Craig Ray
@craigray11
Followers
4,631
Following
874
Media
580
Statuses
26,390
The thick plottens. Daily Maverick sports ed. Writer/broadcaster.
Cape Town
Joined July 2009
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
Explore trending content on Musk Viewer
オリンピック
• 580311 Tweets
Christians
• 280871 Tweets
Christianity
• 202751 Tweets
花火大会
• 169328 Tweets
グラブル
• 60281 Tweets
Endrick
• 52643 Tweets
#男子バレー
• 45302 Tweets
バレー男子
• 35812 Tweets
NuNew Sing With Piano
• 28093 Tweets
#アークナイツハニバ2024
• 25608 Tweets
#withMUSIC
• 21358 Tweets
フルセット
• 14061 Tweets
#ドッキリGP
• 13842 Tweets
フォード
• 10196 Tweets
ヤスアキ
• 10181 Tweets
Eben Etzebeth…every week for two years, the best forward in world. Incredible player.
#ENGvRSA
47
109
2K
‘Kwagga Smith replied firmly: “We don’t play for people to respect us; we play for each other and we play for South Africa, so they can be proud of us.”’
#RWC2023
9
104
1K
Ire never choked. They were beaten, just, by a brilliant NZ performance. Both sets of players only deserve praise for monumental effort and workrate. To see them live, at the very edge of human endurance in those last frantic minutes is imprinted in my memory forever.
#IREvNZL
43
59
1K
Rugby is dying at the hands of officials. Every week they are the story. 33 penalties today. Players do not know what to do anymore. And world rugby wants to grow the game…
#SAvARG
57
109
709
The SA men’s hockey team won’t win a medal at these Games but man, if they received proper backing over years and years instead of largely funding own program, they would be medal contenders every time. Beating 4th ranked
#ger
, rattling
#Ned
and
#GB
is special.
#Tokyo2020
16
80
656
SA Rugby including Georgia in its domestic Currie Cup first division, as well as Kenya and Zimbabwe, starting in April. Lending a hand to grow the game. Massive commitment to Georgia in particular, which is not evident in a certain region, closer to Tbilisi.
#Rugby
21
68
557
Lukhanyo Am is not only the best centre in world rugby, he's the best wing in the world too apparently.
#SAvNZ
10
44
529
SA teams in Europe a bad thing you say? I suspect NZ Rugby is suffering from lack of exposure to the physicality of SA teams, more than SA teams are missing the tempo of NZ teams.
#NZLvIRE
35
52
496
Honestly, who doesn’t want to see more of Portugal playing meaningful games over the next four years?
#RWC2023
20
22
490
So, hearing no Bok players on list of world player of year to be announced later..😂😂. World’s no 1 team with some standout players (Eben, Siya) overlooked in a year they beat the Lions and All Blacks…farce.
#rugby
75
65
466
So Mapimpi injured badly enough not to play on because of direct head contact (even if it was unintentional by Pulu) and not even a yellow card. Now imagine that happened to Dupont, or Damian Penaud...
#RSAvsTGA
33
53
468
Basically Faf de Klerk in every game…
8
89
441
Boks are pathetic...can moan about ref, and no arms tackles all you want. But this is a disastrous display by SA. Everything the coaches and players are doing has to come under scrutiny now.
#AUSvRSA
46
73
437
All Manie Libbok needed was Handre Pollard as a kicking consultant...
9
26
445
Nienaber said he'd rather have what Libbok brings in producing tries than a perfect kicking game...
38
37
427
Siya Kolisi says he has spoken to Tom Curry to offer support for the online abuse he and his family have suffered. He hopes it stops.
#RWC2023
31
38
420
Rassie gone nuclear, ripping officials to shreds, exposing WR's complicity.Some will say sour grapes but he gives forensic analysis of each infringement. A masterclass in passive aggressive shithousery. Gatland "furious" over Jonker. Rassie "furious" over useless officials.
21
52
350
All from last move of match. High tackle, offsides and shoulder charge. None spotted. Rugby officiating at its best. Begs question - if this was first half would any have been called? Farcical.
#ENGvRSA
40
177
331
The Boks’ tactics, developed in the Rassie Erasmus/Jacques Nienaber laboratory of out-the-box thinking, have already had many writers on calling for a change to regulations. It’s the ultimate compliment — ‘if you can’t beat ‘em, change the rules.’
#Rugby
10
81
331
24 June, 1995. Perhaps the most significant sports image ever. Never gets old.
#rugby
@Springboks
📷 gallo
2
48
309
Quality discipline from
@Springboks
and
@lospumas
. Maintaining the gap perfectly. Pic source unknown…
#rugbychampionship
26
39
307
Andre Esterhuizen might have booked his RWC ticket tonight. Missed out 4 years ago.
19
26
310
The panel “without reservation” accepted Berry’s version, but had reservations about Kolisi’s stated experience. Staggering.
Translation: "Black man's feelings are not valid...white man's behaviour was unintentional." Yorkshire CC vibes.
