We are now in the twilight zone with regard to rugby, the summer series have finished and the season is a few weeks away. We will have some Southern Hemisphere tests coming up but I’ll deal with them later so let me round up a few loose ends from the last few weeks.

I watched the final Wales test yesterday and can confirm Wales can have no excuses. The best team on the day won. Wales overall did not play badly but silly mistakes at crucial times, Ill-discipline and the lack of a cutting edge did not help their cause. South Africa have massive strength in depth and will be a force in the upcoming games with New Zealand and Australia.

There is much wrong with Welsh rugby but on this occasion they did the nation proud, on and off the field. The South African press are full of praise for how things went, including the straightforward talking of players and coaches alike. Dan Biggar in particular was singled out for praise

England will be home now and in a more positive mood than when they flew out, and after that first test. Has Eddie Jones finally got the joke and realised that there is more than one game plan and picking young players in form is not a risk it is an opportunity. Let’s hope so. The autumn games will be the litmus test for England. I intend to catch up on the third test today…. Too hot to be outside.

The big winners are obviously Ireland. To win a series in New Zealand is unheard of and to do it (reasonably) convincingly was outstanding. Andy Farrell was under pressure a little while ago but given time he has proved his worth. He has a clear vision, is not afraid to make tough calls, has a good team around him and has won over the Irish people. Yes the All Blacks have not really recovered since the drubbing England gave them in that semi-final in Japan but you cannot heap anything but praise on Ireland. They were superb.

World Rugby now have Ireland in top spot in the rankings. WalesOnline have done an alternative power ranking which puts the Irish behind France and I think that is more accurate right now. Either way a massive well done.

Scotland the perennial underachievers lived up to that epithet in Argentina. They came storming back in the second test after a poor performance in the first only to throw away a winning position in the decider. Gregor Townsend decided not to take two of his marquee players but that is not enough to justify the outcome in Latin America. Many of the papers are saying Scotland, yet again, were the architects of their own downfall. Much for Townsend and Scotland to mull over before the next round of international matches.

I think it is fair to say the last three weeks have given the fans of our great game much to cheer. Some great tests. Some great results. However, you could argue for the non-devotee there has been much to turn you off. The TMO delays, the scrum delays, the ball in play time, the injuries, the cards: red and yellow, and of course the complexity of the laws.

I read that Andrew Porter has been cited for an incident involving Brodie Retallick, an incident in which Retallick sustained a broken cheek bone.

Congratulations to Chile, beating USA on aggregate thus qualifying for RWC 2023. The USA have one last shot at qualification. There is an interesting piece in The Guardian that highlights RWC 2023 without the USA is no big deal. The USA Eagles without RWC 2023 on the other hand is a massive deal. If the game is to continue to progress in the US they have to qualify.

After the debacle of defeat and Ian Foster’s post match press conference being cancelled there are louder and louder calls for him to go. Joe Schmidt is being touted around but the people’s choice has to be charismatic Crusaders coach Scott Robertson.

Rugby Australia targets Eddie Jones to take over post the World Cup. Good luck you fools!

Damian Holley steps down as chief of the Rugby Players Association. He’s done a good job me thinks.

Before I go a heartfelt THANK YOU for all the mails regarding recent blogs. It makes it all well worth it.

Ok that’ll do for now except to say it is hot, hot, hot. Take care.

Monday 18th July: 12:10 (UK)

We are back on British soil. Having left our hotel in Cape Town yesterday at 10:30 we finally landed at Heathrow at 04:31 this morning, with our bags!!. While it is all fresh in the memory here are my recollections of South Africa and the tour.

The country is huge, 400% larger than the UK but with a population c.9m less than the UK. Large tracts of land are semi-arid, or highveld grasslands or savannah woodland. As we flew to and fro across the country you certainly got to see the very unwelcoming terrain. Brown scorched earth for miles and miles into the distance. Then you come down to the coastal regions where the land is more fertile and agriculture thrives. The long journey from Hermanus to Knysna proved that. Fields aplenty and many fruit and citrus plantations along the way.

The wildlife is rich and varied and you are never very far away from some amazing sights, on the land, in the air or in the water. Thanks to the way Venatour organised the trip we certainly were exposed to amazing sights; cheeky baboons to hippos and the occasional rhino. There are many conservation projects now underway in the country as people recognise the importance of these animals to the fragile ecosystem.

As and when I caught up with the news from the UK I became increasingly frustrated with the appalling inefficiency of our transport infrastructure. Chaos at airports, trains not running, roads packed with vehicles. Some of this self inflicted by anarchist trade unions. In South Africa we encountered nothing but efficiency. Every flight left on time and landed early. Every bag arrived. Only after the Cape Town test did we encounter any traffic problems with roads generally in very good condition. People were put to work where they were needed. If you didn’t work there was no free lunch, or safety net. It is too easy for people here not to bother.

However, the poverty and destitution seen as we skirted the townships was heart breaking. Those who don’t have, really don’t have. I was reminded of how lucky we are, and how very generous our benefit system is as we flew over London this morning. No ramshackle shanty towns without basic amenities in sight. The poverty was a problem for us. The very privileged, mainly white communities, but too be fair that is changing, contrasting the black communities.

Not us personally but we were exposed to the SA health care system. This again highlighted how very lucky we are to have the NHS. Far too many in the UK take it for granted and many actually abuse the system. In South Africa for decent treatment you pay and you pay handsomely. If you can’t pay then things are very different.

Thankfully education is more readily available to all. Yes the fee paying schools are something else but based on what we learned the state system continues to improve both in quality and quantity and some inner city deprived schools are tuning out well educated young people.

Overall the people we came into contact with were amazing whatever the colour of their skin, their beliefs or religions. It is fair to say we were somewhat cosseted in staying in amazing hotels, in very safe locations. That said when we adventured further afield at no point were we concerned. Yes crime is rife in the country but who says it isn’t here in the UK. There were a few exceptions and sadly they were mainly Afrikaans at the games who I felt still hankered after the “old days”.

The weather was brilliant. Only on two occasions did we see any rain. Considering it is winter in South Africa, shorts and t-shirt during the day, adding a fleece in the evening as the temperature dropped.

Food was very good. At times it was red meat or red meat with steaks you cut with a spoon. Portions were large but for us there was a something of a shortage of vegetables. The wines were superb. This was countered by over gassy, ice cold lager. Obviously with 20 rand to the pound the bills were never painful making tipping easy and worthwhile.

