Thursday, June 14, 2007

The Secret Diary of Jake White

Friday, June 8: Yeehaa! Bring on the weekend!! Team manager, Zola Yeye (or "Manny" as Smittie affectionately call him...) asked if I would be free to meet with him, Vusi Kama, Mac Hendriks and some distinguished members of the media tonight at News Cafe. Just to "soften them up a bit", he said. Anyways, who am I to decline? Free dinner and booze on a Friday night.. Hellloooo!! What more could a guy ask for? Just hope things don't get too rowdy.. Have to be on my best behaviour again tomorrow.
Note to self: Remember to keep saying Ricky Januarie is better than Ruan Pienaar. People, including myself, might actually start to believe it. (or, let's hope Butana Khompela picks up I'm the one who started the rumour, and give us back our passports to go to France in September.)

Saturday, June 9: Eish!! Woke up with a killer headache this morning. I sure can't knock them back like I used to. I just hope that Luke Watson can keep his trap shut for more than 5 minutes in the team bus this morning. My head feels like it's about to explode!
Last night was quite fun. Or, that was until that Adnaan Mohamed from "Die Son" turned up!! Who the hell invited him in any case? I though Zola said we'd meet with some "distinguished" members of the media? Gmf, his newspaper is so trashy, they won't even publish something written by Big Pik.. But, after a couple of whiskey's, I gave that Adnaan a piece of my mind! I can't wait to tell Smittie.. He'll be so proud of me for sticking up for him.
Note to self: Invite that Colin guy we met last night over for a braai sometime. He sure cracks me up!

Sunday, June 10: Not my best day... The papers all mention my altercation with Adnaan at News Cafe... Stoffie (Mike) are quoted saying SARU will have to launch an investigation into the matter this week. I sure hope I don't get into too much trouble!!
The rugby writers are also not too happy whiff our performance against Samoa, and the fact that we decided to skip the Samoans' rendition of traditional songs at the post match function also get a mention... To be honest, my headache was killing me, and I just couldn't brace myself for anything like that.. Smittie and the boys also had to rush back to the hotel to initiate Waylon and that Luke Watson. He says it was quite enjoyable chucking darts at that Watson fella.. Nothing quite like a bit of a team bonding session to boost the team morale, hey...
Note to self: Delete Colin's phone number from cellphone..

Monday, June 11: Team doc, Yusuf Hassan, had a proper look at Ricky's knee, and it's been confirmed he'll be out of action for a couple of weeks. Still a bit in the dark at the moment: Not sure if I'll be allowed to include Ruan at scrumhalf now, or if that means Wayne Julies or Lawrence Sephaka will have to shift to number 9... Waiting to hear Oregon and Stoffie's decision... But, in the meantime Alistair Coetzee said he's willing to put his body on the line for his country against the Wallabies. I don't really know how to break the news to the guy.. I don't rate him as a backline coach, let alone think he's good enough to start for my team, to be honest.. Full marks for trying, though!
Looks like that Watson guy also has an injury niggle.. To be honest, I didn't even bother to hear what Doc had to say about the injury.. I just told him to go pack his bags...
Andre Pretorius apparantly still struggles with a "strained buttocks", which will prevent him from taking part in the Tri Nations. Funny thing is I also tend to develop cramps down there when I think of that Luke Watson, Oregon or Stoffie...
Note to self: Get that cramps checked out sometime this week....