Rugby

Now that the child’s play (gymnastics, swimming, equestrian, kayaking etc) in Beijing is over the JOGOO of Africa roars (as much as a JOGOO can roar anyway).

The only country that is worthy of a seat next to Kenya is Jamaica. As for the rest of you, you can steal our athletes with PetroDollars, LegoDollars and MacDollars but until you start eating ugali you haven’t got a chance.)

In other news

our dear (younger) brothers from Uganda, this is what we meant last time. Hehe ati dethrone Kenya in Nairobi. Never talk badly again!

(Balanced, non jingoistic, rational coverage continues after the Olympics etc)

We, the good people at Mentalacrobatics Towers, never shy away from making big calls in our sporting predictions. We are not soothsayers-in-reverse who wait until the games are finished to boldly start saying, “si I told you so” acting all smug!

Now that the rugby world cup has reached the business end side of things here is the Mentalacrobatics blueprint. If you support the All Blacks or England you won’t like it much.

Quarter Finals

QF1: Australia v England: Australia
QF2: New Zealand v France: France
QF3: South Africa v Fiji: South Africa
QF4: Argentina v Scotland: Argentina

Semi Finals

SF1: W QF1 v W QF2 = Australia –v- France: Australia
SF2: W QF3 v W QF4 = South Africa –v- Argentina: South Africa

3rd place play-off: France –v- Argentina: France

Final: Australia – South Africa: South Africa

1. South Africa
2. Australia
3. France

Why?

The All Blacks should be on a liquid diet because they always choke. And they are the overwhelming favourites and I never go for the overwhelming favourites (World Cup 2006 Brazil fans where are you now? Champions’ League 2005 final AC Milan fans where are you now?) So the All Blacks will not win. But who can stop them?

The big three of the southern hemisphere know each other inside out. The All Blacks know too much about the Springboks and the Wallabies to be surprised by them. So they would beat those two teams. It would take a team of irritatingly inconsistent players to have the game of their lives to knock the All Blacks out of the tournament. Step forward France. They’ve done it before and I think they will do it again. They are due one superior performance in this world cup, unfortunately the All Blacks will be on the receiving end. Then people will start talking about the “French Jinx”, remember where you heard it first.

The rest is obvious really.

Hash et al. I’ll be expecting your wise predictions soon! All of a sudden this post has become popular again. I should move those downloads to YouTube or something!

8-100. One hundred? ONE HUNDRED? Waa waa. There are times when you are getting beaten so badly the only thing that keeps you on the pitch is pride in the shirt. If they have 25 points you do not let them get 30. If they have 40 never let them get 50. I’ve never been on the wrong side of 50 points but I’ve had to drag myself of the pitch a couple of times. How does it feel to leak 100 points? That must be a battering. Southern Spears are no pushovers certainly. They are knocking on the door of the Super 14 so they are serious side. Lakini still, 100?

[By the way you can download pictures of Team Kenya [zip file 6MB] … I know it is good to look scary as a rugby player but damn … Anyway I’ll let you make your minds up for yourself Hehehe!]