Life lesson

In the midst of a brace of posts on the closely related subjects of teaching and learning – comes this life lesson from the world of rugby…

…to be specific from last weekend’s opening round of European Champions Cup matches…

…and to be even more specific, concerning my favoured club – Bath Rugby.

Bath were hosting French multiple-championship winners Toulouse at the Rec in front of more than 14,000 enthusiastic home fans. The game had been tight throughout and as they went into the final few minutes the French side were a mere two points ahead.

Bath were attacking hard and their fly half – Freddie Burns (who had just moments before missed a penalty kick directly in front of the posts) finally broke through the defence and crossed the try line.

All he needed to do was to touch the ball down and the game was won.

What he actually did was to slow down, ball in one hand, and to blow a kiss to the home crowd with the other. What he did not do was to observe the French back Maxime Medard rushing at him from behind. The Frenchman knocked the ball from Burns’s hand, the try was not scored and the game was lost. Burns was – understandably – distraught.

One could feel sorry for the fly half – but he is a professional and a well remunerated one at that.

Moral of the story?

Do the job properly – celebrate afterwards!