Each town and city had something to offer, except Bloemfontein. Doing the city tour in Johannesburg was brilliant. Seeing all sides of the demographic profile was important. The suburbs of Durban were brilliant. Vibrant, packed with great restaurants and fabulous beaches. The other coastal towns were equally amazing. Ever since my first visit I say Cape Town is the jewel in the crown. It is liberal, cosmopolitan, friendly and generally safe with lots of things to do in the city and further afield. Our agenda was packed but I got to relive some great times in CT.

I’d be lying if I said this was a bargain bucket tour. It wasn’t. What I will say is Venatour got it spot on. The hotels were top notch, the excursions allowed us to explore and experience all aspects of the country, and the organisation pre and during was excellent. Our tour manager Susie was great. We were a very eclectic group and she was the oil that kept it running smoothly. When she had to step up to the plate she did so without fuss and very professionally. I know many on the tour read the blog, including Susie, so here I say “Thank you!” We, without question, if the opportunity arises would not hesitate to book with them again, or unequivocally recommend them to others.

Back to rugby matters tomorrow.

Sunday 17th July: 11:55

There are times when this trip has felt more like boot camp than a holiday BUT it has been an AMAZING experience. It was a real shame Wales couldn’t replicate the form of two weeks ok, albeit in defeat, nor enjoy the good fortune of last week. The boys can still hold their heads high and fly home knowing they outperformed, by a long way, most people’s expectations.

The Greenpoint (DHL) Stadium was magnificent. The atmosphere was great and except for a couple of village idiots being excused duties at home was generally good humoured and friendly. We started our day doing touristy stuff before heading off to Hamilton Rugby Club for pre-match hostility. This was where the Welsh team had been training all week. The clubhouse was massive, and just for yesterday packed with Welsh supporters. On the pitch the final South African Schools trial was taking place: SA Schools v SA Schools A. I watched some of this and it was “troubling”. Why? The standard was superb and these 18 year olds were, and I don’t exaggerate, enormous. The pipeline of talent coming through the various systems should be a worry to every other nation. By the way the game was refereed by Aimee Barrett-Theron, one of South Africa’s top flight referees.

The build up was great, including Mrs Bleater being interviewed on the stadiums big screen and the anthems belted out with gusto with Mrs Bleater making an appearance on TV. The ovation for Eben Etzebeth was quite rightly long and loud. From the very first minute it was clear Wales were going to be under severe pressure. The Springboks fired out of the blogs like whirling dervish with Wales being battered deep within their own half for long periods. The late withdrawal of Faletau and the early exit of Dan Lydiate added to Wales woes. Being there made it a good game but I will reserve judgement until I have seen the game on TV. Wales defended heroically but that can only be sustained for so long. Eventually the pressure told and the dam had to break. Despite the scoreline Wales were never really out of it, however things could have been better. A lineout in an excellent attacking position failed, the ball went wide only to be spilled, the discipline could have been better. The boys in red gave it their all but it wasn’t enough. The better side won and there isn’t much more that can be said about that.

Wales can look back on the series with pride but the absence of a dynamic cutting edge, a reliable lineout, strength in depth and erratic discipline are cause for concern ahead of the Autumn series.

Wow! There was always a chance Ireland could beat the All Blacks but to win the series was amazing. We caught some of the first half and Irish weren’t ahead by luck. I understand the All Blacks came back strongly in the second half but it wasn’t enough. MASSIVE congratulations to Andy Farrell and his squad. I’ll comment further later in the week when I have seen the whole game.

We watched most of the second half of the Australia v England contest and have to say England ran out worthy winners and for those supporting England there are things to be positive about. England’s defensive effort in the last 20 minutes was something else. In Marcus Smith they have a player to build a team around and now Jones is giving the young kids in form a chance things could be on the up.

Sadly, not feeling too good again, I went straight to the room post the match so have only seen the result and the few comments that would indicate Scotland failed to close out a game again.

It is horrendous to read that ex-Bassaleg boy Ryan Jones has been diagnosed at 41 with early onset dementia. Rugby has got to think long and hard about where the game is going. I return to my earlier comment about the South African schoolboys, and Robert Kitson’s articles. There has to be a tipping point where the game stops being all about brute force and power. Watching the fired up “bomb squad” come on early in the second half filled with me dread, as these testosterone leviathans charged in tiring opposition.

It comes as no surprise New Zealand have launched an urgent inquiry into the All Blacks performed of late. Ian Foster is under pressure without doubt.

I read that some moron in Australia gave Eddie Jones verbal abuse from the stands. Jones is seen having a real go back. I am not a fan of Jones but this type of abuse is unacceptable. I also read that an Australian climbed on top of the big screen and urinated. Dickhead.

On that point drink at games is becoming an issue. Even though for the most part those at Greenpoint were well behaved I had to deal with one joker and people getting up and disturbing the viewing pleasure of those around them after 20 minutes to get more beer, or worse go to the loo are a disgrace!!

We are now at Cape Town airport waiting for our flight to Jo’Burg before heading to Heathrow. This has been an amazing trip and I intend to round it off with a review in tomorrow’s blog. Cape Town has been brilliant and for me it was the “nostalgia tour” yesterday as I revisited many of my old haunts from my time working with the South Africans.

Friday 15th July: 18:00

Finally I have an hour to spare to digest the team news and to look ahead to tomorrow’s deciders. For obvious reasons let me start with Wales. I always thought Dan Biggar would be ok for tomorrow. Dillon Lewis starting defies all logic. The last time we saw him was at Cape Town airport on Sunday and his arm was heavily strapped and in a sling. Miraculously he starts. The only change therefore is Josh Adams starting and Owen Watkin coming onto the bench. It is incredibly tough for the many players who have trained and trained and not featured, but hey “that’s life”.

Biggar has gone on record saying Wales will leave nothing out on the pitch tomorrow, and we would expect nothing less. If we get off to a good start, quieten the crowd and rattle the Boks there is the chance of a momentous shock. My heart will always say Wales but right now my head says the Boks will win. I don’t think it will be a pretty game and I think the Boks power will be too much for Wales to handle later in the game when the water buffalo are brought on. The resurgent Dan Lydiate needs to replicate his outstanding contribution to date and Tommy Reffell and Taulupe Faletau to be in support as defence will be key. These guys need to be more destructive at the breakdown. Wales will also need to be much more creative with ball in hand. Move it wide, constantly off load. Keep the wildebeest away from the contact areas. Wales lineout has to work otherwise Etzebeth and Loads of Lager will destroy that set piece opportunity.

Whatever happens we’ll be there at the Greenpoint (DHL) Stadium. It is a magnificent edifice and will make many realise that the two previous test grounds need a serious refurbishment. Go Wales.

