Some of you may remember this expression from the cartoon series “Grootbek en Katvis” on TV in the early days when ou Grootbek tried to outsmart the wily catfish
I used the very same expression on Sunday when the last Aussie wicket fell in the extra half hour, and we were spared the anguish of praying for the rain to stay away today in the drought ravished Eastern Cape.
Some splendid individual performances, and a team firing on all cylinders, ensured that we can now look forward to a great third test at Newlands.
JP Duminy deserved his man of the match award for a very timely return to form with the bat, and standing in admirably as part-time spinner in the absence of Robin Peterson. Dean Elgar, similarly, used the opportunity afforded him to make the selectors rethink their decision about his national contract. The Rock also regained his form, and just in time, too.
Much of the hype before the second test concerned the bowling line-ups, with most of the focus on Dale Steyn and Mitchel Johnson. The latter stole the limelight in the first test, and Steyn was devastating on Sunday, yet Morkel’s aggressive bowling on Friday was the best I have ever seen from him. He was constantly close to 150 kph, and bamboozled the Australian batsmen with both pace and bounce to soften them up for his team mates to put the skids under the Aussies.
It is easy to underestimate the contribution of AB de Villiers who has just set a new record for consecutive fifties in a test. If there were doubts about his ability to perform admirably in his dual role as batsman and wicketkeeper, he firmly dispelled it in the last two weeks.
It was a Roaring Success
The Stormers went to Ellis Park, expecting to bully the Lions into submission. After the match, they probably joined Bright Blue, a South African band, singing the chorus of their famous song “Weeping”:
But as the night came ’round
I heard its lonely sound
It wasn’t roaring, it was weeping
The troops on the pitch did it, but much praise must go to Johan Ackerman for his hard work after taking over from John Mitchell after the latter’s unsavoury separation from the Lions. In a way, he is achieving what the Chiefs did the last two years – fifteen men, playing as a unit, is better than a side containing stars who play as individuals. Ons wens hulle sterkte toe vir die res van die kompetisie.
Knit one, Purl one
Jake White’s team showed on Saturday that they are capable of changing their game plan according to what is required to win. The Hurricanes ran into a resolute defence which they were unable to breach, and lost 27-9. In typical New Zealand fashion, the visitors never surrendered, and kept at it despite Lambie knocking in nail after nail.
Cheetahs win Swimmingly
In sulke weer sou ek eerder ‘n span met die naam Eende wou ondersteun as Cheetahs of Bulle. Okay, I know about the Sharks, but this was not them playing, OK?
Eersgenoemde was egter meer vlugvoetig as die Bulls, en die eindtelling bevestig dit ook. Vir die besoekers het hul probleem by die skakelpaar en afbreekpunte nog nie verdwyn nie. As hulle Saterdag nie die Leeus se derde slagoffer van die reeks wil word nie, moet hulle hier soek vir ander opsies.
Willie le Roux is een maal uit die Springbokspan gelaat weens probleme onder die hoë bal, maar na Vrydagaand, in sulke weer, kan daar geen twyfel meer bestaan oor die briljantheid van die man nie.
Supersport App
Volgens ‘n berig wat ek Vrydag gelees het, help hier toep (eina, wat ‘n aaklige woord!) dat jy die spel, soos wat dit vorder, kan ontleed. Ek sal terugvoer hieroor baie waardeer.
Laai dit af by http://www.vodacom.co.za/rugby
Moonies Superbru
Yes, I know, round two is already behind us, so if you join now, you start with a deficit, but if you love rugby, and have nothing better to do on a Friday afternoon, why not join us?
Just click on http://www.superbru.com/superrugby/pool.php?p=11167703
Pool name: Moonies
Pool code: mutedont
Lekker week vir jou.
