Posted inSport

Bring on the Poms!

So we’re in the final. Who would have guessed that we would be facing England there, for the second time in the World Cup? The Bokke played well on Sunday. The forwards were fierce, led by great performances by Juan Smith, Schalk Burger and Bakkies Botha. Os once again played out of his boots, even […]

Posted inSport

Haban-a-killer

Haban-a-killer, Haban-a-killer, Haban-a-killer … where is me glass? Sounds like a Jewish wedding … While Kobus Wiese was chatting to Corne Krige and Jeremy Guscott before the game, the butterflies were having a full go. Despite all the bravado I have to admit I was worried. That Argentinian scrum is lethal and so it proved […]

Posted inSport

Mark Boucher: Potential fulfilled

Potential. It’s often that little bit of something that many of us possess, but never maximise. An ingredient or two that steers us in a particular direction, begging to be fostered, nurtured and ultimately acted upon. Often it’s latent ability, so obvious that to consign it to the scrapheap of “unfulfilled potential” would be a […]

Posted inSport

All Blacks suffering from IRB myopia

I was absolutely devastated by the All Blacks’ shock defeat against France on Saturday. I remember going to the bar for my fifth glass of champagne and thinking, “Isn’t this really all down to the IRB’s refusal to deal with reality?” Surely someone on the IRB board should stand up and be counted: Firstly, recognise […]

Posted inSport

A new national anthem

Rodrigo Orihuela’s recent post about the importance of national anthems in sports reminded me that we South Africans need a new national anthem. The swell of pride that I feel when I hear the opening strains of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika at a rugby Test match is replaced by intense shame when 35 000 white throats start […]

Posted inSport

The global appeal of the Pumas

Marcelo Loffreda, Argentina’s rugby coach, was happy at mid-week. The main reason was, obviously, that the Pumas’ victory over Ireland on Sunday enabled his team to top their pool — with the best defensive record in the World Cup — and therefore face Scotland in the second round instead of the All Blacks. Loffreda was […]