SQUEEZED: Give Big Bakkies an aisle seat next time!

Once there, they had to don pilots' overalls for photo opportunities next to the fastest plane in the SA Air Force, apparently still the Mirage, although we can't be sure if it was the Dassault-Breguet F1 variant, which has been retired. Saru chief executive Johan Prinsloo then grabbed the microphone and the anticipation was palpable. Sevens coach Paul Treu happened to be the subject of his affection. "Paul Treu is one of the few guys in this industry who has integrity. Integrity in rugby is a rare thing," he said.Then he implored the coach as the press giggled: "If you've got some left, please give me some, I feel I need it."

• SARU splendidly launched their Champion Tour campaign this week. Such are the bulging requirements of their trophy cabinet that they have commissioned the construction of a 15m-long trailer for their 45-day road trip (with trophies in tow) which will take in 116 destinations around the country early next year. The trailer, which will roll out of Cape Town on February 5, will go to all 14 rugby provinces. "The trophy cabinet in Cape Town is overflowing and now is a golden opportunity to share the success with our supporters in every corner of the country," they said in a press release. Before you ask, yes, they will go to Springbok, a venue they may have happily bypassed but for the insistence of a certain provincial president.

• We know Graham Henry as the grizzled All Blacks coach who rarely misses a chance to put down journalists who ask pointed questions. Asked about the All Blacks' unconvincing performance against England last week and to what extent it would have prepared them for their showdown with the in-form France, he returned to his sarcastic ways. "The French must be licking their lips," he sniggered.

• By contrast, French coach Marc Lievremont wasn't in engaging mood when asked about changes to his Bok-conquering front row for the clash in Marseille. "I'm not going to comment on our choices," he told a media gathering. "It was not easy to select this team. I'll let you comment and discuss our choices according to your mood, your sensibility, or the policy of your media." Well thanks Marc, that's very charitable of you but we suspect that ship has sailed.

• SARU were clear that it was no longer their avowed policy, but national coach Peter de Villiers was clear that players plying their trade domestically would be considered for the Bok team ahead of those who campaign abroad. It seems a few injuries and some poor selections have brought about a change of policy by De Villiers, but you won't hear him saying so.

• Bok lock Bakkies Botha missed training in Dublin because of a stiff back, which team doctor Craig Roberts said was "exacerbated" on the flight between Venice and Dublin. Tightheads was on the same flight, and it was a bumpy landing, but perhaps Botha's problems started when he was wedged into a middle seat between BJ Botha and a large member of the public. With no business class seats on the Aer Lingus flight the Boks were cramped into some tight spaces. Doc Roberts should've insisted that someone give up an aisle seat for the big fella!

• Coach De Villiers had a frank meeting with Paddy O'Brien, the IRB's manager of referees, this week. The pair made some headway in how to deal with the officiating around the scrum, but perhaps their biggest breakthrough was on a personal level. De Villiers revealed that his first meeting with O'Brien last year was a disaster. O'Brien approached him aggressively in a Jourg hotel after Div expressed dissatisfaction with officiating during the season. O'Brien said: "Peter, shall I start or will you start?" To which Div replied, "I'll start. Ever since I was a little boy, I've wanted to meet God, and now he's actually in the room with me." They've moved on since then.

• While Jean de Villiers was ecstatic to be recalled to the Bok squad, his agent might take a different view. The Munster-based centre was penned in to do lucrative off-field engagements around the Test at Croke Park and be a part of the BBC commentary team yesterday. Oops ...