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Watching the South African teams this weekend provided me with the emotions of frustration, anger and despair.
Usually one expects the Cheetahs to be the one South African franchise who will bring joy on an early Saturday morning.
Usually they throw everything at the opposition, they will dazzle with great interplays and will run angles and vary their attack throughout 80 minutes of rugby.
Granted they were playing the defending Champions the Chiefs away from home, and even though they threw everything at them for the first 40 minutes it was like watching Federer with regular monotony hit a fore hand and then a back hand against a wall.
There was little by way of variation of tactics or angles, just the same side-to-side movement of a rhythmic Grandfather clock.
At least with the Bulls you expect the monotony.
They simply just don’t have the inclination to change an antiquated game plan from yesteryear. They don’t understand that doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is akin to madness.
Frans Ludeke himself confirmed to Naas Botha just the other day during a training session that they will follow their game plan.
The Stormers we know have some talented backs, yet for some reason they don’t like scoring tries.
Risk taking for them is taboo. They remind of the teenager at the Friday night school dance who loves to stare at the most eligible bachelorette at school but refuses to ask her to dance, forever pining away in the corner, dreaming of better days, but wallowing comfortably in the arms of his safety blanket.
The Sharks have Lambie, Frans Steyn and Paul Jordaan, with JP Pietersen arguably South Africa’s best player of 2012 and the lightning rod Mvovo.
They, with the help of John Plumtree our one and only remaining New Zealand coach, remain the hopefuls to the promised land. So far unfulfilled.
What is it with South African coaches?
Why is it that we refuse to vary our plans of attack? Is it a self-imposed handicap?
It is OK if releasing the inner demons results in a bit of blood loss on a more regular basis. If it brings some exciting variations on attack, then I think the sacrifices are worth it.
If not, I fear we will be the ones appreciative of the fact that every country is guaranteed at least one play off spot at the end of the regular season.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.