The Springboks: 221 minutes without a try. This is why
As Einstein said, you cannot solve a problem with the same level of consciousness that created it
THE first thing that All Blacks rugby captain Kieran Read said after Saturday‘s Springbok demolition was that the Boks should be commended for coming out to “fight”. His coach Steve Hansen said similar things in the build-up (when asked what he expected from the Boks) and after the match. So, too, did England coach Eddie Jones fire the first salvo in his psychological war when he referred to the Boks as “bullies”, months before the November Test at Twickenham. That is where we are in South African rugby — reduced to “fighting”, bringing passion or bullying depending on your perspective. And while such clichés are overused by opposition coaches and players, you get the sense that this is really all our opponents expect we can offer. This is now a team that has played 221 minutes without scoring a try — every point in home Test matches scored through penalties and drop-goals. In the aftermath of a fairly disastrous international rugby season — or indeed two years — opinion on what mus...
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