How 'Judas' saved the Boks
2004-08-25 07:39
They called him the Judas of Springbok rugby, but on reflection Dale McDermott was the saviour.
McDermott, technical analyst for the Springboks and a very influential technical assistant to Jake White's successful Under-21 campaign in 2002, was the individual who leaked images of the Boks at the infamous Kamp Staaldraad.
McDermott, on the team's return from the World Cup, revealed the haunting picture of our World Cup Boks, humiliated and huddled together naked in a pit. It was the picture that stunned the world and showed up the inadequacies of Rudolf Straeuli's leadership as Bok coach.
McDermott was vilified by senior Bok World Cup players, among them Joost van der Westhuizen, with the former Bok scrumhalf calling McDermott "Judas". The accusation was that McDermott had betrayed the Bok management and players. He was accused of selling out.
It was the most bizarre accusation when you consider the circumstances. The man the old Bok regime condemned is the man the entire country and rugby world should be thanking.
Straeuli would not have lost his job at Bok coach. The Sarfu Executive was not going to bullet him, despite a woeful 2003 season and disastrous World Cup campaign. But when the image of what went down at Kamp Staaldraad was splashed across every newspaper in the world, the executive had no option but to let Straeuli go.
Brave act
It is easy to forget Straeuli's tenure now that Jake White has moved in, dramatically changed the landscape and put a smile back on the faces of our players and supporters.
But White would not be the Bok coach had it not been for the brave act of McDermott. White would be coaching England's Under-21 team and telling his mates that he had the formula to beat New Zealand and Australia.
Straeuli would still be there and I can tell you the Boks would not be the 2004 Tri-Nations champions.
McDermott was in Durban on Saturday. He was in the crowd and he celebrated with the masses. But inside he was a lonely man and you can't blame him for feeling he is the one who has been betrayed.
All those who applauded his stance at the time - and White was among them - have moved on and are enjoying success. McDermott has had to rebuild his life, has gone back to teaching and is still the victim of lies about his character.
The 2004 Springboks should be queuing to thank McDermott. They would not be experiencing a new age approach from an enlightened coach. They would still be subjected to the paranoia of Straeuli and the mind games that threatened only a year ago to kill off the Springboks.
Hardship and victimisation
Straeuli is gone, confined to history and it was thanks to one man's decision to stand up and expose the atrocities of Staaldraad.
Yet, there hasn't even been a thank you to McDermott. He should be allowed back into the fold to assist White. He was White's technical assistant and those coaches who have worked with him know his value.
He took a decision to help save South African rugby and all he has known since is hardship and victimisation.
The new leadership of Sarfu has alienated McDermott. When White wanted to bring him back into the fold, he was told he couldn't.
It is indicative of the hypocrisy of our rugby. Andre Markgraaff is given the red carpet treatment. The man who disgraced our rugby is now running it. And the man who saved it has been run out of Bok town.
It is wrong that Dale McDermott lives in isolation when he should be part of Jake White's revolution. After all, he was the catalyst to ridding Bok rugby of Rudolf Straeuli.
McDermott saved the Boks. He did not harm them or betray them.
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Read Mark Keohane daily at www.keo.co.za.
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