The darlings of South African rugby have inexplicably gone laager mentality before Saturday’s derby against the Bulls.

Our national cricketers have generally shrugged off Cricket South Africa’s antics in the past. That might be changing.

I pity props. I really do.

It has become something of an in-joke; simply sneak up behind Mike the Mechanic, whisper the word “Proteas” in his ear and you can literally watch the steam coming from his ears.

The problem with being a self-confessed sports fanatic is the emotional baggage it comes with.

The Test opener averages 42 in white-ball cricket domestically but it’s a mystery why the national selectors still consider him a specialist.

There was, if truth be told, no hint of the doom and despondency which was to follow less than a day later as the sun above the cricket oval crept ever closer to the trimmed fringes of the outfield and the braai coals glowed.

Seriously, what is all the fuss about being inflexible about the lunch break in the 2nd ODI between the Proteas and India?

Saru’s murky labour practices aside, the embattled Springbok coach’s lack of accountability reflects really badly on him.

There has been a lot a finger-pointing at the Wanderers pitch over the last week, with the surface misbehaving badly during the third Test between the Proteas and India.

It had, the Incomprehensible Scot, privately admitted, something of a personal trial as, having duly bowed the knee to the democratic process, he uncomprehendingly trudged his way through four days of a less-than-sparkling cricket Test against India at the Wanderers before the Proteas finally crumbled.

The Proteas’ success under Ottis Gibson is clouding the local governing body’s continued dodgy corporate governance.

Making a spectacular Test debut with the ball for the Proteas is actually a bit of a poisoned chalice.

It was, from the very moment that the Arithmetically-challenged Golfer – a legend in his own mind regarding all sporting matters – first opened his mouth to provide an opening statement, evident that this would be a long afternoon.

The reaction to the way two of Mzansi’s biggest football clubs go about their business have over the past week were in such stark contrast that you can hardly believe they compete in the same league.

Cricket South Africa is hardly a paragon of perfection but calling them ‘untransformed’ is a tad unfair, maybe even ignorant.

On the letters page of this newspaper, readers constantly air their grievances with the amount of repeats aired by Mzansi’s premier pay television provider DStv.

It is not the students’ fault – let the powers that be and sharp minds find a sustainable solution. In the interim, let Azania’s children taste tertiary education.

It is one of those extraordinary factors in living a life of routine that when the unexpected inexplicably occurs, things tend to go somewhat pear-shaped and the conversation tends to drift into entirely unexpected areas.

Albie Morkel bucked the trend of being a conservative skipper in this week’s Ram Slam semi. This is why the Titans are ahead of everyone else.

The challenges organisers of endurance sports come up with never cease to amaze me.

The student rugby tournament isn’t preparing young players for the “real world” at the top and also insults fans.