One occasion Faf shouldn’t put the boot in

Dear Springbok fans

I’m certain Rassie Erasmus must have told his guys before last weekend’s Rugby World Cup semifinal against Wales to “put the boot in”. It’s a problem when many of the guys in a team do not speak English as their first language. To “put the boot in”, as one definition in the Collins English dictionary puts it, is “to finish off (something or someone) with unnecessary brutality”.

I can just imagine Faf de Klerk sitting in the change-room before the match, scratching his head in confusion. Then asking one of his fellow Afrikaans team-mates, probably Lood de Jager, what the coach meant.

“Just kick the ball every chance you get.”

I was delighted we managed to edge past the Welsh, but I died a thousand deaths as De Klerk kicked the ball back to the opposition time and again. On the few occasions he did get the backline moving, the Boks actually looked quite threatening. Which begs the question: why, oh why, kick away decent possession so often?

Which reminded me of a wonderful story told to me by a colleague a while ago. I’ve adapted it to reflect the current situation.

Guy Hawthorne

Faf was catching a domestic flight in Japan and when he sat down in the aisle seat he noticed the guy in the window seat gave him a quick sideways glance and then carried on reading his book.

Convinced he had not been recognised, Faf opened his passport and left it in full view of the guy at the window.

When he still got no reaction, he placed his No 9 Bok jersey on the tray in front of him. Still, he got no reaction.

Finally, he tapped the guy on the shoulder and said: “Excuse me, do you know who I am?’

“Sure,” he replied, “you are Faf de Klerk, the Springbok scrumhalf. But do YOU know who I am?”

“No, I’ve never seen you before. Who are you?” asked Faf.

“I am Handre Pollard, your Springbok flyhalf”.

I just hope Faf gets the message before we take on England today.

The Poms totally outplayed the All Blacks in their semifinal and if the Boks opt to deploy the kicking game of last weekend, I fear they will be on the receiving end of a thorough beating.

My buddy, Dave, is convinced we don’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell of beating England.

But then I reminded him about 1995, when we were considered no-hopers in the final against the All Blacks at Ellis Park, only for Joel Stransky to step up and win the trophy for us with an extra-time drop goal.

Tactics aside, I reckon it all comes down to belief. And if Rassie’s guys truly think they are capable of winning, they will do it.

Now I would get a real kick out of that!