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Aristotle saw it manifested in the young Alexander who, despite professing excelling others in the knowledge of what was excellent, in the end bathed in the extent of his powers and dominion.
Hubris – the great flaw in personality. Peripety – the dramatic change in situation.
There are no more storied sports teams in the world than the Springboks. Decades of brutal dominance supported in no small doses by a tiny ruling elite who invoked some of the most extraordinary steps of self preservation ever known to mankind, seeped the Springbok jersey in drama and blood.
Hated more than any other, the Springboks stood heads and shoulders above all and it took almost a century before parity prevailed. Even thereafter, the Springboks’ greatest moments of heroism were savoured with two world champion titles in eight years. World dominance was, after all, a birthright.
Now, two vast and trunkless legs of stone stand in the desert. The beloved country is alone, so haggard, so woebegone. The talent that was previously to be found in the granary all playing in far off lands. With a depreciating currency, barely a week goes by without a word of a talent leaving these shores.
With each such departure, the vein of talent becomes thinner and thinner and soon will be the time when interest in our teams have wained completely and our stadiums are boundless and bare. A great new trek is underway with interest of South Africans wishing to emigrate to the Antipodes this year alone increasing seven-fold.
The cold creeping corrupt clasp of decay slithering into the towns and cities clawing at our antique land, reclaiming Africa for its wild and untamed heart.
South African rugby – a soon to be colossal wreck, boundless and bare – will have one more moment of cold command. This will be South Africa’s last World Cup win.
The excessive talent drain, waining interest in the sport and resultant drop in domestic standards will see South African rugby simply not being able to raise enough talent in future to reclaim the title.
The harvest will be done. Right now, Australia’s hubris is Springbok peripety.
But in what South Africa can throw on the field, one senses that in the colossal wreckage of their work, their mindless pursuit of glory for country will succeed for just one more moment.
This Springbok will have just one more moment of glory. Just one tantalising moment of hubris before the lone and level sands set in.
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.