Rugby, like all sports, can teach anyone how to achieve competitive success and how not to achieve it! It can also teach basic principles that apply to achieving success of any type.
On Friday 28th Sept 2007, England played Tonga in another must win pool game.
The Tongans have a reputation as the wild men of world rugby but they don't agree with this image of themselves. They have, however, been given more cards for fouls than any other team in the 2007 world cup.
They believe that rugby is a contact sport for men and dish out their own form of punishment to the opposition: "You stamp on the soft tissue but you don't stamp on the head or the crown jewels." They believe in limited violence!
Belief in God also plays its part big time in the Tongan psyche. They pray as a team nightly. Their team preacher tells them: "Our Lord can do any things, especially impossible things."
The Tongans believe in angels as well: "All the angels in heaven are supporting us."
Certainly the French crowd were supporting them!
Lewis Moody had returned to the English team. He is called 'Crazy Horse'. Crazy Horse was the Lakota war leader involved in the battle of the Little Big Horn where Custer was killed. Every successful team needs an inspired warrior to lead them in competition or in battle.
Martin Johnson, England's world cup winning captain, was pleased by Moody's return:
"He will bring a huge amount of energy to the game. We showed against Samoa that we can hit these guys too. At some point tonight, it is going to come head to head It is about winning those collisions We need to step up the intensity and tempo of this game. We need to out work and out hit these guys and then they will have no where to go."
The Tongans performed their haka or siva tau and moved forward staring right into the faces of the England team. The England fans sang "Swing Low Sweet Chariot!" at the same time and almost drowned out the sounds of the siva tau.
It was a case of England winning or going out. If they won, they would go to Marseilles for the quarter finals to meet Australia as the underdog but an underdog which was beginning to bite.
Tonga scored a penalty 3-0. Then Jonny Wilkinson scored one for England 3-3. Next Tonga slid over the line on the greasy surface to score a try. 10-3
England came back with an amazing try as Wilkinson kicked to Paul Sackey who caught the ball after it hit him in the face. Paul landed on his knees and got the ball down just before he slid over the dead ball line. 10-8
Barkley missed a drop kick but Wilkinson didn't. 10-11 to England. Then Wilkinson scored another three points with a penalty kick. 10-14. Things were going England's way. Wilkinson seldom misses because he practices kicking
for hours on end. Successful people realize the need for constant, regular practice.
Sackey, the English winger, intercepted a ball and streaked away to score. It is fair to say that he was enjoying his world cup. He had rediscovered his zip and try scoring ability.
England led 10-19 at half time but Tonga never give up. Greenwood was concerned: "We are inviting Tonga back in to the game. No wonder Brian Ashton has no blooming hair left."
Tonga kicked a penalty. 13-19 Tonga still believed they could win. They had good reason to believe. They had beaten the USA and Samoa and had pushed South Africa all the way.
Mathew Tait scored a try for England which was converted. 13-26.
Tonga were looking tired. Andy Farrell scored another try for England between the posts. This was the first try for this ex Rugby league man. Jonny converted it. 13-33
Jonny then scored a drop goal. 13-36. Tonga finished the game with another sliding try which was brilliantly converted. 20-36
Australia would now be waiting and licking their vengeful lips at the opportunity to defeat England in the quarter finals. They had waited four years to avenge their defeat by England in the finals of the last world cup.
The Tongan players gathered for a prayer. They could leave this world cup with their heads held high and their reputation enhanced.
Jonny Wilkinson commented on England's victory: "It's satisfying but we have a long way to go."
Lewis Moody had nearly knocked himself out several times chasing the ball and tackling ferociously. He had fully justified his name of 'crazy horse' and had inspired the whole England team and the spectators with his courageous example.
England had maintained their record of always reaching the quarter finals of the world cup and it looked like the team had started to enjoy the game of rugby again.
When you get to the knockout stages anything is possible.
Wales, however, did not make it to the quarter finals. Fiji beat Wales in one of the most exciting games of the world cup. The final score was Wales 34 Fiji 38.
Wales went out of the world cup. Gareth Thomas, the skipper, felt he had let the nation down and the coach, Gareth Jenkins, was sacked the following day.
Scotland did better than Wales in their next game against Italy. The wily Scottish coach who had rested his best players against the All Blacks said that a good start gives you the confidence to do well in the rest of the game.
The Scots started with a bang and ended up with a narrow victory thanks to consistent kicking by their main goal kicker, Chris Paterson, who is probably one of the best two kickers in world rugby. He kicked six penalties to allow Scotland to win 18-16 even though Italy was the only side to score a try.
Scotland were now through to the last eight.
France beat Georgia convincingly 64-7 on Sunday 30th September. They had scored nine tries. France were now on top of Pool D but needed Ireland to beat Argentina if they wanted to stay there and avoid playing the All Blacks in Cardiff next week in the quarter finals.
