I always thought it was a game of two halves

Dear SA Rugby Union

Isaw the Currie Cup match between Western Province and the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria last weekend was abandoned at halftime due to inclement weather, with the visiting side being awarded the “win” because they were leading 34-7 at the time.

Firstly, I don’t get that. Matches are about two halves and I can’t tell you how many times I have watched a game in which one side is being pummelled in the opening stanza only to bounce back and sneak a victory with a fantastic second-half performance.

I can’t seem to find an official attendance figure for the match, but it was at Loftus and we know how passionate those supporters are so I’m sure there were a fair number who braved the weather and paid good money to watch.

If I had been one of them (although I wouldn’t be seen dead in a Blue Bulls jersey), I would have felt cheated at only seeing half a game. That’s a bit like paying to go and watch a movie and being hauled out of the theatre by an usher just as the storyline gets interesting.

Guy Hawthorne

But then I thought about it and it dawned on me ... this is a ploy by you guys designed to improve the Springboks’ chances of winning matches.

After what happened a few weeks back against the All Blacks, you have obviously decided it’s not a good idea to allow a match involving the Boks to go beyond half-time.

Coach Rassie Erasmus made those changes in the All Black match and we all know what happened ... the guys went from totally dominating the match to losing to that last-minute try.

If you plan international matches around weather patterns, and ensure there is going to be thunder and lightning up the yingyang come half-time during a Bok game, you will deny Rassie the opportunity to ring changes that give the opposition an opportunity to get back into a contest. Ingenious, I tell you. Also, so that the paying public doesn’t feel cheated, you can reduce the price of tickets by 50%. That way Bok fans are going to be ensured of seeing their side win and they are not going to have to take out a second bond on their homes in order to do so.

Just make sure you keep this to yourselves. If Rassie gets wind of your devious plan, he will start making changes 20 minutes into a match. And we all know where that will lead...