We are currently enveloped in a mad fanfare of all things football. From vuvuzelas to penalty shoot-outs, colourful loud foreigners to daily international matches, everywhere you look it is football. South Africa is however, before we all get too carried away, a proud and very strong rugby country. We are the world champions, our players are renowned everywhere the oval ball exists and when it comes to the fans, well you only have to read this blog to know we are fantastically passionate.

Bok fans - original and best.

With all these all these wonderful home truths that bind us together, you would be hard pressed to find a better guy to have a beer and talk rugby with than Gareth Rosslee, editor of South Africa’s leading independent rugby website,  SARugby.com. Aside from covering all the rugby developments from around the world, gearing up for the Currie Cup and Tri-Nations and unearthing fresh new rugby writers for the site, Gareth was kind enough to share some time with us at TheBounce.

TheBounce: SARugby.com, sounds very official. How did it all start and were there any problems in registering the name?

Gareth: We registered the domain in 1997 when SA Rugby PTY LTD was still known as SARFU so there’s no legal issue.  In a stroke of genius one of our owners registered it while he was still at school.  SARugby.com is a completely independent website though so we’ve got complete freedom over what we publish.

TheBounce: Nice. Your site is always on the money with everything rugby orientated whether it is with team sheets, game previews or well written articles on current rugby affairs. Do you attend official press conferences and media rugby related media gatherings?

Gareth: We try our best to bring our readers a balanced view of what they want to read and package so as to save them time and keep them on the ball. With regards to press conferences and media gatherings the answer is yes and no.  We try and get to as many as possible, but find that sometimes our product is better and quicker if we’re publishing many things at the same time.  For example, I love going to the games, but don’t go to as many anymore as I can work a lot better on ADSL with television, PVR, twitter and the telephone helping me.  On the rare occasion when I can get off work, I also try and go to the games to enjoy the experience just as a fan.

Press conferences - not always where the action is.

TheBounce: You are a very active twitterer, your tweets during live matches in particular are hugely entertaining, How big of a role do you see this platform becoming in future with regards to how sports fans receive their sports news and updates?

Gareth: I went to a social media conference about two and half years ago where I was first exposed to twitter.  I started our account as a bit of an experiment and have been amazed to watch it develop. I love the interaction and the speed of delivery and think it’s definitely got a big part to play for sports fans. Once again, though, I’ve banned myself from tweeting when I’m watching a game with my mates – so you’ll only catch me tweeting when I’m working.

TheBounce: A great thing about following you on Twitter is that you really don’t miss a beat. From Supersport presenters using the word “cracker” to describe every live game, to Garth Wright thinking the Queensland Reds flyhalf is the movie star Dennis Quade. Have you ever considered taking this sharp wit and humour and perhaps creating an alternative live commentary platform (eg via streaming audio)?

Say kaas naas.

Gareth: You’re talking about my biggest dream.  Keen to go into partnership?

TheBounce: Probably not a good idea, I swear like a sailor when I watch rugby – it can get ugly.

Gareth: Oh well. We’ve got a more serious live scoring feature on the website and that’s why I first started expressing myself a little more candidly on twitter.  It’s a fine line to tread as some of the more serious rugby fans don’t take kindly to banter and sarcasm.  I suppose Supersport caters to their target market, but the ex-players and Arnie can get a little painful at times. It’s great to keep them on their toes…

If a chance ever did come up to broadcast to a more discerning audience (and I think technology is busy making that possible), I’d love to give it a crack.

That's right - I would sooner lick a ferret's arse than pick Earl Rose for the Boks.

TheBounce: Great point, a vast majority of the viewing public are comfortable with the bog standard, especially in our still mostly conservative society. But I believe the potential is there for that niche to be probed in the near future, I mean New Zealand only got the internet last week and a guy there is doing it , http://www.arcrugby.co.nz/

As an online authority in rugby, are their any perks/free stuff that comes your way? Can’t imagine the groupie potential is huge, but things like match tickets perhaps?

Gareth: You haven’t tapped into the groupie market yet?  Ha ha…Kidding. I have been treated to some nice perks along the way. Canterbury, SARU, the IRB have provided some decent things from time to time. The World Cup in 2007 was definitely a highlight, while the great folk at the Charles Glass Society and the Cape Town Sharks Supporters Club have really gone out of their way to include me in some of their events.

TheBounce: The curtain has come down on the Super 14 and as of 2011 it will be the Super 15 with the newly formed Melbourne Rebels joining the party. Do you think this Super rugby thing has expanded a little too far, especially when you consider a team like the Lions can’t play their way out of a paper bag?

Gareth: Unfortunately they’ve continued to milk the cash cow without giving any thought to improving the format. It’s quite bizarre when you consider that the Heineken Cup format dishes up such excitement up North. I’d find 20 or 24 teams (invite teams from Argentina and Japan) and use a pool and knockout system.  There’d be no Cheetahs v Lions dead rubbers and every game would take on added significance. Just look at what the Soccer World Cup is doing at the moment.

