When interviewing possibly the greatest rugby player of all time, it is advisable not to do it on crutches while wearing a moon boot.
It is even better not to tell said icon how you landed in that position if you want to leave with your dignity intact.
A year after I started covering Springbok rugby, the foolish idea of playing action netball came back to haunt me when I had to interview Richie McCaw ahead of the Canterbury Crusaders’ Super Rugby clash against the Lions.
I am still not sure what was more embarrassing - telling McCaw I had an operation following a netball accident or wearing a Croc shoe on the other foot.
Playing centre in netball had a slight resemblance to playing flanker in rugby, but fortunately I did not share that pearl of wisdom with one of the meanest loose forwards the game will ever see.
The Crusaders went on to beat the Lions 32-20, leaving both the Lions and I limping behind.
While I was having an annus horribilis in terms of my personal sport goals, the Springboks experienced an annus mirabilis.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers was talking tutus at the time but at least the Green and Gold were winning.
I followed the Boks with moon boot and all as they clinched a glorious 2-1 series win over the 2009 British and Irish Lions.
No matter how much I battled through the pain through gritted teeth, it was worth all the pain.
It was worth it because the Boks turned a grimace into a smile. Life was good.
This week I nearly tore the same ligaments again before a track training session.
The incident was slightly more dignified than the last time, although it happened on the way to the toilet on the flattest of surfaces.
There may have been some skipping involved before twisting my ankle and leaving my ego brushed once again.
South Africa’s team to the recent Olympic Games in Rio gave me a lot to smile about as Caster Semenya and Wayde van Niekerk became global superstars.
The Springboks, on the other hand, have become the laughing stock of South African and world sport as they go from bad to worse and fromone dismal performance to the next.
As the week wore on, the pain dissipated and there was hope that I could continue my slow progress as a wannabe masters sprinter.
Springbok coach Allister Coetzee made some bold selections this week as he stands with his back to the wall.
It may be the last roll of the dice for Coetzee as he looks to restore pride to the Bok jersey.
I still feel the stinging pain of the injury of years past as I walk.
Let’s hope Coetzee and his new-look Boks are able to turn my grimace into a smile.
One can only hope!
Saturday Star