After reports coming out of South Africa that Cosatu has received complaints and that the issue of race has yet again used the Boks as a political pawn for selfish ambitions, I felt obligated to write this letter.
Dear Springboks,
It has come down to this. After years of hard commitment, I find myself in the position to write this letter.
From an early age, you cradled me. Even though you weren’t on the big stage, you still had the Currie Cup to make me feel wanted. There was a time when I was growing up that you went on the big adventure to see the world.
You spread your love and unique brand and formed strong rivalries with other teams, but no matter where you went and who you played, you and I were always together.
You and I achieved so much in such a short time. We enjoyed a beautiful honeymoon period by lifting the holy grail and uniting 47 million people into one joyous country. No matter what happened out in the world or even at home, you and I were in love.
It was a wonderful time.
There was a time after the honeymoon when you began to experiment with different things for a couple of years and it wasn’t really good for either of us. But I stayed loyal to you. And you paid back my loyalty in 1998 by winning your first tri-nations title. Things again were looking sunny and rosie. We were back on the same path of our previous honeymoon.
But soon after out second wind, you yet again did some strange things. Even though you were partaking in strange activities, you still adorned me with silver and gold and I remained loyal. Even when others laughed at me, I still praised you, even when you weren’t aware of it. I loved you so much that I wore your clothes in public without shame.
For the past 25 years or so, I have been infatuated with you. I loved you and you loved me back. It was a beautiful relationship but I think that it has run it’s course.
Just please remember, no matter what happens, you’ll always have a piece of my heart. As famous lovers once said “I wish I knew how to quit you”.
I truly wish I knew how, but the best thing for the both of us, is for me to leave. You may think that you are to blame, but you aren’t. Even if you aren’t your best, I would have normally stood by your side. As the vows say, “in sickness and in health”.
At the moment, you are a bit sick and I feel awful for writing this letter, but I believe there’s another party that is controlling you. Trust me, it isn’t the fact that you are sick and cannot perform well. Usually this is time that I’ll make excuses for you and defend you, but I cannot defend the other party that you have found yourself with.
When I got into a relationship with you, I believed that it was the best of you and the best of me. I would not ask for anything less than the best and I’m sure that you wanted the best from me, which I have tried to do every year, but I believe now that you cannot offer the best of you. And it isn’t your fault.
It seems that someone is abusing you and has given you a black eye (no pun intended, but let’s wink the blackened eye to Cosatu) and I can see that you are being forced away from me. You can no longer offer your best and it isn’t entirely your own fault. But as I said, I cannot commit to a relationship where someone else is pulling your strings.
I know that you have your hands tied in this regard but you cannot expect me to stick around when you cannot give me your best.
I have said that you’ll always have a piece of my heart and you’ll also have a piece of my soul, but I cannot stay in this relationship. We have been through tough times before, like any other strong relationship – but you’ve never really included a third party in our time and I’ve stayed loyal. But now it seems that we have run out of time. This distant relative of yours has broken my trust and I cannot stay.
Maybe one day, when your relative leaves, I’ll come back if you want me back but for now, please let me leave. I’ll still keep in contact and will check in every now and then, but for now we should take a break. It just hurts too much to think of what you are made to do to satisfy your relative.
I’m leaving my important valuables with you so you know that I still love you but I can’t be with you for now. I hope that you understand. I wish you all the best for the future and wish you all the success. I’ll be watching from afar and hope that you find good fortune.
I love you Bok, but I have to leave until you find your true self again.
USrugger
Guest
Hmm! This is not the first public rending of cloth & pulling out of hair I've seen on this blog... Mostly related to the Boks. Forswearing all & any fealty...only to return! I daresay a victory against the Argies...along with a strong run at the Billfest (which is entirely possible: the Phoenix arisen from the Ashes of Ellis)...will make all the oaths of separation moot. Damn...I've really loved this game forever...& intend to continue to do so!
John Roberts
Guest
ironically a couple of those legends you mention were disgraced in NZ after being paid to sanctions bust and join the NZ Cavaliers.
Gumboot
Roar Rookie
Dear Warren, I'm sorry it came to this. Yes it's true that I was a hooker and I played the field but I'm willing to try any position you so desire. Don't walk out on me Warren, let's make it work and think outside of the Boks, remember at the ball when we first met? I still remember dancing the haka waltzing matilda, I felt accepted Warren, I've never worn my tutu since our first date and I've watered my protea every day since. It was meant to BEE. If not for the sake of me, do it for the sake of our Boklings.
Vic, ignore macrheblack, he is an ex south african who is against anything that reminds him of the "old power"
mactheblack
Guest
As Steve Biko once said: "I write what I like." Vic, oh yes, guessed it like many SAs you will use soccer as an example to justify your lame point. That's old hat, mate an old hackneyed approach to justify the inconsistencies in rugby selection at a national level. More integrated than soccer, athletics etc? Doesn't mean rugby is integrated, does it? When you use the soccer example just goes to show how prejudiced "fans" like you can be. Many of us have adopted your noble approach Vic of "taking responsibility for myself/ourselves" - it doesn't change the facts and the course of history. Then we have Gumboot, casting aspersions on BEE - trying to be tongue in cheek, but which is essentially cheap[sarcasm. That is typical too and contradictory - support the team, but NOT transformation. Take off your spectacles bros - and see that we are not the "old SA" but the "new". The less said about the comment about "All Black heathens" the better. Jealousy does tend to make one nasty. Doesn't even deserve a response!!
Gumboot
Roar Rookie
Dear Warren, Don't listen to Mactheblack, Vic or Harry. They are a thing of the past and trying to destroy what we had my beloved. Fret not Warren, we were meant to BEE and nothing shall destroy our passion least of all those dastardly All Black heathens. Please Warren, come back to me. We shall start afresh and make a new life with our Boklings, we'll show them, you just watch and if people judge us we'll just blame the reff, I love you Warren. I don't care if your 5th in line to the crown my beloved, HM gives thee our blessing.
