THERE'S a lot to be said for strumming the suspender belt of Katinka, lead dancer in the Thunder Bar. Last week I mentioned that Katinka had a lot of betting slips under her suspender belt, most of them featuring Patrick Lambie. It's history now that Patrick scored all 28 points against Otago Highlanders. It's uncanny, the instinct these Ukrainian lovelies have for rugby.
What are the prospects for tomorrow against the Star Trekkers (The Force be with you)? I say we're about to go on a roll. We've picked up so many bonus points for games where we got pipped in the dying seconds that it's kept us in the running for the play-offs, yet the log doesn't reflect our true strength. Last week saw a settling of the nerves – a bit cautious maybe, but necessary. Tomorrow the guys will turn it on, hungry as mongrels after a steak.
As Katinka says, as she snaps at her suspender belt: "Ze Sharks zey gonna rock 'n roll! You votch Keegan Daniel. Also Tim Vitehead. Bismarck ze big fella, he gonna put ze lever. Also ze Be-e-e-e-a-a-a-ast! Not forgettink Patrick ze darlink poster boy, ve luff him! Ve got lotsa moollah on zer Sharks!" Snap! Snap!
One cannot but agree. The forwards were magnificent last week – lots of oomph in the scrums good line-out work, lots of hard driving in the broken play – and everywhere there was very little spilled ball. The nerves are settling, they're getting it together.
And the tackling was superb, barring one or two lapses in midfield. You had to admire Otago, the way they set up pressure from virtually nothing – driving round the edges, phase after phase, keeping possession until they were right on our line and very dangerous indeed. Yet the tackling kept them out; twas a pleasure to behold and no doubt a foretaste of things to come as matters hot up.
As hot up they will. We've got the Cheetahs away next week then the Stormers at home then the Lions away. Every match is vital but tomorrow's is the tipper. It could well decide whether we go into the June break still in contention.
We can do it. We're the Come-back Kids!
… when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger;
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage;
Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;
Let pry through the portage of the head
Like the brass cannon; let the brow o'erwhelm it
As fearfully as doth a galled rock
O'erhang and jutty his confounded base,
Swill'd with the wild and wasteful ocean.
Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide,
Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit
To his full height ...
No, that's not John Plumtree in the changeroom, it's Shakespeare on Henry V before the Battle of Agincourt. But the stakes are about the same. 'Erewego, 'erewego, 'erewego! Katinka's suspender belt holds the answers!
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