President Obama used the phrase used after the death of Abraham Lincoln to sum up Nelson Mandela’s superb life eloquently and succinctly: ‘He is now for the ages.’
In the next few days there will be others far more eloquent than I can be making the case for Mandela as one of the great figures of world history, and the greatest son of Africa since and along side, I suppose, St Augustine, the archbishop of Hippo in Carthage.
For me, one of the great aspects about Mandela was his normalcy which was reflected in his passion for and knowledge of sports.
There are photos of the young Mandela, trim and taut, posing in his boxing shorts and gloves as an aspiring pugilist. I don’t know whether he had any fights in the ring. But the pose looks authentic enough and the photograph is a reflection of the time when one of the few ways out of poverty for black men in South Africa was success in the boxing ring.
I read, too, that when Mandela was released from jail that one of the first questions he asked was: ‘Is Don Bradman still alive?’
In captivity on Robben Island one of the cruellest aspects of the punishments, which was tougher on Mandela than the tedious, break-backing work of smashing rocks, was the way that information from the outside world, family, political, social or sporting was kept from the prisoners.
Mandela and his fellow inmates, political prisoners, worked out ways of finding out or intuiting what was happening. They ‘knew’, for instance, when the Springboks had lost a rare Test because on the Saturday night of the loss the evening meal was even more appalling and inedible thanit usually was.
It was Mandela’s profound knowledge and love of sport and its place in the psyche of white South Africans that he electrified the 72,000 spectators at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, for the final of the 1995 Rugby World by strolling on to the field for the official presentation of the team wearing the number 6 Springboks jersey, the number of the team’s captain Francois Pienaar.
When I saw this my mind went back to a remark made some decades earlier by Dr Danie Craven, the mastermind and administrator behind the greatness of the Springboks and South African rugby throughout the Apartheid Era: ‘No black will ever play for the Springboks.’
Here was a black man wearing the number 6 jersey and the mainly white crowd bursting into roaring applause as he made his dignified way through the ceremony.
One of those joining in the applause, and (to his credit) a leader, if discreet about it, in forcing the change that allowed blacks and coloured players into the Springboks, was Craven.
I’ve always thought that Mandela’s gesture of wearing the number 6 jersey was a telling example of how he was the supreme politician, in that he was he was in to win whatever political battle he was engaged in and that whatever it took to win, he was prepared to do that.
The battle that Mandela was engaged in at Ellis Park was convincing white South Africa that the transfer of power to the majority black population would enhance rather than belittle the life style that they had enjoyed under the Apartheid system.
And for whites, as he well knew from the infrequent rotten meals he had on Saturday nights in winter on Robben Island, a strong and successful Springboks side, a side that would win its first Rugby World Cup tournament, what was a Mandela-led government had to deliver.
So Mandela donned the Springboks jersey, a jersey that was despised by the black population because it was seen as a symbol of their oppression. By wearing the number 6 jersey, he cleansed the Springboks from the perceived sins of the past.
I would place this gesture in the same category, as a healing of the wounds decision, as President Lincoln ordering his troops to allow the defeated Confederate soldiers to keep their weapons as they made their long, slow way home to the devastated South.
And along with the generosity of spirit to the South African whites, there was a characteristic toughness in what Mandela did to hurt the chances of the All Blacks pulling off a victory.
Put yourself in the position of the All Blacks, leaving aside the fact that they were suffering from food poisoning. They were playing the final at the spiritual home of the home side, Ellis Park. There was a vast crowd that wanted to see them defeated. And now the most charismatic leader in modern times comes out on to the field, as one of them, wearing the captain’s jersey.
This was a very cruel thing that Mandela did to the All Blacks and to a country that had led the world opposition to the Apartheid system.
But as Lenin once said: ‘To make an omelette, it is necessary to break some eggs.’ Mandela had a purpose that day at Ellis Park. It was a wonderful purpose and was nothing less than to start the creation of a new South Africa, a Rainbow Coalition nation.
That purpose is still very much a work in progress. Mandela’s successors in the black leadership have not honoured his great vision and great life.
But the vision remains and will remain as a hostage to the future history of South Africa as long as the image of the black man wearing the number 6 jersey at Ellis Park remains.
richard
Guest
What historians.JC was one of the greatest political and military geniuses the world has ever known.And he was so revered by the Romans that they adopted his surname as a title for the emperors. The problem with modern historians is they judge historical figures by today's set of values,which is completely wrong IMO.
richard
Guest
Yep,that's all true.But I would also add there are few,if any countries that suffered the upheaval NZ did during the 1981 Springbok tour.If what Muldoon did in 1976 was reprehensible,NZ paid a heavy price for it in '81.
