Phil Lythell
Sport News 24/7World Champions upstaged as Tigers maul Springboks
By Phil Lythell, on 17th November 2009, 16:32 UTC
There were plenty of lessons learned this weekend. As a fan of rugby union's defending world champions, it was a bit of a shock to my green-and-gold system to find others doing the teaching.
I'd never have guessed I'd be paying school fees to Leicester Tigers as a Springboks fan, but there you have it. Leicester 22 Boks 17. Read 'em and weep.
Losing isn't easily swallowed but sometimes fans can appreciate the work of others, even in the most bitter defeat.
Leicester Tigers taught me (and the Boks) a thing or two. I'm inclined to admire them for it, even when South Africa's reputation has been dragged through the muck.
All the things I admire in a team ironically did a quick swap - South Africa, the so-called world champions, were unsupportable. No fan could find anything praiseworthy in their play while the Tigers dispensed textbook lessons at a rate I've not witnessed, probably ever.
Leicester actually bullied the Boks. That was probably the most difficult thing to swallow. Real Tigers, they got a grip on the South Africans and never relented, showing an incredible ability to find trademark Bok skills to 'supersize' - and upstaging the World Champions at their own game, in every department.
Well and truly shown up, South Africa were not spared cross-examination. Time and time again, Bok scrums wilted, lineouts were robbed and ruckers raked right into the mud.
By half-time I hardly had the strength left for the cringe marathon the Springboks would put fans through in the second half.
Bok fan illusions popped like champagne corks in the Tigers changing rooms as South Africans were brought back to earth, swollen heads thoroughly deflated.
I'm happy I watched the game in the same way I'm happy I've burnt my fingers at the school of hard knocks. It was an amazing game - the tension in the final minutes was almost beyond Test match level and I'm sure to Tigers fans, this was their World Cup final.
Essential rugby viewing and force fed a bitter pill, Bok fans will not easily forget the sixth of November.
South Africa have also lost to France but they will be gunning for victory in Dublin when they take on the Six Nations 'Grand Slammers' Ireland at Croke Park on November 28 - tickets still available.
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