Silence in the valleys, no singing
THERE was no singing in the valleys after the Boks’ trouncing of Wales in Cardiff by a massive 52-16 in the Rugby World Cup warm-up match. Nor was there much singing at Twickenham of the traditional Sweet Chariot as Ireland demolished England 29-10.
For the Boks, skipper Siya Kolisi made a spectacular return from serious injury, playing a blinder of a first half before retiring from the field. That is a great relief.
The Bok scrum was rampant throughout and Jessie Kriel and Canan Moodie notched two tries each. This was sparkling stuff.
A concern was a lapse in the goal-kicking of flyhalf Manie Libbok, obscured by the blizzard of tries. This is something he has to get right, and quickly. It’s usually decisive.
And now the countdown begins to Friday’s match, also at Twickenham, against the All Blacks.
A mere warm-up game? You’ve got to be kidding. This is likely to be psychologically decisive. Twickers is already sold out.
Rugby-watching venues such as The Pub With No Name in Florida Road will be in a frenzy as the damsels strum at their knickers in anticipation of supplying elastic for a fashioning of catapults for the time-honoured feu de joie in which the street lights are shot out.
’Erewego, ’erewego, ’erewego!
Bewildering run-up
THE Rugby World Cup has had a bewildering run-up with England captain Owen Farrell yellow-carded for a head-high, no arms shoulder tackle on Wales’s Taine Basham in a Six Nations match; a yellow card that transformed to red at the behest of a disciplinary panel; and which could yet again fade to yellow – or maybe even disappear – on the recommendation of World Rugby.
At time of writing it was by no means clear if or when Farrell will be allowed to take the field to lead England in the World Cup.
Meanwhile, a new pub has opened at Twickenham – but it’s very difficult to find.
It’s called The Farrell Arms.
Crime kitty
A JUVENILE suspected of being part of an armed robbery gang in America had with him a pet kitten, according to Associated Press.
Police in Meridien, Connecticut, were chasing a suspectedly stolen car that had been used in the robberies, when it collided with a police vehicle. Six occupants, including the juvenile, fled on foot but were soon arrested.
When the police searched the vehicle, they found a grey and white male kitten under the seat. The juvenile had made no mention of any connection to it.
The police then advertised on Facebook to find the kitty’s owner and a respondent directed them to a woman who turned out to be the mother of the arrested juvenile.
The kitten has been returned to her.
It’s not clear if and when the juvenile suspect will be returned to her.
Tailpiece
DURING the run-up to the Rugby World Cup, the England team visited an orphanage. “It was heart-breaking to see their sad little faces with no hope,” said Joe, aged 6.
Last word
I DON’T have a girlfriend. But I do know a woman who’d be mad at me for saying that.