Bok Weekly S14 Barometer

[PaarlBok]

Saw last night on the news the Kings will be in from 2012, will put it up later

Wow. Please do.

Find this one on rugby365, thought for a minute Oom PB se kop klop.

Super 15 entry for Southern Kings?

The Southern Kings have targeted 2012 as the year that they will enter the Super 15 in place of either of the under performing Lions or Cheetahs.

The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has been working for some time to get an Eastern Cape franchise introduced to Super rugby.

SARU officials committed themselves to the 2012 deadline at a press conference in east London according to OFM radio.

The Eastern Cape has been a breeding ground for black rugby players for many years and with transformation in mind there has been a big push for the introduction of a new Super Rugby franchise.

The poor campaigns by the Lions and the Cheetahs mean they are the most likely candidates to be replaced by the Southern Kings as South Africa's fifth team in the Super 15.

Buntu Ondala, president of the Border Rugby Union says: "Our target is to say come 2012 and we will be saying: this is the team that we will be putting forward."

"But we are in the process of building it so we can say this is our team."he told the SABC.

There is also speculation regarding promotion-relegation matches being played between the worst placed South African team and the Southern Kings for the participation license into the Super 15.

No matter what the outcome there is likely to be more internal battles within South African rugby as neither the Lions nor the Cheetahs are likely to give up their place in the lucrative Super Rugby competition without a fight.

 

[Scarfman]

Watching the 2nd half of Cheetahs v Crusaders. Who the hell is this referee? I've watched 8 minutes and he's made about 5 howlers all in the Crusaders's favour.

Have a word with him Paddy!

 

[Hawko]

Why would he have a word to him? To congratulate him maybe? This is the third straight week that the Crusaders have had the benefit of every close decision; and some not so close too!

Lyndon Bray is supposedly the disciplinarian, but I think he's given up. Certainly been nothing on the forum about formal warnings like there was earlier in the season.

 

[Scarfman]

Jonathon White (New Zealand) is the ref.

 

[PaarlBok]

Week 9s barometer
Superrugby

Logjam guarantees a bun fight

Good wins for the Crusaders and the Stormers and a rather unexpected loss for the Bulls in week ten of the Vodacom Super 14 left us with a log so jam-packed at the top that a gripping run-in to the playoffs is all but guaranteed.

As things stand, the top five teams on the log are all within one win of the top spot. The top three teams also still have to play each other before the dust settles on the league stages of this year’s tournament.

The log-topping Crusaders have the toughest draw as they start a three-week tour this week that will include stops in Cape Town and Pretoria. The Blues - currently in seventh place – has it the easiest, stopping off for points in Bloemfontein and Johannesburg before facing a faltering Chiefs side in Auckland.

Australia has three representatives in the top seven, so one would expect them to be chipper about the chances of having at least two teams in the playoffs.

In terms of home advantage, however, one has to favour the Bulls, who’ll run out three times in front of the most intimidating home crowd in the competition.

With one month left there are still so many permutations left, so instead of making predictions we’ll just leave you with the facts and figures. The minimum number of log points needed to qualify for a semifinal in Super 14 history was 41. The least to secure a home semifinal was 42. In both cases points difference was used as a tiebreaker.

Last year the Bulls needed 46 points to finish top of the log, while the Sharks needed 45 in 2007.

Here are a list of the remaining fixtures for the top seven:

Crusaders: (34 points – 1 home, 3 away)
23 April: vs Western Force, Perth
30 April: vs Vodacom Stormers vs Crusaders, Newlands
07 May: vs Vodacom Bulls vs Crusaders, Loftus Versfeld
14 May: vs Brumbies, Christchurch

Bulls: (34 points - 3 home, 1 away)
24 April: vs Lions, Loftus Versfeld
01 May: vs The Sharks, Loftus Versfeld
07 May: vs Crusaders. Loftus Versfeld
15 May: vs Stormers, Newlands

Stormers: (33 points – 2 home, 2 away)
23 April : vs Reds, Brisbane
30 April : vs Crusaders, Newlands
08 May: vs The Sharks, The Absa Stadium Durban
15 May: vs Vodacom Bulls, Newlands