#WorldRugby
13
65
281
Given the rolling blackouts in the country, a nice gesture would be if
@dstv
changed their policy of streaming on one device only. Come on, give loyal customers some relief….
25
42
292
Respected former refs - Nigel Owens & Freek Burger have 2 completely different takes on Kolbe & Itoje incidents. No wonder players, coaches & fans frustrated. How can 2 experienced officials view the laws so differently? World Rugby needs to face up to the cause, not the symptoms
33
48
283
All Blacks have a huddle after the anthems, then they do the haka, with props, then they have another huddle with Pilates breathing exercises. It’s getting a bit much now.
#RWC2023
33
14
290
Former Ivory Coast player Max Brito, tragically paralysed at RWC 1995, has passed away. He was 54.
#RIP
15
27
284
Boks likely to come up short of winning Rugby Champs for one reason only. They screwed up selections at Ellis Park. Gave NZ a finger and they took an arm.
#NZLvAUS
#RugbyChampionship
30
31
271
“Vermeulen played hard and fair. He played with skill and passion – with guts and nous and flair and steel. He competed with honesty and total commitment.”
@Springboks
#Rugby
Duane Vermeulen has done rugby proud, both on and off the field
4
30
274
Nienaber confirms 'blowout fracture' to Mapimpi's cheek. That's probably his tournament.
#RSAvsTGA
48
65
270
If there has been a consistently better player than Eben Etzebeth over the last 2 years, he must have been playing on Mars.
#FRAvRSA
17
13
256
Word for Jesse Kriel. He’s not Lukhanyo and never will be. But he quietly marshalled the Bok defence with authority. Strong, unnoticed outing.
#AUSvRSA
14
9
249
Amazing stat by Michael atherton…86% of all tests matches ever played were during
#QueenElizabeth
II’s reign…
6
31
247
Boks been excellent today, across the board. Special word for Siya Kolisi. Been immense, operating in the trams. He’s been very good all year.
#ITAvRSA
15
16
242
Haven’t seen a collapse that dramatic since Nic White was felled by Faf’s sickening brush to his moustache.
#SAvIND
4
36
248
Kaunda Ntjuna! 🔥🔥🔥 nothing, in any commentary ever, will beat his introduction of
@SiyaKolisi_Bear
as Springbok captain at Ellis Park. Nothing. Ever.
#ChasingTheSun
6
59
230
SA soon to be 0-4 on this tour. Must be the refs….can’t possibly be poor execution, weak performances, questionable tactics and dodgy selections. It’s the officials I tell ya.
31
17
237
Some UK media describing PSDT's clash with Danty as a "headbutt" is really a stretch. It was a clash of heads. Reckless? Yes. Red card? Yes. An act of pure malice and an intentional headbutt? No.
#Rugby
31
14
220
New level of piss taking. ABs put 15 on the field even when they have a red card. They’ll claim innocence I’m sure…
#NZvIRE
12
13
230
BrillIant campaign by the Junior Boks. Coach Bafana Nhleko has done an incredible job. Played with power and swagger. Knocked off Eng, Ire, Fra and Wales in 18 days. So much talent, so well directed by Nhleko.
#rugby
@Springboks
0
18
228
Kwagga was immense off the bench...actually the whole bench was immense off the bench.
9
8
234
Graeme Smith cleared of all charges of racism in an independent arbitration ruling. The charges arose from testimony in last year's SJN.
#Cricket
.
19
25
214
Bottom line...this is a bang average Aussie side, and the world champions can't put them away...this is a shocking display by the Boks.
14
24
208
Still scratching my head how Eben Etzebeth is not in line for world player of the year. There has not been a player, who week in, week out, is such class. Ardie Savea maybe. At least he will win…What? Oh…
#rugby
14
8
210
Jake white called Moodie the best young player he has ever worked with and he worked with Frans steyn and Fourie du Preez. Nienaber also loves Moodie. Obvious, but the kid is special.
#ARGvRSA
9
26
215
Bongi telling the ref to ‘ref both sides.’ Where would he have got that idea from? 🤔 Really not a good look from Boks.
60
13
211
Well done England. Deserved win. Freddie Steward and Marcus Smith delivered. But Eben Etzebeth gave another world player of year performance.
#rugby
4
4
201
This shocking take in
#Rassieerasmus
judgement relating to the treatment of Siya Kolisi in 1st Test, jumped out at me…thread.
19
72
198
All charges against
#MarkBoucher
dropped. CSA’s own lawyers concluded that “none of the three charges were sustainable”.
#Cricket
15
26
192
Started in 38 degrees in Paris, ended in 8 degrees and glory seven weeks later. Merci France. It’s been magnifique.
#RWC2023
9
8
200
Sasha mngomezulu just suffered a far more dangerous tackle than anything seen today. Not even another look?
20
28
191
The Boks simply refused to die...Terminators. brilliant performances everywhere, but Jesse Kriel was colossal. Eben not far behind while Baille, Mauvaka and Antonio were brilliant. Dupont too.
