I thought rugby might convert my missus

Regular readers of this column will know that my missus doesn’t like sport, but she makes an exception whenever there is a big rugby match on TV.

Last weekend was no different, and although I wanted to watch my Arsenal playing Southampton in the FA Cup, the boss insisted we watch the Currie Cup semifinals. It’s probably just as well, as

Arsenal lost 1-0 through an own goal.

She is an avid Bulls fan and was quite excited as we settled down to see which two teams would play in the Currie Cup final.

It was the Bulls against the Lions, followed by a clash between Western Province and the Sharks.

Within the opening 20 minutes of the Province-Sharks encounter, she looked at me as if I had thrown up on the lounge floor and asked: “What the hell is this?”

I had to concur. I know the Covid pandemic and the restrictions have made it difficult for players to practice, but I was horrified at what we were watching.

Lack of discipline and countless basic errors turned the contest into one that will be quickly forgotten.

The Province-Sharks clash was much of the same and I was left lamenting the state of our rugby with the British Lions tour just some five months away – if that is what we are going to be dishing up, we are on a hiding to nothing.

The standard of refereeing in both matches also left much to be desired and added to the disappointment of a Saturday afternoon wasted.

Even the boss suggested we find good books to read next time she tells me she wants to watch rugby on TV.

So, from being a sometimes sports fan, but only when there was rugby on TV, she has now decided she detests anything involving a ball.

“Even women’s beach volleyball?” I enquired – and that’s how the fight started…