Reds: (30 points – 2 home, 2 away)
23 April: vs Stormers, Brisbane
01 May: vs Brumbies, Canberra
07 May: vs Hurricanes, Wellington
15 May: vs Highlanders, Brisbane

Waratahs: (29 points – 2 home, 2 away)
24 April: vs Brumbies, Sydney
30 April: vs Highlanders, Invercargill
08 May: vs Chiefs, Hamilton
14 May: vs Hurricanes, Sydney

Brumbies: (26 points – 2 home, 2 away)
24 April: vs Waratahs, Sydney
01 May: vs Reds, Canberra
08 May: vs Highlanders, Canberra
14 May: vs Crusaders, Christchurch

Blues: (25 points – 1 home, 3 away)
24 April: vs The Sharks, The Absa Stadium Durban
01 May: vs Cheetahs, Vodacom Park
08 May: vs Lions, Coca-Cola Park
15 May: vs Chiefs, Auckland

This week’s Bok Barometer has an incredible nine players from the Stormers, while the Cape side is also South Africa’s only representative in the Super XV.

Super XV for week ten:
15. Isaia Toeava (Blues) 14. Joe Rokocoko (Blues) 13. Jaque Fourie (Stormers) 12. Ryan Crotty (Crusaders) 11. Sean Maitland (Crusaders) 10. Quade Cooper (Reds) 9. Will Genia (Reds) 8. Thomas Waldrom (Crusaders) 7. Jerome Kaino (Blues) 6. Schalk Burger (Stormers) 5. Andries Bekker (Stormers) 4. Van Humphries (Reds) 3. Ben Franks (Crusaders) 2. Tiaan Liebenberg (Stormers) 1. Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders).

Bok Barometer for week ten:
15. Gio Aplon (Stormers) 14. Michael Killian (Lions) 13. Jaque Fourie (Stormers) 12. Riaan Swanepoel (Sharks) 11. Bryan Habana (Stormers) 10. Peter Grant (Stormers) 9. Ruan Pienaar (Sharks) 8. Duanne Vermeulen (Stormers) 7. Jean Deysel (Sharks) 6. Schalk Burger (Stormers) 5. Andries Bekker (Stormers) 4. Franco van der Merwe (Lions) 3. Brok Harris (Stormers) 2. Tiaan Liebenberg (Stormers) 1. John Smit (Sharks).

Match of the week:
Stormers vs Chiefs - no one in the SuperWrap office can recall seeing such a comprehensive, dominant performance from the Cape side in Super Rugby before. It certainly sent out a clear warning to all their remaining competitors: after five years of suffering, the Stormers are back and better than ever.

Try of the week:
Goes to Bryan Habana. This is also our early nomination for try of the week.

Tackle of the week:

Goes to Wandile Mjekevu who summed up the fighting spirit the Lions had on display at Coca-Cola Park last Saturday.




Congratulations to:


Morne Steyn on equaling Andre Pretorius’ SA record of 645 Super Rugby (Super Rugby) points.
Colin Cooper on becoming only the second coach in Super Rugby history to be in charge of an outfit for 100 matches. The first to reach this milestone was Robbie Deans, who coached the Crusaders for a staggering 120 matches between 2000 and 2008.
Derrick Kuun and Tamati Ellison on playing in their 50th Super Rugby match this past weekend.
Tooth fairy:
Lions coach Dick Muir stunned the press corps last week by answering the obvious question about Willem Alberts facing his old teammates with this interesting quote:

“Yeah, it’s a big game for Willem. We’ve put a bounty on the first guy to bring back his tooth,” Muir said to a silent and stunned audience before bursting out laughing.

“Naah, only joking. Please don’t write that, it was a joke.”

Good to see that after nine losses the Lions can still laugh at themselves.

'Goating' the opposition
The Queensland Reds announced last week they had donated a significant number of goats to Oxfam’s Unwrapped initiative.

The team committed themselves to donate a goat for every try scored plus a “bonus goat” every time they achieved a bonus point for four tries. Fans were encouraged to donate cash and Fox Sports matched the Reds “goat for goat”.

