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The Springboks are going through their roughest patch in their rich history. This has been a tough pill to swallow for those of us that are passionate supporters. There are many theories as to why we have lost our fear factor. These range from an incompetent coach, unpassionate players, being stuck in the old style of playing and politicians getting involved where they shouldn’t. I agree that there’s a problem, but one that taxi drivers could solve.
Everyone that watches the Super Rugby, Currie Cup and other rugby competitions understands that a team should be fast, fit, skillful, and quick thinking to succeed. We watched as the Springboks tried to be a defensive team, but failed. Where they failed to put simple attacking moves together. Where they failed to mix their game and play according to their opponents and certain moments. The Lions played well in the Super Rugby competition, but their player failed to inspire individually in the Springbok setup. This comes as no surprise when one looks at the different coaches’ philosophies and methods.
Taxi drivers are most people’s nightmare. They drive recklessly at times, cause accidents at times and even cause unnecessary traffic at times. I will never condone their illegal behavior because it is dangerous and causes other drivers road rage and uncertainty at times. We must however acknowledge the skill it takes for these taxi drivers to do what they do. They drive very fast, find gaps that many other drivers wouldn’t. They continue driving even when the rest of the vehicles are stuck in traffic. Taxi drivers are able to catch their opposition to get to passengers first. They have a never-say-die attitude, which is why they still hit their targets on days that are less busy.
The Springboks should never do anything illegal to become the powerhouse they once were. They could however learn a thing or two from taxi drivers:
Sustained speed
Finding gaps
Skill instead of power
Mixing things up
Not allowing your opponents to disrespect and dominate you.
I hope that the Springboks become a different animal this year. I can’t see the team recovering properly if they do not get things right this season!
Michael Hlophe
Michaelhlope75@gmail.com
