HISTORY has a way of repeating itself. That’s one of the things I remember most clearly from my time in history class at high school.
Our teacher was terrifying. I think I saw him smile once in four years and it was while he was carefully selecting a cane with which to give me four lashes for a rather serious matter involving an exam.
ALSO READ : My Take: Trump my China, what would you do?
After explaining how deeply disappointed he was, he ‘encouraged me’ not to make the same mistake. Four times, to be exact!
He told us Hitler, like Napoleon and others, made the same mistake when trying to fight the Russians in winter.
This brings me to the Rugby World Cup, due to be played later this year.
The Cricket World Cup has been a disaster for the Proteas, but perhaps, in the messy aftermath, the Springbok selectors and coach can learn some valuable lessons.
In my opinion, the first is that there is no place for sentiment.
You can’t pick a guy who was great but who is now so obviously out of form even non cricketers can tell.
The second is you can’t pick someone who is still a very good player, but carrying injuries. You can’t ‘hope’ he will pull through.
The third is to get the right combination and stick with it. A settled set-up is good. Chopping and changing too much doesn’t seem to work.
The fourth is to pick on form, not on reputation, or supposed experience.
Yes, experience is valuable, but if it’s only of losing then why not try new players over someone injured or out of form.
The rookies can hardly do all that much worse.
Admittedly, this feels like a risk, something South Africans aren’t always that keen on.
But doing something new can open the door to something unexpected, something quite brilliant … and who knows, perhaps another World Cup trophy.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
