SA Rugby should take a bow

2007-10-25 09:47

What an absolute honour it was to witness the Springboks win the World Cup in Paris!

The range of emotions one goes through during such an event is diverse to say the least. I was covering the game for Rapport and was on deadline, so there was not much time to celebrate in the immediate aftermath of the victory. A quick jump for joy, some tears and a hug and a high five to a fellow South African journalist sitting behind me, and it was back to the laptop.

I only felt what the team must have been feeling since the final whistle went when I attended the IRB Awards dinner the next evening. All the Boks were there, and looked like champions. Sitting there, watching them being named team of the year, I felt so, so proud to be a South African and "part" of that side. One gets to know the players over their careers and I knew how much it meant to some of them.

So who would lay claim to this massive achievement?

Obviously, every Bok fan can claim this Cup, given the sensational support the Boks got. There were thousands of them in Paris, Montpellier, Lens and Marseille during the tournament, all who paid a lot of money. Not every one can afford such a trip though, but many showed their true colours by buying a jersey, a T-shirt or a Bok beanie. We can all feel really proud.

To those who love rugby, but don't support the Springboks - tough luck on you. There are unfortunately still people living in the country that have problems with the Springboks and would rather support the All Blacks than their own compatriots.

They did more than their fare share

Well, the Boks won this for you too. Maybe those anti-Bok people could use this opportunity to take a good look at themselves. Ask yourself why you are wasting this opportunity to feel good and be part of the positive energy emanating from this win.

The one group of people who are not claiming anything are the administrators of the game. The president of SA Rugby, Oregan Hoskins, was quoted as saying they are not there to share the glory as it is their duty to govern the game. Well, I want to claim a part of this victory on behalf of Hoskins, his president's council, Jonathan Stones and his management team. They did more than their fare share, believe you me.

Halfway through Jake White's term, a new executive was elected, yet we still won the World Cup. So well done to them for not allowing rugby politics to detract too much from the main objective, that being a strong Springbok side.

White was allowed to rest key players when he wanted too, with Stones and Hoskins standing up to their Sanzar counterparts. There was a huge outcry from the Antipodeans, but SA Rugby stood firm, backing their coach and getting the ultimate reward.

Much has been said about the incident last year when White was called back from the last tour match in England. White was confronted by some angry presidents, who felt at the time (and rightly so) that the coach was veering off track. White asked for their patience, and got it.

During the Tri-Nations, Rassie Erasmus pulled out of the role as technical advisor. White wanted Clive Woodward, but he was unavailable due to other commitments. He then asked for Eddie Jones. Again, SA Rugby approved, albeit on the condition that Jones would not be allowed to wear a Bok blazer. Not many brownie points were scored on the blazer issue, sure, but they could have said no to Jones.

White's blessing

In another leap of faith and good governance, SA Rugby took out an insurance policy to cover them for having to pay the Springboks a promised bonus should they win the tournament. That action was taken more than a year ago, not when the Springboks made the play-offs three weeks ago. Again, the rugby bosses thought about the reality of the situation and acted accordingly.

White asked for extras and funds were made available. Sasol, as the main sponsor, were also never shy to help out. They knew that a World Cup winning Bok side would do their sponsorship a massive amount of good.

The administrators know too well that the Springbok brand is their flagship, and in that regard, their cash cow. They knew that a strong Bok side would lead to full houses, lucrative overseas Test matches, and much needed monies back into SA Rugby coffers. Money that will benefit the provincial unions.

Maybe SA Rugby need some applause and not only criticism?

And perhaps a break on the issue that is the future of Jake White? It was with White's blessing that SA Rugby was advertising the job a couple of weeks back. To say now that they want to fire White is just not true and unfair. Stones has been open and pro-active in the whole process. White actually wavered a condition in his contract so as to allow SA Rugby to start the process of finding a successor.

It is White's right to have second thoughts, but don't blame SA Rugby for that. They have done a good job in creating an environment for the Boks to perform. The fact that the Webb Ellis Cup is back at Newlands is proof of that.

Read JJ every Sunday in Rapport.

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