Cheetahs hit hurdle

The Cheetahs are yet to set their collective paws on a Super 14 paddock as yet, but already they are facing the potential loss of one of their props ; Springbok CJ Van Der Linde. Apparently Van Der Linde hurt one of his paws.. er I mean feet, during the Boks tour of Argentina at the end of last year. No doubt scans will tell the full story.

Meanwhile over in Dunedin, Andrew Blowers, ex-AB and now Highlander has revealed that he feels like the 'new kid on the block' in the Otago squad. Blowers, 30, made his way to NZ earlier than expected after Toyota, the Japanese team he played for failed to make the playoffs. No doubt it won't take long for him to settle back in to life in the Shaky Isles.

A couple of Northern hemisphere 'experts' reckon that NZ and Australian players can kick and play the ball in the air a lot better than South African players. The article tells how the AB players are just plain 'good' at kicking and catching - true! But then the story goes on to say that it's the Australian players exposure to AFL (or GAY-FL as my boys refer to it... admin) that gives the Wallabies the edge. Huh? I would have thought soccer and league were more probable candidates. Sure players can get plenty of kicking and catching skills playing AFL, but I would be most surprised to learn of any big cross-over from AFL to union, or enough at least to have any impact on the Wallabies' collective skills. I really can't swallow that. And.... how do they explain away the AB's talents in kicking and catching? Must happen through osmosis!

I'm away!