The result of the successful tour was 13 tries, plus two “bonus goats” by the team and if the fans' donations and Fox Sports’ total was added, it reached 54 goats to be donated to villagers in Mozambique.

Now if you were wondering who got the goats, so to speak, the outside backs were prominent with Rod Davies (2), Digby Ioane, Will Chambers (2) and Peter Hynes (2) adding seven. Flyhalf Quade Cooper also scored a brace of goats while captain Will Genia chipped in with a single.

Among the forwards, prop Greg Holmes, hooker Saia Fainga'a and backrower Ezra Taylor also contributed a goat each and helped achieve a four-try “bonus goat” in two of the games.

Quickly Come Dancing
Scott Higginbotham was rather chuffed with beating Bulls midfielders Wynand Olivier and Stefan Dippenaar in a chase for a try on Saturday, but would have loved a bit more speed.

"I'd like to think I've got a bit of pace but that was quite possibly the fastest I've ever run and possibly the fastest I ever will,'' said Higginbotham.

"I'd like to think I was as quick (as Davies) but I'm sure Rod would have got there, picked up the ball and put it down and had time for a bit of a dance before I got there.''

Good on you Murray
Sky NZ commentator and former All Black great Murray Mexted isn't the type to ignore a mate's dying wish.

The famous No 8 has spent the past three months coaching and building Wellington Football Club’s under-21 side from scratch and revealed in the week that it was a promise he made at his good friend Bill Brien’s deathbed.

"I went and saw Bill the night before he died and I said to him, because he was a real man's man that guy, and I knew he could handle it," Mexted said. "I said, `Bill is there anything I can do for you? Is there any unfinished business I can help you with after you're gone?'

"And his eyes lit up, the first time they had lit up for a few days at that stage cos he was pretty low. The doctor had said he was about to pass away, but his eyes lit up and he said, `restore the Wellington Football Club to its former glory'.

"I felt like saying 'pass' because it's a pretty hard ask for a club in the third division, but I decided the only way to do something like that is to rebuild from the bottom up."

Mr Potato Head
All Black assistant coach Wayne Smith had the New Zealand media in stitches last week when he gave a rather interesting description of normally sour All Black coach Graham Henry.

"Ted is like a kumara - old and wrinkly but sweet inside," Smith said.

For those who don’t know, a kumara is a variety of sweet potato, found only in New Zealand.

Quote of the week I:
“Cheetahs prop WP Nel must have figured his initials stood for "Well Punished",” New Zealand writer Paul Lewis being rather critical of the tighthead’s game in Christchurch on Saturday. Of course, in SA WP stands for Weer Probeer (try again). Just as apt if you consider the number of scrum re-sets.

Quote of the week II:
“What does stand out here is the professionalism that is part of the set-up. It is a privilege to be part of a union like this.” – Willem Alberts takes a swipe at the Lions by praising his Sharks team.

Quote of the week III:
“Everyone looks at the situation the Rebels are in and compares it to the Western Force a few years ago. The Force put a rock-star team together, no dramas, and did it with Monopoly money. Everyone's comparing the squad that they put together and saying Melbourne is going to struggle. It won't.” – Melbourne Rebels signing Adam Freier has a point. We’re just not entirely sure what it is.

 

[Moses]

Good on you Murray
Sky NZ commentator and former All Black great Murray Mexted isn't the type to ignore a mate's dying wish.

The famous No 8 has spent the past three months coaching and building Wellington Football Club’s under-21 side from scratch and revealed in the week that it was a promise he made at his good friend Bill Brien’s deathbed.

"I went and saw Bill the night before he died and I said to him, because he was a real man's man that guy, and I knew he could handle it," Mexted said. "I said, `Bill is there anything I can do for you? Is there any unfinished business I can help you with after you're gone?'

"And his eyes lit up, the first time they had lit up for a few days at that stage cos he was pretty low. The doctor had said he was about to pass away, but his eyes lit up and he said, `restore the Wellington Football Club to its former glory'.