You will have seen the England team with Eddie Jones making a number of changes, a couple enforced. Ollie Chessum comes in for Itoje (HIA) and as expected Lewis Ludlum replaces Sam Underhill. Whilst Jack van Poortvliet didn’t do much wrong last weekend he drops to the bench with Danny Care starting. That is a huge testament to Care’s commitment to the cause. The bench is interesting with Isiekwe not getting the nod ahead of Chessum. Will Joseph and Jack Willis, two young guns, are included and Henry Arundell quite rightly keeps his place.

The Aussie back line looks strong but injuries to the forwards is stretching Wallaby resources to the maximum. This is the reason why I think England will come out on top. They have big men in form both in the set piece and in the loose and should be able to control the game from there.

I see Eddie Jones has made it clear he is unhappy about the TMO interventions. Too many, too long. For once I cannot disagree with him. It is making the game difficult to watch and far too often allows the joker who runs the sound system to blast our ear drums with music.

Up first comes New Zealand v Ireland. For the first time in a very long time an All Black coach’s position is under detailed scrutiny. Results and performances have been going backwards since Japan 2019. A good win tomorrow will calm some of the nerves but I don’t think they will deliver a good win. I think they will win but only just with a plucky Irish outfit getting most of the plaudits. Andy Farrell has freshened things up a bit with Kiwi, Bundee Aki deservedly starting. This could be the game of the day.

Last up comes Argentina v Scotland. I think Scotland will be too strong for Argentina but what do I know. Gregor Townsend has made a couple of changes most notably giving Ollie Smith his debut cap. I think after nearly three weeks of travel, many early starts, way too much alcohol we might have a last quiet drink with our party before watching this one in our enormous suite with a fine bottle of Pinotage.

One thing is certain this will be a super Saturday of rugby and the best excuse to get out of the sun and be inside with a cold beer or three. Here in Cape Town the forecast is very good for tomorrow; hot during the day and as the sun sets temperatures dropping to comfortable levels for players and spectators alike.

A quick update on what we’ve been doing. Yesterday was a full day wine tour visiting Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Three beautiful towns packed with character in the rolling hills beyond Cape Town. All very upmarket so very white with a strong Afrikaans influence. In the evening we headed to the V&A Waterfront for a “team” dinner. When I was working I spent many a night there and the memories came flooding back.

Today we have been to the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point, Boulder and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. All absolutely magnificent. Boulder by the way is home to the African penguin. That was quite some sight. Tonight we are venturing out.

I might blog a bit more about excursions tomorrow otherwise it’ll be sometime on Sunday as we start the journey home.

Wednesday 13th July: 11:00

Another long day in the saddle ahead as we head back to Cape Town for the deciding test. Thankfully no long coach journey but a relatively short flight from George, one hour. It is truly depressing that on arrival one of the first things we will see is the townships, especially when you contrast it with the opulence of a) where we are staying now and b) the town of Knysna. The town is very much a modern tourist destination with shops and restaurants around the modern marina. The Knysna Lagoon is a major feature of the area, as are the oyster beds. Not feeling 100% yesterday, nor again today, we have swerved the trip into town and based on the mediocre feedback I don’t think we have missed anything. Our hotel is high above the lagoon with amazing views down to it, and from the other side of the hotel marvellous views to the sea. We simply chilled all day, the highlight of which was watching the baboons frolicking around the hotel’s golf course. Naturally the medicine was a light shade of pink served in an ice bucket.

To the rugby. I can believe the news that Dan Biggar might be in contention for selection for Saturday but not Dillon Lewis. His arm was in a sling and heavily bandaged. South Africa, as expected, have recalled many of the heavy artillery rested for the 2nd test. Eben Etzebeth will trot out for his 100th cap. Great player, great honour. Faf is on the bench as the vervet monkey alongside the massive water buffalo. I am surprised that Quins’ Esterhuizen is not in the squad but then again what do I know. The game will be at sea level which equals up the conditions somewhat however, and I know my good friend Peter will shout at this, the Boks strength in depth and the quality of their bench gives them a clear advantage.

The Maori v Ireland was a cracking match so it is no wonder Andy Farrell is saying some “fringe” players are definitely in the mix for the decider against the All Blacks.

South Africa U/20s put Wales to the sword yesterday in the final of the U/20 tournament. Wales can hold their heads high for getting that far and not rolling over after the first half mauling.

Jamie Roberts has finally hung up his boots after a stellar career. Mrs Bleater and I had a chat with him at the airport as we left Bloemfontein. No wonder he was in good spirits, retiring, and working for BBC, S4C and South Africa’s SuperSport (SKY).

I find it disappointing that Eddie Jones’ England are likely to revert to a power game and tactical kicking. Yes it is all about winning BUT….. !!!!!! (BBC Sport website)

Can I draw your attention to an excellent article by Robert Kitson in The Guardian. He highlights the number of players unavailable prior to the tests series starting, the number of players injured during this round of tests and the HIAs conducted. I have been saying for a long time the power the players now generate is untenable. Someone is going to get seriously hurt. Kitson also discusses the stop start nature of the tests so far with long winded intervention from the TMO. He also suggests that the number of replacements for each game should be reduced. Hallelujah brother. I have been saying this for many a long year. In essence whilst us die hards are enjoying the spectacle it is not drawing in new viewers. A very good piece.

I really can’t be bothered writing about the pathetic back stabbing race to be the next PM. Nor can I be arsed to comment on that economic terrorist Mick Lynch and his mob. The UK weather is for another day. By the way it is a glorious sunny day here so shorts and t-shirts.

As I have said Cape Town is today’s destination. Several explorers had visited the southern tip of Africa but it was the Dutch East India Company that established Cape Town in 1652. In 1814 it was ceded to the British. The town is more liberal than Jo’Burg with streets steeped in history. Sitting in the shadow of Table Mountain and the clear waters of Table Bay there is much to do and see. Our agenda is pretty packed with a number of us heading off into the winelands of Stellenbosch and Paarl tomorrow, then a full Cape Peninsular tour on Friday before the final test at Greenpoint Stadium on Saturday. Mrs Bleater and I won’t rush to the pre-match hostility as we will call into the V&A Waterfront development and Green Point Lighthouse beforehand.

It is a city of 4.6m with 42% of them “coloured”, 16% white. Black Africans account for 39% of the population but that along with the total population figure is probably way underestimated due to the townships. One little known fact is Cape Town is popular for making car adverts. Why? Simply because the planners cocked up and they have a long stretch of flyover that goes nowhere but the city backdrop is stunning.

OK, that’ll do. As result of the packed agenda I might not get a chance to blog until Friday evening ahead of the tests on Saturday.

Tuesday 12th July: 10:15

Load sharing, or shedding, depending on who you speak to is a pain in the backside. When we arrived at the lovely seaside town of Hermanus the power was off. At 8 o’clock yesterday morning the power was off. Two hours at a time three times a day.

