As a South African abroad I am often asked by puzzled non-South Africans to explain what has gone wrong with South African rugby since the Springboks won the 1995 World Cup.
Several factors have contributed to their depressed fortunes.
Emigration
Millions of South Africans have emigrated. Some superb rugby talents have moved overseas and now play for their adoptive countries (like South Africa).
At virtually every South African international one hears of a “South African born” player or players who are “originally from” South Africa.
The black and “coloured” talent pool is not replenishing the migrating white talent pool that is ebbing away.
Decline of Club Rugby
The club game is in ruins in South Africa. In England, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and even wales, club rugby is extremely healthy.
In South Africa and Scotland it is dying out. Notice the trend?
Affirmative Action
Black players are being forced on the Springbok selectors. In the latest example of shameless political interference in the rugby selection process black player Breyton Paulse was controvertially seleceted instead of in-form Jaque Fourie for the recent England match.
This was ordered by South African politicians and it cost South Africa dearly as they were trounced by England.
In the England match, Paulse had a shocker. He knocked on repeatedly and his tackeling was dire.
There are superb black players who deserve their caps, but when politicians at home insist that 11 of the 22 caps be black -regardless of talent or skill - it handicapps the Springboks badly. You get an A Team masquerading as the full international squad.
You can read about the Paulse/Fourie controvesy here.
It is driving Springbok fans mad.
Corruption and Politics
There is widespread corruption in South African rugby at every level. The game is worth billions in rugby mad South Africa and infighting within the rugby management is legendary.
Little can be agreed, selection policies are in ruins. Coaches are hired and fired with little regard to continuity or talent and polticians interfere deeply in the management of the team.
Biased refereeing
There is little doubt that the Springboks are deeply unpopular team.
South Africans in general are not liked. Twenty years of relentless anti-South African propaganda created the steriotype of a violent racist dour people.
A generation of British commentators has reinforced that image.
This antipathy is reflected in the way international referees show near open bais against the Springboks in international tests.
In the most recent tour of the British Isles, South Africa were repeatedly punished for phantom infringements. Furthemore players like Burger were targeted by the opposition who made unfounded accusations. These are the rugby equivalent of Mardonaesque diving.
The referees happily played along with the pretense and he was sin binned twice.
And so?
The truth is the Springbok teams that have been fielded lately have been mediocre at best.
Knock-ons, uncreative play, bad basics, poor passing and inferior players compounded by biased refereering and handicapped selectors leads to the sort of decline we are witnessing.
It is like what happened to the West Indies cricket team. In their case, US cultural infuences (Basketball) displaced British cultural influences (Cricket). The West Indies are in terminal decline.
The Springboks are similarly doomed. Politics and the reality of a massively changed (and changing) South African society is destroying them.
RIP SA Rugby 1901-1995
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