Junkyard Dogs and Comeback Kids

Good Friday to the Lions Den Massive.

Its Friday again, and it promises to be an even bigger weekend then last weekend.

It’s a big week for the Super 14. Can the Bulls extend their unbeaten streak or will the Hurricanes establish themselves as title contenders? Will there be a backlash from the high flying Sharks and Waratahs? Or will the Force and Crusaders return to the form that everyone knows they are capable of?

Its is a weekend of big hits and high flyers with the most difficult round of the tournament making its appearance.

The first match up of the weekend sees the Hurricanes taking on the Bulls in the cake tin in Wellington. As I said above, the Bulls will be keen to extend their unbeaten record, while the ‘Canes will want to establish themselves as title contenders.

The teams are pretty much evenly matched up. Both have good forwards with a mixture of experience and young raw talent in the backlines. On paper the Bulls should be the better teams, but they don’t travel well. 10, 11, 12, and 13 are key players for both sides. Although Morné Steyn is one dimensional he can punish sides with his deadly accuracy. Piri Weepu looks to be the key player in New Zealand at the moment and is being primed to take over from the injured Carter.

The midfield battle will be titanic. Ma’a Nonu will be running from depth and hitting the line hard, which will test the defensive capabilities of JP Nel and Wynand Olivier. How Nonu links up with the elusive Conrad Smith will be the key for the ‘Canes as Nonu is very much a crash it up player who tries to put Smith into space.

Another Key match up in the game is the battle of the 8’s. Rodney So'oialo is the top loose forward at the moment, until Richie McCaw is fit again. So'oialo has also just resigned with the NZRU extending his contract to beyond the 2011 World Cup, which will probably be his Swan Song!

Fellow punter, Joel Peter says that the Bulls cant beat the ‘Canes at home, and I tend to agree. ‘Canes by 5.

Saturday is equally interesting. Probably the worst match up of the weekend is the Highlanders and the Cheetahs. Not much to say about that match. Highlanders by 10.

The next game is where the fun starts.

Expect a war of attrition in Hamilton where the ever improving Chiefs and Blues. Stephen Donald was a key player last week and should be again this week. Once again his linkage with Masaga and Sivivatu could cause trouble. The Blues however, could ht back in the forwards. I wouldn’t put the house on it, but I think the Chiefs have the mettle to dominate, Chiefs by 10.

The weekend gets better. The Waratahs will be looking to re-establish their winning ways this weekend, but have chosen a hard game to do this in. The Crusaders have dropped the ball at the start of the tournament that they have dominated for so long. However, after last weeks draw, they could be the comeback kid.

What was interesting in the Waratahs match last week was the amount of missed tackles and handling errors made by a team that is usually very clinical, the Crusaders on the other hand went back to basics and got the draw.

Pound for pound, the current Waratahs side is better then the Crusaders, it will now be up to the team from Sydney as to whether they play basic rugby an win, or play flashy rugby and possible shoot themselves in the foot. Waratahs by 10.

During the week, Force pivot Matt Giteau said that the Force’s season is at a crossroads. After the draw last week, the side might feel a bit down and will want to stay in the hunt with a win this weekend, before their bye. However, this will not be easy as they are up against the Sharks, who will have the top of the pile in sight with a win for the ‘Canes and Crusaders a very big possibility.

The two sides are very even. And it looks like the Sharks are going back to basics. Bismark Du Plessis's form is not what it was last year, so he is relegated to the bench. John Smit will return to hooker in his place with Jannie Du Plessis and Deon Caastens making up the rest of the front row.

One positive for the Durban outfit is the form of their loose forwards. Ryan Kankowski, Jean Deysel and Keegan Daniel is good, with Jacques Botes a good prospect off the bench. That will be the difference between the teams. Sharks by 10.


Then we have the second weakest game of the week. The Lions are in trouble in more ways then one. Why the team persists with players like Earl Rose I don’t know. He is somewhat of a junkyard dog, very unpredictable. The allegations made during the week by Leon Boshoff will either inspire the player to greatness, or totally damage his career.

The Lions need to win or else Eugine Eloff will get the sack. Cobus Grobblelar might also loose the captaincy that could open the door for a move north of the Jukskei.

Sources close to the Lion of Lebanon, yes I do have spies out there, tell me that a one André Pretorius and yank Todd Clever were seen getting molar at the Jolly Roger on Wednesday night. If that isnt bad enough these two men, who no doubt have significant others, had bints all over them! What a Zuris.

On the udder hand Darrrrrrrren, the Brumbies could feel like they have a good chance of making the playoffs if they win, and win well in Johannesburg.