"I felt like saying 'pass' because it's a pretty hard ask for a club in the third division, but I decided the only way to do something like that is to rebuild from the bottom up."

That's a pretty awesome story, good on ya murray

 

[RugbyReg]

thats awesome.

 

[PaarlBok]

Sad I cant post this on TSF, some Kiwis hate the legend others love him but from a Saffer point of view I always have big respect for him and like to listen to his commentary on TV.

 

[PaarlBok]

Last one of the year
Superrugby.co.za

Super XV for week 13:
15. Corey Jane (Hurricanes) 14. Hosea Gear (Hurricanes) 13. Rene Ranger (Blues) 12. Benson Stanley (Blues) 11. Francois Hougaard (Bulls) 10. Morne Steyn (Bulls) 9. Rory Kockott (Sharks) 8. Ben Mowen (Waratahs) 7. Jean Deysel (Sharks) 6. Deon Stegmann (Bulls) 5. Kane Douglas (Waratahs) 4. Kurtis Haiu (Blues) 3. Werner Kruger (Bulls) 2. John Smit (Sharks) 1. Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks)

Bok Barometer for week 13:
15. Patrick Lambie (Sharks) 14. Bjorn Basson (Cheetahs) 13. Stefan Terblanche (Sharks) 12. Meyer Bosman (Cheetahs) 11. Francois Hougaard (Bulls) 10. Morne Steyn (Bulls) 9. Rory Kockott (Sharks) 8. Duanne Vermeulen (Stormers) 7. Jean Deysel (Sharks) 6. Deon Stegmann (Bulls) 5. Victor Matfield (Bulls) 4. Bakkies Botha (Bulls) 3. Werner Kruger (Bulls) 2. John Smit (Sharks) 1. Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).

Match of the week:
It’s hard to argue with the entertainment of the Reds-Hurricanes game and the 31-point unanswered comeback from the Wellington team, but in terms of intensity and drama the Bulls-Crusaders game had it all. For the defending champions, getting the winning try with seconds to spare and down to 14 men may have been controversial in New Zealand, but it ended a perfect test-match-type game where no quarter was asked or given.

As for the controversial try, we're not in the business of explaining marginal calls, so we thought it better to hear from the man himself.
Again, apologies to our overseas readers. Our video rights extend into Africa only.

Try of the week:

While Hougaard's try was the most controversial, and even perhaps the most important, we decided to reward another sterling effort. Bjorn Basson played his heart out against the Force on Saturday, having to do work on both wings in the absence of a recognised right wing. His running and cover defence was top notch, but it was his kick-chasing that really caught the eye. This try was just reward for a whole afternoon's tireless work..

Tackle of the week:

Goes to Stefan Terblanche who, as summed up in this clip, had the better of his fancied opponent Jaque Fourie all night.



The Jorrie goes to:
At a crucial stage in the match with the Stormers pressing, Peter Grant’s inexplicable miss in front of the posts must be our Jorrie of the week. Grant’s supporters keep on saying he is an international class player and better than Morne Steyn. Well, with misses like that it is hard to get sympathy up north.

The schlepper:
Sireli Naqelevuki has not always been the most popular figure in Stormers rugby circles, but the casual attitude with which he tried to cover Ruan Pienaar’s chip over the defence was shocking. In taking his time, the bounce of the ball beat him and Pienaar swooped in to claim the try.

Congratulations to:

Rodney, So`oialo, Danie Rossouw and Matt Dunning on playing their their 100th Super Rugby (Super Rugby) matches.
Ryan Kankowski on earning his 50th Super Rugby cap.
Quade Cooper for breaking John Eales’s franchise record for most points for the Reds in a Super Rugby season. Eales’s mark was 155, with Cooper now on 158.
Some cheese with that?
Quite a few moans emanated from the Land of the Long White Cloud after news broke that the Bulls are set to rest up some of the regulars for Saturday's Newland derby.

"It reeks of a South African stitch-up -- the Bulls are set to field a second-string team against the Stormers for the top-of-the-table final-round clash in Cape Town this weekend," wrote Duncan Johnson on the stuff.co.nz website. The Hurricanes team as well as tighthead prop Ne`emia Tialata were so enamoured with the piece that it was tweeted and re-tweeted all over the world.

