I have found myself thinking about South African rugby quite a lot lately, probably due to the fact my All Blacks were likely to, and did, play them in an all-important semi-final in the 2015 World Cup.
In a tense and hard fought match, the All Blacks managed to prevail by a mere two points.
Is that it? Arguably one of the best teams in All Blacks history, owning one of the best records by any international team, can only manage a measly two-point win that was still in the balance in the last minute?
Since the 2011 World Cup, New Zealand have dominated the South Africans in terms of specific head-to-head results, now seven wins for one loss. However the average points difference has been eight points, hardly what I would suggest are light years apart. The average score between South Africa and New Zealand was 26-18 in the last eight Tests.
Now it is true that South Africa’s record has not fared as well as the All Blacks outside of playing each other, however that has more to do with Heyneke Meyer’s obsession with beating the All Blacks and losing sight of what is in front of him.
Some of those games played have been widely acclaimed as some of the best rugby played, while during the same period the Springboks amassed the second most tries scored per match (three) by any international team.
Yet it is a common theme to see this team marginalised as one dimensional, boring and only capable of playing the often termed ’10-man game’. In fact of 141 tries scored in 47 matches, 93 have been scored by backs and 43 by forwards, and there have been five penalty tries.
The Springboks, and by association South African rugby, is often viewed as forward orientated with little substance outside of that.
Anyone who has spent a few minutes taking in the Currie Cup and the fabulous Varsity competition can see this is a fallacy.
There is speed, skill and talent to burn, so much so that in terms of pure numbers, South Africa are the greatest exporter of rugby talent, with more ex-pats running around in foreign competitions than any other. It is difficult to know precisely how many South African rugby players are plying their trade abroad, but Roarer Harry Jones tells me there are as many as 594, which is almost as many as are contracted domestically.
“Many of those are not Super Rugby quality, or even Currie Cup starter standard, but probably half or more would compete for a starting position in the big South African unions, who have about 600 contracted senior class players,” he said.
“Nowadays, the exodus starts much earlier in the players’ careers, like Steven Kitshoff, who just missed out on the World Cup squad, or highly rated youngsters CJ Stander or Paul Willemse, who were on Meyer’s short list for 2019.”
Roarer Biltongbek has often explained to me the innate conservatism which tends to permeate through South African coaching ranks, particularly at the highest levels. This is true when you consider several Super Rugby teams along with the Springboks, but we have seen some teams, such as the Cheetahs and the Lions, begin to break this mould, and this will continue.
South African rugby has many challenges that it faces that other unions do not have to contend with, quotas and economy spring immediately to mind. However their biggest challenge is the administrators who serve self-interest above what is best for the game.
Their grassroots development has not reached 25 per cent of their schools, talent identification is only done on small scale via the top rugby schools and comparing the innovation we see from South African coaches to those from New Zealand, they are lacking in every department.
When you sit down and take all this into consideration, it is actually astonishing what South Africa has actually accomplished at Test level, although this is likely to be of small comfort to Springbok fans.
From the outside looking in, it is quite scary what South Africa can be. While many would suggest the United States are a potential sleeping giant of the game, there is a monster playing the game right now, invariably ranked number two and still yet to even come close to realising its potential.
Too often these anti-South African sentiments remind me of a schoolyard bully who is heaping his verbal abuse at someone, in the hope that they never retaliate in anger. They live in fear for what potential threat might come if they awaken the beast.
I have made comparisons with New Zealand here as it is in my comfort zone to do so, and it is not my intent to suggest that South Africa should emulate us. But if you imagine a South African set-up focused as one cohesive unit with the ultimate aim of gearing the Springboks to be the best in the world, it is a rather scary thought for the rest of the competition.
Gene Lindsay
Guest
Being S.african I love your sleeping Giant analogy. However this rainbow nation as the politically correct self description is more of a divided Giant! United if we could be, would make us a far more formidable foe indeed! There is just far too many political aspects involved spoiling it!! A rugby microcosm reflecting our state as a nation on a larger scale perhaps. That said we love playing the kiwis and wallabys most because you lot are the best in the world(mainly kiwis) so lets hope we can keep you all on your toes in future encounters! Good luck to both teams in the final - they deserve to be there!
hopalong
Guest
Thank you KK.
