Leadership is in short supply wherever you look.
Companies and governments seem to make decisions only to make life better for themselves and to hell with their employees and citizens.
When they stuff up, they never take responsibility. And it’s only regular mense like you and me who suffer in conditions they have created.
Sports bodies are no different either.
The PSL, with executives who have massive conflicts of interest, has been criticised recently over their lenient handling of Kaizer Chiefs, who were supposed to be penalised due to fan trouble.
This week, though, World Rugby and Cricket Australia (CA) came under the spotlight and the heat has them sweating.
After Owen Farrell’s injury-time “tackle” on Andre Esterhuizen at Twickenham last Saturday, World Rugby had a massive call to make.
SARCASM: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus
England captain Farrell knew he was in trouble when he failed to make a legal challenge on the Springbok centre inside his own half, with his team leading 12-11.
Referee Angus Gardner had to make the call to give a penalty, but for some reason OK’d the shoulder charge.
While the Bokke seemed to take the defeat on the chin, rather blaming themselves for the loss, many observers around the world thought it was wrong for Farrell to go unpunished.
Then World Rugby’s citing commissioner dropped the ball by letting the chest-high shoulder charge slide.
And what it has done is set a dangerous precedent - it’s fine to make those sort of challenges, making a mockery of their rules.
These double standards and disregard of order were driven home by Bok boss Rassie Erasmus.
Instead of raging against the machine, Rassie just released a video coaching Esterhuizen to tackle like Farrell - it’s mos legal now.
Will World Rugby show some guts to accept their mistake or punish the Boks for toeing their line? I guess we’ll see soon.
Down Under, cricket bosses in Australia are battling with the example they want to set.
Australian sport took a massive blow when Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper to change the condition of the ball in the Newlands Test on their tour to South Africa earlier this year.
Suspended: Former Oz captain Steve Smith
Bancroft was apparently the fall guy of a plot by the leadership group of captain Steve Smith, deputy David Warner and coach Darren Lehmann.
Bancroft, Smith and Warner were all banned, Lehmann quit as other Aussie grootkoppe rolled.
The Baggy Green’s results haven’t been great since.
But this week, there have been calls for the lengthy suspensions to be lifted.
In my opinion, this won’t be a good look for the Aussies.
Bringing back these embarrassments will be a copout by an administration accused of “winning at all costs”. Their return will only confirm that philosophy.
Their style of sportsmanship has always been on that knife edge and it was bound to wound them at some stage.