Our opinion? Any professional coach in the world will jump at the chance to rest key players before a playoff round. It's no more of a stitch-up than was Graham Henry's withdrawal of his key All Blacks the 2007 Super 14. A disappointment for the home fans, maybe, but the only stitches we see are what your whining has us in.

The Boss:
Wallabies prop Matt Dunning revealed this week he wants to stay with the Force, but the decision may come from someone more single-minded than the prop -- his wife.

Dunning, who got his 100th Super cap off the bench against the Cheetahs last weekend, has an option to renew his contract for a year with the Force. The 115-kilogram powerhouse has enjoyed his time in Perth but will return home to NSW at the end of the season to discuss his playing future with his Sydney-based wife.

“I've had a great time at the Western Force, the people are wonderful, the club has been fantastic and I'm really enjoying it,” Dunning said. “The only tough part about me playing in WA is that my family is in Sydney, that's the only issue I need to resolve in the next few weeks.

“We've all got bosses and they're called wives. I've got until June 1 to make the decision and I don't like doing that sort of stuff while I'm playing.”

Two to tango:
SuperWrap was astounded to see Steve Walsh admitted he made mistakes in the now infamous Waratahs-Brumbies game. While we’re glad the sky didn’t fall on our heads with the news that a referee is human after all, we were rather perplexed with his explanation.

Walsh now wants two referees to be used because, in his words, “the game has become too complex”.

“Most of that has to do with the time of the year it is played in, firm grounds and the athleticism of athletes. I don't think that is any excuse for a referee because we are professional and there is no excuse not to be fit enough to keep up.

“But I do think the game is too complex for one guy to be able to adjudicate and get right as much as what people's expectations are, really.

“I just think that is the complexity of the laws at the breakdown, really. The most challenging [facet of a game] is the mental fatigue. We are all out there in a battle of wills with the players. They are trying to get up on the opposition and us.”

“Look at the rest of the world [and sports] that have been professional longer than we are - I am talking about American football and NBA,” he said. “They all have more officials. The same officials work together as a team week-in, week-out. They have found that's the best way to deliver a better result from the refereeing side. There is no will for that [in rugby]. But I am convinced, 20 years or down the track, that is something that will happen.”

Considering the likes of Jonathan Kaplan, Mark Lawrence and Craig Joubert don’t seem to have a problem with officiating, perhaps Walsh is looking to shift the blame?

Twit
We were very happy to hear that Hurricanes fullback Cory Jane is a nominee for the Wellington Sports Personality of the Year awards. Jane is not a shy bloke, and never keeps his views to himself.

Consider his sly little dig at teammate Neemia Tialata, who scored a try the week before.

"He went out as well that night, and that was the first time the big fella had been out this year. He was pretty happy to dot down. He loves to twitter as much as me, so no doubt he was writing a few things on there too and talking himself up as always."

We’re sure Jane will walk the award.

The artful dodger
It’s good to see they still have a sense of humour at the Lions. Even though the team are now on the worst losing streak in Super 14 history, coach Dick Muir’s playful side came out at the team press conference last week.

In the middle of the presser, Muir stopped and wished SuperSport presenter Matthew Pearce welcome and a very happy birthday, then continued answering questions.

At the conclusion of the presser, Pearce was perplexed as every journalist and official made their way over to him to wish him well for the occasion.

“Only problem is, it isn’t my birthday,” Pearce smiled.

Seems Muir’s ability to sidestep is still there, at least when it comes to tough questions...


Quote of the week I:
“Is Ma`a Nonu on the field?” -- Andy Capastagnio responds to an audible swear from Carlos Spencer.

Quote of the week II:
“He should ask Rassie Erasmus -- he has hands like spiders legs” -- Bob Skinstad comments on Schalk Burger’s dislocated finger during the Sharks game.

Quote of the week III:
“Ja well, SuperSport doesn’t give awards to tight five” -- John Smit takes a swipe at the commentators for not recognising the hard workers of the game when asked about Rory Kockott's Man of the Match performance.

