A tug and a scrape and no cream to show for it
IT speaks volumes for the player’s determination, but it perhaps says more about how the Aussies are scraping the barrel in trying to field five Super Rugby teams.
Last weekend the Rebels, who missed around 20 players according to coach Tony McGahan, were forced to summon flank Will Miller to Durban. Rugbyheaven.com reported that, until recently Miller milked cows at 4am and again tugged at the teets in the afternoon before driving two hours to rugby practice in north Sydney.
He made his debut in a match so desperate even the cream refused to rise to the top.
THAT 9-all draw was so poor it was comfortably on a par with the Sharks’ 2004 yawn against the Reds. Back then the Reds happened to lead 6-5 when full-time was called.
WHO said there are no consequences for referees who have poor matches? Rohan Hoffmann was so poor in the Waratahs' defeat to the Kings he blew his chances of being on assignment in SA over the next few weeks.
It wasn't the first time he was stood down after a dubious performance in Sydney. In 2015 the Sharks felt so aggrieved by his performance someone hacked his Wikipedia page.
ALL Tightheads read in the buildup to the Stormers’ match against the Highlanders was how their South Island import Shaun Treeby would spill the beans on his former teammates. We can only assume the advice he dispensed stopped the score from ballooning beyond 57.
WITH belts tightening all around SA Rugby you have to wonder why WP president Thelo Wakefield travels as much as he does with the Stormers and Western Province. Wakefield was a former logistics manager for the team, but we doubt he's of any use on tour now. If Wakefield pays his own way, good on him.
THE recent choice of music at Loftus Versfeld has left us curious. During the warm-ups ahead of the Bulls versus Cheetahs clash, Silento’s Watch me (whip/nae nae) played with the Despicable Me/The minions montage accompanying the popular but ultimately atrocious track. This is quite a leap for folks who religiously shoved Steve Hofmeyr down the patrons’ eardrums.
CONGRATULATIONS to Cheetahs captain Francois Venter on his 50th Super Rugby appearance yesterday. In a press release to mark the occasion, his franchise described him as: “compact in execution with a very low error rate and an uncanny ability to take the right option, Venter’s speed off the mark, running angles and uncompromising defence makes him one of the toughest opponents in the competition.” After all that, it’s quite remarkable he’s still at the Cheetahs.