The tough-as-teak sons of the African soil were expected to "bliksem" the "weakling" Japanese. But the "manne" in green-and-gold were given a public humiliation by the "Land of the Rising Sun", in front of the world, says the writer. The tough-as-teak sons of the African soil were expected to "bliksem" the "weakling" Japanese. But the "manne" in green-and-gold were given a public humiliation by the "Land of the Rising Sun", in front of the world, says the writer.
Instead of yelling abuse at each other, will South Africans learn from the nation which humbled them? asks Murray Williams.
Cape Town - The best thing about sport is its teachings. And on Saturday the lesson was “respect”. Epitomised by that image of a springbokkie – all delicate and fragile – being pincered around the throat by a pair of giant chopsticks.
The tough-as-teak sons of the African soil were expected to “bliksem” the “weakling” Japanese. But the “manne” in green-and-gold were given a public humiliation by the “Land of the Rising Sun”, in front of the world.
Instead of yelling abuse at each other, will South Africans be still for a moment, listen, and learn from the nation which humbled them?
They could learn about living deliberately. A little cameo by Paulo Coelho: “In Japan, I took part in a tea ceremony. You go into a small room, tea is served, and that’s it really, except that everything is done with so much ritual and ceremony that a banal daily event is transformed into a moment of communion with the universe.”
The tea master, Okakura Kakuzo, explained what happens: “Tea ceremony is a way of worshipping the beautiful and the simple.
“Its beauty consists in the respect with which it is performed. If a mere cup of tea can bring us closer to God, we should watch out for all the other dozens of opportunities that each ordinary day offers us.”
Or the mighty Boks could be reminded about the power of ancient culture, a bout the nation of the Samurai, whose teachings can still be found today in both everyday life, and in modern Japanese martial arts.
“From childhood, the Samurai were trained to self-discipline and sense of duty, together with the contempt for material goods and for the fear, the refusal of pain and especially death,” a basic Wiki intro explains.
Or South African rugby could learn about teamwork, from sumo wrestling, learned by children across Japan.
“Many ancient traditions have been preserved… life as a wrestler is highly regimented… most sumo wrestlers are required to live in communal ‘sumo training stables’, where all aspects of their daily lives – from meals to their manner of dress – are dictated by strict tradition,” Wiki explains.
The Boks could be reminded that Japan is the home of the iconic ninja – the most feared assassins the world has ever known.
Who would eat Bok “Breekers” for breakfast.
But maybe all the above is outdated nonsense, romantic mythology.
Maybe, dare we say it, Japan’s ancient cultural awesomeness had nothing to do with the Bok defeat.
Maybe the real lesson can be found in this old quote by Abraham Lincoln: “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
Maybe it wasn’t the Japanese who beat the Boks. Maybe it was South African rugby tearing itself apart.
* Murray Williams’ column ’Shooting from the Lip’ appears in the Cape Argus every Monday.
Cape Argus