Rugby World Cup obsession needs to end

The Rugby World Cup has finally come to an end, with New Zealand emerging as winners after a tight and enthralling final. France won’t care that their performance has been praised — as American comedian Jerry Seinfeld once said, second is the number one loser. While the French were the better team on the night (with accusations of “voleur“ being directed towards Craig Joubert), the All Blacks were the best side in the tournament. Their long wait is over, with the next tournament in England come 2015.

I saw an article by former Wallaby hooker and current Melbourne Rebel Adam Freier this morning, talking about how the Wallabies needed to get away from obsessing over the World Cup and instead aim to win the next coming Test match, not the ones taking place in a foreign land years away.

He’s right.

Throughout the four years of Peter de Villiers’ reign as coach, when results were poor, the most often repeated phrase would be (via paraphrasing) “We are preparing for the World Cup”. Apart from 2009, when the rules suited the Springboks’ 10-man game, South Africa consistently underperformed in the Test arena. Team selection between 2007 and 2011 was dictated by a grand plan to bring home the Webb Ellis Cup, with the immediate concern of looming Test matches taking a back seat to World Cup ambition. As has been stated on this blog before the tournament began, De Villiers’ time has come, with the futility of his strategy over the last four years coming apart in the Springboks’ quarter-final defeat to Australia.

Ambition is a necessary trait in a champion, otherwise what’s the point? But, as Freier says, the All Blacks didn’t win the World Cup because they were the best team at the tournament — they have been the best side in world rugby over the last four years. Jake White, while there are many opinions on the man himself, built the foundations of his 2007 winning side from a fresh crop of players motivated to restore the respect the Springbok jersey had lost between the barren years of 2000 and 2003. During this period, the Springboks were more consistent than De Villiers’ regime.

The 2007 Springboks did avoid facing New Zealand in France, but like New Zealand and every other side that has won the tournament before, they finished the tournament undefeated. If they had faced the All Blacks in the final, they would’ve had far more of a chance than France were perceived of having by the media at large before the final. Winning becomes a habit not every four years, but week in and week out.

On a different note, I was extremely pleased to be present at Ellis Park to see the Golden Lions put in a fine performance against a determined yet uncreative Western Province outfit to reach the Currie Cup final. Having been the most consistent team all season, the Lions were the better team on the day, with Jaco Taute and Elton Jantjies both playing extremely well to name but two of John Mitchell’s side. Province were better than they have been this season, but once again showed that they struggle to score tries against well-organised defences.

It does make one wonder why they have secured Bryan Habana’s services for another three years? Having let Johann Sadie, JJ Engelbrecht and Lionel Cronje go to the Blue Bulls, from a marketing stand-point it might make sense, but in relation to what they are gaining versus what they are losing, Pretoria appears to have benefited the most in WP retraining Habana.

The Lions face John Plumtree’s Sharks in the final, a very different beast from the one beaten at Ellis Park over the weekend. After being shown up by the Cheetahs in the first half, the Sharks forwards monstered their opposition, paving their way to victory via power and brute force. The Lions forward pack was never overly pushed by WP, but the Sharks? If the Lions do win the tournament, it will be well-deserved.

Lastly, both the Lions and Sharks are coached by New Zealanders. A cause for concern for the local coaching establishment I wonder?