The Idler, Tuesday, October 16, 2019

Brave Blossoms,

brave Scots – what

a game!

 

TORO, toro, toro! The Brave Blossoms in their Michaelhouse jerseys suddenly are in the Big Time. Their win in Yokohama at the weekend against Scotland – in decidedly the most exciting and consumately skillful match so far in the Rugby World Cup - now puts Japan into the quarterfinals against the Boks.

This is a game that nearly didn't happen. It would have been cancelled had Typhoon Hagibis, which caused such tragic destruction elsewhere, shown itself. But that would not havc stopped Japan's march into the quarter-finals because they were  ahead of Scotland on points anyway. Scotland needed a win plus a bonus point to squeeze past.

It came so close. The Blossoms were absolutely sublime in the first half with attacking flair and near-perfect handling that was a pleasure to watch. Then the Scots came back in the second, agonisingly close but just not enough. What a game!

Rassie must be scratching his head a bit. Those Blossoms will take some plucking. Stirring stuff no doubt lies ahead.

 

 

Typhoon Haggis

 

IMAGINE if Typhoon Haggis, er Hagibis, had shown itself in Yokohama last Sunday and they'd played anyway.

Winds of 160km/h, gusting to 190, could have made for interesting placekicking – penalties kicked from one's own goalline, though direction could have been a problem. But stuff for the record books.

Yet rainfall of 762mm would have dampened the occasion.

There are times when weather conditions defeat even rugby. I recall playing in thick mist at Ixopo when a player would kick the ball into the air, where it would disappear from view altogether.

Then you would hear a "thunk!" as it landed somewhere, nobody could tell where, because of the mist. Both sides would send out search parties for the ball.

Another complication: The ref couldn't see what was going on and nobody could see the ref anyway.

Somehow we got through it. I suppose a high wind – say 160km/h – would have dispersed the mist, but that would have presented goalkicking challenges.

 

 

Disgraceful cruelty

 

IT'S with great regret that I have to report a disgraceful instance of cruelty to an animal.

I spent last weekend in the company of younger relatives in Maritzburg. They have a six-months-old French bulldog named Harry, after the prince.

I'd never before encountered a French bulldog. Harry is a small, brindle-black fellow with the build and bowlegged stance of an English bulldog in miniature, but with the alertness and acrobatic qualities of a terrier. This is no slobbering goof, this is a go-getter. A delightful little dog.

But, as I say, these youngsters are so cruel to him. They take a red laser pointer to create a red dot on the floor. Harry rushes at it. But the red dot suddenly switches to the other side of the room. Harry goes for it. But it reappears somewhere else. Harry chases hysterically. It can carry on indefinitely.

Did you ever hear of anything so cruel? This is certainly a case for the SPCA.

 

 

Tailpiece

 

ST PETER and the Devil are arranging a rugby match between the Heavenly Host and those Down Below.

 

"We'll easily win," says St Peter. "We have all the best players since William Webb-Ellis and all the best coaches."

 

"That's true," says the Devil. "But we have all the referees."

 

 

Last word

The people I distrust most are those who want to improve our lives but have only one course of action. - Frank Herbert