DINNER PARTY INTEL: South Africa: best in rugby and everything else
Even our national bird is better than New Zealand’s
02 November 2023 - 04:00
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
South Africa's Siya Kolisi lifts the Webb Ellis Cup with teammates following victory in the Rugby World Cup 2023 final match at the Stade de France in Paris, France. Picture: David Davies/ PA/ Backpagepix
1. SA beats NZ — again
South Africa not only beat New Zealand in rugby on Saturday, but also in a “best place to visit” contest, according a poll in The Times. South Africa won for best hotels, value, travel time (12 hours from London vs 24) and, of all things, for its national bird, the blue crane. The kiwi, the UK newspaper said, resembled Boris Johnson with a pencil up his nose.
2. Swearing by the game
English rugby, meanwhile, can’t get away from the C-word. Last week the game’s controlling body in England accused Springbok Bongi Mbonambi of using it to insult an England player, then banned a former member of its own council after he called a Twickenham volunteer a “black c***”. Andrew Sarek made the remark at England’s World Cup warm-up match against Wales at Twickenham in August.
3. Jet age cricket
At another World Cup, India’s new economic clout was revealed in travel to the cricket. Some well-heeled fans were ferried to the recent India-Pakistan match in about 200 private jets, according to The Economic Times. The Ahmedabad airport directed many to land at Mumbai, 90 minutes’ flying time away, and a Boeing 787 was used as a shuttle. Tickets for the shuttle started at R4,300.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
DINNER PARTY INTEL: South Africa: best in rugby and everything else
Even our national bird is better than New Zealand’s
1. SA beats NZ — again
South Africa not only beat New Zealand in rugby on Saturday, but also in a “best place to visit” contest, according a poll in The Times. South Africa won for best hotels, value, travel time (12 hours from London vs 24) and, of all things, for its national bird, the blue crane. The kiwi, the UK newspaper said, resembled Boris Johnson with a pencil up his nose.
2. Swearing by the game
English rugby, meanwhile, can’t get away from the C-word. Last week the game’s controlling body in England accused Springbok Bongi Mbonambi of using it to insult an England player, then banned a former member of its own council after he called a Twickenham volunteer a “black c***”. Andrew Sarek made the remark at England’s World Cup warm-up match against Wales at Twickenham in August.
3. Jet age cricket
At another World Cup, India’s new economic clout was revealed in travel to the cricket. Some well-heeled fans were ferried to the recent India-Pakistan match in about 200 private jets, according to The Economic Times. The Ahmedabad airport directed many to land at Mumbai, 90 minutes’ flying time away, and a Boeing 787 was used as a shuttle. Tickets for the shuttle started at R4,300.
ALSO READ:
DINNER PARTY INTEL: Prime parking at Clifton — for a driver with deep pockets
DINNER PARTY INTEL: Searching for clues about this dire statistic
DINNER PARTY INTEL: Golden days in the Goldin household
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.