WHAT A REFFING SHAME!

New Zealand 29-15 South Africa

 The worst performance of the day was that of the Referee - sport24.com

JON CARDINELLI - Eden Park

The spectacularly abysmal officiating by French referee Romain Poite destroyed what promised to be one of the great contests.

Can a team be too physically dominant? The Boks may have conceded an early try when All Blacks No 8 Kieran Read barrelled over from close range, but they were by and large the more physical team. At times it was a case of men versus boys, such was the Boks' superiority at the collisions and breakdowns. They also gave the All Blacks scrum a hiding during the initial stages.

Bismarck du Plessis should have been cheered for his tackle on Dan Carter in the 17th minute. Carter had received a hospital pass from his scrumhalf, Aaron Smith, and Du Plessis had lined him up and absolutely flattened him.

It was a fantastic tackle that unfortunately saw Carter leaving the field with a shoulder injury - But unfortunately Poite reached for his pocket and gave Du Plessis his marching orders, citing no arms in the tackle.

It also saw the 47,362-sellout crowd baying for the Springbok's blood as he (DC) trudged to the sideline... - ire.co.ie

It was a shocking call. It looked a good tackle live, and when the big screen at the stadium showed the replay, it was evident that Du Plessis had indeed used his arms as well as his shoulders.

Poite's decision was based on an overwhelming reaction from the partisan New Zealanders in the stands. The crowd wanted Du Plessis off, and Poite obliged. It was gutless, and one would think that Poite will have a lot to answer for when fronting his bosses next week.

The All Blacks scored seven points in the big man's absence. The Boks missed Du Plessis's set-piece presence as well as his muscle at the breakdown. The unstructured contest during this period certainly suited the physically inferior All Blacks.

When Du Plessis returned to the field, the Boks began to regain control. They looked good when they kept the ball and built through the phases. Du Plessis was the Boks' best player, and the Bok loose forwards also ensured that the visitors continued to win the battle at the gainline.

Jean de Villiers read the situation well when he instructed Morné Steyn to kick a penalty to touch. The Boks won the lineout, set the maul, and it was fitting that Du Plessis was the man to finish.

The Boks went to the break trailing 17-10, and yet you got the sense that the momentum was with the visitors. If they could continue to slow down the ball and unleash their powerful runners, the All Blacks would battle to remain in the game.

Poite once again put paid to those ambitions with another farcical call. Du Plessis went into a contact leading with the arm, and when his elbow slipped and hit Liam Messam in the throat, it seemed a genuine accident.

Poite thought otherwise, and proceeded to show Du Plessis a second yellow, and then ultimately a red. He may as well have held up a cardboard sign that read 'Game Over'.

"The All Blacks are already hard to play when you're fifteen, then fourteen ..." JEAN DE VILLIERS

Du Plessis left the field in the 43rd minute, and with him went the Boks' chances of victory. With only 14 men, the Boks were unable to implement their structures and build the pressure. Their priorities quickly shifted from winning the game to keeping the scoreline respectable.

Referees must be brave enough to dish out yellow and red cards, but they have to be warranted. I've never been one to suggest a referee should keep his cards in his pocket for the sake of the contest. If a player deserves to be ejected, show him a card.

As far as refereeing performances go, this one was twice a failure. It robbed the Boks of any chance of ending their 76-year drought at Eden Park, and it also robbed the fans at the stadium and the millions watching around the world of what would have been an absorbing contest between the two best sides on the planet.

The Boks gave everything in the remaining 37 minutes, but they were never going to keep the All Blacks back. They were guilty of some basic errors during this period, but there needs to be an appreciation for the fact that they were operating with 14 men.

Predictably, they tired as the game progressed and the All Blacks piled on the points.

We will have to wait until the next contest at Eden Park to see if this Bok side is good enough to end a long-standing losing streak. The Boks may have won or lost on Saturday, but we will never know, thanks to Poite.

The referee succumbed to the pressure and made a couple of game-ending decisions. They are mistakes that should not go unpunished.

Poite has a lot to answer for.

Rugby Championship standings

New Zealand P4 W4 D0 L0 BP 2 Pts 18

South Africa P4 W3 D0 L1 BP 2 Pts 14

Australia P4 W1 D0 L3 BP 0 Pts 4

Argentina P4 W0 D0 L4 BP 2 Pts 2

Sources:

JON CARDINELLI - Eden Park - www.sarugbymagazine.co.za 
www.sport24.com
BBC Sport
www.rte.ie

MOVIE REVIEW : WINNIE

The Epic Untold Love Story : 

Winnie Mandela

Often, it’s actors who cannot withstand the burden on playing historical figures. In the case of “Winnie Mandela,” Jennifer Hudson has the opposite problem. It’s the movie around her that doesn't rise to the challenge.