Anyway, I am on holiday so I need to get on with it. So Sunday we left Bloemfontein just after 10:30, as did the team. Some of them looked worse for wear both from the battering of the game but also the late night session. The freezing outdoor pool was obligatory for all who played, and it was freezing too. At the airport we all piled into the tiniest departure lounge ever highlighting that international stars don’t get any sort of special treatment, even when it comes to boarding (see photo). Once on the plane AWJ and Wyn Jones were in the row in front so I took the opportunity to ask Alun Wyn why he was yellow carded. His response was “152 caps and I have no idea. Go ask the referee he is up front!” Close up these guys are big so watching the contortion to get their 6 ft+ frames into their seats was mildly amusing.

Other than the game I think everyone was relieved to be leaving Bloemfontein, it is a drearily depressing place. I cannot recommend one thing other than a Wales win and some excellent sportsmanship in defeat from the fans of the Boks.

The flight was to Cape Town where we got on the coach to Hermanus. A journey of just over 90 minutes. Having flown over a number of townships coming out of Bloem, and having been to Cape Town before I new what to expect. The mile after mile of depravity and poverty beggared belief. It was heart wrenching to see, especially we climbed high into the mountain before dropping down to Hermanus where life was a massive contrast. Think the Warren on steroids. People in the UK on benefits with their free health care and council housing have no idea what real poverty and deprivation is like.

The journey took us high into the mountains before sweeping back down to the coastal resort where whale watching is the big attraction. The hotel was fantastic and first thing yesterday we were out hoping to spot just one whale. As it happened we saw three. Simply majestic. Back on the coach for a five journey to Knysna, actually six as we stopped for lunch en route. The steeply rising jagged rocked mountains on one side and mile after mile of rolling hills dominated by agriculture on the other. Wheat, corn, grasses and other crops along with sheep and cattle plus the ostrich farms. We were lucky to catch sight of several springbok, the animal of course.

We then hit the Garden Route which is fabled amongst tourists to South Africa. Well, quite frankly I was underwhelmed. Yes there were some interesting sights but I felt a little let down. As we arrived in Knysna, yes you guessed it, the power was off, as it is as I type. The hotel is in the middle of nowhere but unlike the hotel in Bloem it is a sprawling place with spa and pool and wonderful gardens and great facilities for simply just chilling. As I am not feeling 100% today that is exactly what I am going to do. A hotel of this quality in London would set you back £100s for a meal and a bottle of wine. 600 rand or £30 last night!!!

Ok to the rugby. Sam Underhill is out of the third test. England have Lewis Ludlum in reserve however. Wales will be without Alex Cuthbert and Dillon Lewis. France are now No.1 in the world rankings. No surprise there.

Looking through the papers the UK is clearly in the grip of a record breaking heatwave. The Tory party is imploding with everyone bar the Downing Street cat putting themselves forward to be leader. Sadly the war in Ukraine continues.

Finally, well done Georgia, beating Italy and making a clear statement about their credentials for the Six Nations. Oh, and THANK YOU for all the feedback about this guff. I’ll try and pick up on some of the comments tomorrow. Electricity and feeling better a consideration of course.

Sunday 10th July: 09:35

As the great John Inverdale says frequently: separate the occasion from the contest. Let me start with the occasion. Breakfast nice and early, get a blog in, watch the boys strut their stuff at breakfast before heading off to Bloemfontein Cricket Club (Mangaung Oval). The vast ground was a sea of red as the Welsh hordes amassed, mostly by the bar with tokens in hand. Welsh flags from Skewen, Tonmawr, the Rhondda, Mountain Ash and beyond. A fantastic trio playing som brilliant music and for those vaguely interested England v Australia on the big screen. Food aplenty and some great banter amongst the Welsh and between the Welsh and South Africans. Whatever was destined to happen later those in red won the singing hands down. The weather was amazing, not a cloud in sight, and the sun blazing down on the masses. Outside the South Africans were firing up their brai, some on an industrial scale, making roasting meat the predominant aroma of the day. An absolutely brilliant pre-match occasion.

The boys idled their time back at the hotel playing cards, some took a dip in the pool but generally they all looked relaxed.

Getting into the ground was easy enough but the stadium is old and in parts a little shabby. We found ourselves on the try line up in the gods. As the stands are steep the view was pretty good and the fans around us warm and friendly. I digress here as I had feared the opposite. Everyone except the occasional idiot who had been excused duties in his village were brilliant. Post game they were full of praise for Wales and very complimentary about the way the boys stuck to their task. Not a single Bokke fan thought their side was anything less than a full test XV.

Ok, so to the game. Wales didn’t play as well as they had the previous week and for long periods were under severe pressure. Defensively they were excellent with Dan Lydiate and Tommy Reffell leading the charge. The Welsh back play was somewhat disjointed lacking a cutting edge and the lineout yet again was erratic. Whilst the Welsh discipline was much improved there is still a way to go. The South Africans on the other hand were lively in attack with pace aplenty out wide. It wasn’t a classic but to be there made it a gripping encounter. When Wales went 12-3 down it looked as if that was that. Now it was the turn of the Springboks to become rattled. Gareth Anscombe on for Dan Biggar reduced the deficit. Then came the try. Josh Adams finishing it and Anscombe converting it are the headlines but young Sam Wainwright on for Dillon Lewis was immense at the two scrums leading up to the score. On his debut he passed with flying colours. In the hotel later his mum & dad were rightly lapping up the praise heaped on their son as he paraded around the place wearing his first and definitely not his last cap.

Back at the hotel we the fans got a standing ovation from the staff and when the team returned staff and fans alike stood and applauded. We chatted with Paul Stridgeon the irrepressible fitness coach, Martin Williams and Liam Williams. The guys were getting the beers down and apparently were up late into the night. Wayne Pivac joined some of our party giving them a full rundown on the plans for next week.

Dillon Lewis has arm in a sling, Alex Cuthbert’s injury is “unusual” so is doubtful, and when I asked Dan Biggar how he was he was upbeat about his chances of playing in Cape Town. We head to Cape Town in about an hour with the team on the same flight. A fantastic experience being at the game enhanced by the pre-match experience and being with the team post match.

Elsewhere we watched Ireland beat New Zealand and have just watched the highlights of England’s victory over Australia. Last night we watched a much improved Scotland beat Argentina. With France beating Japan what a weekend for Six Nations rugby. A truly historic weekend.

England were definitely much improved. More cohesive, disciplined and aggressive. From the bits I’ve seen and read it seems as if Billy Vunipola played well supported admirably by Ellis Genge. The scrum was a real weapon and the newbies did what they had to. All to play for in Sydney.

Ireland were outstanding, especially in defence. Yes they played a lot of the game with a man advantage after the red card, which I thought was fair, but even when the All Blacks had a full compliment on the field Ireland dominated. This game was won by defence and Ireland deserved 5 * for that part of their game.

That’ll do for now as the coach to the airport leaves shortly however I would welcome any thoughts on why Alun Wyn Jones saw yellow. That was right in front of us and for the life of me I have no idea what the referee saw.

Saturday 9th July: 10:15

We have arrived in Bloemfontein after an hour long flight from Durban. We were sad to leave Umhlanga behind. A lovely seaside place with lots of excellent bars and restaurants. The weather is decidedly warmer there than here. Yesterday the beach and the lovely beachside promenade were packed whereas right now even in our room we have had to don jumpers.

As we took off the setting sun was truly amazing, a deep orange spread across the horizon. Not much to see out of the window of our Dash 8 twin turboprop after that. On our flight was 8 year Tomos with his mum & dad. Why do I mention him? Tomos was the team mascot at the first test and will carry the flag in Cape Town. He told me he lived in Sketty, Swansea and was proud to be part of Mumbles RFC juniors. I think he enjoyed the attention from us and the other larger touring party.

First impressions of Bloemfontein are not favourable. We travelled through some of the deprived areas where banners proclaiming support for the ANC dominated. We are staying in the business district which is devoid of any life, in fact as the song goes our hotel is “in the middle of nowhere”. On arrival we were stunned to find the Welsh team staying in the same hotel. Dan Biggar, Liam Williams and number of others were playing cards, Alex Cuthbert was phoning home and some just sitting and chatting. To be fair no one rushed off for photos or autographs but rest assured tonight, win or lose, all bets are off. Gerald Davies and his wife were also at breakfast this morning.

Plenty in the papers about the South Africa selection and how it has “spiced up” this second test. In the sweep I have gone for a Boks win. A tough decision but what many of the fans I am with are overlooking is the immense strength in depth the Springboks have and in the minds of many some of those starting today should have started in the first test.

Right now Ireland lead New Zealand in a fiercely competitive contest. Ireland lead at half time with the All Blacks seeing yellow and red.

We have a couple of hours to kill before the coach whisks us off to Bloemfontein cricket club for pre-match drinks and brai. Should be good. The weather is set fair but getting colder as the game progresses. Being at an altitude of 4,593ft it is a tough place to play. Toyota Stadium holds 46,000 most of whom will be Afrikaans so the boys can expect a noisy and hostile reception.

Big day for England. A bit like Wales they are damned if they do, damned if they don’t. Win and the hacks will say that is what should have happened in the first place. Lose and who knows what will happen. I go for an England win.

Couple of extra bits of information on “Bloem”. It is the judicial capital of the country, capital of Free State situated in the heartland of South Africa. In the Sesotho language the city is known as Mangaung meaning “place of cheetahs”. The city has a population of about 560,000.

That’ll do for now. We leave here at 10:30 tomorrow so I will try and blog prior to leaving or whilst at the airport waiting for our next flight.

Friday 8th July: 16:20

Let’s start with the rugby and with England. Firstly it is somewhat of a dilemma for me as Jacques Nienaber is clearly looking ahead to the World Cup with his selection for the Wales game. For Eddie Jones to say this tour is an opportunity to try new things ahead of the World Cup is, in my opinion, complete rubbish. He is the master of diverting attention from his, and his teams failings, and this is another example of his superb skill with rhetoric and his inability to face up to facts. The investment made in Jones and his team and his support team should enable England to deliver result after result. You the loyal fans are getting far from the results you deserve. It is a bold selection however with van Poortvliet ahead of Danny Care and Harry Randall. Guy Porter in the centre and Tommy Freeman could be positive on the basis they have both been in great form. The forwards are as expected but really do need to step up to the plate. Losing on Saturday will send the hacks and the supporters into a tail spin. Jones won’t fall on his sword as Boris has, nor will he be sacked. In my mind a loss tomorrow and Jones still at the helm would potentially see England having a dire World Cup.

I for one find it depressing that Courtney Lawes is towing the party line by saying there needs to be patience as England develop. The response to that starts with “b” and ends with “ks”. Patience must have run out by now!!!

So to Wales. The team is damned if they do, damned if they don’t. Win and many will say it wasn’t a full South African side. Lose and heavens knows what the feedback will be. Alex Cuthbert comes in for Josh Adams who is clearly carrying an injury. The only other change is young Sam Wainwright coming onto the bench to replace Thomas Francis who is now back home. Nienaber’s decision is bold and clearly Wayne Pivac sees this as his best chance of a win on South African soil. It will be fascinating.

Dan Biggar has gone on record and said he won’t change his style of captaincy. I am not sure that is a good thing as all too often he comes across as petulant. Of late he isn’t the only one and that is a worry for our game.

I really am struggling with the fact Johnny Sexton will take any part on Saturday against the all Blacks, let alone start. Andy Farrell has vociferously defended the decision, as have World Rugby. As a layman it seems wrong. Neither side have made many changes. Dalton Papalii replaces Sam Whitelock and for Ireland Mack Hansen replaces Keith Earls. There are some changes on the bench but you can read those for yourself.

Scotland have also made a couple of changes with Hamish Watson being the headline. Another loss to Argentina and alarm bells could start ringing north of the border in the Republic of Alba.

Another massive weekend of rugby ahead. We are waiting for the coach to the airport, destination Bloemfontein. Not much to say about Bloem except it is one the country’s three capitals, its on the High Veld and the centre of Afrikaans culture. We expect another “warm” welcome.

What a day yesterday. Up at 05:45 for a quick breakfast before heading off to the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park, a UNESCO world heritage site. This was one of Venatour’s set piece add-ons and superb it was too. Three hours to get there where we saw miles and miles of sugar cane plantations and eucalyptus trees, but way more important saw some of the real South Africa. The small towns and townships and settlements. The vast open country side and the wonderful flora and fauna. Once there the wetlands were home to hippos, crocodile, water buffalo, impala, kudo, zebra, vervet monkeys, monitor lizards, warthogs, rhino and elephant plus a wide array of birds. All in their natural habitat. We saw them all. Some not close up but others maybe too close, especially when our jeep broke down and the water buffalo arrived. The South African guide described these as a group of grumpy old men cast out from their herd. They can be aggressive and unpleasant and there we were waiting to be rescued. Making matters worse some of the extremely large hippos were taking an interest in us too. Less threatening unless we had broken down close to their young. All bets are off if that had been the case. As I am obviously typing this drivel we were ok.

