I'd had high hopes for England today after their superb performance against the all-blacks last week but today it was not to be. They were played out of the game by an RSA-team who just played their own usual game superbly well and left England little room to do anything much. Wales had had a similar experience a week earlier but I'd imagined England to be more of a match for RSA.
All credit to RSA, they play superbly to their strengths. They stick to their (public) 'game plan' and don't deviate from it Not always pretty but it wins matches. I don't know the history but it seems they've really come a long way in a relatively short period of time.
Throughout this whole (excellent!) tournament, we've heard from many wonderful ambassadors (players, coaches, commentators) of the game of Rugby and of the values that it now enshrines. Including diversity, mutual respect and friendship. Supporters of opposing teams sit next to each other sympathize with each other's successes and setbacks/losses. Losing players/coaches are gracious to - and congratulate -the winners on the day. There have been few yellow and even fewer red cards. The opposing players (winners and losers) show each other genuine respect and warmth after the final whistle (and at times during the game). To my knowledge there has not been a single issue concerning the positioning observation skills, objectivity or decisions of referees.
This has been the first Rugby world cup that I've watched so regularly in many years but I've been truly impressed by the many 'wonderful 'ambassadors' (including Eddie James and Warren Gatland). Perhaps the greatest ambassadors at this tournament have been the South Africans. Not only in being able to forge one, united, goal-driven squad from players of racial, cultural and economic backgrounds but in explicitly expressing their hope that what they've been able to achieve may be inspirational to the country as a whole. What their win represents is much bigger than Rugby. In this sense, I'm glad they one. To bring the meaning of this home. They have no better spokesmen than 'Rassie' Erasmus and Siya Kolisi.
Mike