The bitter aftertaste from the Springboks World Cup win
Seven seconds passed between Siya Kolisi lifting the Webb Ellis Cup and South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa taking it from him. At the time it barely registered. In that euphoric moment, who exactly had their hands on rugby’s greatest prize was of little concern to Springboks supporters. All that mattered was that it was heading home to join three of its siblings in the trophy cabinet.
But as the potent cocktail of relief and joy has largely worn off, as cloudy hangovers have parted and the afterglow of that glorious night in Paris has subsided, a lingering aftertaste has remained. To be sure, the prevailing sense is one of sweet celebration, but in the back near the molars it’s hard to ignore something far more bitter.
Just what was Ramaphosa doing there? In truth it’s painfully obvious. He was after something that might be called a ‘Nelson Mandela moment’. When the Springboks won their first World Cup 28 years ago, the former president of the country handed the victorious captain Francois Pienaar the glittering golden cup. He thanked the Boks skipper for what he’d done for the country and then stepped aside. He never raised the trophy himself. He understood that this moment, though paved by his sacrifice and hard work, was not about him.
The Springbok emblem has come under fire from radical politicians back in South Africa who have rightly pointed out that the leaping antelope was once a muscular totem of the apartheid regime. These outspoken voices have called for the emblem to be banned and have pledged that should they ever come to power they’ll force the team to play under a new badge and in different colours.
What they fail to recognise is that symbols are in a constant state of flux. They evolve and adapt over time. The Springbok was once unquestionably a source of great shame for the country and represented everything that was broken in South Africa. But who could watch the scenes from the nationwide bus parade and make that argument today? South Africans of all races, who speak a mix of 12 languages and have roots in dozens of tribes, ethnicities and religions all came together to cheer for Kolisi and his diverse team. They are the result of what is possible when a fractured land pulls together.
Ramaphosa, so bereft of the grace and humility shown by Mandela nearly three decades ago, knows this which is why he was so desperate to place himself front and centre on that podium. By snatching the trophy away from Kolisi and hoisting it aloft himself before any other Springbok coach or player had the chance to hold it was not only a shameless act of selfishness, it was an insidious ploy to tether his own failing brand to the one South African organisation that rises above all others on the world stage.
Sportswashing comes in many forms but the goal is the same. It is meant to act as a smokescreen to a government’s wrongdoings and shortcomings while distracting fans with goals, wickets, knockouts and tries. What’s worse is that it works. Throughout history, from the ancient Romans to petrostates that are now consuming all of sport, the lure of bread and circuses have been too powerful to ignore.
South African rugby fans must not allow the greedy and corrupt politicians to steal this moment. They had nothing to do with the Springboks’ success and don’t deserve any of the attention or kudos for themselves.
Just this week two ANC officials from one of the country’s most poorly run provinces were seen fighting over the trophy, arguing over who got to lift it first. It was akin to watching two hyenas tussle over a carcass that they had no hand in killing. If these glory hunters were so desperate for adulation they should do their jobs and provide adequate service delivery and play a hand in turning around an economy that remains a heartbeat away from flatlining.
But this is not an appeal to the ANC or any of the country’s opposition parties who have failed to convince enough voters to expel a blatantly corrupt organisation from power. In truth there isn’t a single political body in the country that has earned as much love and support as the Springboks or that cuts across race and class the way the World Cup winners have. I’ve joked before that if Kolisi ran for a mayorship he’d sweep to a landslide victory. After the scenes of the past fortnight, that doesn’t seem so far-fetched.
And so rather than address those inept government leaders who continue to siphon every resource they can, or those radicals on the fringe who would warp a jubilant moment into something odious, this is an appeal to those who actually represent the country with distinction to do something tangible.
I don’t know where it would lead to but it could start with firm condemnation of Ramaphosa and everyone else who, like parasites, attached themselves to a triumph that wasn’t theirs. If a senior player or coach called out corruption and mismanagement or the failures of a state that now oversees a country with 33 per cent unemployment and the largest wealth inequality in the world, that would add significant weight into the political discourse.
It wouldn’t be totally uncharted territory for some of them. Kolisi, Cheslin Kolbe, Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi have all used their platform to call for an end to gender-based violence and youth crime. Many others, including the retired World Cup-winning prop, Tendai Mtawarira, have established charitable organisations to combat the inequities around them. Going one step further would take this team to a new level of athlete activism and underline their own stated ambition to make a significant impact on all South Africans, not just those fortunate enough to watch them play.
Of course this carries a degree of risk and the blackballing of the American footballer Colin Kaepernick serves as a warning. But there are success stories to draw inspiration from and who could say if Kolisi won’t one day follow in the footsteps of Manny Pacquiao, George Weah, Imran Khan or David Pocock and become a bonafide statesman after retirement?
This could only happen with the support of the fans. A Springbok will only feel emboldened to stiff-arm an undeserving politician if he knew he had the support to do so. That’s where we come in.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy 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!
5 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 …
33 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.
5 Go to comments