Tightheads & Loose Balls
Last week’s epic Currie Cup semifinal at Newlands between Western Province and the Blue Bulls had tongues wagging, and naturally, Twitter-a-flutter. Much of the chat centred around the way the match was officiated, with referee Egon Seconds, a former Western Province stalwart, in charge of proceedings. Many questioned why he had been assigned to the match but according to a highranking official there was a very sound reason. As it turned out Western Province got out of jail and some couldn’t get past Seconds’ impact on the match. “Yes, WP had Second chances,” habitual Currie Cup winner Naas Botha noted sagely, but tongue-in-cheek.
● Tightheads asked a local official why Marius van der Westhuizen has dropped off World Rugby’s list of appointments. “There was a problem with his fitness,” the official said. Tightheads was a little puzzled because that doesn’t explain the befuddling conclusions Van der Westhuizen arrives at when he does keep up with the action.
● Tightheads this week spoke to match officials to establish why the country has stopped leading the way in that area. Some pointed accusing fingers at the SA Rugby referees manager’s office, saying the incumbent Banks Yantolo doesn’t have the necessary credibility to back them in Sanzaar meetings. Others say the department has been neglected. “The referees department is supposed to fall under Rassie Erasmus. If he had the time I think things might have gone better but he’s too busy with the Boks.”
● The Sharks, maybe in an attempt to appeal to a wider audience, have again come up with something that vaguely passes for a rap video. The latest instalment saw them going at it in their change room to the tune of Ice, Ice Baby. It couldn’t pass for gangsta rap as the song’s creator is Vanilla Ice, while their choice of jersey which was a striking à la Stade Francais pink, also left them well short in the street-cred stakes.
● This crashed into our Inbox a few days ago: “SuperSport will move into high gear on Saturday for one of the biggest days of the domestic sports year with both the Soweto derby and the Currie Cup final taking place.
“Twenty-five cameras, including one aboard a helicopter, will broadcast the action from FNB Stadium with 20 cameras strategically placed at Newlands for the WP-Sharks decider. Another will be on board a helicopter for aerial shots.”
If the shots coming from the chopper weren’t “aerial” it would almost certainly have made for more compelling viewing.