Parting shot diluted
THE Southern Kings’ exit from Super Rugby last weekend drew a fiery response from their departing director of rugby, Alan Solomons. He explained the strides they had taken over the last three years in building a strong base in their academy, labelled the Kings exit from Super Rugby a disgrace and called for strong leadership in SA rugby. A shame he had one foot on a flight to Edinburgh, otherwise the message would have been more potent.
LIONS fans were quickly back to their old ways this week. Last week, they converged on Ellis Park in their droves to support their beleaguered team in their quest to regain Super Rugby status and Tightheads was predictably indignant at some fans who this week said they would not attend the team’s Currie Cup opener at home against the Cheetahs. “What you forget is that those bastards lost last week,” we were reminded.
THE sight of rotund All Blacks scrumhalf Piri Weepu ambling from one ruck to the next looks to be something of the past after he was left out of Steve Hansen’s squad for the Rugby Championship. Weepu’s omission caught some Kiwi commentators by surprise as the scrumhalf’s apparent lack of urgency didn’t seem to count against him before.
EVEN when in camp, the Boks have to spread themselves thin attending functions, photo opportunities with sponsors, strategic partners, foundations, charities and the lot. This week, they had to report for duty at a gathering showcasing Laureus’ Sport for Good Foundation in Johannesburg. It
meant they had to engage the youngsters involved in the foundation in different sports and Tightheads was mildly aghast at their general lack of direction when trying to find the basketball hoop. They can clearly jump, just not on the basketball court.
OF course, Eben Etzebeth and Flip van der Merwe were instructed by a mischievous master of ceremonies to report to the section dedicated to boxing. They sheepishly ignored him. The Bok who looked most at home throwing a few combinations was backrower Marcell Coetzee.
A request by the SABC to interview Bok coach Heyneke Meyer at their studios was politely turned down this week. The national broadcaster was reminded that SuperSport pay gazillions to broadcast rugby in this country. Sounds like the dog is being wagged with alacrity again.
JUST after he was named Blue Bulls captain, Jono Ross was asked what it felt like to be the team’s first Englishspeaking captain. He, of course, tiptoed around the question but one has to wonder whether the manner in which the Bulls exited Super Rugby when Dewald Potgieter ignored orders to go for goal got the Bulls thinking about alternatives.