Tightheads & Loose Balls

● Tightheads made a rare appearance in the President’s Suite at Ellis Park last weekend. At the post-match function the Lions said a tearful goodbye to Jaco Kriel. The flank said Warren Whiteley would always be his captain. Kriel has joined Gloucester, who may as well be called ‘Die Rooibokke’ (the former Transvaal B) for their high number of players who can’t make Joburg’s A-team.

● A grizzled journo chuckled heartily this week when he read Lions coach Swys de Bruin’s comments about how to beat jet lag after a long journey to New Zealand. The Lions coach said the players would stay up and get up late in the build-up to the Super Rugby final. “Uh, we’ve been doing that for years. They should have asked us,” the journo remarked wryly.

● Question. At what point did John Mitchell arrive at a R90m benchmark for a players budget — before or after overtures from England?

● They may have made an impact in cricketing circles, but the death this week of Kotie Grové and Michael Doman was widely felt. Whether on radio or television Grové delivered his commentary with wit and a dry sense of humour. Doman, a fine gentleman in every sense, was a gifted cricketer. He later became a respected reporter and columnist. Our sincere condolences to their families and to the relatives of Mzwandile Yalezo (29), Onke Gqadushe (27) and Tyron Roberts (49) of the Mdantsane-based Swallows Rugby Football Club who died in a car accident last weekend.