Michael Corcoran's Blog

It’s been a rather strange week so far -  disciplinary hearings, appeals, Lions watching Lions, coaches with forgetful memories and a media cricket match that resulted in a colleague being hospitalised.

No doubt the actions of Schalk Burger provided some lively debate at the start of the week. Did he gouge or did he make contact with the eye or eye area? That was the question on everyone’s lips.

Not wanting to rake over the coals and re-ignite the debate, could I suggest that the much under-used TMO be used to assist the over-worked referee to help in his decision-making process? In a case where the referee or his touch judges, or is that specialist assistant referees, see an incident, could the TMO be called upon to help out?

I would suggest using competitions like the Magners League and Heineken Cup to trial the “Video Ref”. I think it’s worth trying it out; after all, if we can trial some hair-brained ideas under the guise of ELVs, surely this would help clean up the game?

Peter De Villiers and Ian McGeechan have had some interesting things to say this week. De Villiers told us he had not been congratulated by McGeechan after the win last weekend in Pretoria. However, McGeechan was adamant he did, not once but twice. Must be the altitude here…

But for the record let’s get two things straight: South Africa are not yet a great side; they have great players but they are not playing as world champions should, as a side with so much talent, should.

However, I believe the Lions deserve a lot of credit also. They could have won last Saturday, but they didn’t. Well done to South Africa, congratulations to them on winning the series.

The National Horn Blowing Championships followed us from Pretoria to our base in Johannesburg this week, or so it seemed. Bleary-eyed members of the media wondered aloud just why so many car horns were blown from early morning until late at night.

Eventually, the “mystery” was solved when we were advised that was how taxi-drivers and mini-bus drivers touted for business, by blowing their horn as they passed pedestrians on the street. A simple stroll to a nearby shop to purchase the newspaper can result in frazzled members of the media reaching for headaches tablets on their return.

I’m not sure if they have tried roof signs, illuminated if available, or not, but maybe that’s an idea for a budding entrepreneur.

Finally, spare a thought for a colleague who eagerly chased after a cricket ball to prevent his opponents from winning a friendly game during the week. He made contact with a concrete wall and bollard and spent the night in a nearby hospital where tests revealed all was ok. Rather cruelly, some of the photographers christened him “Harvey Wallbanger”. I’m glad to say he is well on the road to recovery.