Co-writer and director Darrell Roodt’s film is based on a 2005 biography of Winnie Mandela. But unlike the woman who often polarized her fellow South Africans, the film feels static. At one point, faux newsreel footage and a montage of newspaper headlines depict the hunt for and imprisonment of Nelson Mandela.

Any urgency the movie comes from co-star Terrence Howard, a firebrand of an actor who can’t be contained by a paint-by-numbers script.

Glimpsed briefly during her childhood in a tribal community, Winnie (Hudson) may have been a disappointment to her father, who wanted a boy, but she soon proves herself a worthy warrior. As a young adult, she works as a nurse and captures the eye of Nelson Mandela at a rally. They court and marry, and as his fight for democracy leads to arrest and imprisonment, Winnie stands with him.

As Winnie works to free Nelson from Robben Island Prison, she picks up the struggle for a free and equal South Africa, eventually being imprisoned herself for refusing to reveal the inner workings of the anti-apartheid movement. (She recites Shakespeare and talks to roaches to retain her sanity during solitary confinement.) An officious government leader (Elias Koteas) cannot figure out how to break her spirit, so eventually gives up and orders her release.

Winnie becomes her husband’s voice on the outside and a rallying point for the African National Congress (ANC). She’s forced to live in virtual exile, until the opportunity comes to regain prominence and again rally her people. After scandal erupts, the ANC separates itself from her and then makes a dramatic announcement upon Nelson’s release.

Hudson, the former “American Idol” finalist whose Best Supporting Actress Oscar for “Dreamgirls” was based not just on her vocal strength but also an openhearted-ness the camera couldn't miss, matches that here with a steadfast intelligence. Though it’s hard for her to equal Howard’s charisma and energy in early scenes, as Nelson ages and Howard dials down, their roles, in essence, reverse.

But the film doesn’t match them. Distant and obvious, it takes a story with many angles and reduces its edges, becoming a glorified TV movie. The real Winnie Mandela has denounced the film for being made without her cooperation, which in this case does not necessarily mean its revelations are surprising.

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

The Cycling Medicine Man

Sizwe Nzima, from Khayelitsha township in Cape Town, has won a Forbes Magazine award for being one of Africa's top young entrepreneurs. The youngster started a new business which is now helping to solve problems faced by people needing to collect medicine from public health facilities. Instead of sick and elderly people having to stand in queues for hours in overcrowded centres, Nzima's Iyeza Express collects chronic medication and delivers them by bicycle to the Khayelitsha residents in their homes.

Collecting medication from a clinic or a hospital dispensary in a South African township is by no means easy. The cost of transport to and from the facility including the hours spent in queues, paying for childcare and loss of pay for missing work are only some of the problems faced by those who collect their medication. The elderly and infirm face a terrible nightmare as they are often physically unfit and find it almost impossible to travel the distances required.

After reading an article about the clinics struggling to cope with patients queuing for hours to collect their medication, he recognized a need and came up with an idea to create a business which could assist the elderly and the infirm as well as those who are too weak to travel or too ill to stand and wait for hours.

“The service encourages people to go to work and stay healthy as they aren't tempted to stop taking their life- saving medication because they have run out,” he says. “What I'm doing is helping to improve people’s quality of life and life expectancy.”

He knew there was a  non-profit charity organisations that collect medicine for bed-ridden and elderly people, but there wasn't a similar service for working people. “I thought to myself that I must do something and that surely there must be a need for a service that would streamline the process,” he explains. “I realised it will also take the load off public health facility workers which would in turn allow them to be able to help others who are in desperate need of attention."

“I used to collect medication for my grandma for three years and experienced first-hand what happens, but it isn't only elderly people who are affected. The majority of people who queue for their medicine are able-bodied and waste time that could have been spent at work. These are people who would happily pay for affordable delivery of their medicine, allowing them to save their sick leave – if they get any – for days when they are really ill,” he says.

Sizwe together with his two helpers are social entrepreneurs at heart, and their goals are finding solutions to the problems in their community, and in doing so make a contribution to improving the economy. “We are all about social change and we are coming up with business ideas that can change society, help our community and uplift the economy,” he says. “Business isn't just about making money, but also about bringing about positive change.”

Less overcrowding, better health, more jobs

Not only does his business save his clients time and money but he is now creating much needed employment for young people who know their way around the network of streets in Khayelitsha. Using bicycle's to transport the medication they are able to keep the service affordable and environment-friendly. Sizwe launched the pilot in May this year and the business has now been up and running for only a few months but the response from the local residents has been very positive. Clients pay a small fee of R10 per collection and at the moment there are about 40 clients but he is positive this number will increase as he builds trust within the community. He hopes to take the service to other parts of Cape Town next year but his vision is to expand his business nationally. “For me, this is a national problem and it needs a national solution. The sky is the limit,” he says.

