Great-gran tells Boks time to take to their wings
THE shocking state of South African rugby has prompted a 93year-old great-grandmother to chip in with her two cents on how to solve the problems.
After watching the Springbok rugby team plummet to new lows recently, lifelong fan “granny” Dot Thorburn became so frustrated she penned a letter urging them to pass the ball more in the game – instead of passing the buck when they lost.
Thorburn got people talking about the state of the game when she wrote to Saturday Dispatch’s sister publication, the Sunday Times, last week advising under-pressure coach Allister Coetzee and his charges how to play.
In the letter she explained she was a 93year-old great-granny who was frustrated by what she saw.
“I stand at the TV screaming for them to pass the ball to the wings.”
Speaking to the Saturday Dispatch after her twice-weekly tennis match-up with retired friends, the fit and active gran called for more flair instead of battering ram rugby.
“The Springboks used to play a beautiful running game – they would pass the ball from wing to wing and back – and score tries.”
According to Thorburn, the style had changed from quickly passing the ball to trying to bulldoze their way over the line or letting the flyhalf kick away possession.
She said every time flyhalf Elton Jantjies kicked away the ball she wanted “to kick his butt”.
“We are playing bargebarge rugby with our wings standing around doing nothing,” she pointed out.
A Springbok rugby fan since the days when games were broadcast on radio, Thorburn said statistically half the tries scored in rugby matches came from passing the ball out to the wings.
“We need quick passes from side to side; we need to get that element of surprise again.”
She said running rugby had worked in the past and questioned why it was still not being used – before wishing luck”.
Thorburn’s 80-year-old tennis partner Sally Ayris said the fact her friend had written her first letter to a newspaper was proof enough the performance the team “good of the Springbok team “really irked her”.
“It doesn’t surprise me; she still has an incredible mind and memory.”
Still living alone in Bushman’s River, Thorburn said she watched every game alone at home so she would not be disturbed.
When she is not playing tennis, the energetic widow keeps in shape gardening and walking up and down the stairs at home.
She says she tried living in an old-age home 30 years ago but moved out to her own place in Bushman’s aged 62 because she did not enjoy all the rules.
Attributing her longevity to her faith and eating no processed foods or sugar and not smoking or drinking, Thorburn said her doctor had told her that “he can’t find anything wrong with me”.
“I am truly blessed by the Lord.”— davidm@dispatch.