Readers of this article will have noticed a pattern developing over the past few weeks and that is that this punter is on one of those runs where any decision he makes turns out to be a wrong one.

I was in agreement with our three panelists this week on #TheHandicap our Rugby Betting Show on YouTube, that Scotland would push the Boks very close if not win the game.  I was on Scotland (+5.5) and just prior to kick-off I also took Scotland to score 22 points or more in the match. 

The Springboks were in my opinion full value for the victory but there was a moment of Scottish madness that left me fuming after the game and in typical social media warrior style I took to Twitter to vent my frustration.  The Scots trailed 20-23 when they were awarded a penalty which for their deadly kicker would have been almost a guaranteed 3 points.

They had shown signs of ascendency in the mauls and rather than level the game up at 23 each (and in so doing land my points bet) they decided to kick for the corner and go for the jugular.  The Springboks had few problems in nullifying the drive and a defensive 5 meter scrum to the visitors was the result.  What made the decision not to take the 3 points even more frustrating was that Scotland attempted a very speculative drop goal a couple of minutes later. 

From that point on the Boks assumed control of the game and when they went 6 points clear at 26-20 I knew I was in big trouble as Scotland would now be forced to go for the try and a 3 pointer was no longer an option.  Watching in a room full of Springbok supporters, many of whom I had met for the first time, I tried to hide my disappointment when the final whistle blew and I had lost both my bets. 

I think they may have picked up that I was supporting Scotland on the day though when I stood up to sing “Flower of Scotland” after their second try.  Of course I didn’t need the Boks to lose the game to win my bet and all I needed was Scotland to take the 3 points which any International captain worth his salt would have done.

Twitter: @BrentGraham

 
This article was written for the CitiGaming supplement of the Citizen Newspaper and was published on the 22nd of November 2018.

Brent Graham is a blogger on www.goodforthegame.co.za and sends a  free weekly e-mail list just CLICK HERE to register