Sizwe was one of 24 finalists selected from over 200 applications, and one of six chosen to receive seed funding from Forbes. “I couldn't believe it. My business was only starting out; while others were going for at least two years already,” he says. Young people have what it takes to be change makers in South Africa and throughout the world by developing economically viable business solutions that can bring about a positive change in society. “Young people should be the innovators. Every young person needs to decide how they are going to use their power for good,” he says.

He believes that young people have what it takes to be change makers in South Africa and the world, by developing economically viable business solutions that can also bring about positive change in society.

Sizwe and his helpers are also involved in setting up other projects - a recycling business and an initiative to educate people about gangsterism. “Making money is good, but you have to give something back. This is also what they taught us at the Academy,” he says.

“I believe young people have the power to change the world, if the youth can understand this, they will stop focusing on things like drugs and crime. We can change the world, make it safer and improve our economy in this way.”

Sources: BBC Worldwide News & New Generation Africa

Order TODAY!

We  so excited to let you know that we have added new items to our online shop!

Our first product to 'hit the shelves' will be these cute little Springbok Baby vests. 

£13.50**

(10% off orders until 31/10/2013)

**Please note this price does not include postage

Beautifully embroidered with the the iconic Springbok and Protea, these make fantastic gifts or would be a great addition to your little one's wardrobe. 

The quality is brilliant which makes them great to hang onto as a little keepsake when baby has grown out of it.

The vests are READY NOW in the following sizes:

MONTHS:
0-3 

3-6 

6-9 

9-12

NOTE: If you require any OTHER size then PLEASE EMAIL us.
We are able to do these in ANY size but if you send an email we can give you an idea of how many days it would take to complete and send off to you - 'n Boer maak a plan!   

This is the first design of many and one you will find NO WHERE ELSE! 

So stay close to get exclusive sneak peaks and chances to pre-order before they go online!

ORDER DETAILS:

Email us at: info@houseofbiltong.co.uk and let us know the following details:

• Required Size
• Quantity
• Town and Country of delivery 

We will make contact with you and let you know what your postage will be as well as a delivery date for your order. Once you are happy with the details, you will receive an invoice via PayPal and once paid we will despatch your goods!

It's that simple... and don't worry, if you don't have Paypal you still have the option to pay through Paypal as a guest, using your card and if you would prefer then we can also accept BACS as well as direct deposits. Just let us know in your email what your preferred payment method is and we will make a plan! 

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Caramel Milk Tart

A NEW TAKE ON TRADITION

Serves 10-12

Preparation time: 20 min

Cooking time: 15 min

Chilling time: overnight

250 g Tennis biscuits, finely crushed

200 g butter, melted

1,5 litres milk

200 g sugar

3 eggs

100 g flour

100 g cornflour

10 ml (2 t) vanilla essence

50 g butter

extra 250 ml (1 c) milk

1 box (90 g) caramel instant pudding

250 ml (1 c) cream

1 can (360 g) caramel condensed milk

1 slab (90 g) milk chocolate

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 1 Mix the biscuits with the melted butter and press onto the bottom of a deep 30 cm square dish. 

Chill until needed.

2 In a large microwave-proof bowl heat 1 litre (4 c) of the milk with the sugar for 10 min.

3 In a separate bowl beat the eggs, remaining 500 ml (2 c) milk, flour, cornflour and vanilla essence until smooth.

4 Mix the flour mixture with the hot milk and microwave for 12 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes until the mixture is thick. Beat in the butter and leave to cool.

5 Whisk the extra milk and instant pudding together. In a separate bowl whisk the cream until soft peaks form and fold into the instant pudding.

6 When the custard is cooled, start the layering. Pour the custard over the chilled biscuit layer, smooth the caramel condensed milk over the custard, then add the instant pudding mixture. Grate the chocolate over and refrigerate overnight.

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And just in case you need to make this RIGHT AWAY, here are some of the ingredients you might not find at your local supermarket... 

SA FACT #1

Pietermaritzburg City Hall is the largest red brick building in the Southern Hemisphere 

• Built in 1893 (the most accurate date we have come across)
• Victorian architecture 
• Ravaged by fire in 1895
• Rebuilt in 1901
• 47m High Bell Tower
• Houses one of the biggest pipe organs in the southern hemisphere with 3806 pipestringing with sizes starting at the thickness of a knitting needle right up to pipes 11 meters in size.
• Declared a South African National Landmark in 1969

Here are some great photo's we found from way back when: