Tightheads & Loose Balls
● This week’s Currie Cup launch had descended into farce by the time latecomers Andries Coetzee and Lizo Gqoboka arrived. They were 45 minutes late which meant by the time the live broadcast was done, the out of town contingent had to be rushed to the airport.
● The invitation to the launch boldly stated that the seven captains would be present. S’busiso Nkosi, EW Viljoen, Rudy Paige, Coetzee and Gqoboka, none of whom captain their provinces, were in attendance.
“Why,” one journo exasperated, “should anyone take the Currie Cup seriously if the teams don’t?” ● “I thought he was joking when he said that,” chuckled Springbok captain Siya Kolisi when asked about Stormers and Springbok teammate Eben Etzebeth’s declaration of love for him 24 hours earlier. “Our friendship started at school already,” Kolisi felt the need to explain. “It was one of the reasons I moved to Cape Town to be with him and Nizaam (Carr). People will think me being captain and him not being captain will come between us. In fact it has made us stronger,” said Kolisi.
● For the record, Etzebeth, who’s back in the Bok set-up after injuring his shoulder against Wales last December, this week gushed when was asked about Kolisi’s elevation to captain. “(I’m happy) being in a team environment and having Siya as my roommate and waking up next to him every morning. It is nice to be in an environment like that again. Everybody knows Siya and I have a pretty good relationship. I’ve worked with Siya since u18. Just to see him grow as a man and as a leader. Especially the past two years. It has been wonderful. Can I say I love another man? Because, I really love the guy. It is just awesome to see him lead the team.”
● A bright green Ford Fiesta pulled up outside the Springbok team hotel on Friday. From the driver’s seat an oom (uncle) in shorts emerged and walked around the back of the car. From the passenger side a hulking young man rose to his feet. The pair met at the back of the car and kissed each other on the lips. It was just Marco van Staden saying goodbye to his dad on the eve of him making his Springbok debut. But it got a few heads turning.