Who's got the worst union in World Rugby? Part 2 - South Africa
OPINION: All is not rosy in rugby right now. Bankruptcy, mismanagement, race issues and the structure of the game itself have created turmoil in some of rugby’s most storied outposts, to the point where the future of the game in those countries is genuinely in doubt.
In this series, we are examining three of World Rugby’s governance under-achievers and asking you, the fan, which one should henceforth be labelled “World’s Worst Rugby Union”.
Part Two: South Africa
Ugh, where to begin on this one? It’s all just so disappointing.
Having risen out of the apartheid era to a stunning Rugby World Cup victory in 1995 and subsequent success in 2007, the future looked bright for South African rugby. But a series of on-field embarrassments, questions around race-based selection policies and a mass player exodus have combined to drive the once-powerful South African Rugby Union to the brink of starvation.
Recently, the Springboks have been humbled by teams it would have never looked at twice. Their record under Allister Coetzee includes a first-ever defeat to Ireland in South Africa, a first-ever away defeat to Argentina and a first-ever defeat to Italy.
From Jan de Konig at Rugby365.com, “Just as Coetzee must carry the bale (and responsibility) for his poor tactics and selections, so must the SARU bosses take responsibility for appointing Coetzee in the first place.”
” They must [also] take blame for making his only ‘performance clause’ the transformation of the team – i.e. all Coetzee needs to do is adhere to the quotas agreed to… between SARU and the government.”
De Konig is referring to the hotly-debated quota system, which is intended to promote racial diversity in South African rugby yet appears, from social media sentiment at least, to be having much the opposite effect.
https://twitter.com/Jodre89/status/777147517549027328
https://twitter.com/IamMastercool/status/909018772077469696
Indeed, the level of cynicism toward SARU and its domestic counterparts is clear. The Western Province Rugby Union, for example, has been embroiled in scandal over the past year with criminal charges laid and accusations still flying. At the same time, its team has declined and a significant number of Cape rugby fans openly support the Springboks’ arch rival when the teams go head to head.
Speaking on The Short Ball recently, former All Black Andrew Mehrtens was critical of SARU, stating “Their selection policies are not conducive to creating a merit based team and the prestige that goes along with knowing that you are your mates are the best in the country in their positions”. A provocative statement indeed, but one that a number of Springbok fans seem to share.
Whether it’s the quota system or other factors at play, South Africa has arguably overtaken the Pacific Islands as the largest contributor to other nations’ playing stocks.
When the Springboks were stunned by Japan in the opening round of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, the team’s reputation took a hammering. But the Japanese weren’t just winning on the field, they were also luring some of South Africa’s best talent to the Far East in pursuit of greater financial security.
Europe has also been a major benefactor of the South African player drain. Not counting the two ex-Super Rugby teams that are now parading in front of European scouts and selectors every other weekend, dozens of would-be Springboks are playing across the UK, Ireland and France, to the detriment of the local game.
SARU’s broadcast partner, Super Sport, invests huge amounts into the game but the Rand has taken a beating in recent years, which makes the Pounds, Euros and Yen from abroad all that more appealing for players whose best earning potential may only last two or three years.
While SARU can’t be held responsible for the nation’s currency woes, it is ultimately responsible for its own player retention. Its failure to retain and grow sponsorship dollars, whilst alienating players and fans alike through one PR mess after the next, sees it a front-runner for the title of World’s Worst Rugby Union.
https://twitter.com/ThatLDNFella/status/929427612295991297
Still, there appears to be a slight glimmer of a rainbow of hope on the horizon, with the unanimous endorsement a fortnight ago of South Africa as the host nation for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Up against the revenue-generating credentials of France and the emotional pull of Ireland, South Africa came from nowhere to get a bid in and actually come out on top. This was a baffling decision to most, but presumably, a few concerned folk at World Rugby decided that something urgent needed to be done to arrest the rapid decline in fan interest from a once-proud rugby nation. Let’s all hope it can work.
Rugby fans in Asia can watch every game from the Springboks’ Autumn Internationals series LIVE and ON-DEMAND at RugbyPass.com
Follow every minute of South Africa v France on 19 November 2017 from the RugbyPass LIVE Match Centre HERE.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Aha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
85 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
29 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
226 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
226 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to commentsCan’t wait for the article that talks about misogyny in Ireland. Somehow.
19 Go to commentsI would like to see a rule change, when the attacking team is held up over the try line, by allowing the defensive team to restart a goal line drop out releases the pressure for the defensive team, but what if the attacking team had to restart a tap 5m out from the defensive team it gives the attacking team to apply more pressure, there are endless options for the attacking side and it will keep the fans in suspence.
2 Go to commentsLess modern South African males predictably triggered.
19 Go to commentsMy heart is with Quins, but the head is convinced Toulouse have too much. Ntamack is back, his timing and wisdom has been missed.
1 Go to commentsWow, what a starting line up for the Sharks) Tasty up front,kremer vs Tshituka or venter …fiery ,,Lavannini ,,will he knobble etzebeth? Biggest game for belleau?
1 Go to commentsIt was rubbish to watch, Blues weren’t even present. Did what they had to do, nothing more. Should be better next week against canes.
1 Go to commentsI’ve just noticed that this match has an all-French refereeing team. Surely a game like this ought to have a neutral ref? Although looking at the BBC preview of the Saints game, Raynal is also down as reffing that - so there may be some confusion about who is reffing what.
1 Go to commentsIf Havili can play anywhere in the back line, why not first 5. #10.
11 Go to comments