Slightly nervous is how I would describe myself as I make my first post on a South African website. Not as nervous as when I used to be there, mind, but that’s not hard.
I hope that over the coming months, if I last that long, it will become fairly obvious that I am not too serious about many things, least of all myself.
I watched the match against the Welsh on Saturday, and I’ve got to say it was a great win for the Boks. Where the hell was everyone, though? I always thought you guys liked rugby? And how much more fun can there be than stuffing the Taffs, apart obviously from stuffing the English? (But that applies everywhere!)
It was always interesting playing in South Africa at altitude. We had enough trouble at sea level, but heading up into the veld was a little different! Firstly, the welcome was none too friendly. You have to speak far slower to everyone, and it’s hard to tell them apart. So, we used to struggle a little.
People keep asking me about the World Cup final in Paris — was it or was it not a try? My honest opinion is that it should have been given. And before you all start screaming, I also think that it would have made no difference whatsoever to the result. The best team won. I got the feeling that you never got out of second gear, but if you had needed to, you had a few more to go through. Matfield was outstanding, as was your defence, and we never had control of the game, so congratulations to you for your second victory at the World Cup.
The best moment of the final was at the medal ceremony when Jonny Wilkinson completely blanked Gordon Brown! I wish I could get some video coverage of that. What the hell was the man doing there anyway? Never seen him at a rugby game before or since. He’s Scottish, and he turns up to the World Cup final! Do me a favour and stay away!
So enough waffling, I just wanted to flag up on the site and let you know that I shall try to annoy/amuse you over the coming months. If any of you want to give me some abuse in the meantime, get on to www.rucku.com and let fly!
Let’s see what happens this weekend. I think you’ll win, but maybe not quite as comfortably as last time.