TIGHTHEADS & LOOSE BALLS

LIONS chief executive Manie Booysen thought he, too, had the magic touch with the boot this week. Booysen attempted to kick a ball at the Lions’ training on Thursday but, instead, collected a chunk of turf first with his shiny, pointy shoes. A sore ankle had him limping and threatening to go to the doctor.

IT’S obvious why Sharks prop Jannie du Plessis is a fan favourite. Last Saturday, after the Sharks’ win over the Hurricanes, Jannie enjoyed a drink on the College Rovers fields, where he mixed with players, some media and fans. Later, when the fields were almost deserted, a fan approached Jannie and two others, asking for help starting his car. Jannie obliged, even though his calf was strapped, and gave the man a push-start.

IT didn’t take long for the first post-match scuffle story to hit the news. A member of the Highlanders team has been implicated in a late-night incident involving a Dunedin taxi driver following his team’s win over the Blues. The player allegedly had a heated argument with the driver. The Highlanders are investigating the matter but no players have been suspended.

FRANCE No 8 Louis Picamoles was dropped after he sarcastically applauded referee Alain Rolland following his sin-binning against Wales last week. Pascal Pape escaped the axe, but coach Philippe St-André was unimpressed with the way in which the captain addressed French-speaking Irishman Rolland. Pape used the informal, but more familiar,

rather than vous, which would be expected when addressing people in authority. Insisted St-André: “In the next two Six Nations matches, Pascal will vous the referees.”

YESTERDAY’S clash between two Wallaby hopefuls got the Aussies excited in the build-up to the Force’s match against the Brumbies. But Tightheads was more drawn to the matchup because of the monikers Nick “The Honey Badger” Cummins and Henry “The Bro with a Fro” Speight go by.