Rugby update!

For all my new rugby fans (and any long-time fans who may be here) WOOHOO!!!! BOKKE 28 - Wallabies 8 YES!!!!!

A very fun exciting match - especially the first half!  The Bokke dominated the first half and I really expected the bonus. It didn't happen but it was a great match and beating the Wallbies always makes me smile!!  What's that? Am I holding a World Cup grudge?!?  Who? Me? Yup, I certainly am!!

Something I forgot to mention previously... Let's discuss a "knock-on" -  when the ball is knocked froward, it is WRONG!! You don't get to pick it up and keep going. This is called a knock-on. Remember, passes go backwards!  When you knock-on, the other team gets the ball.... Unless its Australia, apparently.  I have NEVER seen a team get away with so many knock-ons!!!  I counted 5 knock-ons and quite a few forward passes. That was NOT COOL!!  I am baffled as to WHY this is allowed to happen!!

Yellow card against Wallabies at 27 minutes - dangerous tackle on Eban - bit of a scuffle after. More "slap tickle" at 33 minute.  Ouch. Van der Merwe is taking a time-out for leading with the elbow - dangerous play and that could cost him!  (And not NFL style 'cost' but rather, he may be banned from playing for a while.  Ouch!) Leading at half-time 23-3!!! By the end of the match, I kinda lost count of the yellow cards. Maybe 5?

Ah, well... It was exciting and a big shout out to Jannie du Plessis and Morne Steyn for 50 matches together!!  Wow!! Pretty impressive stuff!!!  (and FYI, it's pronounced with a 'Y' not a 'J' so... Yannie for all of the American English speakers!) (And for those who are thinking the du Plessis name sounds familiar... Nice catch!! Jannie is the older brother of the unfairly red carded, Bismark!!)

And before any football fans point out that 50 games/matches happens all the time in the NFL... This isn't football, remember!  These guys get selected for each Springboks match - you aren't under contract, you aren't guaranteed a spot!  The best football analogy I have is getting selected for the Pro Bowl 50 times but... That's not exactly right. Unfortunately, there really isn't an American sport situation that really comes close. Ok, think about Olympic team events - its still not quite right but it's closer - the Springboks are the national team, representing South Africa against other countries national teams. Getting picked (capped) 50 times to be on the team is a BFD!!  

Ok. The big one is Saturday October 5 against the All Blacks. Biggest match with everything on the line!  If you find yourself interested in rugby, check out the match next Saturday!!