Kia Kaha
Roar Guru
Hey hop along. Just a joke that the eligibility laws seemed to fit snugly the case of Giteau, who has been an invaluable addition for the Wallabies. It was announced as a rule for all players - future and past - but for this World Cup I suspect Cheika wanted the experience and expertise as well as the defensive heart of Giteau. Other players have returned like Douglas but Giteau was the deal breaker.
hopalong
Guest
Hello Iaian.Please read posts from Charl and Ant. Blacks are indeed passionate about soccer. One of them quoted from research that in the province(Natal) in which blacks are the most populous,only 3% of schools play rugby.As disturbingly bad in other provinces.Except the Western Cape( 46%) where the coloured predominates,and who has an innate love of rugby. So, a preference for soccer,which is their good right. I use the word coloured with reluctance.In our nations obsession with regard to race it distinguishes negroid from mulatto segments of our society.Sad,but true. The other 97% are supportive of a national team ranked 75th in the world soccer.So to answer your question..Hell,I don,t know. There is a movie which I think stars Tom Cruise,and which has the immortal lines"Show me the money" And therein lies the answer to your question..Where has the development money gone. No development.
Iaian
Guest
South African rugby, I have been told many times is a sleeping giant. I have always wandered why Black people have not adopted rugby as their chosen sport. I was told they are football crazy, supporting mainly 2 teams, Chiefs and Pirates. But what I do not get is that their national team hosted the football world cup and they were the first team to host it and be knocked out at the pool stage. To be honest, you can see why they are not very good at it. Come on South Africa, convince your football mad public to play rugga, lets see what you can do ?
richirich
Guest
mactheblack - you just got owned!!
hopalong
Guest
Hi KK.What is the Matt Giteau eligibility rule? Thanks.
Vic
Guest
Why exclude coloured guys - they not black enough?
hopalong
Guest
And I could not give 2 hoots about the racial composition of our teams,as long as they are merit selections. The could be green,purple,azure in pigmentation for all that I would care.
hopalong
Guest
You named 7 players selected over a period of,what is it?24 years. Have a look at the current racial mix of both the Protea and Bok.sides. And while you are at it.of the current Bafana side. And why exclude coloured players as suggested in your post.. Are you suggesting that they are generic blacks as compared to "true" blacks.?A suggestion postulated by one of our politicians. And used increasingly in the work place. How often does one hear the complaint from coloureds that "they are not considered black enough"?
RobC
Roar Guru
hopalong
Guest
And no money ploughed back into development. But hush.Say it softly.This one point which,even if true,will qualify you as an apartheid apologist.Even if not true.How that allegation arose in a post which centered around bureaucratic greed and an apathy towards SA Rugby boggles the brain. A proper understanding of the meaning of "politics" would help..
Charl
Guest
Unfortunately no facts there, Andy - just opinion. But I agree with you - transformation should happen, ensuring that youngsters who want a chance at rugby are provided with a chance to learn and play. Whose responsibility do you think it is to bring this about? The ANC, or those who handed over power 20 years ago and have no power now? Do you believe black players should be chosen for the Boks because they are the best in their position or because they are black? Do you think more black players than coloured or Indian players should be chosen, as the ANC insists, and if so, why? Do you think transformation should also happen in the soccer team? You state "it's not an elitist sport in SA" - just a few statistics for you: "In our most populace province of KZN, 97% of schoolboys NEVER play rugby. And the proportion is the same in Limpopo, North West and Mpumalanga – four of our biggest provinces where only 3% of boys have access to rugby at school. It’s hardly any better in Gauteng, Free State, the Northern Cape and even the Eastern Cape where around 85% of boys NEVER have access to rugby at school. And if you don’t start at school you will never become a Springbok. Only in the Western Cape – where 46% of schools play rugby - can the game really be called a ‘national sport’."
Kia Kaha
Roar Guru
DC would you believe I didn't see the game live?! Had to go to Cuenca for a double banger surprise 40th party. These Spanish have no idea when it comes to scheduling events! I think SA has to do away with the overseas eligibility rule or at least implement the Matt Giteau eligibility rule. Then grow the domestic game, which might be difficult with the Super juggernaut.
