For some, the mail's not good
IT COULD turn into rugby's version of the Bulldogs' Chris O'Brien email debacle. For some months, administrators, former Wallabies and media identities have been concerned about the tone of several suspicious emails they have received. The notes are often offensive and usually of a personal nature. Although the various sender names on the emails are not known to the addressees, the contents are of such a personal nature that many believe they could only have been sent by someone who knows them well and who is clearly in a power of authority. An investigation is pending.
Tahu's quid pro yo-yo
First Tah Man. Now Yo-Yo Man. Timana Tahu excited his Waratahs teammates this week with an exhibition of his yo-yo skills. First walking the dog, around the world, and then, as our exclusive photo shows, rocking the cradle. When handed a $4.95 yo-yo from Lote Tuqiri, Tahu protested that he needed the pro model to show off his full repertoire. But he relented, and came up with the tricks. The Waratahs management was so impressed it's contemplating using him as part of the pre-match entertainment.
All hale Sayle
Sydney rugby great Jeff Sayle had many at the NSW Rugby Union annual general meeting on Wednesday night searching for their hankies during an emotional speech after he and Peter Crittle were awarded life memberships. Sayle, the guru of Randwick, told of the time when, while playing for NSW, he attended a function at Paddington Town Hall. He noticed that some of the waratah flowers on display had fallen to the ground, which prompted him to get on his hands and knees and pick them all up. Why? Because he never wanted anyone walking on a Waratah.
A hit with fans
It's brutal to watch, but the crowd loved it when Waratahs five-eighth Kurtley Beale accidentally kicked the ball into the face of Hurricanes fullback Cory James last Saturday night. If you want to laugh at someone else's pain, click onto YouTube - Foot ball hits Cory Jane in the Face. More than 20,000 viewers have already enjoyed this excruciating moment.
Curtain recall
The Waratahs have made some wacky decisions over the years but one which should be applauded is staging curtain-raisers before every home Super 14 game. The curtain-raisers will include representative games involving Country, Juniors, Subbies and even club teams. Last week's Junior Waratahs-Queensland Academy match lured several thousand and was far more entertaining than standing around the main entrance big noting yourself while waiting for the gates to open.
Capital punishment
Why do visiting rah-rah players love putting Canberra down? Don't they like roundabouts and endless traffic lights? In the latest issue of SA Rugby magazine, three Lions players were asked: What Australasian city do you hate staying in? Cobus Grobbelaar replied: "Canberra. Even Kimberley's better than that place." Jano Vermaak added: "Canberra is flipping boring." Anton van Zyl was kinder, replying: "I heard Dunedin and Christchurch are both rubbish." And these guys are from Johannesburg. Riiiggght.
Boring up each other
Obviously the relationship between ARU chief John O'Neill and Rugby Union Players' Association boss Tony Dempsey remains a bit edgy. In RUPA's latest newsletter, Dempsey wrote that "despite the ranting of one ARU official that Rugby is 'boring', rugby spectators are about to be treated with an extravaganza of entertaining rugby ... with the commencement of the 2008 Super 14 season".
Rumours of the week
Who was the Sydney rugby media identity, mulling over the Matt Henjak brouhaha with friends at an Eastern Suburbs public house this week, who unwittingly got caught up in a stoush involving two other patrons? One of the brawlers was suddenly launched backwards within centimetres of the table where the media man was holding fort, explaining his latest exclusives. Our media man rushed to the side of the beaten fighter, helped him to his feet, then discovered the man's head wound had splashed blood all over him. Within minutes, eight police had arrived, whereupon the media man became a key witness. The innocent bystander kept his head, answering the constable's questions while using a nearby wine ice-bucket to wash off the blood. He also asked the constable if he could make his statement while finishing his beer. The constable agreed.
Who was the other media man who made a gig of himself at the launch of Tah Man by attempting to get into a similar skin-tight spacesuit, only to graphically show he had become a more well-rounded journalist?
Edginess at one Super 14 province over an imminent coaching change.
Expect tension at the Sydney Football Stadium with news that those attending a rugby league trial there this weekend can buy a pie for $1. The pie price at a Super 14 match is far higher. Undoubtedly the deal will have to continue or there will be riots on the terraces.
Quote of the week
"If you look at New Zealand and us and compare the players as a team, then you will see that we have much more talent that what they have." New Springboks coach Peter de Villiers. That line could come back to haunt him.
