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10/04/2008 08:00
JJ Harmse
So, suddenly there is a purge on black people in rugby? Now that is interesting, is it not? I wonder who the so-called purgers would be, then. Maybe Oregan Hoskins and his supporters? However, they are black also, are they not? Maybe the Boeremag as part of some third force? Yes, there you have it, we have a culprit. The white man again and those who are against democratising and transforming the game of rugby.
I am sorry to bore you with the opening paragraph, but I needed to do that to remind you how silly we have become as a rugby nation.
At times, our leaders and administrators are nothing more than a laughing stock, which is a pity. They do so many good things in the game, but it seems, always find a way to create bad publicity. Or, as is seems with the latest sage surrounding Mike Stofile, Zola Yeye and Cheeky Watson, some feel they have to take everybody down with them when they are not wanted anymore.
Think outside the box
I have just returned from the Adelaide Sevens tournament and was fortunate to meet John O'Neill, the Aussie CEO, MD and as it seems at times, president of Australian Rugby. Man, can he generate publicity for his code.
Yes, it is true that the Wallabies are battling to gain ground on Aussie Rules, League and even soccer, but no one can fault O'Neill for not trying. Always trying to be controversial or maybe always trying to think outside the box, O'Neill is certainly a well-quoted man.
Next year, he told me, he wants the Super 14 to expand to 26 weeks. Because it is good for Australia. What about the Currie Cup then, sir? Ahh, SA Rugby can make a plan, he argues. Then there is also a small matter of the British Lions coming to South Africa. What about that, I wondered. Again, O'Neill offers no solution, but does not try to, because he is thinking of the Wallabies, first, second and third.
Gunslinger
I was trying to draw some parallels between O'Neill and his South African counterpart, Jonathan Stones. Where Stones is trying to stay out of the news, O'Neill seems almost addicted to headlines. Where Stones goes about his way in an unobtrusive manner, O'Neill rattles and shakes. I do not doubt the commitment of Stones, Hoskins or any official at SA Rugby, but man, do we need someone like O'Neill.
Not because of the headlines and copy he provides the media, but for the passion he has for the job at hand. He is fighting with all he has and by all means and ways he knows. A gunslinger until the end, he will go down fighting. I salute a great rugby man and I can only wish we could have some of his dynamics in our game.
However, we use our energies to fight each other. We use our intellectual capacity to break down, not to build. It is so sad.
There are so many good things going for SA Rugby. I was fortunate to share a great victory with our Sevens boys and what a proud moment it was.
Daring substitutions
The weekend before, during the aftermath of the Hong Kong final, I had a very constructive argument with some very senior and respected journalists from New Zealand, Wales and England. They could not stop themselves from praising the seemingly unbeaten New Zealand side and had few good things to say about Paul Treu's team. I warned them there and then that the results will be reversed in Adelaide and that Fabian Juries will be the main strike force to do it.
You can imagine my joy when exactly that happened in Adelaide. I was pleased for Treu as well, who made some daring substitutions during the two days. Everything worked for him. His faith in young Robert Ebersohn was also repaid. What a young superstar we have in that shy guy from Bloemfontein!
Ebersohn should be playing Super 14 next year, he is that good. But we will have to guide his career. After all, he is still a junior player, who has now also being picked for the national Under-20 squad. He is also good enough to make the Emerging Boks, who will again defend their title in Romania, won by Peter de Villiers last year.
Nurtured
Or should he only play in the Currie Cup, which this year, will have the added bonus of the Springboks playing in it? Alternatively, should he be nurtured as a Sevens player for the next six months and help us win the Sevens World Cup in March 2009?
I think I know where I would like to see him... in Dubai, playing Sevens for his country. I can almost anticipate where John O'Neill would like to see a similar Australian talent. But to be honest, once he is released back into the South African rugby environment, I have no idea where Ebersohn will be in a year's time.
Read JJ every Sunday in Rapport.
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