We had an an amazing chicken lunch before a two hour boat journey on Lake Saint Lucia. Fascinating stories about the lake and the surrounding eco-systems and loads more hippos to enjoy. One of our party did ask what it was like for me visit distant relatives. Cheeky bugger!!! Then back on the bus for the three hour trek back to our hotel.

The weather today has been searingly hot. The locals are out in force, and you clearly get the idea this part of the country is influenced by the Indian sub-continent. I for one however find it very depressing to see the Muslim women in the full burka and hijab whilst the men are in the Indian Ocean enjoying themselves.

Lots in the news about Boris. The whole thing is a shambles. Based on what we are experiencing here in South Africa, Britain is a third world country by example!!!!!!!

Wednesday 6th July: 15:50

Firstly a very Happy Birthday to my grandson Austin, 10 to day. As I sit here trying to get my brain in gear I cannot understand where that time has gone. Secondly thank you to those who have sent me comments on this drivel, it is much appreciated. I was particularly pleased to hear from my good friend Damper that the club’s summer ball had gone well.

Trawling through the papers there are number of things that have caught the eye. Obviously much is being made of the South African team selection. Jacques Nienaber is allowed to select who he wants and if he has the bigger picture in mind that is his decision. Could Wales finally win on South African soil as a consequence? Who knows? I fear for Wales, as a loss on Saturday will be a nightmare in terms of fan support and planning for the World Cup.

Australia’s Darcy Swain is going to miss the rest of the England series for his ridiculous head butt. No sympathy from me, and I am so glad the idiotic 20 minute red card rule was not in place.

The amazing Sam Whitelock is out of the second test versus Ireland. Yes he is knocking on a bit but he is a brilliant player. The All Blacks might miss him.

It looks as if Sam Underhill will replace Tom Curry on Saturday. Not a great decision in my mind as I would have gone for Lewis Ludlam.

Nigel Owens has stated that Louis Rees-Zammitt should never had seen yellow. He described it as a perfect execution of “tackle, release, jackle”. Absolutely Nigel!!

Mako Vunipola has said England have nowhere to hide now. They have to front up. You are not wrong sir.

I am guessing the coverage of Boris’s latest cock-up and the demands for him to go, which I support by the way, are focussing the mind in the UK. Obviously the Covid zealots are back with their bull and false facts and twisted statistics. And of course somewhere in the papers will be some inane feature about one or other of the ff… Kardashians. All this while war rages in Ukraine and the cost of living issues continue.

We are somewhat divorced from all that here in South Africa where from what I can see their economy is doing fine thank you and the issues so often reported as plaguing the country are on the back burner. We are in Umhlanga which is 10 minutes from the centre of Durban. Today we walked the beach promenade towards Durban where we saw the impressive Moses Mabhida Stadium. A marvellous looking edifice. It has been a greyish but pleasantly warm if slightly humid day. The coast line is very impressive and in this area much of the beach is protected by shark nets. Up to 1200 sharks per year are caught in the nets. Is that good? No its not! On the other hand the sea is a massive draw for tourists and locals alike.

People have lived on the continent of Africa for thousands of years but it was in 1488 that the very first settler arrived. 1652 the Dutch East India Company established Cape Town. In 1886 gold was discovered starting the Johannesburg gold rush. Other notable dates are 1912 when the South African Native National Congress formed (later to be the ANC) and 1948 when the abhorrent apartheid system came into existence. Lots happened between then and 1990 when Nelson Mandela was released from prison and the rest as they say is history.

Where we are is more dominated by those from the Indian subcontinent. The white folks are still the rich folks but it feels a little different. More burkas and hijabs evident as you stroll the streets. As it happens our stroll was 6+ miles which meant a desperate need for refreshment. Two large beers, three very large glasses of Sav, an excellent cheese and tomato sandwich with chips all for £12.50 which included the tip. Happy, happy days.

Tomorrow we head off on a water safari starting very early and finishing late. It is unlikely I will blog tomorrow. Our flights on Friday have been changed so I will try and blog then but that might not be possible. Bottom line is I’ll be back when I can.

Tuesday 5th July: 14:45

We are already losing track of the days. I think it is Tuesday so it is destination Durban, or to be precise Umhlanga which is a 10 minute drive from Durban city centre. The weather today has changed quite noticeably. Yesterday it was a gorgeous sunny day with not a cloud in sight. We walked for miles along the beach in shorts and t-shirts occasionally dipping our toes into the Indian Ocean. Today it is a grey day with a chill to the breeze so jeans and fleece is required. That said I am outside typing this update, in part because of the load sharing. The what? Here in South Africa they have rolling blackouts to share the available electricity in a manageable way. Today it has gone off at 10am coming back on at noon. It will then go off at 4pm for a further 2 hours and so it goes on.

Plettenburg Bay is definitely a playground for the rich white folks. There are plenty of shopping opportunities and plenty for the thrill seeker to enjoy. There is also plenty for those seeking a more relaxed break. As we walked along the beach we enjoyed the most amazing sight just metres from us out in the sea. A large pod of dolphins swam past frequently “body surfing” the waves. It was simply amazing to see these intelligent creatures playing in the water. Plenty of sea birds to watch diving into the surf or simply strolling along, very much like us.

The hotel has been excellent and the food superb and best of all the bill has been very kind too. At 19 rand to the pound quite a painless experience. £11 for 200g fillet steak & chips and £10 for a very nice bottle of Pinotage. Beer in the hotel is c.£3 a litre but it is very cold and very gassy. Wine it is then. For info petrol is c.24 rand (£1.26) per litre.

It goes without saying that here in Plettenburg Bay the workers are black and the patrons are white. Everybody we have come into contact with however, with the exception of at the game, have been warm and friendly and fascinating with many tales to tell.

We are now at the airport so I can finish this drivel. A very enjoyable 2 hours and 45 minutes in the minibus seeing another colony of baboons and the bonus was seeing a pair of velvet monkeys strolling down the motorway as cool as you like.

Less about the holiday what about the rugby. Thomas Francis is on his way home soon. Tom Curry is out of his tour and it is possible Johnny May might not play due to lingering Covid symptoms. Still haven’t seen the Argentina v Scotland game but have caught up with the all the hacks views of England’s performance and what should happen to Eddie Jones. With the World Cup just a year away would it be sensible to ditch him now? Every other country is saying “keep him” but the consensus in the papers is if he loses the next test he should go.

Wow!!!! Just logged onto the airport Wi-Fi and see that South Africa have made 14 changes to the side that pipped Wales to the post. With a few exceptions such as Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Handre Pollard, who will captain the side, the squad is unrecognisable. Marx and Koch are on the bench as is Willemse. Jacques Nienaber is fielding very much a development side. Is that an insult to Wales or a shrewd move ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Interestingly South Africa have penned in a game against Bristol Bears ahead of their autumn international against Italy. Obviously this will be another development XV and with so many South Africans plying their trade in Europe it could be an opportunity to look at non home based players.