I cant see the Lions winning, Brumbies by 15.

The Reds and Stormers have a bye this weekend, so they are guaranteed not to drop any points.


Speaking of junkyard dogs and their unpredictability, who knows how Warren Jaffa will Zuris himself this weekend at Santroghey, Ill let you know on Monday.

Crisis? What crisis?

Good Monday people!

Actually, Mondays are very slow for me. It takes the Lion of Lebanon at least 2 hours at work to become remotely productive.

Anyway what a weekend.

I tend to agree with Bradley Geldenhuys’ sentiment that the financial crisis is a bunch of horse shit! I went punting on Friday night, a typical Lebanese past time, and was shocked with what I saw.

Sitting on the roulette table at Gold Reef City Casino, I exchanged my money for chips and gave myself a few rounds to have a look at how the Sharmoot Hubid was spinning the wheel and what numbers were falling. While I was observing, a rich Indian Man, with his 52 gold chains around his neck a gold bicycle chain on his arm and a gold ring on every finger, took out 10 grand and threw it on the table.

Now I’m not used to seeing money like that casually thrown around, unless its at the purchase of a parcel of Gwesh, be that as it may, the bloke got his chips and he proceeded to play as if he owned the table.

Clearly the concept of cautiousness doesn’t apply to him as me with my R250 worth of chips lasted longer then him.


I left the table and came back to have another go at the table and as I sat down, the larney came back and threw another 5 grand on the table. He was a bit luckier the second time around as when I left he was about 2 grand up.

I don’t really go to the Casino’s with the expectation of winning big, the main reason is for the atmosphere. You would think that during a financial crisis like the one that we are apparently in, people would be more cautious with their money! Fat chance of that my friends! All of the roulette tables were packed as was the blackjack tables, the machines were buzzing and the smoking section of the casino looked like the cemetary scene of Michael Jackson’s thriller with all of the mist! Mind you, a few of the Eldarado Park massive walked out there with eyes glazed over like the zombies from the said music video!

The rugby never went well! I think I only called one game correctly! YES YES I know the Sharks lost. Stop the SMS’ please! I K.N.O.W W.E. L.O.S.T! But at least we never fell apart like the Lions! I cant say that I couldn’t see it coming after the first 20 minutes. For a change the Stormers forwards finally figured out that they can actually play rugby! They were nothing short of awesome!

Liverpool blew the Reds away! If they play like this for the rest of the season then they could very well win the league!

I have stated on a number of occasions that the Lebanese love themselves! And its all very well if the girls love themselves, because frankly there is nothing nicer then a dolled up raven haired, olive skinned, hazel eyed beauty in a push up bra with stiletto high heels prancing around! But when the men love themselves and advocate it, there’s a problem!

I had my first encounter with this in high school. At the time, Fabian Khalil used to be a mainer at the Bassonia gym. He was loosing his hair and proud of it! He used to walk around the gym, stop unsuspecting ladies and ask: “Don’t you think I look a little bit like BRUCE WILLIS!” Although this is weird, you would think that was limited to the gym, but it wasn’t.

The top spot for jauling in those days was Night Fever in Fourways. One night there, before getting horribly molar, I was at the bar, and out the corner of the ear I heard, “Yes I know I look like Bruce Willis, I must admit, I’m only now getting used to the attention I get!” Strues Bob, I turn around and Fabian is Zurising himself around a number of girls!

That was nearly 10 years ago.

The latest incident of molar loving oneself happened at Santroghey this weekend! And I called it on Friday!

Warren Jaffa you legendary oak! I saw him at church on Sunday night and usually he gives me some sop story of how he is never going to drink again, and how he got on the bar counter to dance! This Sunday he tells me that he has to ask for forgiveness in church because at Santroghey on Saturday night, WARREN JAFFA, was getting dead molar, danced on the bar counter, THEN TOOK HIS SHIRT OFF, walked around the club asking girls: “Don’t you think it’s a bit nippy in here!?”

STONE COLD ZURIS!

Speaking of Zuris’, Zumatello was on the campaign trail this weekend and hit the churches! Today on Highveld Stereo he was bitching and moaning about why the public are pissed off with him campaigning at churches!

Now its all very well that you campaign at the churches and I am all for it, provided that try and bring back church values into the way you run your country. But when you walk into a Christian church and start advocating abortion and same sex marriages, you are going to get STUFFED UP! That’s how to loose votes 101!

We need to welcome a new follower to the Lions Den! Big up Ms Kerry Arrow, you legendary girl!