Dublin Dave
Guest
" a country that had led the world opposition to the Apartheid system" Who? New Zealand? Someone's going to have to explain that one to me. If I remember rightly, it was New Zealand's determination to tour South Africa in 1976 which led to so many African nations boycotting the Olympics that year. To the great detriment of the games. Might also have been a big factor in John Walker winning his 1500m gold in Montreal because he didn't have to worry about Tanzania's Filbert Bay, then Commonwealth Champion and World Record Holder.
richard
Guest
CK - you can believe that if you want to,but there is no doubt that team was sick leading into the final.I also have no doubt that if it had happened to any other team than NZ,people would have a very different slant on the whole affair.
Gleen Innes
Guest
Thanks Hermin saved me the effort - I thought Rugby people were supposed to be well educated obviously even at the posh schools history has fallen away. One death a tragedy a million a mere statistic - another charming quote from the world of Maxist - Leninism..I honestly think white South Africa would have cut a deal for black rule far earlier had the ANC not been Marxist - Leninist, Marxist - Leninsts (as well as the hybrid Moaists) wherever they took power Russia, China, Cambodia etc had a nasty habit of killing millions of people - you can't blame white South Africa (as sordid and ugly as the racialist white Nationilsts were) from holding out against a black opposition that was controlled by Communists. Given that ideologies track record (well established in Russia by the twenties) they had justifiable fears they would all be murdered.If the ANC had been a liberal social democratic party they would have had power long before they eventually did.
jeznez
Roar Guru
The Wallabies and Boks play for the Mandela Plate every year. Have done since 2000
Rugby is Life
Guest
Wouldn't it be a wonderful gesture for the Springboks to permanently retire the no 6 Jersey. It could be replaced by an X or maybe a VI. Then every kid growing up and watching the Springboks would be reminded of the great man and his achievements when asking why there was no number 6.
Jerry
Guest
OK, that was a bit rude. I'll just say this - There were reports BEFORE the final that the team was sick. There were players visibly sick on the sidelines. Multiple players have come out and said the team was sick and were still recovering on the day of the final. I don't care about or believe the conspiracy angle, but it's irrelevant to me. What is relevant is that team was obviously impaired. You claim it's all an invention to make NZers feel better about the loss, but equally I'd say that denying it completely is just a way for Bok fans to feel their victory wasn't in any way tainted.
Jerry
Guest
Then you should probably have responded with 'this isn't the time' at first instead of claiming it was invented.
Jerry
Guest
Well, I could respond point by point, but I'll just boil it down to responding to the 'grow some balls' bit. Go f*ck yourself.
Colin Kennedy
Roar Guru
Also obviously this is not the time or place for AB supporters to be raising this nonsense, but common sense couldn't help himself and that irritated me. It's a time to reflect and mourn, not listen to more Kiwi conspiracy twaddle. Go away, please.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
I think that's the problem Hambone, most ppl don't know much about Mandela himself or SA (especially here in oz in a country that gives the headlines but not much in depth info). For what its worth, I get Johnny's point: yes, there are definitely 2 sides of the story and aspects that the media have deliberately chosen to ignore. And I respect that. Johnny may say the truth, but its just too early and not the right place (an aussie rugby forum). But I understand it was tempting as we are flogged by ignorant comments/tributes from everyone who want to portray themselves as Mandela's disciples, people who are arrivistes themselves and bully others 24/7. I think 'sickening' is the right word.
Greg
Guest
I thought the players spewing on the side of the field was the evidence..
