OVER THE MOON

BJ’s BOUNCING BABY

Extended congratulations to BJ Botha and Mrs BJ, on the birth of their baby daughter, Ava Morgan Botha. BJ sounds as though he’s over the moon. Me and my readership, (all 3 of them), are as happy as pirates on shore leave for the couple and baby Ava. Mrs Botha’s reaction has not been recorded for posterity, at least not in BJ’s media column, but fair play to them, they preferred that the baby was born here in Northern Ireland using our much maligned health service.

I say much maligned because there has been some adverse publicity for an over stretched service. Yet as I can personally testify, it is staffed in the main by professionals, who do unstinting service in sometimes trying conditions.

I’m intrigued by the BJ’s choice of Morgan as a Christian name, for a girl.

BJ’s first outing after the big occasion was not one of his best as he was penalised by Mr. Fitzgibbon a few times. It’s fair to say though that BJ’s opponent appeared to drop the scrum at the first opportunity and Mr. Fitzgibbon was buying it. That’s life, as BJ himself said, ‘there is no such a thing as a legal scrum.’

BIRD ON A WIRE

A few weeks back and a bird on a wire at the Hill was tapping out a message to me. It was that, the rosy relations between UR and the URSC are no longer what they once were.

I have always thought that the Supporters club should have adopted an independent stance from UR. As it is, the URSC has been used by MR when it suits him. A totally independent supporters club would represent a very powerful and active voice in the affairs of UR. To my mind UR and MR in particular has distanced himself from the core of the Ulster fans and the once unique blend of supporter and CEO common purpose has withered in the mildew of McCalls resignation.

McCall is incidentally looking increasingly insecure at his post in Castres, with him rumoured to be on his way home soon and out of coaching.

 

ROCK & ROLL FLASH

In order to hang on to his microphone, it’s rumoured that BBC’s sonorous veteran commentator Jim Neilly is reinvigorating his commentary in the style of Robin ‘Good Morning Vietnam’ Williams.

For the forthcoming Leinster game Jim will gush forth in a gruff Norn Iron baritone:

” BBC Radio Ulster on the hour, provincial drama brought to you by Jim “Good Evening Ulster” Neilly … Are you experienced … can you dig a scrum … amid the rucks of Ravenhill’s mini offensive … I can tell you we are approaching the DMZ … halfway line to you the listener) … some heavy firepower from 1F there … some jungle fever from Shaggy … does he ever let up … I’ll dedicate that hit to the blue eyed soul brother Trimble … only the strong survive … the hits keep on coming … here at UR the ordnance is staggering … we gotta get out of our half … there’s too much confusion, I can’t get no relief … know what Drico can do with that ball … to the ruck knights at the coalface … we are approaching half time in this war … time to …”

 

ROG the DOG

Much has been made of ROG’s outburst about Ireland players not playing for the badge unlike those dogs of war in Thomond Park the previous Tuesday. Just to demonstrate why a little rush of blood to the head is bad medicine in a sport, where keeping your head is everything, ROG played the Argentina match like a headless chicken. Headless chickens everywhere are embarrassed by comparison, so bad was ROG’s behaviour.

Two things stand out.

At about 5 foot 10 inches and all the bulk of a grasshopper O’Gara clearly believes he has diplomatic immunity to take on and abuse just about anybody and everybody on the pitch. With the reassuring safety of cameras, citing commissioners, media and photographers, he obviously feels immune to the harsher realities of rugby and a dig in the gub for his mouthing off.

As a self professed senior player he is an atrocious role model. Most pernicious of the lot is his persistent whining to the press to copper line his position as Ireland’s premier outhalf. Irish rugby is storing up a whole lotta trouble here as the guy is conducting the business of team management through the press with little thought for his fellow teammates. There will come a time when his performances, the last one only redeemed by goal kicking and setting up a try, when he will have to be told he’s out of the team.

Can Declan Kidney do it? His response to ROG’s badge/shirt outburst was to say he knew O’Gara a long time and that he understood him speaking his mind.

Kidney’s position is rather like someone who is friendly with a women in the office and then has to be her boss and tell her what’s she’s doing wrong. It’s tricky when your professional relationship is a little compromised by familiarity.

 

CILLIAN & GILLIAN

A few articles ago I reported the unrequited love of a female fan for the diminutive Cillian Willis. Whilst Cillian’s game goes from strength to strength, moves are afoot to by Gillian to learn more about him, through a third party. Whilst one wouldn’t anticipate young Cillian having a lock or two removed and his strength diminished, it is entirely plausible his head’ll be turned by this renewed interest.

For the sake of Ulster and Heineken cup rugby next season let’s hope nothing comes of this. I’ll continue to keep you, the concerned reader, (all 3 of them) updated on any new developments…..should there be any!

 

DANI NOT THE MANI WE ALL THINK HE IS?

Over on the UAFC messageboard they were getting ahead of themselves with one poster declaring:

“From reading this forum you’d think that Simon Danielli coming back to fitness was the equivalent of having Jonah Lomu at his height back from injury.

He’s not that good….”

Well I’d rather have Danielli on my team right now than Jonah Lomu for goodness sake. Of course Dan the man replied in the best possible taste by scoring twice against Connaught after coming off the bench. In fact Duffy was more singer than full back when caught in Dan’s headlights before spotting his brake lights as the Scot dived over for the try!!!!

 

PARTYING

Sadly I’ll miss the Scarlets game due to a re-arranged party and a mix up in dates. I believe it’s on SKY so all is not lost. One will miss the atmo at Ravers and the potential for this team to remove a monkey from their backs by beating the Skallets. Its entirely possible and I fully expect. Why the nation expects …  All 1.7million of them.

C’mon ULSTERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!