Cup final also signals the end of an era

They say one is never too old to learn. Well, I’ve learned this week that the pressure of a World Cup final is not confined to just the players and the management involved in the game.

The final actually starts a week prior, after the semifinals have been completed and the two final ists have been confirmed.

That’s when the mind-games and mental preparation starts, and it involves numerous printing houses and websites around the globe going rugby crazy.

It’s World Cup final week and it’s a big one for South Africans. After all, we’ve had to wait 12 years since we were last involved in one.

All the planning changes in a big week like this, and scribes have to start contacting former players and coaches, and newspaper bosses don’t want to hear you can’t get hold of this or that person and simply don’t take no for an answer.

It does create tension and anxiety but one can also understand the big demand.

It is simply a week in which more people want to read about the final, and newspaper sales can be expected to climb by a notch or two.

It is also a perfect time for restaurants, pubs and grills to market their places of business and before, during and after the final most of these places can be expected to be fi lled to the rafters, which is obviously very good for business.

The teams will be under pressure too as the William Webb Ellis cup is simply not just another trophy, but one which can unite a country and offers bragging rights as the world champions for the next four years.

It is also the end of an era for several players and coaches.

Australia coach Michael Cheika announced his retirement after his team were hammered 40-16 by England in the quarterfinals, saying he would have stood down in any case if his team had won the World Cup.

For another legend, All Blacks captain Kieran Read, it is the end of the road today after the thirdplace play-off against Wales.

Bok coach Rassie Erasmus also confirmed yesterday the final would be his 25th and last Test in charge before concentrating on his duties as national director of rugby.

He will still be involved with the Boks, however, steering the new coach and being involved with the British and Irish Lions tour in 2021, and he will be on board until the 2023 World Cup.

May Rassie’s last one be his best.

No pressure.