our moral core values were in question.
Johanni was faced with the choice so many women are faced with, the question of having an abortion. This proved to be the easy way out. In our home we were taught that discipline and the pain of discipline is worth more than the pain of shame. Taking responsibility was the right thing to do – it would bring forth fruit in the long run. Johanni chose to take responsibility for her actions and not to give up, but to follow through with the pregnancy. God blessed her with a beautiful baby girl called Milla two weeks before her final LLB Law exam. Milla was a miracle and came to us in such a difficult time. Today we cannot imagine our lives without this little princess.Now she’s 7 years old and a bundle of life giving joy!

My father taught us that if we continue doing the same things that other people were doing we would never be different. I wanted to be different.
God blessed me with sporting talent. In this difficult time I chose to be different and make a few decisions. I wanted to be the fastest, the strongest and the best at what I did. When my father was young he was a prominent sports figure in South Africa, excelling at athletics and rugby. I had the blessing of inheriting these genes. Yet, talent is never enough. My father had taught me that the seeds of discipline and sacrifice needed to be sown for the harvest of success to come in. I had to make a commitment. It was the only thing I was sure of in my life.
“Success is not the blaze of sudden glory won, it is the effort adding up of strong work done.”
I was in gym every morning at 5am, playing rugby after school , choir in the evenings and then there was the academics. This was such a busy time but before I knew it I was in grade 12 and I had grown from small out of proportion teen to a tall, strong and fast young man. I started reaping the reward of those disciplined decisions. Not partying when they did and train when they didn’t . I was number 1 in South Africa in Discus, I was number 3 in shotput under 20 and qualified for the world juniors. I was chosen as cravenweek captain an I was excelling at my rugby. I was confronted with a choice to pursue a professional career in sport. I chose rugby.

After highschool I signed a contract with the Blue Bulls and was given a full bursary for studying at the University of Pretoria. This was awesome and I was experiencing my independence – all my studies were paid and my contract allowed me financial independence. I started experiencing the glory and the reliance on self. My first year I was chosen for the SA u/19 side. The media started paying attention – I was labelled the next best thing in SA rugby. I was experiencing the honor of man. I was riding this wave of glory but at the World Cup tournament the unexpected happened… and I broke my arm. The break was bad and the injury would initially take me out of play for at least 2 months. I was asking so many questions. This was supposed to be my time and my breakthrough after everything I had invested? Why me Lord? Why now? My gran gave me John 13:7 and I would only later understand. God has a plan with everything. My arm did not heal and my injury turned into a 10 month period of no play.
I was thinking this was a great time to commit to my studies – but it turned out to be the perfect excuse for a party. I was young and started hanging out in all the clubs, drinking and slowly losing my focus which had driven me to succeed. I was in a very bad space. My dad kept motivating me by saying I had to remain positive and that the best was yet to come. By the end of 2004 I had no goal and no motivation and was totally unfocussed. On top of all this my arm wouldn’t heal. It was at this time I believed things could not get any worse that I got the shocking news that my father had a heart attack and had died at the age of 53. How sudden! How could this be?
Lord this is too much! Why now? I need my dad, my father, my mentor…
But God had other plans…a better plan.
I was immediately confronted with life, mortality and eternity. This was the moment my life changed. I started asking what was the goal of my life? Could it be that God had a plan with my life? I knew that I desperately needed to get my life right with God. I was not sure of what would happen to me if I died – I needed to connect with God and make a few radical decisions for what I believed in.
My father had been the cornerstone of my security. He was my foundation, my protection my guidance. My dad called himself the “Groot Leeu” he was 6 feet 4 inches and had an aura around him. He had a fantastic sense of humour, was multi talented, played the piano and guitar, wrote the most incredible letters, always sent us motivational texts and always inspiring us. He believed in me and raised us for one great goal and that was to do great things for the Kingdom of God.
My father taught us to always be the best you can be and wrote each one of us a song when we were little, mine went something like this:
“My naam is Ouboet en ek is my pa se bul,
Ek is nog maar baie klein, maar Loftus gaan nog brul
Al wil ek nooit aan die lag kom nie en almal se ek is nors
Bly ek nog die baas, met “Big Shot” op my bors…”
My dad spoke prophetically into our lives from a young age. I will never forget the simple truths he taught me: always be humble and friendly and be friends with everyone.
They say when a father dies the son becomes a man. The “Groot Leeu”(Big Lion) was gone and the “Klein Leeu”(Small Lion) had to take his place.
God started sending people into my life, sharing His love and relating their life stories and that it was time for me to make a decision for Him.
One Sunday morning after a heavy night before, I found myself sitting in church. He was calling, the CALL was loud and clear within my spirit and I knew I wanted to make the commitment to give my life to the Lord Jesus Christ. That day the pastor spoke, it felt like he was speaking directly to me. The Bible says God is light and when he shines upon you it is your conscience that speaks to you.