Another surprise is reading that Johnny Sexton is fit to face the All Blacks. I thought World Rugby had instigated the 12 day rule for players who have suffered head injuries.

Back tomorrow with more “travels with Bleater” and maybe some rugby stuff.

Monday 4th July: 09:25

We arrived in Port Elizabeth safely with all our bags. No inefficiency nonsense here. Easy check-in, fast security checks, prompt boarding and bags arriving swiftly thus putting the UK to shame. It was then on to a mini bus, a typical South Africa mini bus that you see everywhere, for our 2 hour 40 min transfer to beautiful Plettenburg Bay. Once again Venatour have struck gold as our hotel is quirky and boutique and Mrs Bleater and I have bagged the honeymoon suite with its own plunge pool.

Once settled in it was connect to the lightening fast internet and read the reports. Let me start with England. “Dismal” many have said and I can’t disagree. “Didn’t land a punch” says Jamie George and he is not wrong. Why did England fail to exploit the one man advantage and the early injuries to key Australian players. Reading the papers the scoreline flatters England. The late tries brought the visitors within touching distance but that hides what appears to be a distinct second half advantage to the Aussies. Sorry guys, but if England rugby was a product being sold by say Lever Bros, the entire marketing and sales team would have been sacked by now after the budget spent on product development. It is simply not good enough.

After such a dismal showing for Eddie Jones to suggest the referee tried to even things up after the red card is a disgrace. The man is an embarrassment. By the way the Welsh supporters were unanimous in saying Jones should stay with England as long as he wants!!!!!

Ireland showed what they have in their arsenal but it wasn’t good enough. They played some nice rugby and I remain convinced they were robbed of one try. That said the All Black's were simply ruthless. Their ability to soak up pressure and counterattack is awesome. Yes, a couple of their tries were from Irish errors but you still have to convert them into points. Whilst all has not been sweetness and light in the All Black camp the quality of the players at their disposal is mind blowing and whether No.1 or No.23 they can pass and tackle and support and ruck and basically do everything bar driving the team bus. I fear a 5-0 drubbing for Ireland especially as the injuries mount.

So to Wales. Having watched some more highlights and read the reports Wales definitely put two fingers up to all their detractors. They were magnificent. Whether they can replicate that in Bloemfontein and Cape Town is another thing. I stand by yesterday’s assessment of the cards and now know AWJ saw yellow for offside. I think it was very harsh. Wales will face a different Bokke in a few days time. Handre Pollard will start and the nervousness of playing in front of their adoring, if sometimes obnoxious, fans for the first time is done and dusted. Wales will have to make some changes with Francis out of the tour. Dan Lydiate might find himself replaced by Taine Bashman or Josh Navidi. Tomos Williams could start. I fear Wales might not be able to climb the mountain for a second time. I anticipate an equally hostile Afrikaans welcome to Bloemfontein.

Finally, Scotland’s “soft underbelly” (BBC) was exposed with them failing to start well and only showing brief glimpses of their potential. I haven’t seen any of this so might comment later in the week.

OK, so what’s the plan. Today we have a full day at leisure exploring the beautiful Plettenburg Bay. This is very much the playground of the rich and white but to be fair it is gorgeous. The journey here was great. The flight put EasyJet to shame with a full service including wine and sandwiches. As we flew out of Jo’Burg you get a clear view of the size of the sprawling city and the diversity with the townships, the city centre and the rich suburbs. Quickly the flat brown earth took over and was predominant until we got close to PE. Gradually clouds appeared as did more and more greenery. Flying in over the sea and the extensive port with the new PE stadium as a backdrop was brilliant. From there we travelled on the N2 with the mountains on one side and the sloping hills down to the sea on the other. Signs threatening heavy fines for feeding the baboons were everywhere and yes we did see a family/colony/group of baboons on the side of the road. Simply brilliant. The deep ravines breaking things up were also amazing.

Ok that’ll do as the orange juice has arrived and the breakfasts are on their way. I’ll try and blog from the airport tomorrow, yes another flight, this time to Durban.

Sunday 3rd July: 09:10 (local)

Day 4 - The day after four games of contrast. Sorry but I have to start in Loftus Versveld. I am pretty sure but none other than the most loyal, ardent and ill-informed Welsh supporter had expected that result and a game of that quality. Let me start with the build-up. We were whisked off to Harlequins Rugby Club with our eight beer tokens each and our wrist band for the brai in hand. This was a club and a half. Four huge rooms each with a massive bar, an outside terrace and a kitchen serving a myriad of amazing meals. There were about 100 Welsh and maybe 300 South Africans enjoying the pre-match hospitality. On the TV was Australia v England. Out of the 400 close to 398 were supporting the Aussies. Next up was a coach to the ground which despite expectations was quick and efficient. The ground by comparison to any of those in the Six Nations is old and in parts a bit shabby.

Once inside the build up began. The sound system was poor but the anthems were belted out with gusto. I digress here to say it was all very “white”. Pretoria is the heart of the Afrikaans territory and I for one found it disconcerting that the Afrikaans verse in the anthem was belted out with even more gusto than the other verses. We met some really nice people, friendly and welcoming but the people sat behind us were complete assholes. They talked nonsense from start to finish, their abuse of Elton Jantjies was tantamount to racial abuse, their language was appalling and worse we got the impression if the Boks had lost they would have “kicked off”.

Wales were excellent, especially in defence. The forwards played brilliantly in the face of massive opposition. The backs took their opportunities and also defended as if their lives depended on it. The game plan was sound and being ahead at half time was no fluke and definitely deserved. South Africa were all over the place making some pretty basic errors and tactically naive. The second half was more of an even contest and with the yellow cards it was inevitable that the Springboks would get back into the game. Eventually power and superior numbers told and that final kick was a killer.

Key incidents. Jantjies missing simple enough kicks. Dan Biggar’s yellow card. I thought this was harsh but am willing to give the man in the middle the benefit of the doubt. Even after seeing it on TV I have no idea why Alun Wyn was carded. Rees-Zammit’s card was a disgrace. That should have been a penalty to Wales. Rhys Carre’s card was fair enough as was the penalty try. The Biggar penalty for deliberate knock-on was right.

My issue:- this was a big game and whilst the Georgian referee has performed well previously I thought he was out of depth at times. The excellent Angus Gardener should have had this one.

A cracking game with Wales oh so unlucky.

