South Africa is already in the Six Nations
There is so much South African meat knocking about Scottish rugby at the minute that black puddings are being made with kudu blood around the Highlands. WP Nel, Pierre Schoeman, Kyle Steyn and Duhan van der Merwe are now patriot Scots and have tartan stitched on their hearts, but their origins provide an interesting narrative thread for rugby fans on both sides of the equator. Or at least for those fans capable of having lighthearted conversations about a man’s national identity without veering into nasty jingoism.
So, in the spirit of frivolity and not taking rugby as seriously as it should be at times, here forth is the one variable that links the half-dozen Six Nations sides. No, it’s not title aspirations, the heartache of a botched 2023 World Cup or disdain for the English. It is of course their ties to South Africa.
Scotland
Where else to start? The four aforementioned Saffas-turned-Scots have added heft up front and razzle-dazzle out wide. When van der Merwe cut England to shreds in what was later recognised as the try of 2023, commentator Mark Robson wondered how a man who is built like a tyrannosaurus-rex could move like a ballet dancer. Clearly he’s never had to navigate Clifton’s second beach in December.
This bond runs deeper than just this current side. It wasn’t long ago that Ollie Kebble and Allan Dell were propping up Scotland’s scrum with the immaculately bearded pair of Josh Strauss and Cornell du Preez causing chaos on the flank. Further back, in the early days of professionalism, John Allan – uncle of Italy’s Tommasso Allan – played for both countries either side of the 1995 World Cup.
There are seven players currently on the books at Glasgow and Edinburgh that could still represent their native South Africa while Franco Smith’s work with the Warriors has earned him love up and down the River Clyde.
Which means if the Scots are to achieve the previously unachievable, and lift a title they so desperately crave, they’ll owe a debt of gratitude to the protein supplied by Free State cows.
England
It would be remiss – especially for any patriot Saffa – not to kick this one off with Mike Catt. After all, the sight of him getting steamrolled by Jonah Lomu while playing for the former colonial power never gets old. Of course, the man with the letters OBE next to his name contributed more to English rugby than merely melting in the tackle. A World Cup winner’s medal and a British & Irish Lions triumph on South African soil means his legend is secure.
Since WB Thomson donned the Red Rose in 1892, 28 South African-born players have represented England. Two, including Catt and Harold Geoffrey ‘Tuppy’ Owen Smith skippered the side.
Two clubs in recent years have had so many South Africans that the word ‘Saffa’ morphed into a prefix. And though the Saffa-Sharks in Sale have yet to win a trophy, Saracens, or, if you like, the Saffacens, moulded by Brendan Venter, would lift five Premiership titles and three European Championships across a dynastic decade in the 2010s. Today, all ten Premiership sides are represented by at least one of the 29 South Africans in England’s top flight.
Wales
With no direct links to South Africa in this year’s squad, Warren Gatland can at least take heart that his forwards have been cutting their teeth against South African packs in the URC. Love or loathe the competition, there is no doubt that the constant rumbling against southern hemisphere heavies has added grunt to European outfits.
Bradley Roberts, who has not made the 34-man group, was the last connection to South Africa from within the camp. The Dragons hooker was born in Durban and attended the prestigious Michaelhouse school, alma mater of Saracen’s Michael Rhodes, the Ulster and Ireland back-rower Robbie Diack, and Patrick Howard who won 35 caps for the Dragons.
South African rugby players regularly cite the Welsh as one of the toughest opponents around. Though the cultural connections are tenuous, the shared values are firmly entrenched.
Italy
It would be disingenuous to claim the Zimbabwean-born Sebastian Negri, though there’s no denying the impact Hilton College and Western Province had on his development. Still, in Braam Steyn and Johan Meyer, Italy have recently fielded back-rowers from Africa’s most southern edge. Keeping that tradition alive is the Johannesburg-born No. 8 Ross Vintcent who is yet another exciting prospect from Italy’s lucrative youth programme.
Two South Africans have served as head coach of the Azzurri, though the less said about their records the better. Franco Smith lost all 13 matches in charge during a short interim stay. Nick Mallett claimed some big scalps during his four-year tenure, including a 22-21 win over France in Rome, but couldn’t once lift the side off the bottom of the table.
France
After playing a leading role in knocking France out of their own World Cup last year, South Africa’s Jesse Kriel wore a sheepish grin as he conveyed an admiration for French rugby and hoped local supporters would get behind the Boks.
It didn’t quite work that way. There was no love lost for Siya Kolisi’s team who were booed for most of their stay in Paris. If bridges are to be built, perhaps the broad shoulders of the hulking 128kg lock Paul Willemse can help with their construction.
Like England, France is a welcoming home for South Africans looking to test their mettle in a competitive – and well-paying – European league. Besides Kolisi at Racing 92, 22 South Africans ply their trade in France. None presently wear the colours of Toulon, though they’ve had their fill in the past with the likes of Bryan Habana, Juan Smith, Bakkies Botha and Danie Rossouw offering ballast to the all-conquering Galacticos that won a hat-trick of Champions Cups from 2013.
Ireland
Born on the dusty streets of Vereeniging, raised on nothing but raw meat and zebra milk until he was nine, Josh van der Flier is as South African as the stalagmites in the Sterkfontein Caves.
None of that is true. World Rugby’s player of the year for 2022 was actually born in Wicklow, but the relationship between Ireland and South Africa is strong enough that every so often a gullible supporter takes the bait on social media.
The most recent – and factually accurate – link comes in the shape of South Africa’s World Cup winning coach, Jaques Nienaber, who is now marshalling the defence of the juggernauts at Leinster. Having spent two years with Rassie Erasmus at Munster – whose fans so generously bequeathed The Cranberries song Zombie to Springboks supporters during the World Cup – Nienaber shouldn’t get too home sick on the Emerald Isle. At least he’ll have lock Jason Jenkins for company round the braai.
Staying on the pitch, Jean Kleyn’s journey from Springboks hopeful to Ireland starter to a World Cup winner with South Africa is remarkable. Unlike CJ Stander, Rob Herring and Quin Roux – who all represented Ireland with distinction – Kleyn, like the winger Jack Gage almost 100 years ago, has experience wearing both shades of green.
So, no matter who wins the Six Nations, a South African will celebrate. They might be orchestrating Italy’s defence, Ireland’s attack, Scotland’s scrum or France’s kicking game. They might be watching on as punters in a new land or recalling their own glory days on famous grounds. They might have even had a hand in the result.
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
31 Go to comments