Rugby Focus

It’s a sad sad day for rugby.

A week after been run over by a security van outside a Durban night club, Brumbies player Shawn McCay passed away last night in a Durban hospital.

McCay contracted a blood infection, which brought on cardiac arrest, which proved fatal.

This doesn’t say much for medical standards in South African hospitals if a person can contract a fatal infection in ICU, which is supposed to be the safest place in the hospital.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and team mates of McCay.

In other news, Peter De Villiers has given SARU seven days to initiate disciplinary action against Cheeky Watson after the whole Baboon incident. At the time of the incident, Watson claimed that him and De Villiers were good friends, and one would think that good friends don’t go around seeking disciplinary action against others.

But then again whenever Cheeky is involved, there is trouble.

Same with his piss willie son Luke. Granted he is the form of his life, and is actually letting his rugby do the talking instead of his mouth. However, me thinks this wont be enough to warrant a selection in the team.

Last week De Villiers reported that the team dynamics of the Springboks will be key, after Watson’s statements last year that he wanted to arif on the springbok jersey pissed off a few senior players. These players will find it hard to get along with him should he be included now.

SARU has accommodated Watson to a degree by moving the Springbok to the left hand side of the jersey and incorporating the King Protea on the right, but this just means that Watson will arif on half of the jersey.

Because it is easter week and I am going away, I thought I'd do my predictions on a Monday this week.

First up, on Good Friday, the Blues host the Lions. The Blues are fresh off a rest week and are back at home in their beloved Eden Park where they beat the Waratahs two weeks ago. The Lions are fresh off tossing the game against the Chiefs where they had the perfect opportunity to do other teams in the competition a favor.

The Lions looked very good in stages, André Pretorius looked like he was to his old best, but then missed four UNFORGIVABLE kicks.

Form suggests that the Blues will win, and I agree. Blues by 10.

Next up is the Force against the Hurricanes. The Force are making a charge for the Semi Finals, however, the horse has bolted, and the Hurricanes are on form. Zac Guilford and Ma’a Nonu were in good form against the Sharks and should carry that form over to Perth. Canes by 10.

First up on Saturday is the Highlanders hosting the Reds. I don’t think the Reds can win and it will be interesting to see if Jimmy Cowen can establish himself as a front runner for the All Black scrum-half berth. Highlanders by 15.

The Brumbies are back at home and will want to play well in memory of McCay, they host Luke Watson because the rest of the Stormers team is playing so shit that they don’t deserve a mention. Luke, as good as he thinks he is the ERR, cant beat 15 men by himself, Brumbies by 20.

The Bulls travel to Sydney to face a Waratahs team that is once again on form, The Bulls need to win this game to have any hopes of a home semi final. And if they loose this game then there is a huge possibility that they wont even make the Semi Finals! I think the Bulls are on a loosing streak that will see them not qualify for the Semi Finals, Waratahs by 5.

The final game of the Easter Super Weekend is the Cheetahs hosting the Sharks. The Sharks are in the type of form that will see them win the tournament without loosing another game. Sharks by 15.