 

[PaarlBok]

Sorry another one
Superrugby

And SuperWrap's team of the season is...

by Super Wrap | 18 May 2010 (12:22)

Quade Cooper © Gallo Images
“Change alone is eternal, perpetual, immortal,” wrote 19th century philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer. He probably had something else in mind, but it's as if he was studying the SuperWrap’s 2010 Super 14 Super XV.

- Fantastic prizes up for grabs in our Super 14 Fantasy League
- Get your favourite Vodacom Super 14 jersey now!


The balance of power in southern Hemisphere rugby has shifted dramatically since 2007.

The fact that South Africa went past New Zealand as flag bearers for rugby south of the equator was already evident in the Super 14 and Tri-Nations last year, but it is the meteoric rise of a handful of Australian stars this year that has inched the wheel forward another click or two.

In fact, so much has the Aussie players' stock shot up that almost half of this year’s Super XV comprises current and would-be Wallabies. And a fair whack of them are to be found in an area that up until recently was left totally unexplored by all Bruces but Phil Kearns: the tight five.

“The more things change, the more they are the same,” wrote 19th century novelist Alphonse Karr as if going out of his way to give New Zealanders a straw to clutch on a year before hosting their second Rugby World Cup.

In a season where new law interpretations saw instinctive counter-attack make a huge comeback, the masters of surprise -- New Zealand -- contributed only three players to the overall team, the best of whom is not even an All Black.

There is no sign of stalwarts like Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Rodney So`oialo or Ma`a Nonu, and of the selected Kiwi threesome only Joe Rokocoko has passed the double-digit mark in test caps.

“There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction,” said 20th century statesman Winston Churchill as if edging on the Stormers to learn how to tackle and to scrum. As a result the Cape franchise will not only host a Super 14 semifinal, but they provide four of South Africa’s five Super XV representatives.

In the Republic the trend of International regulars not making the grade continued. Springbok stalwarts Victor Matfield, Pierre Spies, Fourie du Preez, Morne Steyn and Bryan Habana have all been up and down in terms of performances this season, while Juan Smith paid the price for a lot of time spent on the sidelines. The Sharks frontrow, while perhaps the strongest in the competition, also had to be overlooked while we waited for a moment of silence in their game of musical chairs.

On the whole, there are three players in our team -- one from each country -- that are uncapped at International level. Behold, dear readers, the changing of the guard.

“Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine,” wrote an unknown Robert C Gallagher without taking into account the stubbornness of the SuperWrap selection panel. We stuck to the tried and tested method of counting instances of selection into our weekly Super XVs and using a best-of-three rock-paper-scissors duel to break all ties.

It is a formula that is uncompromising and wholly objective in its search for form, and it’s been the benchmark for many an international coach over the past decade.

So without any further ado…

Super XV for 2010:
15. Israel Dagg* (Highlanders) 14. Joe Rokocoko (Blues) 13. Jaque Fourie (Stormers) 12. Wynand Olivier (Bulls) 11. Drew Mitchell (Waratahs) 10. Quade Cooper (Reds) 9. Will Genia (Reds) 8. Duane Vermeulen* (Stormers) 7. Scott Higginbotham* (Reds) 6. Schalk Burger (Stormers) 5. Andries Bekker (Stormers) 4. Dean Mumm (Waratahs) 3. Owen Franks (Crusaders) 2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies) 1. Ben Alexander (Brumbies).

* denotes a player uncapped at International level.

Next week we’ll reveal our teams of the season per country. We’ll also hand out our season’s awards.

Match of the week:
The Reds started the last match with the best of what made their season stellar on display. Racing past the four-try mark they had a comfortable 24-10 lead at half time of their match against the Highlanders, but the Kiwi bottom-dwellers refused to play along.

The Dunedin outfit clawed their way back into the match, eventually taking the lead. Only a last-gasp conversion by Quade Cooper saved the day for the men from Brisbane.

The game was an excellent advertisement for rugby if only for all the desperation on show despite there being nothing on the line for either team. It is also our match of the week.