Didn’t see all of the England game as was too busy working out how I was going to get through my eight beer tokens. Sorry, but questions have to be asked. How can England lose to 14 men two games on the trot? What next for Eddie Jones? I will pour over the reports when we land (at the airport waiting for our flight to Port Elizabeth) and give a more considered view then. I did see the red card incident and would say Swain deserved to go and deserves to be punished further. Johnny Hill was not blameless so yellow was fair enough. I also caught the Henry Arundell try. Nice work.

We watched the New Zealand v Ireland game in the comfort of our hotel room. New Zealand were ruthless and deserved to win, six tries to the All Blacks speaks volumes. I thought the Irish were unlucky not to get a penalty try. That was a horse-collar tackle on Carberry. I’ll comment further after I have read the reports on this one too.

Only just found out that Scotland lost to Argentina. Not a great day for Northern Hemisphere rugby but at least Wales came out of it with a high degree of credit.

A couple of bylines. The contact with Thomas Francis’s head looked innocuous but the outcome awful. I understand he will be forced into a long layoff. Johnny Sexton going off with a head knock was also troubling. He really must think long and hard about his health.

OK, that’ll do for now. Our flight boards shortly and from Port Elizabeth we travel to Plettenburg Bay. Lovely!

Friday 1st July: 17:40 (local)

Day 2 - Plenty of stuff in the papers about England’s chances in Australia and much is being made of Courtney Lawes as captain. I think that is a pretty decent shout actually. Inevitably Marcus Smith is being touted as the man who can spark England into life. I do worry that too much is now on his young shoulders. Can Ireland send shockwaves through the game with a win in New Zealand and at fortress Eden Park? I for one am not convinced and fear that the Irish bubble might burst spectacularly on Saturday morning. However, there is much in the New Zealand press that would suggest a shock is possible. Mind games by the Kiwis perhaps. Then we have South Africa v Wales. Wayne Pivac is talking tough, the players are talking tough and whilst everything is stacked up against them there are some who think Wales could win on Saturday. I for one think they need to get off the magic mushrooms and get into rehab.

There is our group but we have met others who have made the long trek to support the boys. Being Welsh pessimism prevails but I think from the conversations I have had there is an expectation the boys will deliver ahead of expectations and play well…… but that is not too difficult I guess.

There was one other story that caught my eye and that is Jeremy Loughman being allowed to return to the field during the game against the Maori after his HIA was a big mistake. The finger is pointed directly at the independent match doctor and the team who provided him with information, especially video evidence. It is though this fell a long way short of acceptability. NZRFU have reviewed it all and accepted responsibility and have made it clear this will not be allowed to happen again.

So tomorrow, if you want, there is wall to wall rugby on SKY, if you have it. Here are my thoughts….
Ireland will play well but lose, England will win in Australia but I think it will be close. Henry Arundell will make his debut. South Africa will beat Wales by a decent margin but the scoreline won’t reflect how Wales played. Finally I think Argentina will beat Scotland by one or two points.

Moving on to the touristy stuff. Firstly a cracking evening last night. Plenty of quality South Africa wine, plenty of stories of god’s country, lots of sadness about the demise of the coal and steel industry and a couple of stories about how some of us broke our fingers playing this great game of ours. We are travelling with Venatour after the success of our Japan adventure. Albeit day 2, so far so very, very good. By the way the views on the state of Welsh rugby from top to bottom is consistent…. It is a shambles with a capital “F”

So today we got on the city sightseeing bus. We started in Rosebank, which like where we are staying in Sandton, is very upmarket. We travelled through the posh suburbs learning about how Johannesburg came into existence. Something like 150 years ago somebody discovered a rich seam of gold and the city started from there. Today it is a vibrant but still very diverse city, and still growing like crazy. We saw the long snaking queue of migrants from other parts of Africa waiting patiently for their work permits. We also got to see the poverty with people trying to scratch out a living in any way they can. Our primary destination was Constitution Hill, the home of the equivalent of the Supreme Court. It was also a fort during the time of the Boer War and a prison that housed not only Nelson Mandela but prior to that M.K.Gandhi.

The prison was harrowing and the stories about how brutal it was were upsetting. Those who behaved were kept in dire, often severely overcrowded conditions. Those who ended up isolation were treated no better than dogs. If this wasn’t bad enough the whites suffered but nothing by comparison to the blacks. The women’s prison was better in that it was slightly more modern but the treatment was still harsh. Here the disparity between how the whites and the blacks were treated was more marked. The inhumanity of it was striking. It also highlighted how well, despite what many say, modern prisoners in the UK are living the life of luxury by comparison. This stop was two hours very well spent.

From there we did the second half of the bus route which took us into central Jo’Burg. We in the UK have no comprehension of poverty. Some of what we saw was depressing and whilst there are people who are struggling in the UK it is nothing, by a very long way, to the struggles of those who are marginalised in this country. There were moments that gladdened the heart however. Two guys sat by the side of the road having their hair cut, kids waving furiously at the tour bus, and young people leaving college. Talking of which we passed two of South Africa’s most prestigious fee paying schools. Wow, what privilege!!! We also passed some inner city schools. What a contrast. The good news is some of those inner city schools are delivering as many A Grade students as the posh places.

OK, enough for now. Game day tomorrow. It might not be possible to blog on Saturday night and as we have an 07:30 departure on Sunday you might need to wait until later Sunday for an update.

Thursday 30th June: 18:00 (local)

Day 1 and what a long day it was too. We left Crowborough at 17:00 on Wednesday allowing plenty of time to get to Heathrow. As it happened we needed every bit of the time we allowed. Once at the airport things got a lot simpler. No queue at check-in, flying Virgin with their exclusive security channel was superb and before long we were in the lounge drinking champagne, as you do. That said we heard horror stories from others who were forced to queue at security for two hours. Once on board it was 11 hours to Johannesburg. Being overnight not much to see but from about 07:00 this morning onwards the view from the window was fascinating. To start with a light brown barren wasteland as far as the eye could see. Once over Botswana and into South Africa very gradually the landscape changed, more green, more settlements, then came the towns and finally Johannesburg. The city is huge, the largest in South Africa, but its not the capital. That honour goes to Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Pretoria jointly. Anyway, cut a long story short, we landed on time but it then took close to three hours to get through immigration collect our bags and endure the city traffic before we checked into the hotel. We are now here and raring to go.

The first thing was to check the team announcements. England up first and very much as expected with Joe Cokanasiga and Billy Vunipola starting. Courtney Lawes will captain the side from #6. Apparently Owen Farrell was unhappy when that was announced. Danny Care starts with van Poortlviet on the bench. Interesting. A strong looking starting XV with a less experienced bench to call upon.

Next up came Wales. Some