I had a very strange day yesterday. In fact, I had a very strange weekend.
It’s not that I did anything particularly different: In fact, I did a lot of the same things that I usually do on a Saturday, with one big exception. Did anyone else notice that there was no rugby on this weekend? I mean, come on, guys – here we are in the middle of the bloody season and all of a sudden we have this big, completely meaningless pause. In fact, about the only bloody thing that did happen this weekend was the first round of Currie Cup promotion/relegation games (yawn) on Friday night. And those weren’t even televised!
Something big went wrong here and I’d really love to know what it was. I guess somewhere in the circus that runs SA Rugby, somebody just kinda forgot to schedule any matches for this weekend. Stranger things have happened.
The silly transfer season seems to be well under way, in other news, with the smaller unions engaging in a swap fest of dubious talent (or should that be minnow-go-round?) second to none. Recent shenanigans included virtually the entire SWD Eagles team leaving George (presumably in protest at the sacking of coach Phil Pretorius) to join the Pumas. New SWD coach Johann Lerm has wasted little time in announcing a raft of new signings to usher in his new era in George and the most interesting ones among them are former Cheetahs eighthman Ryno van der Merwe (who will captain the side) and (yet another discard) WP flyhalf Ricardo Croy.
The Valke find themselves clinging to their tenuous right to remain in the premier division, having lost (at home) to the big-spending Leopards on Friday. A return to the top flight would appear imminent for the boys from Potch and one promising Valke player, flyhalf True Blue Smit, has already jumped ship to join the Leopards next season. He joins a host of other players who will wear the scarlet jersey for the last time next weekend, including promising maxi-wing Dewald Pretorius, who is on his way to Kimberley. Don’t be too surprised to see a lot more movement of second string stars towards Potch, if the Leopards do manage to secure promotion. Some experienced heads, coupled with the unending supply of young talent that seems to emanate from the PUK Academy there, could potentially see the emergence of a sixth real powerhouse in SA Rugby, at long last. We’ll wait and see.
On a final note, I’m pleased to see that one of my all-time favourite players looks set to make his return to Super Rugby next year. That’s right – Jaco “the Baptist” van der Westhuizen is in talks with the Bulls and may join their squad for the 2009 Super 14. Jaco’s getting on a bit, though, so one of the stipulations in his contract includes installation of a rope ladder to assist him in getting onto the crossbar after matches at Loftus…
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Jaco needs no help, he’ll just levitate, he’s THAT excellent.
In fact he’ll win the Super 14 all on his own!
johan lerm took 6/8 of hamiltons first xv with him to swd.eagles thought that they would be involved in the promotion games this season but that plan didnt work.got some big money coming in and are gona make a big push next season
Must say the break seems ridiculous..why the final could not be played this weekend baffling…would also give he Boks a longer time to recover.
Valke player, flyhalf True Blue Smit, has already jumped ship to join the Leopards next season.
😯
Wonder if he will be considered for the Valke next week? 😆
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 3) :
My real issue is more about them not showing the two games.
It is not as if there was any other matches that clashed with it.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 5) :same issue i had chap
@KSA Shark © (Comment 5) :
Yea theres that too..but how many would be wanting to watch the games..is it worth their while to show it..
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 7) : whatever happened to promoting the game?
one of the bulls ‘stars’ sat in jail for 7 hours last night after fighting with a cop.
it was mametsa,and it wasnt a typical pretoria type fight.im on my phone so i cant put the story up
@PJLD (Comment 10) :
Nothing much to the article. Seems Mametsa was standing up for a mate and got arrested for trying to help the guy.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 11) : Oh Fudge! 🙂
Isn’t a weekend punch-up compulsory for the Bulls? 😈
Fortunately plenty of Heineken Cup rugby on to keep me occupied. 😎
When someone is being arrested, I find it’s best not to get involved.
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 12) :
😆 Ja!
@McLovin (Comment 15) :
Ja!
@McLovin (Comment 15) : I remember a mate of mine, about half the size of four big bouncers, trying to take them on (while drunk). Sanity prevailed over bravado in my case (or was it cowardice) and I drove him to the hospital while he nursed a broken nose.
@Baldrick (Comment 17) :
The best case of getting 2 bouncers worked up, I ever saw was a mate of mine at LTP in the late 80’s.
The Bouncers used to wear no shirts with just this little white collar and a bow-tie and black pants.
Anyway he got these guys SO worked up that they chased him right down to The sunkist. (about 4km’s) Everytime they would stop and decide they had had enough he would let rip at them with a verbal barrage and then they would chase him again. We finally picked him up and drove off, leaving the bouncers feeling a little sheepish.
We didn’t go to LTP anymore. 😛
I once heard a story about Kobus Wiese & Balie Swart in their younger days which involved the bouncers being ‘bounced’. 😯
Sale v Munster proving to be a cracker. Mafi just flattend Chabal with a huge tackle. Chabal stayed down for a while to ‘catch his breath’.
Half Time
Sale 6 – Munster 13
@McLovin (Comment 20) : 😯
I have it on Supersport 7 😎
SOME RUGBY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😎
@Baldrick (Comment 17) : Very wise. 😎
@McLovin (Comment 19) : shit, but those two must have been a handful in their younger days. I gather they were virtually inseparable back then
Piet Van Zyl boland captain has signed with the cheetahs for next years super14
@Bok-Clyde-Kiwi (Comment 24) : Yes, that he has. Great loss for Boland
When I say more rugby, everyone jumps on me and shout ” rest the guys “. You get what you ask for. 😈
Though not always…
Life without rugby??? 🙁 , but I am not yet ready for soccer… 😈
@Silver Fox (Comment 27) : Me neither!
@McLovin (Comment 20) : Mafi looks more like a hooker than a center. Boy is big!
@beez (Comment 29) : You have weird taste in hookers 🙂
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 30) : if only you knew…
This is the time of year I REALLY love, but hate at the same time…when that final whistle goes…so does the rugby…that feeling of WHAT are we gonna do next weeknd??? 😯 😯
I watched the Schools Beeld TRophy rugby this weekend – at least it was some form of rugby… 😉