PETER JACKSON

The Springboks have been warming up for tonight’s semi-final against France to the overpowering sound of an ecstatic Gallic multitude ringing in their ears. The exercise in assimilation is designed to make them tone-deaf to Allez Les Bleus.
Such mental preparation is far from new. Geoff Cooke, the innovative manager who did so much to transform England from serial losers into a global force, came up with a novel attempt to end the Red Roses’ long losing run in Cardiff.
He gave every one of the squad a cassette copy of Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau with instructions to play it at ful...