Flynn
Guest
"You won’t see soccer, as big and wealthy as it is in South Africa, inviting any white players into their ranks any time soon." There was a viral graphic going around which shows all the white guys who played for Bafana Bafana vs. all the black African (not coloured) guys who have played for the Proteas and Springboks. There were more of the first than the second. Mark Fish, Hans Vonk, Roger da Sa, Mark van Heerden, Matthew Booth, Dean Furman, Neil Tovey? The list is not short.
Gareth Duncan
Guest
Maybe if there was serious prize money on the line in Super Rugby and other competitions, franchises and unions will invest more into their development structures. Right now, the investment is sadly not worth it.
Pieter
Guest
thaanks a lot for this article diggercane, for the first time I have seen an international rugby viewer understand the issues that SA rugby must be dealing with. the transformation is causing talented rugby players to play abroad. I mean why would a white male still be wanting to stay in SA, Becausse they dont get jobs in this country and they wont get picked in the national side. Did you know that SARU has realeased a statemant saying that at least 50% of the 2019 rwc squad must be black players. how can you develop a rugby nation with corruption like this. SA has got so much potential but is being wasted by the politicians.
Andy
Guest
I think South African rugby is in a pretty good place. The future looks bright if transformation is embraced and not feared. School rugby looks pretty healthy to me. Most of the big rugby playing schools are public schools so it's not an elitist sport in South Africa.
Synn
Guest
I agree with digger here, he has seen my point of view…back in 2007 when we won the world cup, I was not only happy and relieved that we won…I was really really relieved, due to the fact that we have to play in a country where a government is ruling our sport at every term, and I was thinking by myself, we are probably one of the only nations in the world who’s government is having a hand in every decision the coach makes, they want a percentage of black players in our rugby and cricket squad, and still we manage to win the world cup, still we manage to be at the top of the cricket rankings…how good are we? we lost to NZL by 2 points this saturday..what would’ve happened if we could include the back line to our type of play? what would happen with a well trained back line, and a coach who can bring some flare in our back line, forwards and backs who can do some off loads…Habana needs to chip kick for trieds, no on creats it for him, he create his own most of the time…a under performed back line, a bad coached back line is our down fall right now, Heyneke has 1 dimensional rugby in mind…who still does that? how can he play like that and expect to win anything…I’m so happy his time is over, I’m scared to see who’s coming next…SA is a Rugby giant, and I’ve said it time and time again, I completely agree with Digger here…btw dont care about the haters, their will always be haters
Ant
Guest
Transformation is a fancy term that i believe has originated in South Africa - transformation actually means a demographic representation of a country - so because of apartheid we need to field players that match the demographic… what happens if the demographic don't actually want to play rugby and those that do want to play the sport actually do reach the provincial teams and in some instances the highest level - what if certain players are not good enough to play at the highest level, but because the demographic is not represented they are drafted in anyway - the entire idea of transformation is a political term and has no interest in growing sport it is a ploy to get more votes - amazing how transformation is brought up by certain political parties in world cup years and then the whole transformation debate is gone in a month or so - the reason is nobody at the top levels gives a stuff. a sport should field the best possible players at all times regardless of race and as such transformation (or a FAIR demographic representation) will and should never happen in sport…. Soccer/football is a fair demographic representation and is also a favoured sport by the majority of South Africa - now surely they have a talent pool that is arguably one of the biggest in the world, yet they struggle to win games. There are some south africans who love rugby and want to play rugby and there are those that would rather play soccer - your blinkered comment of south african rugby and transformation based on the ills of the past is an ignorant and outdated misconception of south africa and that in no way means that we have forgotten the past and the injustice of the past but we need to move forward. I am bitterly disappointed with the loss at the weekend, but i fear that on the day and over the last 4 years the AB's have been a better and more rounded team - they do not deal with the issues that we deal with and the political playground that uses rugby as a platform - the guys chosen had a job to do amidst all the controversy and they could not pull it off although in my opinion came damn close… Anyway stop preaching about stuff you know nothing about - you do not live here and you do not have any idea what south africa is all about and when this sleeping giant does wake up - it will be untouchable… Great article Digger