Kicking the Super14 Away

All credit to the Bulls for pulling off a remarkable last-minute victory in the Shark Tank – well, almost. I think the Sharks played a none-too-small hand in their own demise. Holding a 6 point lead with a minute on the clock, James got clean ball on his 10-metre line – and, good heavens, opted to kick the ball downfield! The Bulls counterattacked with a powerful surge only to have Botha hoof a lackluster grubber into the hands of the waiting Steyn. What the…?! Steyn also puts in an aimless kick in the general direction of the Bulls try line. The resulting counter produced the match-winning try by flyer Habana; the kick in front a mere formality.

Being a bit of an armchair sports critic, I realise the triteness of 20/20 hindsight; but consider what could have happened: with a minute to play, the Sharks had the ball. Instead of holding on to it, and thus negating virtually any possibility of the Bulls scoring, they kicked it away pointlessly. Instead of keeping it tight and taking it through three or four phases before booting it into the delirious crowd, they played right into their opponents hands by opening up the game.

For all purposes, having had it in their hands, the Sharks might as well have kicked the Super14 trophy away. The only consolation is that South African rugby looks ominous in a World Cup year. Who knows?