It has become a bit of a habit to use a song title for this column. I was stuck this week until a very unlikely character came to my rescue, and reminded me of this old Beach Boys number.
Bryce Lawrence does it again
This morning’s paper quotes Todd Blackadder expressing his dismay at Bryce Lawrence allowing the two tries scored by Conrad Smith against his side last week. In the coach’s opinion, there was obstructive running in both instances.
You will recall that he was voted New Zealand’s top referee last year. We all concluded that it was based on his stoic effort in removing the biggest threat to the Kiwi’s winning the RWC in their own homeland.
Now the hero has turned into a villain.
Jammer, om van jou moeilikheid te hoor!
Net so dol as wat ek is oor die manier waarop die Crusaders speel, net so graag wil ek nie sien dat ons spanne teen hulle in die kwart-, half- of eindstryde beland nie. Ondanks hul posisie op die punteleer bly hulle steeds die beste span in die kompetisie. As hulle deurdring, gaan hulle die kompetisie wen.
Die groot stryd in Durban is seker die wedstryd van die naweek, gegewe wat op die spel is. Nie een van die twee spanne kan bekostig om te verloor nie. Die Bulls speel met dieselfde 22 as verlede week, terwyl die Sharks se Bokke seker baie dankbaar is vir die blaaskans na die toetsreeks. Dit is juis in die voorry waar die slag beslis kan word en met Marcel Coetzee nou drie toetse slimmer, gaan dit inderdaad ‘n riller wees.
In Bloemfontein kan mens ’n beter vertoning voorlangs verwag van die besoekers, maar dit gaan taai wees. Die Stormers het verlede naweek sleg tweede gekom by die afbreekpunte, en die Cheetahs se eie Jack Russel gaan dit nog moeiliker maak vir hulle.
Motivation will play a big part in the outcome of this game. In this respect, the visitors have much more to play for than the Cheetahs. For once, the Stormers only have to win this week and next to finish second, or better, depending on what happens to the Chiefs. They do not need bonus points for four tries, which is maybe exactly why they will score four or more. It seems the harder they try, the less it happens.
The rules of the competition give the two teams at the top a free pass to the semi-finals. With an Aussie side likely to end third, despite their position on the log, it would be quite something if they had to play away from home, if not in the quarter-finals, then very likely in the semi-finals.
Dit kan wees dat slim ouens sulke somme kan maak, en besluit om eerder een plek vêrder terug eindig, maar dit klink nou weer soos ‘’n komplot teorie, so kom ons laat dit daar.
Hawk eye Competition
Last week, we published a picture of Anna Kournikova, and 80% of the respondents got it right. Two got it wrong, and one response won the reader a Moonstone memory stick.
LD van Vuuren indicated that he was not really interested in her name, just where she stays. We decided that he was a worthy winner of the memory device, as certain faculties, including one’s memory, do deteriorate over time.
Jan Prinsloo van Malmesbury is die wenner van drie bottels Seidelberg Shiraz 2004.
Hierdie week is daar weer ‘n geheuestokkie op die spel, sowel as ‘n baie skaars bottel uitvoerwyn, Boskloof Conclusion.
This will go to one reader who can correctly name the lovely tennis star in the picture below. Email your details and answer to shelley@moonstoneinfo.com.
My editor wanted to know if this is the best I can do while Wimbledon is on. I responded:
“As ek moet kies tussen haar en Andy Murray, sal Murray dalk vyfde kom”
Jy mag maar lank hieroor dink, ou Grote! En kyk.
PK the DJ
