South Africa Dominates Dakar 500 Rally, and Beyond

Well, rugby fever is running high at last in Sharks Country.

Starting with week three of the Durban Varsity rugby season, things are looking up for us.

New jerseys are arriving in February.

And over 30 guys at training without even counting the students that have yet to arrive.

If the numbers stay like, this we will be heading for a very good season at Durban Varsity.

On Friday I attended the largest rugby coaching conference in South Africa, hosted by the Sharks Rugby Union. It was great to see how the Currie Cup Champions run drills and training runs.

Professor Tim Noakes of the Sports Sience Institute mentioned nothing about eating or training programs but spoke about the metal aspect of sports and how clever rugby players will always dominate big burly brutes who don’t think. Objective is to find clever big brutes.

Ruan Pienaar will play at pivot for the Sharks and John and Jannie will share duties at Tight Head Prop, with john also swapping with Bismarck. John Plumtree has been very happy with the preseason training and they are quietly confident that with the quick pressure game they have the fire power to do well again this season. But as always only time will tell. Go Sharks!!!

On the cricket front, after getting smashed by Australia in the 20/20 the South African dominated the first and second ODIs. Winning the first but throwing away a certain victory in the second. They only have themselves to blame on this one.

The Titans continued with their dominance on the local cricket front, by drilling the Diamond Eagles by eight wickets in the MTM Domestic 45 over final. Onto my cricket side, the Varsity Fourth are still top of their log with a comfortable 54 run victory in our first game of the year.

A big congrats must go out to Alex Powney for taking five for 23 in his six overs yesterday, also to the first side that beat Collegians by one wicket in the premier league.

It looks like the warning of Alex Ferguson has come true. Liverpool are two points behind the Champions and have seem to have played their final hand. The title is there for United to lose.

Tonight’s game between Everton will give us an indication of what Liverpool is made of.

Arsenal are still in fifth, trailing Aston Villa by three points and they may be playing UEFA next year. Chelsea left it late to get a winner against Stoke, but are still in a very good position to strike should the top two side stumble along the way.

At the bottom, it is still anyone on nine sides that are within four points of the bottom side. Fulham lost 3-1 to West Ham, Man City beat 1-0, Arsenal beat Hull3-1 away, Villa beat Sunderland 2-1, Man U beat Bolton 1-0, Chelsea beat Stoke 2-1, Newcastle lost 3-0 away to Blackburnand Spurs drew 1-1 with Pompie.

The Australian Open started today and so far no big surprises. Even the famous Melbourneheat played ball. Djokovic and Federer both sailed through their respective games. Anna Ivanovic struggled at first in her game but proved to strong for her opponent.

Top ladies seed Jelena Jankovic sailed through her first-round game. A very interesting two weeks lay ahead and I am picking Scotland’s Andy Murray to take the men’s honors this year. I am not sure about the ladies though.

Well done to the 2009 Dakarchampion South Africa Giniel De Villiers for winning his first Dakar. South African Ralph Pitchford for coming second as co driver with American Mark Miller. South African designed Nissan Navaras also came in third and fourth.  Putting South Africa firmly at the for-front of the world rally car design this is great for South Africa.

Until next week, cheers!

Think beyond the horizon and you will find success!