penultimate instalment of this years coverage. It's quite a task being
a well-known reader of the game, but the burden is worth it by
imparting sideline knowledge to even the most clueless of supporters.
Total strangers come up to me in the street to get my opinions and
views on pertinent issues in the world game. As a bonus gift to the
loyal readers, we clear up some grey areas and relive some highlights
today.
* Well the try that wasn't. It'll be pushing for #2 spot behind
Maradona's "Hand of God" for little reason beyond the fact that the
poms are indeed twats. I personally felt that Dickinson would give it
(but there's a reason why TMO's are not allowed 10 beers before they
make decisions), it was as close as you'll ever get to a 50-50 call.If
you want to see what a bad TMO decision looks like, watch the ARG-RSA
semi again. Cueto's foot was on the ground and lifted up somewhere
close to the touchline. The reason it took so long was because the
french editors couldn't understand his instructions for a
frame-by-frame view. They don't have TMO in French Rugby, and this was
a very low-rent move. If he had given it, would it have made a
difference? Definitely not the 7 extra points they are claiming, as
Jonny W kicked the penalty they got from the immediate advantage.
Probably not the conversion either as the penalty kick hit the posts
anyway and that was from 20 metres in. So we are talking about a 2
point decision here. 15-8 final score. Of course Cueto (what a pansie
surname, btw) still maintains his instincts tell him he scored. Yes he
could tell that his toe never touched chalk whilst 115kgs of bull
shoved him sideways. like I said, TWAT.
* there's extreme irony that in finishing the 'IRPA try of the year',
Takudza Ngwenya made the 'IRB player of the year' Bryan '11' Habana
look very ordinary. Bryan did the right thing by shepherding him
towards touch, but didn't quite expect the absolute burst of speed -
an outside break is a truly beautiful thing. Great try, but not
exactly a factor in a plenty-nothing scoreline. For me the obvious
candidate takes the prize for poise, execution and absolute result. Of
course we're looking at the injury time, come from behind move, that
involved the entire Bulls team to turn around the Super14 final. That
move puts Bryan on the shortlist for 'try of the decade'.
*For the first time in living memory Derick Hougaard loses his title
as the SA rugby player who receives the most BJ's. Fair enough it was
a world cup year and he wasn't in the squad, nor did his team make the
currie cup finals. The rise and rise of Frans Steyn looked like
swinging it the way of the 20 year old wonderboy who can do no wrong.
Sure enough he had it for the taking, but was pipped by one of his
Sharks teammates for the dubious title. Butch has been around the
block, and whilst he doesn't get as many opportunities as Frans(or
ever did) his conversion rate is pretty close to 100%. He is an
absolute dog, in the true Maritzburg tradition and we salute him
proudly. The continued irony of BJ Botha not even making the top 50
never goes unnoticed.
*So what's the greatest thing left behind by Jake? The value of the
Springbok Jersey. Whereas Straueli broke records for new caps and
centre pairings we had a team with 600+ collective games between them.
Chop and change at your peril.
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