In the game of rugby union, fifteen players take the field to score tries for their team i.e. place the ball over the line at the far end of the field in 'enemy' territory. In American football, just crossing the line with the ball is enough.
Scoring tries is the glamorous part of rugby union and it usually involves one of the seven backs who run fast and free out on the open field in full view of any audience.
The scorer evades the tacklers and places the ball down over the try line to rapturous applause.
The eight forwards, on the other hand, do the boring, unglamorous work of getting hold of the ball from exhausting hard fought 'scrums' and 'lineouts'.
Punches are occasionally thrown and elbows are, sometimes, used in the dark recesses of the scrums. Spectators seldom know who does the hard work of winning the ball.
Occasionally, a forward with blood streaming from his head or a black eye staggers out from the scrum or line out and heads off to the blood bin for repairs.
While the scrum or line out is going on, the backs can get a breather to prepare themselves for their next flashy run up the field. The forwards, on the other hand, are continuously on the go to get the ball and to tackle the opposing backs and forwards. They are often gasping for oxygen and running on empty.
To be fair to the backs, they are also involved in defensive tackling and some, like Jonny Wilkinson, are famous for the committed way they do it. However, their tackling is usually done in full view of the spectators whilst people often don't know which forward has put in the most tackles.
The forwards are constantly on the go and have intense back breaking and often painful work to do every time there is a scrum or variation of a scrum like a maul or ruck. The words, maul or ruck, suggest quite rightly that these are not always pleasant experiences!
The backs then have the fun and glory of running free and scoring the majority of the tries. The forwards have the unrecognised, unglamorous, backbreaking and often painful work of winning the ball for the backs.
Occasionally, insult is added to injury when the backs drop or knock on that hard won ball and waste the huge effort just put in by their forwards.
The less glamorous work is usually the most important. If the ball is not won by the forwards, the backs will spend their time tackling rather than scoring tries.
You can probably guess that my role in rugby matches was that of a forward!
Much of many people's lives is spent as a 'forward'. If we want to succeed, we may well have to work for days without the fame, glory or results of the 'backs'. If we keep going, we may eventually achieve the success and recognition of the 'backs'.
There is a variation of rugby union called sevens which only involves seven players on each team playing for seven minutes in each half. There is a minute's rest at half time. This version of the game shares out the glory much more fairly since the pitch is the same size as the 15 a-side game and all seven players are highly visible and all have an excellent chance of scoring tries or at least of running with the ball.
Rugby Sevens was initially conceived by Ned Haig, a butcher from Melrose in Scotland, as a fundraising event for his local club in 1883. It is now a hugely popular game and spectator sport all over the world.
However, even though the glory is shared out more equally in sevens, there is still some less glamorous work to be done i.e. defensive tackling.
Many teams just give up when faced with the sight of a huge Fijian or New Zealander sprinting for the try line. They believe they have no chance of stopping such opponents.
The teams that believe they can stop the other side are in with a good chance of winning. In the recent London sevens tournament, France nearly beat the Fijians. Nearly beating the Fijians is a huge accolade in sevens rugby.
On Sunday, 27th May 2007, Wales also played Fiji in the Semi Finals.
Former England Coach, Joe Lydon, said that Wales had to have belief and commitment. They had to fight for every scrap and make Fiji work for absolutely everything. They had to get in their faces and frustrate them.
The Welsh showed their determination and belief early by not giving up when a big Fijian was striding majestically towards the try line. They brought him down before he could score to the surprise of everyone.
Too often in those situations, 'gesture' tackling takes place i.e. the tackler makes a despairing lunge at the try scorer and misses. Everyone then feels that the tackler has done his best. In fact he has not.
He has simply saved some of his energy for later on when it will be too late to get the necessary points back!
Again, in ordinary life, many people are tempted to make 'gestures' rather than real efforts to achieve their goals. The 'gesture' saves face but does not get the job done.
