Victory, we all know, is sweet at the best of times. Victory against the Wallabies, on the other hand, is similar to three courses of dessert followed by…you guessed it, dessert.
Perhaps the only thing better than beating the Aussies at rugby is beating them at cricket, and after two wins against the All Blacks, very few expected the Boks to go and lose on Saturday at Newlands.
We can do this shit blindfolded
Read more Sports Roundup (including TV TIMES), chatting about everything from the Confed Cup and Michael Schumacher’s Formula 1 bid to the PGA Championship – after the jump..
But there was a lot of talk before the game about how the Wallabies would be harder to beat than their neighbours from across the ditch. Their young pack, plus the influence of coach Robbie Deans, was supposed to combine to form a lethal spear, solid enough to pierce tough Bok skin. I can safely say that from Row F seat 16 C on the Danie Craven Stand nothing appeared further from the truth. Yes, we shat ourselves when Adam Ashley-Cooper went over in the first five minutes. After that though, the Boks never really looked stretched. Morne Steyn tried to steal the show for a second week in a row but could only manage a paltry 24 points with the boot this time (55 points in two games). The pressure applied by the Fourie du Preez up-and-under continues to work a treat. Before the opposition realises it, they’ve been frisked by Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen, with the end result usually culminating in a Bok penalty for Morne to convert. The Boks, in fact, looked so comfortable that prop John Smit had the confidence to slide through a grubber for lock Vicor Matfield to pick up. Most fitting for Victor and Bakkies’ 50th anniversary.
The decision not to take action against Matt Giteau for his ‘challenge’ on Fourie du Preez is the only blemish from what was otherwise a brilliant afternoon. Bakkies got a two week ban for what he did. Giteau, for his act of indescretion, should get ten to fifteen years. coincidentally, the verdict from the ‘Justice 4 Bakkies’ hearing held in Dublin on Monday will be made known on Friday.
After losing by a point to the Griquas in Kimberley last week, Province have, what many might call a ‘confidence booster’ against the Cavaliers in Wellington this weekend. The Boks released scrumhalf Ricky Januarie and lock Andries Bekker for the Currie Cup, but they didn’t play in Kimberely and they aren’t playing again this weekend. One can’t help but wonder how different things might have been last week had someone like Bekker been on the field. The Cavaliers have been drilled by pretty much everybody so far (except by the Lions) so Province will definetly be eyeing a big win. A lot, though, depends on the state of the Wellington pitch, which tends to turn into a mud bath after big rains.
The road to the World Cup appears to be a long one for Joel Santana and his men after they lost 3-1 to Serbia on Wednesday. Granted, Serbia are ranked 14th in the world compared to Bafana who are ranked 72nd. However, after the promise shown by South Africa in the Confed Cup, one could be forgiven for expecting a closer result than that. Instead, Bafana equaled their worst loss on home soil since the 2007 African Nations Cup qualifier against Zambia at Newlands. We know that Benni McCarthy has an attitude problem, but perhaps it’s time to build a bridge, get over it and bring him back for the good of the national side so that we can begin adequate preparations for the biggest show on Earth. Just a thought.
Tifosi around the world are one step closer to mass suicide this week after Michael Schumacher announced he will not be making his surprise comeback in Valencia on August the 23rd. The 40-year-old Weltmeister injured his neck in a motor bike crash in February. As a result, he won’t be able to withstand the forces associated with racing at high speed. If Schumi’s interested, I can recommend one or two girls on Greenpoint Main Road who know some great neck strengthening exercises. In the meantime Luca Badoer, whose first race was the South African Grand Prix in 1993, will act as Felipe Massa’s replacement.
It’s another bumper weekend of sport. Tiger is the man to watch as the PGA Championship tees off at Hazeltine on Thursday. He’s looking for his 15th major win and it would be foolish to bet against him doing it. From a South African perspective, Retief isn’t playing too badly and could well be up there come Sunday. Ernie? Well let’s just hope he makes the cut. We’ll take it from there.
Blades.
Catch more of “Blades” at www.overtohugh.co.za
TV Times and channels
Thursday 13/08/09
Golf- US PGA Champs Day 1
19:30 SS5
Tennis- ATP Masters: Rogers Masters Last
16 16:45 SS6
Friday 14/08/09
Golf- US PGA Champs Day 2
20:00 SS1
Tennis-ATP Masters: Rogers Masters QF 1 & 2
18:45 SS6
Saturday 15/08/09
Rugby
Absa Currie Cup: Gwk Griquas v Blue Bulls
14:45 MNET/SS1
Absa Currie Cup: Boland v Western Province
14:50 SS6
Absa Currie Cup: Xerox Lions v Sharks
17:00 HD/MNET/SS1
Football- Premier League: Week1: Chelsea v Hull City
13:00 SS3 (Hd)
Blackburn Rovers v Man City
15:45 SS3
Bolton Wanderers v Sunderland
15:55 SS5
Portsmouth v Fulham
15:55 SS7
Blackburn Rovers v Man City
16:00 CSN
Everton v Arsenal
18:00 SS3
Golf- US PGA Champs Day 3
20:00 SS1
Tennis- ATP Masters: Rogers Masters SF 1
20:30 SS2
Sunday 16/08/09
Football- Premier League: Manchester Utd v Birmingham City
14:00 SS3 (Hd)
Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool
16:30 CSN/SS3
Golf – US PGA Champs Day 4
19:30 SS1
MotoGP- Motogp: Cardion Ab GP Ceske Republiky 125cc
10:45 SS2
250cc
12:00 SS2
Tennis: ATP Masters: Rogers Masters
19:00 SS2
Catch more of “Blades” at www.overtohugh.co.za
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