The Front Row Union

Woo Hoo! Real news from the Ulster Rugby Website at last! We’ve finally got an injury update on five of our key players! Maybe they were worried that the new boy at the Belfast Telegraph was going to scoop them with this one as well, or perhaps Humphreys has finally managed to persuade the powers that be that a website is actually abut communication not just selling matches, and promoting sponsors!

You never know but we may even get a full squad list, with who’s signed for how long, before the start of the season rather than have us rely on the esteemed Cables over on the UAFC site! I see they advertised for a web wizard recently (strangely while I was away in South Africa and couldn’t apply) so maybe they are going to make more of an effort next season. Let’s hope so for in the absence of real news from HQ all the rest of us can do is speculate – and even the dogs on the street know where that gets us!

What on earth has been happening in our sacred homeland since our departure on our African Adventure?

We heard about Brian McLaughlin’s appointment on our arrival at Cape Town over two weeks ago and ten days later the slick Ulster Rugby PR machine confirmed what everyone knew. Another “confused” managerial appointment by Ulster Rugby, much to the amusement or our Munster mates on tour.

Personally I’m very pleased with the appointment/s and the Raven was particularly delighted to see that they are naming the “A” Team after him.

Humphreys, a class act and a shrewd and respected ambassador for all things rugby should easily expand his role to look after all off pitch activities. I’m particularly pleased with the statement;

Humphreys will drive Ulster’s attempts to produce a squad largely made up of home-grown players, supported by a small number of high profile players from overseas.

Arrived back home on Friday, and plenty to catch up on since I last wrote.

The Sunday after the first test was a bit of a quiet day. It was a bit more overcast than on the Saturday but it was pleasant enough to spend a bit of time down the beach out in Umhlanga Rocks where we were staying. The Boks were staying nearby in the Beverly Hills Hotel, but we only got a view of their tour bus which was probably just as well as the Raven has been gunning for Bakkies Botha the whole trip!

Umhlanga Rocks is an upmarket beach resort about twenty minutes outside of Durban, dominated by huge villas, guesthouses, hotels and apartment blocks all of which are behind huge security gates and as such it has very little character. The town centre is fairly basic with just a few pubs and restaurants which were completely dominated by Lions supporters, though it does have a huge out of town shopping centre believed to be the biggest in the southern hemisphere. I didn’t go there so I don’t know if it’s true or not.

The rest of the group are away shopping but I’ve been spending the morning editing photos from yesterdays game.

We’re all a bit down today, very disappointed and the general feeling with the tourists and the locals is that yesterday was very much a chance missed. The Lions seemed able to cut through there backs at will when they had the ball but they were being out-monstered up front both legally and illegally. I thought that the Lions were unlucky not to have scored two more tries and the referee was very poor. Four or five successive penalties by the Boks in the red zone and not one of them sent off – unbelievable, as was the crossing decision when Tommy was through!

There were a lot of worried Boks sitting round us for the last ten minutes so at least they were reasonably gracious in their win.

Made it to Durban yesterday but we’ve limited internet access over the next few days. Should have update on Monday when we get back to Cape Town.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Lions Diary Day 29.
• Lions Diary Day 22.
• Lions Diary Day 19.
• Lions Diary Day 18
• Lions Diary Day 16.

Just a quick one today to let you know that I’ve added to the galleries and changed them about slightly so there are plenty of new pics for you all to enjoy.

Yesterday’s match didn’t have as good an atmosphere as the one in Newlands, mostly because it was all seating and there wasn’t as much high jinks!

Good to meet up with our Harlequins friends Kate, Joe Snr and Joe Jnr, though Kate didn’t hang around too long we had a good night with the two Joe’s. We went to a restaurant where we were assured the Lions were going to be appearing but unfortunately that wasn’t the case.

Speaking to the Sky Sports boys this morning they said that the team didn’t stay here but just flew in and out so looks like we’ll have to wait on any Ferris updates!

Sunday was relatively quiet. The raiding party came back from the wineries relatively sober and we all headed down to the Cape Town Waterside for a late supper. We went to a slightly upmarket South African Steak House which served a variety of game from across the continent. There were varying reviews of the fare but we did meet one of the best maitre d’s of the trip who kept us amused all night with his exquisite manners.

Monday it was our first road trip. A five hour drive from Cape Town to Knysna on our way to Port Elizabeth. It really brings home the two nations under a rainbow as you travel from the affluent city centre through the townships to reach the huge farming “Garden Route” between the Cape and Port Elizabeth.

There is a saying, ‘when the rat’s away the mice play’. Well the e-steamed Dewi Barnes is currently slumming it up in Cape Town, languishing on the balcony of his hotel, wiling away the hours before dawn with august rugby company and a healthy glass of cape red in hand, to the background sound of the pounding ocean roar. I envy him, I really, really, do. Someone must play the Dad’s Army part and stay at home to guard the rear and of course watch the mice play.

This is Warren Brosnihan’s take on home and away in 2004. Having returned to home he has enjoyed the surf and warm water that Durban has to offer. Training with the Bulls he offered this little summary of home in South Africa and away in Belfast.