Another key match took place on that Sunday. Underperforming Ireland faced Argentina. The Irish had the full support of France. Thomas Castaignede was wearing a green hat: "Argentina can send us on the road to hell."
If Ireland did not beat Argentina, France would end up enduring the hell of playing a fierce and talented All Black team in a foreign land (Wales).
A French placard said: "Allez Les Verts!"
An Irishman commented: "We have to play much better than we have been doing and we need to take our opportunities when they come."
The Irish captain, O'Driscoll, said: "If we are to die, we must die fighting."
However, Argentina have the best defensive record in the whole world cup and they won the battle of the anthems. They were singing with tears running down their faces. Back home, the whole nation was following their progress.
Ireland went for it in the first seven minutes. Their minds were focused on scoring the four tries they needed to get to the quarter finals. They camped in the Argentinian half but did not score.
Now Argentina came back and had a good spell. They scored a try which was a stake in the heart of Irish ambition. 5-0 Then Ireland scored a penalty goal 5-3. Argentina countered with a drop goal 8-3
Argentina were starting to look good The crowd were all for Ireland but the Argentinians didn't care. These were difficult moments for Ireland. They had to stay positive and hope that things would open up for them later.
The Irish had to dent Argentina's self belief as well as ignite their own. O'Driscoll did just that by scoring Ireland's first try.
Ireland 10-8 Now there was a totally different feel to the game. You could almost see the Guiness flowing and feel the belief in the Irish camp.
Hernandez, the brilliant Argentinian kicker, scored a drop goal to prick Ireland's bubble. 10-11 Argentina were winning by a narrow margin.
Argentina scored a try. 10-18. The pumas were smelling the sweet aroma of being in the last eight teams of the world cup. They were half way to four tries and the bonus point which would put them in the quarter final whatever Ireland did.
For Ireland, this game was always going to be a cliff hanger. Their finger tips were being removed from the edge of the cliff one by one
After half time, Argentina scored another three points 21-10
Then Irish back, Jordan Murphy, scored a try. 21-15 Once more, the dream flickered alive for Ireland.
Argentina must keep their momentum going and win if they wanted to go far in the world cup. They scored through a penalty.
15-24 for Argentina. Another penalty for a high tackle 15-27 to Argentina
Hernandez scored a drop goal off his left foot - a hat trick. 15-30
Argentina could now go back to their hotel believing anything was possible. This has been a definitive win and they had laughed in the face of the D word (the pool of death).
Ireland had never been beyond the quarterfinals of a world cup before. They did not even get that far this time. France would now have to play the All Blacks in Wales.
Thomas Castaignede said: "We have done it before, eight years ago. I hope we can do it again. Argentina have sent us on the road to hell. So let's do it."
Eddie O'Sullivan, the Irish coach commented: "It's been a tough world cup for us. It's not for the want of trying but that's the way it goes."
Augustin Pichot, the Argentinian captain summed up their achievement: "We just wanted to win the four games and we did it." Successful people make a plan and stick to it."
Paul Wallace commented "The Irish can leave with their heads held high. They just need to get back on their horse and then start looking to the next world cup."
Seam Fitz Patrick, the former All Black Captain was not so kind: "They've been living on past glories and not doing it out in the pitch. They had an opportunity and have lost that opportunity."
Successful people continue to seek fresh glory rather than rely on past victories for their reputation.
Francoise Pienaar, the former South African Captain, was equally blunt: "They were not facing the truth and were looking for excuses."
Successful people ignore possible excuses and focus on winning..
Several success lessons can be learned from the rugby games described above.
God or the Universe can do any thing, especially impossible things. With God's help so can you.
If you believe that God and the angels are on your side, they will be.
Dr. Robert Anthony wrote: "All our experiences have led us to believe certain things about ourselves. Whether these beliefs are true or not really doesn't matter because if we accept them as true then they are true for us."
Every successful team needs an inspired warrior or 'crazy horse' to lead them in competition or in battle. If necessary, become the 'crazy horse' yourself and fight like mad to achieve your goals and dreams. Others will follow you.
If you are the underdog make sure you are an underdog who bites hard.
Realize the need for constant, regular practice. Daily repetition even if it is tough and boring brings mastery.
If you face death and/or disaster you might as well go out fighting!
Stay positive in tough times and hope that things will open up for you later.
Dent the self belief of your competitors but ignite your own.
Make a plan and stick to it.
Seek fresh glory rather than rely on past glories.
Do not make excuses for your poor performances. Get back on your horse immediately and try again.
John Watson is a fifth degree martial art instructor who has written articles and ebooks on the life and success lessons you can learn from sports whether you like sport or not. One of his ebooks on this theme can be found at: http://www.lifelessonsfromsport.com
His motivational ebooks can be found at http://www.motivationtoday.com
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