Just a few hours left now until the World Cup kicks off. Time then to talk to one of South Africa’s foremost online sporting figures and all round man of rugby – Tank Lanning. Tank is a former WP prop, now Sport24’s editor and publisher, and the man behind the country’s leading rugby blog Front Row Grunt.
Tank Lanning - not a former wing.
TheBounce: There has been plenty said over the past few months on the relevance of playing a Tri-Nations tournament in a World Cup year. Bollocks of money and building the game aside, what in your opinion would have been the best way for the Boks to have prepared after the stupidly long Super 15 tournament?
Tank: You want “Stupidly long”? Take a look at the Super Rugby fixtures for next year! But that is another story … I think the Tri-Nations should not have been played this year, but given that it was, I think the Bok preparation was spot on … Div needed to rest his main manne, especially given that they are of the more mature variety. And then bringing them back for the home leg was a good call. It would have been nice if SARU had had the balls to tell SANZAR that they were resting the players instead of making up the injury pantomime, as the Kiwis did.
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As sports mad South Africans we are always keen to stay updated and informed on all the latest breaking news and inside info on our favourite teams. Though the internet has provided us with a seemingly endless array of avenues to satisfy these needs (cough cough TheBounce), we still naturally gravitate to the traditional authorities, ie. TV.
But how about the people who are covering it! TV is a visual medium but the people in front of the camera are hardly what you call presentable. Sport is still mostly the domain of the tired looking middle-aged man with most of the networks in SA still thinking that there is no substitute for experience. It gets worse though, the most prominent sports broadcaster even uses a ginger!
But then there is eNews and the delightful Carly Weinberg, who is to sports broadcasting what Imran Tahir is to Proteas spin bowling. For those of you who don’t watch eNews, you should be ashamed, but not to worry as she was kind enough to do a little interview for us upon her return from the Cricket World Cup. Enjoy.
TheBounce:
So starting at the beginning, briefly tell us how you came to be the super sexy sports reporter for the eNews channel?
Carly:
Super sexy sports reporter? Wow, thank you!
Well, in an impulsive moment of frustration, I resigned from my previous job at one of the country’s top newspapers. One of the main reasons for this was because I had been asked to cover an increasing number of non-sports stories, which definitely wasn’t what I signed up for. I mean, I was once told to go interview the first leader of COPE! Don’t get me wrong, I care who governs our country and I’ll always vote, but I have next to no interest in covering politics in this country. It must be one of the most frustrating jobs one can have. No thank you.
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The life of a cricket commentator sure sounds swell. You travel the world, stay in cool hotels, get to watch all the big games, and most awesomely, get to share your thoughts and views with millions of people. Now when I say South African cricket commentator, I bet the first person that comes to mind is none other than Pommie Mbangwa. Yes, I’m right aren’t I ?
Well not only can I read your mind, I can go one further and provide for you, right here on TheBounce, an exclusive interview with the man himself. For sure, while over in the sub-continent he was kind enough to take some time to share some of his views with us on all things cricket. Enjoy.
TheBounce: Thanks for your time Pommie, you have been on the road for quite some time covering the World Cup. Compared to other tours/tournaments you have covered, how does this one compare?
Pommie: Less of the Pommie, it’s a nickname that I do not like but must tolerate. Lol!! Now back to your question; It’s been very good. I have been busy at this tournament and that’s how I like it. It is tough to sit around at a long tournament. Indian people, Sri Lankans and Bangladeshis are friendly(sometimes overly so) so that makes it a good experience being in the subcontinent. I like it there.
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There really are few better things in sport than watching a game that lasts for five days, is played by men in long white pants and collared shirts, and is halted to enjoy lunch and tea breaks.
I am of course talking about Test cricket, the perfect occasion to get out into the sun and drink draught beer, shout and cheer and perhaps (when Paul Harris is bowling) even nod off for a bit of a nap in the afternoon. Yes indeed, Test Cricket is very much the bollocks of the dog, and when you can’t get to the ground for the action – then you can just as easily become one with your couch and enjoy it from there.
Not at the game - well then get on the Sofa.
Only problem is though, watching cricket at home means having to listen to the insufferable drivel which is shoveled into our lounges by a bunch of ex-players that may know what cricket is, but they sure as stumps know bugger all about what entertainment is.
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What do you look for in a sporting read? Something to keep you up to date, informed, or perhaps something to simply while away the time when dropping the kids off at the pool?
If what you are looking for falls into these categories, then there is an endless amount of written dribble smeared across a multitude of platforms just waiting for you to mop up. I on the other hand like my sports to be written in the same way I like to watch it being played – in full colour and without an iota of restraint. And with quite simply the greatest cricket site I have ever come across, www.alternativecricket.com , I have found just that.
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Us South African’s bitch a fair amount about rugby here in ‘The Republic’. Well, to be fair, we unfortunately have a lot to bitch about with all our shitty politics and the fact our rugby union is run by a group of illiterate 6 year olds who seem to have discovered an endless supply of cough medicine.
SARU board meetings - chilled.
Deep down we all feel that we should be on top of the rugby world, but thanks to the intoxicated aforementioned administrators and our comical figurehead of a coach, we seem to be hindered somewhat. No such problems it would appear for our counterparts down in Frodo country though. Oh no, it seems the All Blacks just gain more and more momentum and become stronger each year with a group of confident players that thrive within a system that exhibits nothing but innovation, professionalism and good old fashioned common sense.
The All Blacks - unstoppable at the moment.
So as a change of tact here on TheBounce, as I have become particularly mouthy of late, I thought it would be a good idea to chat to an out and out New Zealand rugby fan. A man that passionately Backs the Blacks and one that is rather excited about the prospect of the elusive William Webb Ellis trophy returning to his homeland. Ladies and gentlemen I present to you Mr Jonny King.
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In sport and sporting social circles you often hear the phrase, “nothing compares to live”. I for one agree with this and have a goal to follow this up by going to an Olympics (winter), overseas Rugby World Cup, another Football World Cup and naturally the big golfing events such as the Ryder Cup, The Masters and of course The Open. But if there ever was one Open to have gone to it was certainly this year’s one. Sadly I was not there but a reader of TheBounce, Daryl Viljoen, was and has kindly offered to share his experience with us on the site.
The Open - one of sports greatest titles.
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