HUMBLE PIE

I experienced that, as a fan and a writer, when Novak Djokovic lost in straight sets in the US Open final. Djokovic, a match away from a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam, was in my mind never going to lose. I settled in at 10pm on Sunday evening and a few hours later simply felt stunned. It was as if I had lived every losing point when the night before I had lived every winning point of the teenager Emma Raducanu who became the first qualifier to ever win a Grand Slam title.

What a contrast in winners at the US Open final. It was a story that no one would have scripted but it was the one that continues to make sport such compelling viewing.

Equally, when it came to the Springboks and last Sunday’s Rugby Championship match against Australia, who at kick-off were ranked 7th in the world and had got hammered by the All Blacks in three successive Test matches.

I lost the plot momentarily, calling them wimps on the basis of their meek surrender and chumps because of a three from 12 record in the past 18 months. I claimed with confidence and arrogance that it was champ against chump and the scoreboard would reflect it.

It didn’t, but there was still the escape of a late rally from the Springboks and a one-point win when the world champions led by 26-25 on 79 minutes and 40 seconds.

I could still save some face and then Australia got a penalty and Quade Cooper stepped up to kick the winner. Bring on the humble pie and the social media abuse. I wanted Cooper to kick it; not because I wanted Australia to win but because I wanted Cooper’s fairytale sports story to be complete.

Cooper, who I had watched implode and disintegrate at Eden Park in Auckland at the 2011 World Cup semi-final defeat against the All Blacks, had not played Test rugby in five years.

Yet, here he was, having already kicked six penalties and a conversion from seven attempts, about to beat the world champions with the last kick of the game.

The storyteller in me willed his kick to go over, just as the storyteller in me travelled every metre of Morne Steyn’s series winning penalty kick against the British & Irish Lions.

Steyn’s kick in 2021, a repeat of his series winning kick in 2009, made for a remarkable comeback story. Cooper’s wasn’t quite at the same level in the context of a series, but no less remarkable for what he achieved as an individual.

It was sporting theatre at its best and as his kick went over, I felt the pain of every Lions supporter after Steyn’s kick.

The only difference is I potentially get to feel something different when the two teams meet again today, whereas Lions supporters have a 12-year wait for redemption.

Sport, beautiful and cruel, but always compelling theatre.

*This article is dedicated to the memory of the late Mr “Boeta” Cassiem. The lolly always made this eightyear-old jolly and the ice cream always made me dream. Thank you.