Wayward prediction or no wayward prediction, this was a Test series to savour, full of unexpected twists and turns and always producing enthralling cricket.

There was, though, one aspect that was not unexpected- that South Africa were unable to shed their innate conservatism on the final day in Pretoria to push for the victory which might have brought them a drawn series.

Some of their batting on Tuesday defied belief; two down and quite a few ahead with Jacques Kallis and AB De Villiers well set, they still pottered along as if it were the first day of a timeless Test.

Both seemed more concerned with getting their own individual hundreds than anything else which might have precipitated a victory surge. In De Villiers' case that was more understandable, as it was his first century in Test cricket- indeed only his third in all first class cricket- having missed out narrowly in the first innings.

He looks a tremendous find for the Proteas, a young man of just 20 with a big future. Whether he continues to open the batting is a moot point because he may well end up keeping wicket as well, but he impressed mightily - he certainly must have done so to the England bowlers because Simon Jones shook his hand and gave him a sincere tap on the helmet when he reached his milestone.

That doesn't happen too often, let me tell you- in fact, I cannot remember a bowler ever doing that to me in my entire career.

Mind you, that probably says more about my batting than anything else.

The South Africans will be ruing the fact that the first day was lost to rain, but to say that they would have definitely won without that time lost is facile.

Things will always pan out differently. They suffered because they could not part Graham Thorpe and Andrew Flintoff on the fourth morning, during which - and indeed throughout the match- we had to endure the ridiculous behaviour of the tiresome Andre Nel, who did, in fairness, end with six hard-earned wickets.

But he really was embarrassingly silly at times, mouthing off and posturing like some latter day Merv Hughes, without the handlebar moustache and the belly.

I reckon he actually looks quite an awkward customer with the ball, his quirky action no doubt making him difficult to pick up, but please Andre, let's cut out the histrionics.

The choice of the man of the series must have been a difficult one, but with three of the four adjudicators being batsmen- Mike Atherton, David Gower and Barry Richards ( Allan Donald making up the quartet)- it was always going to be a batsman, no doubt coming down to a shoot-out between Kallis and Andrew Strauss.

Matthew Hoggard would have merited a mention in dispatches but Strauss was the leading run scorer (656) in the series and was instrumental in England's success. Not bad for a chap in his first Test series overseas, albeit in the country where he was born (he left early and learnt his cricket in England though).

And already Australia's Justin Langer is saying things like: "We know England will be very tough because of characters like Andrew (Strauss)." Whatever next?

Two final things. Firstly about the Tsunami Relief concert in Cardiff. I wasn't there- we'll come to why- but thoroughly enjoyed watching it, marvelling at the organisation and generosity of everyone, performers and audience alike, for a most worthy cause.

But what interested me most was seeing Grant Nicholas and his Feeder group perform. He probably doesn't remember me- and who could blame him? - but I was at Monmouth School with him, even if it was a long time ago now. His elder brother Tony was a more than useful scrum half if I remember correctly. 'Tis a small world.

I wasn't at the concert because I spent Saturday afternoon at Rodney Parade for the Dragons versus Glasgow match. It was an awful game played in awful conditions, but somebody suggested afterwards that summer rugby was the way to go. No way. What else would we all do with ourselves in these dark winter months?

Rugby can be played in conditions like those of Saturday- in fact some of the more intriguing games are done so, but the players' skills need to be top-notch.

They were not on Saturday, with the Dragons well below par, probably suffering a European hangover.

They won anyway, which is all that counts in the end, and how the crowd made it plain that they do not want poor Ceri Sweeney to be taking the kicks.

They reserved their biggest cheer for when Percy Montgomery was called up late on. That all seemed a bit petty to me.

Sweeney is a very promising player and does not need such public chastisement.

Give the boy a chance.