Opinion | Ball in hand wins matches, Champions Cup champs Bordeaux remind Leinster

Given that there were thankfully no URC games this past weekend, in places where the sun does not shine, we were able to watch and savour the Champions Cup final, in which the Irish province of Leinster were up against the French city of Bordeaux, in sunny Bilbao, northern Spain. Bordeaux, after leading 35-7 at half time, quite literally ran out winners by 41-19. Almost enough said.

Clearly what sets the Champions Cup aside from the pedestrian URC is the speed and skill on display. Before Victor Matfield and co.can prattle about scoreboard pressure, the French team’s slick passing, rather than contestable kicks or running straight into and over defenders, had produced two tries for Louis Bielle — Biarrey — hence “BB” to warm blooded Frenchmen. Simply put, France have supremely talented scrum and flyhalves, and their wings aren’t too shabby either.

In addition, I submit, is that by retaining possession they suffocate the opposition. The mantra is clear: you cannot score tries, and win more than you lose, without having the ball in hand — it is that elementary. I have been authoritatively informed, that keeping the ball by interpassing has been the gameplan used by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City — the dominant team in the EPL in the past few years.

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Clearly, retaining possession not only increases a team’s scoring opportunities, it also denies opportunities to the opposition. Please do not retort: ja but rugby is not soccer. Significantly, I recall that soon after his appointment, Bok coach Rassie Erasmus and Siya Kolisi spent some time watching Jurgen Klop at Liverpool, so he is not averse to learning from other professional codes.

Even more pertinent, Dr Rassie on his appointment spelt out three phases — transforming; winning; and evolving. Having achieved objectives one and two, and being awarded our country’s highest order, and having enlisted Tony Brown to spearheaded the evolution of the Bok game plan, one can look forward to this year’s Bok calendar: England, and Pollock, on July 4, the All Blacks in August, and France in Paris on November 13. Having confidently predicted, and bet on, the Boks to prevail in Tokyo — thanks to a second front row — and in Paris — thanks to a second tight five — I foresee two scenarios for the Boks: either we lose narrowly to team’s which score more tries than us, or, Dr Rassie and Tony Brown, jou twee doringe, facilitate a gameplan that makes full use of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s passing and running flair and skill, such that the Boks become more of a try scoring machine.

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