I was tired of hangovers and the fake glory of man. I chose to give my life back to God that day in the church, publicly in front of people, crying and repenting of my sins, accepting Christ in my heart completely…wanting Him to consume every part of me.And He did…he made me new.God makes you a new creation and wipes away your past!
AGAIN, I wanted to be different.
I no longer wanted to live the lie. To be lukewarm and live proclaiming to be a Christian but not walking or really living like one. I had a burning within my soul to serve God and people, to find God and to really know God. Because, I had made the decision to seek God’s Kingdom first above everything else, He started to change things in my life. I wanted to serve people, to forget about myself, to see people coming into the Kingdom of God and finding Jesus Christ. finding freedom and peace and restoration for their brokenness.
I knew that I was chosen to fulfil God’s plan for my life and not my own. God had stationed me in a specific position to reach people and to share with them what He has done in my life. God has called us to be fishers of men and to live in love with one another. I am a warrior for the Kingdom of God and will stand on His word with my life and all that I am.
I realised Gods plans are better than mine and that He knows more than me!
In …2005 I met Juanné ,my (then girlfriend) and now my wife
A woman who loved God more than me ,who is my best friend and the most beautiful woman on earth. Someone who was willing of walking a road less travelled and who had a heart for broken people… Something I wanted, and God blessed me with her, in abundance.
In our relationship we made tough decisions and set boundaries to keep us pure before marriage and really become best friends. We still reap the rewards, and you can too if you make tough choices and put God first above yourself and your partner. Remember the devil wants to destroy your relationship and that your relationship is the first test of your faith.
Charity starts at home…always!
My rugby career started to soar and I was chosen to play for the Springboks in 2006.
My test debut was a nightmare losing 49-0 to Australia and then being dropped from the team.But i got a second chance and then gave a man of the match performance.
2007 was world cup year and the excitement was building having had a succesfull Super 14 with the Bulls winning the trophy and after that all roads led to France.I was selected in the Worldcup squad being a favourite for player of the tournament without it even started
2 weeks after the squad announcement i started to cough up blood and had chest pains and pain breathing…our team doctor took me for tests and the shocking news hit us…i had blood clots on my lungs.
I was thinking:
What? blood clots? God you must be joking? We’re on our way to the world cup? highlight of my career? im walking in your ways God? i live healthy and look after my body and train hard and don’t use illegal substances?
Doctors said a minimum of 6months blood thinning medication,and never to play rugby again.
Immediately i knew God was in control…i didn’t know exactly how but His word says He has great plans for our futures and that we’ve been healed by his wounds.
Walking in faith was what i did now…i wrote on a big poster :’’Healed in Jesus name” because i knew God had the power to heal me, otherwise His word would not have been true.My faith was tested but i made a decision to praise God even if i stayed sick or get healed…because i know Gods plan is bigger than mine and i had to submit to His will…an unconditional choice, the way He loves us.
There was alot of medical tests done on me, from head to toe, and always in my car on the way to the hospital i put on praise and worship music,and screamed and praised God with a loud voice knowing that whether these lungs are sick or if they’re healthy, i’m gonna praise God for He IS GOOD. You keep with your decision…you keep on keeping on.

For with man it is impossible but with God all things are possible.
And then…after the 6months of medication…a miracle happened…GOD HEALED ME
Doctors said it was impossible, i would never play again , most people with blood clots never gets of the medicine.. but God is moved by faith and not by world systems.And he did a great work in me and he can do the same for you.
And i was able to play rugby again and persue my career and got married at the end of 2008 which shows his great love and mercy.

Through everything in our lives God will fulfil his plan for you. Jesus has used me as an instrument to reach my family and friends and help them change their lives by loving them the way He instructs us to. Through my rugby career I have been honoured to visit many exceptional countries and places and meet wonderful people, many doors have been opened to me to share His Name and His Love.
My message to you is that God has a plan for your life. He has a passion for YOU. He speaks to you everyday, that still small voice inside you – yes, you probably know it. Once you have decided to follow Him and live for Him, He will do more for you than you ever could have imaged. Take His hand, He will do the rest.