Lucky Sithole
Timid.
A bad word in sport – and the higher the level the more of an insult the word becomes.
And, let’s face it, the word describes not only the way the Springboks played over the weekend, but the way they have conducted themselves since going to Australia.
And on Saturday, the closer it got to the end of the match, the more timid they became. And then they doubled the impact by becoming more timid every time they found themselves in a scoring position.
Six-year-old kids learn their roles in the school play to the extent that they go through the entire concert and have no recollection of what happened. That’s all good and well for little kids, but no good for international rugby players.
Watching the pivots – Faf de Klerk, Willie le Roux and Handré Pollard – kicking away possession, almost as if they were too scared to try something different, was painful to watch. Those three players, all three excellent players, were going for the 50-50 up-and-under option when inside the opposition’s 22 metre area. Why? Were they following instructions without considering the field position? A simple answer. A sad, timid mindset.
And talking about being timid, please, coach Jacques Nienaber, you are going to have to do something. Doing nothing is no longer an option. Your move, coach.
And as we wait to see what the coach does with his team selection tomorrow, here are two expressions for the reader to consider.
“Fortune favours the brave” and “snatching defeat from the jaws of victory”. Pick one, dear reader.
Image source: @Springboks
