SA Rugby Victory

Grant and I went out birding three times this weekend. After the brief shower of rain on Friday night, the world looked freshly washed and of course, the LBJ's were out in full force. Although we didn't see a huge amount of birds, we saw enough. More about these on Wednesday.

On Saturday evening we went to the club. There was an all-important rugby match between SA and New Zealand. Last week the Springboks had beaten the Australians. But NZ was another ball game. 

The game took place at Ellis Park (Johannesburg) and SA supporters were there in full force and voice! The All Blacks supporters weren't all that thin on the ground either. So it promised to be a good match.

When Grant and I arrived at the club, several people were enjoying a game of volley ball. Visitors consisting of four single, Scandinavian teachers, doing a study at the School for the Blind and Albinos in Shinyanga, had been invited to the club. 

Others, the serious rugby fans, were sitting in and near the pub with the flat-screen TV already showing the warm-up to the match

After the beautiful rendition of each country's national anthem, the All Blacks did their scary number.

The Haka

Soon the game was in full swing with both sides playing excellent rugby

Of course the referee didn't know what he was doing, LOL

 You have to be in a TV audience to experience the fury, excitement, disappointment and constant calls to the ref (remember he can't see either!) to understand South African rugby supporters

One of the SA tries which had the crowds in the stands and the Mwadui South Africans on their feet

Another fantastic try during the second half of the game

With less than two minutes left of the game, SA had a penalty kick. It went right through the middle of the uprights. 45 seconds of play and the final whistle blew.

South Africa: 27 -  New Zealand: 25

The noise in the club was almost as loud as that of the 60,000 strong crowd on TV!

 And a Sunday update on the pups, Day 19

Today, as soon as the sun hit the enclosure around the pups' hut, Michael and I put the pups on the ground outside. Although they didn't know exactly what they should be doing, one or two of them wandered around sniffing at objects like a stone and the wedge holding the door open. Princess was rather agitated and lay down immediately to allow them to drink. Which a few did!

Michael, who is incredibly kind to all the animals, shows Princess that her pups are safe with him. Below I cuddle a couple while pacifying Princess who looks on

I never knew pups could be so vocal ! 

Here's wishing you all a wonderful week ahead.