WHAT a St Patrick's Day! Seventeen-nil down after 30 minutes, 17-10 at halftime then a final scoreline of 27-22 to us. The New South Wales Waratahs must be a little thoughtful. Our blokes combine beef, skills and character in a mix that means anything can happen.
In the Duikers' Club afterwards conversation rose above its customary decorous hum. Here comes a season where things are going to happen! Like bok-bok and the hula dance by the Tattooed Lady. Later we repaired to the La Bella Street Shelter for the Over-40s, where those still on their feet were in a delirium of joy. I presume the customary feu de joie was fired at the streetlights with catapults fashioned from the ladies' knicker elastic, but inquiries proved fruitless as those who were not singing Zulu Warrior seemed speechless. Indeed, a famous victory!
We've gone up a couple of gears every match so far. How many tomorrow? But the important thing was that we showed we don't just have the gears, we're able to dig the machine out of the mire when things seem hopeless. It's known as gees.
Those Queensland guys seem a race of giants. Fast giants too; the way their threequarters moved and changed direction was magnificent. How we kept them out, apart from those couple of lapses, was remarkable - but a great omen. The game was played in a return of tropical storm Irina – she just won't go away, the pesky lady – which meant two running, handling sides having to adapt their style. Who knows what might have happened on a dry evening?
Meanwhile, Cymru am byth – Wales forever! The boyos chalked up another Grand Slam in the Six Nations, which is what they richly deserved. It's delightful to see a youngish team, not exactly studded with stars, taking it with zest and skill, playing as a 15-man unit. For my money they were the best side at the World Cup last year and last Saturday must have tasted especially sweet as it was France who beat them 9-8 in the World Cup semi-final.
Now Wales say they want a pop at the Boks, the All Blacks and the Wallabies. I'm not sure when these opportunities will come up – maybe at the end of the season - but they will be humdingers when they do. Wales seem set to enter another golden era. The atmosphere in Cardiff was absolutely electric - the singing better than the Duikers' Club and the Street Shelter for the Over-40s combined. And that's saying something.
Speaking of which, England will soon take a pop at us. Last weekend they demolished Ireland, at Twickenham, following their absolutely thrilling away win over France. Here's a side that's coming together, firing on all cylinders. In June they'll be out here for three Tests. Hmmm. This will be good.
Meanwhile, our focus switches to Van Diemensland. New South Wales tomorrow. It's an early starter. Get her to nudge you awake and make you coffee. 'Erewego, 'erewego, 'erewego!
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