Saturday TV sport
My aspiration of a whole day as a couch potato sipping a Desperado lager was destroyed by the six-hour disappearance of our cat Maisie.
As I was the last to see her when I slipped out to buy the papers I was held responsible by daughter Carla and wife Emma. Maisie is our fourth cat and each one goes through a “I-want-to-be-alone” Garboesque moment of 6 hours of solitude (in Maisie’s case).
The search inside and outside proved fruitless, she could not be tempted by filling her bowl with food but – just after 2.00pm – she emerged from a gap under the fridge oblivious to all the anxiety she had caused.
It did mean I could watch the second game in Cape Town between the Springboks and the All Blacks.
It was an attritional game and the Boks once again came back from a losing position to snatch victory.
Having won the World Cup consecutively and defeated the British Lions Rassie Erasmus’ side can lay justifiable claim to be world champions, but to validate this, you have to beat the ABs which they have done now twice.
It’s a side that is built on the experience of Eben Etzebeth, Steph du Toit, Silya Kelosi, Willie le Roux and one of enormous power. When behind they can introduce hooker Michael Marx who powered over for the winner.
Reserve fly half Sacha Freiburg-Mngamezulu looked more than useful and I’ve always liked three quarter Canan Moody.
There seemed a lack of discipline in the ABs – with prop Lomax sin-binned in the 71st minute – when you need everyone on the pitch to face the brute power of the Boks and Damian McKenzie failed to convert a relatively easy penalty at the death.
England v Sri Lanka – and Ireland 0 England 2 – were less contested.
Ireland, who have called upon David O’Leary, Frank Stapleton and Liam Brady of Arsenal, Roy Keane and Dennis Irwin of Manchester Utd and Ronnie Whelan of Liverpool, looked weak now and that England beat them is no indicator that new coach Lee Carsley will usher in a new era of success.
Similarly we must wait till next year when England face India at home and contest the Ashes “Down Under” to evaluate this England side.
