Rugby fans have different opinions about how we win!
To Faf or not to Faf, that is the question!
Ok, after nearly 30 years, you’d think I would have my head around the rules, tactics, strategies and overall game plans that define the great game of rugby. Coming from America watching college and pro football (gridiron, if you prefer), I have come full circle and appreciate the overall diversity that comes with the sport of rugby.
Faf scoring and kicking (again and again)
On the other hand, I find difficult to understand sometimes; why do we want to give up possession when we have worked so hard to earn it. We have big, strong guys in the middle, who can lock arms and push a tank backwards, then with an outstretched leg, I can easily see what is coming next – the “strategic” box kick, aimed to gain territory and hopefully caught or disrupted and then caught by one of our own. If you are still reading, maybe this worked against Japan as we did push them back. Then our PROPERLY POWERFUL defence held the quick and dangerous Japanese to 2 meters per carry. Our defence was awesome because it had to be! We must have tackled 1000 times. In the end, you had to say, against Japan, what a plan and what a game and actually was; what a game Faf had, including 7 tackles and assist and a try – Man of the Match and we are off to beat Wales.
POINT and COUNTERPOINT (from two who probably know better)
The Springboks can kiss their World Cup chances goodbye if Faf de Klerk doesn’t get his act together, writes JOHN GOLIATH.
There are many similarities between the Springboks’ two World Cup triumphs in 1995 and 2007. Both Bok teams featured a big pack of forwards, two quality goal-kickers, a mean defence and inspirational leaders.
But both teams also had the best scrum-halves of their respective generations. The late Joost van der Westhuizen and Fourie de Preez will go down as two of the best No 9s to have ever played the game and had a massive role in the Boks’ lifting of the Webb-Ellis Cup.
So De Klerk has a massive responsibility to make the Boks tick over.
But against the All Blacks, and in some of the matches earlier this year, his distribution off the base was poor. He missed his targets on a few occasions, with one wayward pass starting off a period of dominance for the All Blacks, which the Boks never recovered from.
His box kicks weren’t great either, with most of them not travelling far enough and putting the Boks under a lot of pressure. His kicks are also easy to spot, which gives the opposition time to prepare. So, if they are not accurate, it’s easy for teams like the All Blacks to take advantage of it.
A great Tweet from the Cutmaker…
Ok, the one thing I do know is that we are capable in a year where this might be open to any team that plays to their plan. New Zealand made the Irish look inferior and England bent without breaking. I backed France and lost my Superbru because of a stupid elbow to the jaw.
One thing is for sure,
We will be hosting the semi-final between New Zealand and England at 11 on Saturday AND
the other semi-final between Wales and South Africa at 11 on Sunday
Enjoy both matches in the bar with 3 high-definition TV’s or on the deck with TWO big projector screens!
PS. It really has been a world-class World Cup in Japan. They have really put it on! And everyone became fans of Japan!
Have you booked for the special night with Antoinij Rupert Wines!
Thursday Night, 24 October
The L’Ormarins Estate houses the Terra del Capo cellars, equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, gravity-fed cellars and a mechanical flywheel, the only one of its kind on the continent and responsible for the production of these award-winning wines. The precision and sense of detail are carried on to two exquisite tasting rooms located on the estate, each one dedicated to one of the popular wine ranges.
Anthonij Rupert Wyne has become an experience and we encourage guests to come and visit us on the estate.
It’s not the first time our great destination has brought love birds together and I’m not quite sure if it’s the Estate or the course. This time, it definitely was the course and the great game of golf that assisted in seeing this marriage proposal through. Crizelda Van Niekerk, a professional golfer, holed her putt for par on the 18th and found a box in the cup! Schoeman Terblanche dropped to one knee and proposed from there! Geez, we’re glad she made the putt!
The Muller’s win their own (finally, after some debate)
What an interesting day of golf it turned out to be as the new handicap system created some differing opinions to stroking. So, to simplify the problem, a nine-hole handicap popped up for the day. It was to be used to determine how many shots you would receive on the nine. When my partner was cut from 21 to 10, I thought, no worries as the front nine really is a shot easier. I proceeded to give him a shot a hole and two on the ninth (for 10 shots). When the players started coming in, we soon discovered that people had reluctantly scored it differently. When they saw a 10 for nine holes, even when the handicap was actually 20 or 21 for 18, they only awarded shots on the first 10 stroke holes – in the case of our front nine, that would stroke 1,3,5,7,9 – actually cutting their player by 75%. I argued that this simply could not be correct. After making unanswered calls to Golf RSA, the handicap network and fellow professionals, I decided to do a lucky draw to avoid delaying the prizegiving further. Dita Muelmeester (who was the victim after being cut from 38 to 18 and only receiving one stroke instead of two, by interpretation), came third with Denise Perry; The Lairds, Charles and Avril came second. Sandy and Brian Cunningham smoked the field in the lucky draw to finish first and went home with a pile of meat!
Note: Further investigation proved that I, in fact, was correct. When actual scores were posted to handicap, the 9-hole handicap was deducted in full. For that reason, the real winners on the day were Linda and Ernest Muller who will receive a voucher for lunch for two on Fish Friday. Ernie was already a great host by giving away his nearest the pin prize to a lucky draw. Well played, Maggie!
The St Francis Links HOTEL by Mantis – SHOW UNITS are under construction
The proposed St Francis Links Hotel by Mantis is being sold as a sectional title scheme. Now, three units are being built as show units to promote sales.
The show unit, comprised of one, two-bedroom unit and two, one-bedroom units will be completed for the season.
The Hotel will consist of 60 1 and 2-bedroom suites, modelled after the successful hotel development at Pearl Valley, where the 2nd phase was launched recently. The Clubhouse will be home to reception manned 24/7, the Food and Beverage services, Bard’au, the Spa and of course, the home of the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course! Pam Golding Properties are handling the sales for the Hotel. Neil Fox is the lead person. Neil Fox neil.fox@pamgolding.co.za Saria Blaauw is assisting and they are dividing their time at The Links
Our events
Ernie and Linda Müller and their Team from Selective Lighting are making Fridays extra special at St Francis Links. Once a month, they host the Selective Lighting/The Fireworks Friday Competition. We shotgun start the players for 9 holes. Starting times are based on the season, 14h30 in the “Cool Season” and 15h30 in the summer months. Be a part of growing the Club and join us for nine and some good times after golf! Please enter in advance for numbers.
ITEC are our sponsors for OPEN Wednesday (2nd Wednesday) with meat and added prizes. Invite your friends to enjoy SA’s best with special rates for golf, snacks after the game and great prizes – Hey, sometimes Curry Night follows – stay or take away!
Monday Roll-up! Pitch up and play (9 holes or 18 Par-3 from 2pm) let’s add you to the What’s app group
All day Saturdays: Morning and afternoon fields – the afternoon field will be booked from 12 noon backwards with emphasis on “ready golf”
Monday Men’s Book Club – 5pm in Jack’s Bar (no reading required)
Ladies’ Tea (and Coffee) – Every Tuesday at 10am on the Veranda
Every Great shot starts (and ends) with a SMILE!
Santa and the Links TEAM