Eventually, brilliance told and Fiji scored. No matter how determined the Welsh defence, Fiji found a hole. The score was 14 - 0 at half time to Fiji
In the second half Wales ran out of steam and the Fijians, led by the great William Ryder, won quite easily. But Wales had impressed the spectators. They had done some of the difficult tackling work and had believed in their own ability. They were not making gestures and they meant business.
The London Sevens Final followed at Twickenham. It was a fascinating contest between two giants of the game. They had played 44 games against each other. Fiji had won 22 and New Zealand had won 22.
Waisale Serevi was in the Fijian squad. He is probably the greatest player ever to play in the sevens game. Serevi and the Fijians know how to stay cool in a tight spot but they can be frustrated by very determined opponents.
Neither Fiji, nor New Zealand players are 'gesture' players. Their national pride demands victory at all costs.
Afeleke Pelenise, the New Zealand top scorer, ran over the line for the first five points of the game. His head was bandaged and blood was pouring from his left temple. These were the scars of a previous battle against Samoa.
Fiji were rattled and frustrated by New Zealand. Zar Lawrence scored for New Zealand and waved his hand skyward in gratitude to God or the Universe. The score was 12 -0.
Then William Ryder scored and converted for Fiji - His amazing footwork makes him the Cristiano Ronaldo of Sevens. The score was 12 -7 to New Zealand.
In the second half Pelenise dropped the ball but Zar Lawrence scored and looked skywards again in gratitude to whatever God he serves.
The score was now 17-7 to New Zealand. 6 mins to go and 10 points the difference. Serevi the 38 year old playmaker and talisman for Fiji came on.
But Roy Kinikinilau collected the ball after a Fijian mistake and scored. New Zealand led by 24 -7
A Fijian player punched Stephen Yates who was lying on the floor. This was careless since the incident was in full view of everyone! The Fijian was sent off and New Zealander, Adam Thomson, scored from a touch line throw.
New Zealand had won the final 29 -7. Their head coach, Gordon Tietjens, smiled. The commentators remarked: "That is as animated as he gets. He might have a half pint this evening."
Gordon was told: "You made Fiji look mortal."
"We put pressure on them early," said Gordon.
He is a coach of high standards who understates and over delivers.
The New Zealanders kneeled in a circle and bowed their heads possibly in prayer and gratitude for their victory
In the 2004 New Zealand Sevens, the Kenyan team knelt in a similar manner to pray for victory against France who usually field a powerful team. Their prayers were answered and Kenya upset France by winning 28 - 21.
What success tips can we learn from fifteen a-side rugby and seven a-side rugby?
Someone has to do the boring and unglamorous work. Like that master of disguise, the Scarlet Pimpernel, and the fifteen a-side forwards you may have to make heroic efforts for some time without recognition of any kind except the knowledge in your own mind that you have done your best.
You have to believe you can bring down the best players on the other side and be willing to expend the huge effort necessary to do so. You must give up 'gesture' tackles and go for every tackle with the ferocious determination shown by England when they won the world fifteen a-side cup in 2003.
Despairing lunges must be ruled out of your repertoire. Like the mounties, you must get your man, no matter what. In other words you must not go in for gestures when faced with a huge problem. Giving up a few of your favourite foods may not be enough to help you lose weight.
You also have to believe that you can score tries against fierce opposition and be prepared to run like a Thomson's gazelle or an unstoppable rhino to do so.
Lawrence Dalaglio, captain of London Wasps rugby team, states emphatically that you have to believe you will win before a game starts. He repeated this belief at half time in the final of the Heiniken cup against Leicester in May 2007. Wasps won the match after going flat out from the start.
You may find the power of prayer to be a huge help in achieving victory. Don't forget to pray or give thanks both before, during and after playing. If you are not a believer in God, or even if you are, try believing in the power of your own imagination and visualise your success as vividly and with as many of your senses as possible.
Above all, enjoy watching rugby or any other sport and, at the same time, enjoy learning the key life skills that can transform your life. What works in sport usually works in ordinary life.
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