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We've come too far to let 'sinister' political agendas destroy South African rugby - Eloff

By Online Editors
Eugene Eloff (c)

OPINION: Rugby 365 columnist and two-time World Rugby Junior Championship winner Eugene Eloff pleads for South African rugby not to cannibalise itself for the sake of pushing political agendas.

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I want to appeal, no plead, for all the interested parties that we build this beautiful game, not destroy it.

The COVID-19 pandemic has already been cataclysmal for sport all over the world – including the game of rugby. It has had a huge impact on the financial sustainability and the survival of national unions, franchises and clubs.

It is well-documented that some unions are battling financially, with the Falcons the latest to file for liquidation.

Kevin de Klerk, the former Lions President and a man I respect immensely, recently wrote an article about the “crisis” rugby finds itself in. He alluded to the financial challenges and the concomitant harm it can do to the game if these issues are not resolved.

When we contextualise the financial repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic with the prevailing zeitgeist of the Black Lives Matter movement, we see that rugby is facing its very own winter of discontent.

Rugby in South Africa has always been a political playball.

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We remember all too well the isolation years – when sweeping sanctions during apartheid prevented South Africa from competing in the global arena.

The world-wide abhorrence towards apartheid was justifiable and merited, while rugby in South Africa suffered the consequences of the politicising of the game locally and abroad.

Fast forward to 1995, when our boys in Green and Gold won the World Cup – with Francois Pienaar proudly proclaiming that the win was not just for the 62,000 fans at Ellis Park, but for all 43 million South Africans.

The game of rugby was seen as a vehicle of reconciliation and forged a sense of pride for all South Africans – regardless of race, creed or colour.

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The Springboks have since won the Webb Ellis Cup twice more, 2007 and 2019.

These events (read World Cup victories) succeeded in uniting our nation – especially the rugby communities – and made us all proud to be South African.

We need to build on those successes, not break it down and cause more polarization in rugby.

The BLM movement is currently gathering momentum around the world. However, people are of the opinion that there are other forces, with sinister agendas, piggybacking on this movement and in the process ripping the heart out of the movement and the ideology emanating from the tragic circumstances upon which it was built.

Here in SA the BLM has given impetus to disgruntlement among a group of non-white coaches and former players.

For rugby in South Africa it is indeed our Winter of Discontent.

Some coaches are of the opinion that they have been ignored and passed over for strategic coaching positions, despite them having the expertise, skills and qualifications for said assignments.

They argue that these positions have been assigned to favoured white coaches.

While there are indeed merit in some of these arguments, we must caution against throwing the proverbial baby out with the bathwater and destroying the game we all love so much.

Make no mistake, there has indeed been discrimination – with all coaches not always being given the opportunity to apply for certain positions. In some instances, there were those that were given positions purely as ‘window-dressing’.

However, there are individuals and organizations that thrive on conflict, disruptions, discontent and gleefully derive pleasure from the failure of those who are genuinely trying to drive the game forward.

Using a political platform as a point of departure gives rugby a militant flavour and immediately creates a sense of distrust, offence and may actually defeat the purpose well-meant intentions of others.

We have great coaches of all races and they should all be given the same opportunities and access to apply for professional positions.

So how do we do this?

I would suggest we have objective independent bodies – watchdog committees – to ensure that coaches of all races will have the same platform to air their grievances, as well as being given a level playing field and equal access to coaching positions based on merit.

These bodies (watchdogs) will also ensure that the correct protocols are followed in this process.

So, with the euphoria still in our hearts of our recent World Cup win, we should be reminded that rugby again is an example of a shining star that will pave the way forward – guidance for future generations of talented rugby players in this country, who want to play purely for the love of the game.

Stop with the distractions and politicising and get back to the game.

For the love of the game let us build and not destroy. Preserve it for future generations.

This article was first published in Rugby 365 and appears her with permission. 

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Jon 3 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 6 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

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A
Adrian 8 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

28 Go to comments
T
Trevor 11 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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