Try of the week:
Goes to Peter Hynes. But the credit goes to Quade Cooper.

Again, apologies to our overseas readers. Our video rights extend into Africa only.


Tackle of the week:

Goes to any one of 10 000 big hits in the Stormers/Bulls game.



Congratulations to:


Tendai Mtwararira, Rory Kockott, Digby Ioane and Kurtley Beale on their 50th Super Rugby (Super Rugby) caps. Beale, at 21 years and 114 days, became the youngest player ever to reach the mark. He surpassed Isaia Toeava who did it aged 23 years and 101 days.
Peter Grant, who passed the 500-point mark in Super Rugby.
Commiserations to:
The Lions. They became only the second team in Super Rugby history to lose every match in a season. The 585 points scored against them are the most ever conceded in a Super Rugby season, breaking their own record, while their points-difference of -315 is the worst on record. (the previous mark is held by the Bulls who ended the 2002 season on -268)

By George:
The Brumbies said farewell on Monday to legend George Smith in a Mad Monday ceremony where players were asked to dress up as their favourite George.

There was skipper Stephen Hoiles as cartoon character Curious George, the monkey.

Huia Edmonds went for the St George Dragon, Mitchell Chapman for George Clooney and Ben Hand gloved up as George Foreman.

Prop Jono Owen came as George Washington, Ben Alexander did his best George Lucas impersonation, Mark Chisholm was British muso Boy George while Pat McCabe opted for Beatle George Harrison.

Guy Shepherdson came as George Smith himself, dreadlocks and all, and Anthony Hegarty was George The Pig and yes, there is such a character as George The Pig.

Then, seemingly off the dress-up theme, entered youngsters Nic White and Michael Hooper dressed as B1 and B2 from Bananas In Pyjamas.

"Their creator was a guy called George someone, apparently," a Brumbies spokesperson told the Canberra Times.

And the man for whom the dress-up theme was created?

Well, George Smith came as George Smith. No dress-up, just himself.

"We didn't send the text to him so he wouldn't have known what we were up to," Hoiles said of Smith. "George has no idea. He doesn't know much to be honest."

Jumping the gun:
The Waratahs seemed to have jumped the gun a bit last Saturday, posting a very strange message on their website.

''After 14 gruelling rounds in the toughest provincial rugby competition in the world the HSBC Waratahs have finished second, earning them the right to host the semifinals and it's time to show you are proud to be Tah'd with tickets to this blockbuster event.''

Funny, we thought that they’d finished third, and were in Cape Town for this weekend’s semi. We hope there won’t be too many lonely fans clutching tickets in Sydney come Saturday.

Have passport, will travel:
Crusaders rugby captain Richie McCaw's reaction time was tested well before Friday's Super 14 defeat of the Brumbies.

To his horror, McCaw found his passport in a dishevelled state after going through the washing machine, but realising a trip to South Africa for the semifinals was a strong possibility, he lodged an emergency passport application on Wednesday. A replacement arrived in time and the team left for Sydney. We wonder if his housekeeper had any links to Pretoria?

Cruising Crusaders:
The Crusaders also found red tape stopping their trip for an extra day.

According to the SANZAR rules, the Waratahs, who finished above them, had first dibs on business class seats to South Africa in the flight from Sydney.

Rather than sit in cattle class, the Crusaders decided to wait another day and will arrive here on Tuesday for their game in Soweto.

Quote of the week I:
“2 days off in a row n now I really dnt know wat 2 do?Feel like I should be training or doing something..” -- Quade Cooper tweets about the challenges of an off-season. May we suggest an English class or two.

Quote of the week II:
“Dell has some pretty fly moves but I don't think he would be any match for my 'worm'.” -- Wallaby commentator Jeremy Paul in a live Fox Sports Q and A when asked who would win a dance off -- him or Wendell Sailor.

Our money is on Bob Skinstad.

Quote of the week III:
“We’ll know this week who fears Soweto!” -- Bulls CEO Barend van Graan in response to fans’ negativity over the venue.

Any truth to the rumour then that members of the media were asked to sign indemnity forms before taken on a tour of the Orlando facilities on Tuesday?