South African rugby teams simply have to find that killer instinct heading into 2019.
I have spoken at length about the Springboks not being able to finish off games and bury opposition throughout the year.
It was something that haunted them from start to finish in 2018.
Then the Blitzboks had the chance to make history on day one of the Cape Town Sevens on Saturday evening by knocking out their biggest rivals New Zealand in the final match of the day.
New Zealand, who lost to Samoa earlier in the day, have never failed to make it to the quarterfinal of a tournament in the history of the World Series.
MISSED OPPORTUNITY. Blitzbokke.Photo: Noor Slamdien/African News Agency/ANA
And with South Africa leading 21-14 with a little over 20 seconds left to play in the match, there was no chance for the Kiwis to fight back.
History was about to be made.
But not against South African teams.
This year you get the feeling that opposition teams are always in the match until the end - especially when it’s a close encounter.
ADMISSION: Blitzbokke skipper Philip Snyman. Photo: Noor Slamdien/African News Agency/ANA
The Kiwis then dotted down and with four seconds remaining, they levelled scores with the conversion kick.
Remarkably, Bok winger Shakes Soyizwapi knocked on the restart from the Kiwis and they attacked with all their might to keep their remarkable record intact.
And they did so, scoring in the corner to win the match 26-21.
This column was sent to the printers before the final whistle was blown in the Cape Sevens final last night.
But in the words of Blitzbok captain Philip Snyman: “New Zealand kept their composure, played until the dying second we had the opportunity to put them away.”
RUN: Rosko Specman. Photo: Noor Slamdien/African News Agency/ANA
Killer instinct is needed in South African rugby - both in the Sevens code and in the XVs game.
Not being able to finish off teams is becoming a South African rugby syndrome.
And this is something South African Rugby Union’s Director of Rugby will have to address.
Rassie Erasmus announced on Saturday evening in his year-end review show on SuperSport that he will only coach the Springboks until after next year’s World Cup in Japan.
WORKER: Werner Kok. Photo: Noor Slamdien/African News Agency/ANA
He revealed that he has a six-year deal with the union, and that means his focus will shift to all the teams post-World Cup.
Now if the lack of killer instinct has something to do with conditioning then this is a department Erasmus will have to address first.
ALL IN VAIN: Justin Geduld takes on the All Blacks. Photo: Noor Slamdien/African News Agency/ANA
Get in the finest conditioning coaches around the globe and have your entire national pool of players work year-round until it is fixed.
If the problem lies in complacency, then do the same with mental skills coaches.
You simply have to be ruthless with the oval ball in hand.