The root cause of English disapproval with South Africa's Champions Cup entry
One of the major drawbacks to being a South African living in the UK is putting up with people’s interpretations of your accent. No matter your mother tongue, no matter what city you hail from, no matter your education, socioeconomic background or time spent in your adopted land, the drawling, monotoned, heavy-handed modulation is the same.
“Is that really what we sound like?” You wonder. No Hollywood actor has ever nailed it, if indeed ‘it’ even exists with our 11 official languages spread across 470 658 square miles. No matter the intention of the person aping some reductive version of yourself to you, it’s hard not to feel that the one variable they’re taking aim at is your intelligence.
Maybe that’s just me being a sensitive Saffa. With the country mired in political corruption, unchecked violence, decaying infrastructure and chasmic inequality, perhaps my armour is paper thin and any barb pertaining to my national heritage stings more than it should. Our standing on the global stage dwindles every year and though we hold to the notion that the world is an interconnected village, it can often feel like that bastardised version of our accent is a reminder of our bumpkin status.
Which is why the Springboks are such a beloved institution. This is why rugby matters. Those green giants leave our shores and return with glittering trophies and a list of vanquished foes. Nothing and no-one else makes South Africans feel like champions like they do.
There are other important threads to the story that inspire hope and offer a kindling of belief that societal change may come. Siya Kolisi, Makazole Mapimpi, Chester Williams and Nelson Mandela are key figures in this important branch of rugby’s standing in the country. But their roles in this narrative would be less significant if the Springboks weren’t such a dominant force.
What’s more, they win ugly. This is not champagne rugby. This is rugby fuelled by eye-watering mampoer, a local moonshine that could turn the engine of a 3.0 litre Toyota Hilux. Springbok fans, much like the players, couldn’t care less that the team’s approach is brutal, that their sole ambition is to win, and that other nations might consider them boring. In fact, they revel in how disagreeable the Boks can be. What rankles is that the on-field persona is seen as an extension of the off-field culture that feeds it.
“In life, as in rugby, to ascribe a characteristic to a nation can be deemed at worst as racism, and at best a sweeping generalisation. So it may be harsh to say South Africa lacks leadership, that so often all the power and fury goes to waste because there is nobody to shape it.”
The above was written by prominent journalist Stephen Jones, a man who has forgotten more about rugby than most people will learn in a lifetime, but who holds views rooted in a bygone age. He was pontificating about the apparent intelligence of the South African-born, but English speaking, Mike Catt who was seemingly primed to take advantage of the dimwitted Springboks. Compare his assertion that South Africans are incapable of creativity or leadership with a bewildering claim from Rider Haggard, author of King Solomon’s Mines, who scribbled this before the Second Anglo-Boer War:
“Now, if there is any country dependent on England that requires the application to the conduct of its affairs of a firm, considered and consistent policy that country is South Africa. Boers and Natives are quite incapable of realising the political necessities of any of our parties, or of understanding why their true interests should be sacrificed in order to minister those necessities.”
See the parallels? British troops killed an estimated 26,370 Afrikaans women and children along with 115,000 black Africans in open air prisons dubbed ‘concentration camps’. Britain’s insatiable appetite for more colonial territory brought untold misery to countless more. Trauma lingers, even across centuries. And though the yoke of oppression has been cast aside, and new horrors have since been meted out on the peoples of South Africa by their fellow countrymen, that pain has not fully subsided.
“The players like scoring points against England,” so said then Springbok coach Jake White when asked why his team opted for a shot at goal, rather than kick for the corner, when awarded a late penalty in a 2007 World Cup match they’d go on to win 36-0. Victories over New Zealand and Australia bring their own joys, and keeping France, Ireland and Wales in their place is satisfactory, but nothing stitches a wicked smile across the face like besting the Poms.
Which brings us to the news that South African teams will compete in next season’s Champions Cup and Challenge Cup tournaments. Note I didn’t use the word ‘European’ because the introduction of the Stormers, Bulls, Sharks, Lions and Cheetahs means that this grand competition, filled with tradition and historic moments, is no longer defined by its fixed geographical location.
And what is ‘Europe’ anyway? We live in a world divided by borders that were arbitrarily drawn by moustachioed colonialists more than 130 years ago. In carving up Africa, Asia and the Americas, the fallen empires of the self-anointed ‘Old World’ set the table from which we must now eat. Why should a rugby competition founded 27 years ago be so sacrosanct that it is beyond reform?
Those same critics who clutch their pearls at the thought of oafish South Africans knocking over the good china have no qualms about the country’s top talent driving their own teams forward. A South African has featured in every Champions Cup final since 2010. Nine contested the 2014 showpiece with Craig Burden recognised as the player of the match in Toulon’s 23-6 win over Saracens that also involved Bryan Habana, Juan Smith, Bakkies Botha and Schalk Brits. South African born players were included in five of the six squads in the men’s Six Nations this year and the top teams in France and Japan are similarly littered with their compatriots.
The South African rand can’t compete with the strength of the pound, euro or yen. Why shouldn’t this union that has won three of the seven World Cups it entered – a better win percentage than the All Blacks – take control of its own destiny? A malignant power imbalance has consigned Fiji, Tonga and Samoa to second-class status despite those island nations notably contributing to the game’s global talent pool. This is by design. South Africans understand that the world is not fair. Rather than lay prone in the current, South African rugby is creating its own waves.
SA Rugby, the sport’s governing body, recognises the commercial appeal of its product. Like the bruising forwards that constitute its indomitable pack, it is unashamed by its heft. Granted, travelling fans may be non-existent when European based teams travel south, but there are more than 250 000 South Africans living in the UK. If even a fraction are interested in rugby there will be considerable support whenever their teams compete in matches dripping with fresh intrigue.
The Saffas have muscled their way to a table they’ve deemed worthy of their status. Those at the far end can harrumph into the brandy and mimic our accents as much as they like.
Hattip: I got a lot of my info from a Twitter thread from writer Wessel van Rensburg
Comments on RugbyPass
What a load of bollocks. The author has forgotten to mention the fact that the Crusaders have a huge injury toll with top world class players out. Not to mention the fact that they are obviously in a transition period. No this will not spark a slow death for NZ rugby, but it does mean there will be a new Super Rugby champion. Anyone who knows anything about NZ rugby knows that there is some serious talent here, it just isn’t all at the Crusaders.
1 Go to commentsI wouldn’t spend the time on Nawaqanitawase! No point in having him filling in a jersey when he’s committed to leave Union. Give the jersey to a young prospect who will be here in the future.
4 Go to commentsIt was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
4 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to comments