Originally Posted by
straw man
I know a lot of you seem to be tired of it but I think SA having the chokers tag is hilarious and brilliant.
Every tournament and every knock out match the SA captain has to answer umpteen dozen choke-related questions from dimwitted reporters, there are hundreds of newspaper articles written about it and no matter how much the South African players clap their hands over their ears and chant 'we're better now' and 'that was a completely different team back then', that worm of doubt burrows into the psyche, buries itself in a quiet corner of each players' brain and then arises like a crazed electrician in a switchroom to pull out important wires, tie them in knots, douse them in water and replug them at random, to the point where the man in green can hardly walk in a straight line let alone remember to run to the other end.
It is the embodiment of a self-fulfilling prophecy and I think it's fascinating how this idea has taken on a life of its own and keeps growing and growing.
And no, the only way South Africa can get rid of the tag is by winning multiple knockout matches, and probably the whole World Cup.