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21/7/07
Wallabies coach John Connolly was quoted
this week sympathising with those of his
charges who have attracted headlines for
late-night shenanigans. "They're young men
who have a right to go out, and they're
under so much pressure to prepare for games
and sleep and diet," he said. "They're under
so much pressure, I feel sorry for them."
This is - what's that phrase again? -
complete nonsense.
The word "pressure" should not apply to the
mere expectation that blokes who have the
privilege of representing their country
while earning hundreds of thousands of
dollars and travelling the world won't
behave in a manner that will reflect badly
on that country. True pressure, I think,
John, would be feeding and housing a family
of four on the basic wage …
We're plain nasty!
If you'd like to see a hilarious
anti-Australian rant, try
www.sundaytimes.co.za/article.aspx?ID=515870.
It is written by a South African sports
journalist by the name of Clinton van der
Berg, and it is not to be missed. Here are
some edited highlights …
"As sporting rivalries go, there are three
nations South Africans like to beat more
than any other: England, New Zealand and
Australia. England, because they're our old
colonial masters and the world champions of
arrogance. New Zealand, because they're on a
war footing every time they play the
Springboks. And Australia, because they're
such an unlikeable, miserable bunch. The
Aussies are plain nasty. Their whingeing in
the lead-up to last week's Test match was
typical …
"Australia's not a bad place to visit - if
you like nanny states, that is. Don't dare
jaywalk, take a photograph without
permission, look the wrong way at a beach or
try and [sic] start a Mexican wave (honest,
Cricket Australia banned the wave in
February)."
These are, dinkum, merely his opening
remarks. Apart from that, I think he really
quite likes us!
PETER FITZSIMONS -
Sydney Morning Herald | Saturday, 21
July 2007 |
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