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
Jeez Jerry..... Do I have to? Scotland - In 1995 Boks winning margin was 24 points. All Blacks was 18 points Samoa - In 1995 Boks winning margin was 52 points in one game, 28 points in another. All Blacks was 41 points in 1996, did not play them in 95. Wales - Boks winning margin was 29 points. AB's was 25. Okay I concede Australia, margins were 11, 12 (NZ) and 9 (SA). France - AB's won 1 from 4. Boks won their game, only played one. England - Boks winning margin was 10 points. AB's was 16. AB's did better than the Boks. I should've written "major" rugby nations because Canada, Romania and Italy didn't really register in my thinking. Who cares though really! They were both very good sides. The point is to show Kiwi's the Boks record that they're so oblivious to, a few weeks ago one Kiwi rugby writer even thought that this years AB's were the first team to have a 100% win record since the AB's of 1989, what an idiot! Going into the 95 final the All Blacks were considered the favourites based on their crack hot from against teams who actually were not as strong as South Africa and France were. So they were trumped up a lot, but yes they were a good team. The Springboks record over the 1995 year (10 from 10 against every top team in the game) and overlapping from the end of 1994 into the first game of 1996 was flippen incredible and for Kiwi's like yourself to just completely berate those achievements and have excuses is just ridiculous. Your current AB team has just undergone an unbeaten season against every top side. And well done to them. My springbok side lost 2 games this year, the same amount that the AB side lost in 1995. Now imagine if I kept harping on about how "the Boks really were better and the only reason why we lost was because of Roman Poite in the first game" and then making an excuse that "we were "forced" to go away from our natural game in the RC final and so that was why we lost... it's unfair etc..." or trumping up that "the final try and conversion against Ireland was unfair as forward passes were missed and the first charge for the conversion was legit". Imagine what an idiot I would sound like?? I recognise and congratulate the All Black this year in 2013. Well done to the. Why can't you and many other Kiwi's just do the same about the Springboks of 1995? They were a phenomenal team. All the stats are there!! Kitch Christie the coach had a perfect record of 14 wins from 14 games. I was there, so I do not know what happened with this food poisoning thing or how sick the AB players were on the Wednesday and Thursday before the game. And I have never seen any video evidence of any of them sick during the game or anything else, that would be new and I've never known food poisoning to last more than 1 day. But seriously have you been food poisoned? How can anyone with it last over 100 minutes of playing the most intense, fast and hard game of rugby that had probably ever been played up to that point in time against the fittest team in the tournament (Boks) and probably the fittest up to that point in history too? It's ludicrous to suggest that the AB's were not up to it physically and they were still suffering from sickness. If anything, it would've hampered their preparations on the Thursday which of course is not great. But the saturday?? There's no way they would never have lasted playing a rugby game against a team who'd beaten Australia and France, something the AB's had not managed over the previous year up to that point in time. The "poisoning" conspiracy is just a really lame excuse to not accept defeat to a better side, on the day and throughout that year. It's helps Kiwi's feel better about themselves. So just grow some balls and admit that the Springboks of 1995 were the best team and say congratulations... I do that for the AB's this year. That's really the crux right there and the point that I was trying to make. Most All Blacks supporters can't do it! And therein lies the pride issue and the problem......
Crazy Horse
Guest
Please get back on track. Despite the fact that he had every right to be bitter and angry about the treatment he recevied he chose the path of reconcilliation instead. His gesture with the no 6 Jersey was typical. Rugby was the game of the white. The blacks played football. Nelson Mandella was one of the greatest people to have ever lived. That is why there is so much discussion and mourning right around the world today.
Hermann Dill
Guest
Ok, this is rugby forum but some things has to be corrected; Lenin not in the mass murdering stakes? He for sure was and backed it with ideology. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Terror
Jerry
Guest
Yeah, they were pretending. Before and during the game, just to be sure people would believe it in case they lost. That wasn't actually the main point in that post by the way - just pointing out that the 'unbeaten streak' started after they'd lost to the AB's, contained 1 win over the AB's and ended against the AB's. Not really sure it's really convincing if you're arguing they were better than the AB's.
Vic
Guest
Jeez Jerry, there's a lot to be said for losing gracefully. Granted, it's not something AB fans are used to, but even so. Basic 6yr old first grade stuff- if you lose, smile, shake the other guy's hand, go home and practice harder. Don't make lousy excuses or pretend you were 'sick'. Strange that no basic lab tests were done (both times) - actually a basic health department requirement in most countries, if a possible outbreak of gastro in a hotel or restaurant is experienced. Even more so if deliberate poisoning is expected.....
Hermann Dill
Guest
From about 18 minutes: Mandela meets the teams before kick off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmQHWex_UFo
Jackster
Guest
First of all, RIP the great Nelson Mandela and sincere condolescences to our South African brothers and sisters. What a hole this passing must leave on your nation. Having said that, I wouldnt call you bitter at all commonsense..I admit to cringing just a tad, when I read that we (kiwis) wouldnt have minded losing to that great mans team. Sorry Mango - we do mind losing. Anytime, anywhere, any opposition - losing SUX! Doesnt everyone hate to lose?