#FRAvRSA
4
11
193
Jesse Kriel’s defence in this game has been sensational. Don’t tell the haters.
#RugbyChampionship
26
6
181
"You’d swear the Boks were somehow waging war on the sport of rugby when all they did was replace the injured Willie le Roux, who had bruised ribs, with Kwagga Smith."
#Rugby
9
29
189
Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi have to be in conversation for 2021 world player of year…
#WALvRSA
15
7
171
In 2019 Herschel Jantjies was the most exciting thing to emerge in SA Rugby...he's fallen off a cliff. Such a pity because he has all the ingredients.
29
11
175
Isabella Kruger, daughter of Bok silent assassin, the late, great Ruben Kruger, has quietly made the quarterfinals of the girls singles
@Wimbledon
. Nice.
@Springboks
#Tennis
#Wimbledon2022
3
24
182
Can't admire Siya more: “I have spoken to him (Curry),” Kolisi said. “We can take it as players when it comes to you directly, but it's when it's your family it's difficult. We support each other, I feel for his family and I hope it stops.”
That's leadership &humanity
#RWC2023
6
29
180
Eben makes the cleanest steal since the great train robbery and is penalised. Players must be so confused.
#SCOvRSA
4
13
170
Lots of mitigation tonight but reality is Boks are 0-2 on tour (0-3 if you count SA A). They have lost 5 Tests in 2022. By any objective measure this year has been a massive failure.
#FRAvRSA
52
24
170
Bok coach Nienaber critical of Sanzaar judicial system that didn't meet Monday 17h deadline to hear Jasper Wiese's case. Only happening on Tues, so Boks unable to select him. Jordie Barrett hearing 2 weeks ago happened at 17H on Monday after game.
#RugbyChampionship
28
42
172
Duane Vermeulen didn’t suffer fools, but was/is generous, interesting & interested. Was the first rugby player who asked how my tour was going at the end of a long slog. Straight shooter, magnificent team man and best ever Bok No 8. Massive contribution to SA rugby.
@Springboks
6
8
178
Boks spent 4 weeks celebrating a loss to the all blacks..guess we shouldn't be surprised by this. Mediocrity is applauded.
#IREvRSA
10
74
143
We need to start talking about Pollard’s errors…not playing with the 2019 swagger…
31
10
166
Siya Kolisi: ‘We represent something much bigger than we can imagine’
18
79
149
There are so many excellent Bok players but two unsung, and consistently brilliant performers are Franco Mostert and Damian de Allende. So much silent but effective work. Crucial tackle here, brilliant pick up there…true professionals
#BoksvLions
#LionsRugby
8
6
166
Brilliant brilliant win by Bulls. Jake White underlines what a quality coach he is. A combo of young talent, journeymen and aging stars edge a Lions and Ireland laden team.
1
14
165
Boucher deserves some credit for picking two spinners in SA. It’s so un-South African and shows a willingness to adapt and challenge the status quo.
#SAvBAN
8
11
161
Now that the dust has settled, we can spin it any way, but losing Am and Pollard is a disaster. Am is a generational talent and the greater the pressure, the more Pollard thrives. They will be hugely missed. They are not holes easily plugged.
#RWC2023
20
24
165
New Zealanders are understandably upset with all these breakdown penalties. When you’ve spent 25 years never being penalised at the breakdown, it’s hard to follow...
#SuperRugby
4
20
151
Just watched Jeppe v KES and it was magnificent. Both sides brilliantly drilled. Hard and clean. Wonderfully diverse teams. Great support. As a cynical old man, this gives me hope for SA’s future. Two great schools setting an example. Proud
@jeppeboys
old boy.
10
10
161
There is one irrefutable truth in Test cricket…no one, and I mean no one, scores a prettier 16 than Aiden Markram.
#ENGvsSA
7
17
159
Who is leaning into whom here? One man has turned shoulder away, another has squared his to make contact.
#KagisoRabada
#SAvAUS
#cricket
28
90
141
In Super Rugby, NZ teams won 2 of 8 semis in SA. Aussie teams won 1/3 semis in SA (Jake’s Brumbies incidentally only winners). SA teams 0/6 semis in NZ. SA 1/4 semis in Aus. Winning playoffs away is hard. Well done Bulls.
#URC
3
8
152
@derekalberts1
@henryolonga
Some okes hey. Good looking, athlete, could bowl a 140km/h yorker, courageous political activist and sings as powerfully and beautifully as a Brian Lara cover drive...👏👏superb
1
3
134
Boks have been in bio-bubbles since Jul 2.They've lived the most unnatural existence imaginable while trying to perform at world-class level. 2 players have left for serious family issues and who knows what else others are going through? It could be why they're 'flat'.
#rugby
23
16
151
This comes years after it suspended its service to South Africa…
The SA Post Office has suspended its mail service to Russia, the Ukraine and Belarus.
194
40
136
5
15
151