Na ek Donderdag se berig in die Moonstone Monitor weer gelees het, besef ek net weer hoekom rugby vooruitskouings en weervoorspellings so baie in gemeen het. Nes jy dink jy ken al die antwoorde, verander hulle die vrae.
Daar herhaal die Lions toe sowaar die uitslag van die Curriebeker finaal en die Stormers bewys my swartgalligheid oor hul kanse verkeerd.
The Lions reminded me of the guy who appeared in court for assault. In response to the question about why he hit the other person, he said: “I thought he was going to hit me, so I hit him back first.”
By the time the Sharks woke up, it was too late. The Lions, leading 32 – 11 at halftime, must have thought it was just a dream, and went back to sleep, only to be rudely awoken by the Sharks with two quick tries. Hats off to the Lions for keeping their composure and pulling this one off. For once one could see the quality of some of their stars, and against a formidable team like the Sharks, Elton Jantjes and Franco van der Merwe fully justified their selection in the Springbok squad. What a pity there was no space for Pat Cilliers.
Ek gaan nie Sondag se kopseer te lank teen die Stormers hou nie. Sal maar iets drink daarvoor – om die waarheid te sê, ek gaan die behandeling nog so ’n dag of wat volhou. Ou Jan, ek verlekker my nie in die Bulls se verloor nie, maar in die Stormers se veggees. Ons visvoete, soos JJ van Blouwen ons gedoop het, het almal maar net gehoop die pak gaan nie te groot wees nie. Ons was voor die wedstryd immers eerste op die SA punteleer, en ons het mos darem ook ons trots.
The Stormers ground out a win through sheer guts. The Bulls did everything they could, but for once, the gutsy defense of the visiting side thwarted all their power plays. At one stage the Bulls had made 50 tackles, the Stormers 130. Missed tackles at that stage: Bulls 7, Stormers 8. It would be wrong to single out anyone, which is why I am going to do it.
Siya Kolisi, the Cinderella of South African rugby, is probably the perfect role model to unleash the wealth of black players we have in our rainbow nation. What with Bafana’s pathetic performances, even the most avid black soccer supporter must be dying for a sign of divine intervention, and Kolisi is just that.
Bryan Habana appears to save his best performances for Loftus, and Saturday was no exception. What a timely return to form.
En, Bobby, Zane Kirchner het sy plek in die Bokspan ten volle verdien.
Going international, I am concerned, very concerned, about the upward curve in the standard of play of the Crusaders. Like so often in the past, I thought they were done and dusted in the early stages of the game. Now they are fifth on the log, and one opponent you do not want to face.
And to my shame I have to admit that I love their style of rugby. Any team that can play such attractive rugby, and win, can convert me.
Hand-picked by Heyneke
Laat my net toe om eerstens vir Fourie du Preez geluk te wens met sy besluit om hom nie beskikbaar te stel vir die Bokke nie. Dit was nie om finansiële redes nie. Hy voel sy spelstyl is nie op die verlangde vlak nie. Sulke integriteit verhoog net sy status in my oë. As ’n man of twee dit ook voor die Wêreldbeker gedoen het, het die rekordboeke dalk anders gelees.
Om net te kritiseer sonder alternatiewe is papbroekig. My moontlike alternatiewe is as volg:
Jano Vermaak – Charl McLeod
Flip van der Merwe – Johann Muller
Wynand Olivier – Juan de Jongh of Robert Ebersohn
Hoekom Wynand in die span is, sal net Heyneke weet en, dalk, ook Wynie Strydom. Daar is net drie binnesenters in die groep en JJ Engelbrecht, ’n versoolde vleuel.
Het die spel dan nou so verander dat daar nie meer plek is vir ’n Danie Gerber nie?
Dan hang ek my glas op.
Oor ’n dag of twee.
Miskien.
PK the DJ
