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David Pocock reacts during the Tri-Nations rugby Test at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Saturday, July 24, 2010. The Wallabies ran the world champion Springboks into submission to win the second Tri-nations rugby Test 30-13. (AAP Image/Patrick Hamilton)
To some South Africans, criticism of the Springbok players is close to blasphemy. This week’s article about the circumstances surrounding David Pocock’s knee injury stirred up a veritable hornets’ nest.
This blogger was called a “Saffa-hating” “tosser” for having the temerity to suggest that the du Plessis brothers are dirty players.
Tosser I may well be, but I can tell you, dear readers, that Saffa-hater I am not. I have many wonderful South African friends and colleagues.
But, unlike my accusers, I am not so nationalistic that I cannot accept criticism of the behavior of my country’s sportsmen.
The Australian cricket team of the last two decades was one of the greatest ever, but I was often ashamed of their offensive on-field conduct.
The sight in 2003 of half-starved Bangladeshi Test players, so bright-eyed and excited to be visiting our great country for the first time, only to be shamelessly sledged by the arrogant Australian cricket team filled me with disgust.
Steve Waugh was one of Australia’s greatest batsmen, but I was appalled by the strategy he described as “mental disintegration”, seen at its worst in the infamous “choo-choo” sledge directed at Chris Cairns in 1993.
The final straw came in the 2008 Sydney Test between Australia and India, after which many Australians, led by a damning newspaper article from Peter Roebuck, finally spoke up and said we’ve had enough of this behaviour.
If you Google the names du Plessis, Burger, or Bakkies Botha, followed by the words “dirty player”, you’ll get many pages of results. The majority of the condemnations found on those pages have come from South Africans themselves.
But dirty Wallaby players?
I cannot think of a single one.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.