大象传媒

Pedal power saves the day (48)

• Alastair Eykyn
• 18 Oct 07, 01:33 PM

Jon Snow does it. . And now we are doing it too.

forced us onto two wheels across Paris today, and what a liberating experience it was.

A thwarted attempt to board the only line alleged to be running dictated a breathless half hour time-trial along the River Seine, to hear from the Springboks for the last time before the big kick-off.

For the princely sum of a single Euro each, on which postmen used to wobble through leafy English villages, in days gone by.

On one handlebar, the sort of bell he might have rung to greet the vicar across the green and of course it sported a natty basket.

I felt remarkably badly equipped to deal with the notoriously aggressive and unpredictable Parisian traffic. But I was in safe hands.

Leading the way through the juggernauts, weaving between the scowling van drivers was 大象传媒 Television鈥檚 face of cycling Jill Douglas.

Shades on, blonde hair billowing, she hurtled into the fray with the kind of relish normally associated with Schalk Burger at a ruck full of Englishmen.

I pedalled furiously in her wake. Nothing would prevent us reaching Bercy and the South Africans鈥� adopted home.

Miraculously only five minutes late, we breezed into the reception at the team hotel, to hear the less than startling news that England鈥檚 opposition had .

Happily the players were in talkative mood, and we learned that the SA captain John Smit was actually present at Ellis Park in 1995, watching to send the country into collective delirium.

鈥淚f someone had said to me 12 years later I would be captaining my country in another World Cup final, I鈥檇 have just laughed at them鈥� he said.

And incidentally, he can鈥檛 wait to meet Mark Regan again. After two encounters this summer, Smit said the Bristol hooker had spoken to him more in those matches . 鈥淚鈥檓 sure he鈥檒l be full of chat on Saturday鈥� he said with a smile.

Butch James has the task of conducting the South African orchestra in two days time. The fly-half will stand opposite , but he鈥檚 full of respect for Newcastle鈥檚 finest.

鈥淛onny鈥檚 awesome鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an honour to play against him, and you can learn so much鈥�.

Drop-goals are not his bag though: 鈥淚t鈥檚 not really my forte, but if need be, I鈥檒l throw one in there鈥� I might go and talk to Joel Stransky and pick his brains.鈥�

Someone who鈥檚 already done just that is the precocious centre Francois Steyn, only 20, but brimming with the confidence of a man who鈥檚 spent a decade at the top.

He loves the long range shots at the posts - 鈥渋t鈥檚 a natural thing鈥� - and has given it a bit of thought. 鈥淚 just hope whoever has the chance can snap it over鈥� he said.

Maybe the Boks won鈥檛 need to deliver a final coup de grace. Maybe their pack and outstanding line-out will have roasted England up front. Maybe they won鈥檛.

Maybe will have ripped through the defence to break Jonah Lomu鈥檚 World Cup try record for a single World Cup - he is currently level with the All Blacks legend on eight.

Maybe will finish his extraordinary career with another World Cup final score.

So many maybes. It鈥檚 gloriously unpredictable. Much like our bike ride home really.

Alastair Eykyn is a Radio 5 live reporter specialising in rugby union, tennis and hockey. He is covering Ireland at the World Cup and you can see 5 live's full broadcast schedule here.

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