Touchlines: Wing heroes join forces
Jason Robinson. Photo: Matthew Lewis, Getty Images
Thursday June 04 2009
JASON ROBINSON was in town this week and the former Lions and England player hooked up with the man who inherited his title as the most exciting winger in world rugby -- Springbok Bryan Habana.
The two are part of a community outreach programme that is bringing rugby to South Africa's townships and teamed up to coach more than 400 school children.
"The children are very lucky to be able to learn from Jason Robinson-- one of the greatest players in the world," said Habana.
"Jason was one of my idols whom I looked up to when I was younger. His moral values on and off the field are very special."
On the grapevine...
THERE is an unsubstantiated rumour going around that a member of the Lions touring party has an obsession with the 1987 film 'Dirty Dancing' and has watched it over 70 times.
However, whether the Jennifer Grey/ Patrick Swayze (below) classic could be used as a motivational tool for the Test Series is debatable. A pre-match screening of 'Gladiator', for example, could allow use of the memorable phrase, "At my signal, unleash hell" which is rather more warlike than: "Nobody puts Baby in a corner."
Bluffers Guide to South Africa...
Jacob Zuma -- South Africa's newly installed president is a controversial figure, to say the least. Zuma certainly lacks Nelson Mandela's statesmanlike dignity and his CV carries some significant red flags.
There were allegations of rape and corruption -- unproven -- and inflammatory comments on gays (Zuma's not a fan), the second coming of Jesus Christ (he's on his way) and teenage pregnancy (babies should be confiscated and the mothers forced to go to college and get degrees).
Yesterday, he gave his state of the nation address and promised to create half a million jobs between now and December -- a claim that is being taken with a 'knyp van sout', 'ncane usawoti' and 'pinch of salt' -- depending on whether your scepticism is expressed in Afrikaans, Zulu or English.
QUOTE-UNQUOTE'
STEVIE WONDER: "They have put together a great squad although I was surprised (Steve) Borthwick was left out" -- Springbok coach Peter De Villiers, understand-ably miffed at the absence of the England lock.
GARY BAILEE: "When I came back from the UK, I started coaching College Rovers and we lost the first six games so I bailed" -- Gary Teichmann, Boks captain when the Lions won in 1997, on why he doesn't coach.
- Hugh Farrelly