Vic
Guest
I grew up slap bang in the middle of apartheid too, mate, as a very disadvantaged person. But I was taught to take responsibility for myself, to work hard and to not blame everyone else for whatever happened to me. And not to generalise and stereotype people. And I support the Boks. Because they belong to me. You claim that Meyer has a personal agenda - are you a mind reader? And if he does, is he any different from you? Seems to me you have a personal agenda too, mate. Your prejudices colour your views as much as the next man's does. We all have prejudices. Those who claim they don't are either completely insightless or deny facts. You say rugby belong to the people of South Africa. I agree. It is more integrated than soccer. And swimming. And athletics. And just about every other sport in South Africa. And it performs better than all other sports in South Africa, and is on par with the Proteas. And I don't see you, or Cosatu, complaining about the soccer team's disastrous performances, or lack of representatives from all sectors of the nation.What are you, and Cosatu, doing for transformation? Are the Cosatu fat cats donating some of their millions to promote rugby in poor areas? Or organising rugby clinics for disadvantaged kids? Are you donating some of your time and income? Are you lobbying Zuma and co for money to help the integration and transformation? Or better still, to improve the quality of soccer? Stick with your All Blacks, mate. The Bok doesn't belong to you.
Harry Jones
Expert
And some loves, no matter how wild and destructive and sad they are, you just can't quit them.
mactheblack
Guest
I agree with you Fresney. Warren, so which team are you supporting next by the way? You don't actually say. Or are you going into hiding until Meyer wins the next game? Don't blame Cosatu mate - at least they have a point! Yes, pick on merit, but in the same breath you can't be anti-transformation. Where is Mapoe, who shone in Super 15? How the heck is Mvovo relegated to the bench? What's happening to Habana in the Bok set-up. This man has lost his mojo due to an outdated game-plan!!! Blame Heyneke. He has taken a team that was No 2 in the world to No 5! The same guy who said that Jesse Kriel is the best centre in the world. And then moves him to wing? And can't deliver? Sticks with Pollard, when Lambie (Englishman???) shows what he can do. A coach who is not clear on the game-plan? Who seems to have a personal agenda, when this is a national sport that belongs to the people of South Africa? He still picks "old toppies" like Matfield, De Villiers, Ruan etc.? Your way of thinking is of a typical Bok fan mindset that still harkens to the past. Sorry to say, Boks and most supporters are still stuck in the past mate. It's embedded in the culture. Expect to win every game - with power and brute force that harks back to the past, when today as ABs, Aussies and even NH sides are showing, that tactical awareness, basic skills, can trump brawn any day! And if the Boks lose - because most fans thinks its an unjust thing to happen - it's a national disaster!!!! It's an absolute travesty how Pieter De Villiers was treated by fans and media alike during his reign. Yes, like every coach he had his faults, but he took the team to the people of SA, built a team culture, and won some very important matches (Lions series included). When fans became personal it was clear to see that the coach was being criticized because of prejudice and not on his results. Ask him, he will tell you what he thinks of Heyneke and Bok rugby at the moment, like he has said in radio interviews. Now "Blue Bulls" Meyer gets another four-year term? No one's calling for HIS head? All of these above reasons are why you should contemplate leaving your "beloved", not the reasons you propogate. But aren't we supposed to stick with our "heroes" - win or lose? I grew up slap bang in the middle of the old apartheid order as a very disadvantaged person (won't go into the details here) - and could never support the Boks. Many have made a change, years later to shouting for the "Green and Gold". Many others have not. I fall into the latter category - I decided that I would not leave my heroes, the ABs behind, though we, SA, are in a new world order and rose like a Phoenix from the ashes!. No I stuck with them (the ABs) - thankfully. The All Blacks culture is what rugby is and should be all about. Colin Meads, Bryan Willams, Waka Nathan, Graham Mourie, Syd Going, Billy Bush, Grant Batty, Chris Laidlaw, Andy Haden, Bruce Robertson, Grant Fox, Andrew Mehrtens, John Kirwan, Josh Kronfeld, Michael Jones, Zinzan Brooke, 'Cowboy' Smith, Murray Mexted, ... Richie McCaw, some of the many many greats that still today makes me a proud AB supporter! WIN OR LOSE!!!
Gumboot
Roar Rookie
Dear Warren, I cherish the times we've shared but please for the love of God don't leave me. We'll work things out, together, you'll see my little cherub but please I beg of you, think of our Boklings. Please be honest with me Warren, are you seeing or fan-tasizing about someone else? Love conquers all, Gumboot
Lano
Roar Guru
Warren, hang tight, Japan RWC is just around the corner. It'll be a new generation by then, players and coaches, the rellies will be gone, sense will have prevailed. Just look at the rest of Africa........sorry mate.......it has and never will find its true self again. All is lost. Can't recall where this is from and I know its not accurate but take this as a lead....Georgia is looking for supporters. waste not your life's persuit on this or that trivial matter or dispute better be joined to a fruitful grape than saddened by none or, bitter fruit.
Fresney
Guest
You are correct - my error. 2 wins since 2010. Wish is was better.
Jerry
Guest
That can't be right, the AB's lost to the Boks in 2011 and 2014.
Fresney
Roar Pro
Get a life man. Cosatu is the least of the Boks' problems. HM's record is the current #1 problem. The ABs have won 10 of the last 11 tests against the Boks since 2010. HM has won a single test in 7 outings against the ABs. Beating the All Blacks is, by every measure, is the benchmark of a top performing international team.
etienne marais
Guest
ag shame, man