Wednesday, 20th June 2007 at 12:22 am

Emerging Boks: the Romania report

Under the leadership of Schalk Brits, the Emerging Boks are back in South Africa with a trophy in tow, having seen off Argentina ‘A’ in the final of the Nations Cup in Romania. Great result, then, but it was a long three weeks; Feverpitcher can report back exclusively on some of the highlights of trip…

• There were only six television channels (out of 48) in English in the Emerging Boks’ hotel - BBC, Sky, CNN, CNBC, National Geographic and Hallmark. The guys watched a lot of movies…
• Highlight of the entertainment? Jano Vermaak went charging through the hotel letting everyone know that Hallmark was showing a South African film. The classic movie in question? Leon Schuster’s ‘Short and Sweet’. When you get deliriously happy over a Schuster re-run, you know your options have been running dangerously low…
• No huge crowds in Bucharest for the game - 5 000 was about as good as it got for the tournament.
• Several new haircuts emerged on the trip; Ross Skeate’s mohawk got the most attention, but skipper Brits also shaved his head. Beautiful.
• And finally, Feverpitcher’s key scoop: the Emerging Boks were apparently having trouble with the referee in charge of the game… until prop forward Eddie Andrews accidentally tackled him into a ruck. The ref stumbled to his feet, but continued to blow the game - and the Boks barely got another decision against them. Well played Eddie…