This weekend marks the final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The All Blacks will play the old foe, the Springboks. This will be a Titanic match. At the start of the tournament the so called experts gave the All Blacks or the Springboks no chance of even making the final. This was the tournament that was France and Ireland’s to lose. The experts said. Those who know the game and listen know that New Zealand, South Africa, France, England, Ireland and maybe Australia and Argentina all can beat each other on the day. Ireland and France were both undone by very small margins that could have gone either way. Even last weekend the Poms very nearly undid the Boks. It’s tight at the top and every dog has it’s day.
The reason for discussing the World Cup is to admire upon the coaching of Rassie Erasmus. He’s a weird guy with some odd outbursts at times but man, does he think outside the box.
This weekend he has gone with a 7-1 split of forwards to backs for his reserve bench. Those of you that don’t follow rugby – each position is specialised and the forwards are usually the big grunty buggers who do the scrums. The back are the fast guys with numbers 9 to 15 on their backs. Rassie has chosen 7 replacement forwards and just one replacement back. No doubt this is to try to beat the All Blacks up front. South African rugby is characterised but huge, uncompromising forwards with fleet footed backs who can kick from anywhere. Seven forward replacements is unheard of. It’s mildly insane. It’s so far out there that it’s probably genius.
Rassie is playing and selecting teams based on their strengths. The South Africans have few weaknesses but their major strength is the tough, heavy and skillful forwards. He’s multiplied this and put out a team that is frightening on paper. Coaching not from the book but from what he thinks will be best for the players.
Golf coaching is no different. To get the best for our players we must have what’s best for them in mind. At times that means thinking outside the box in order to succeed. Whether that means taking an alternative approach to skill acquisition or playing from the forward tees to get used to making birdies – it’s dependent on the player/s.
We shouldn’t be afraid to get away from the text books and be revolutionary in our approach to coaching our players – so long as it’s good for them.
Oh, The All Blacks to win by 10 (I hope!!!!!!!!!!)
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