Incorporating Japan into Super rugby - interesting.

TheBounce: Speaking of over expansion, what are your thoughts on Rassie’s proposed IPL styled tournament? Good for the game or just an unnecessary platform for him to re-launch his disco lights and make some cash?

Gareth: Anything to get the disco lights back into the game is a good thing in my book!  Jokes…I’m actually a little torn on this one and am going to reserve judgement till I hear a little more. It’s got some exciting potential, but will probably just turn into another cash cow.

Cash cows - way better than piggy banks.

TheBounce: Cash cow indeed. I think that is the last thing we need for SA rugby. You are one of the very few people who confidently back Zane Kirchner. Is he our no.15 for the World Cup next year or do you think P Divy should be doing more to get Francois Steyn back in the mix?

Gareth: Now we’re really getting to the nitty gritty!  I am a huge Steyn fan and think SARU and PdV should be doing everything in their power to heal the rift between player and coach to ensure he’s in the mix.  Even if it’s counselling for the pair of ‘em. However, if you take Steyn out, there aren’t too many guys putting their hands up and I rate Kirchner the next best option.  We’ve got to be careful in this country of creating a ‘boo-boy’ culture as it just puts added pressure on the players.  Fullback is a confidence position and I don’t think it helps chipping away at Kirchner.

I'm only having one Steyn in my team and that is Morne.

TheBounce: And John Smit, has he got the legs to defend the William Webb Ellis trophy next year, and more importantly who should be his successor as captain and player?

Gareth: I think Smit’s got just enough petrol to get through to the World Cup and to lead us in our defence.  But he’s definitely running on his reserve tank at the moment.  Let’s all hope he stays injury free and makes it through the next year.

As far as his replacement goes, I’m in favour of making Schalk Burger the next captain. He’s the right age, has a wealth of experience and will have the ear of this new generation of Stormers players coming through.  After that, though, is anyone’s guess with Chiliboy and Potgieter the early favourites.

Avatar Potgieter - a Bok leader in the making.

TheBounce: Last year saw the release of the movie Invictus, not bad as a drama but in my opinion pretty toilet as a rugby movie – I mean Matt Damon was only marginally more impressive in the actual on-field scenes than Colin Moss’ efforts in Number 10.

Dan Carter - think Dan Carter, chicks dig that guy.

Seeing as we haven’t yet had a properly decent rugby movie in S.A yet, which player’s life would you like to see a movie based on?

(eg. Get the Green and Gold or die trying – The Ashwin Willemse story or Jesus is my flyhalf – The Jaco van der Westhuizen story.)

Gareth: They said there was one person out there who watched Number 10.  I found you!

This is a tough one.  I think the Jaco story could be the spiciest religious movie since Hansie (or so I hear as I skipped that one too) and could do well at the box office.  The part where he takes a drop goal from inside his own 22 and then goes on to lose his mind would make great cinema.

Maybe Fight Club II – Kamp Staaldraad.  The bare knuckle boxing scenes would be worth the admission fee alone.

There’s also got to be a movie made about James Dalton.  Wow.  But I don’t want to say any more under my own name about that.  In case he finds out where I live.

Coming this Christmas - a blockbuster of biblical proportions.

TheBounce: If you could be one rugby player for a year, who would you be and why?

Gareth: What a question! Springbok captain John Smit? Mayor of Bloemfontein Juan Smith? Victor Matfield? Hottest man in Ireland Brian O’Driscoll? Darling boy of England and Toulon Jonny Wilkinson? All Black captain Richie McCaw? Underwear model Dan Carter? Unofficial best player in the world Fourie du Preez? Wow…The choices are almost endless.

In the end I think I’d go for Sebastien Chabal.  I’ve got a mate who plays with him at Racing Metro and he tells me about what a hero he is, his sponsorships (from clothing to smart cars!) and how he is adored in France. That would be a vibe.

Nobody messes with the Jesus!

TheBounce: Finally what’s your prediction for the Tri-Nations?

Gareth: Tough tough tough one to call. I think this Australian side can beat anyone on their day. New Zealand look much improved with Carter and McCaw hitting form at the right time. We’ve said it all about the Springboks already.

I think that the Boks are the form side and have rightfully been installed as favourites, but I worry about them playing two games in New Zealand.  Forced to make a call, I’ll go with the Boks.

All behind the Bokke as they defend their Tri-Nations title.

Bokke all the way – it is going to be a monster of a Tri-Nations, especially as you pointed out that we start with two games in New Zealand. Be sure to read all about the progress of the Boks and indeed all the other rugby action as it develops on www.sarugby.com , and get onto twitter right now and follow Gareth http://twitter.com/SARugbydotcom

When it comes to up to the minute exact and relevant rugby stuff he is your man, for everything else of course, keep it right here on TheBounce.

Gareth thank you very much for your time, you are indeed another fine example of someone who makes sport great.

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