Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

The truth is the Springboks just want it more

By Daniel Gallan
Eben Etzebeth of the Springboks and Allan Alaalatoa of the Wallabies scuffle during The Rugby Championship match between the Australia Wallabies and South Africa Springboks at Allianz Stadium on September 03, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

No other side with realistic ambitions at next year’s World Cup has struggled as much against their rivals as South Africa. Since lifting that famous golden trinket in Japan three years ago, Siya Kolisi’s charges have lost four of their seven games against New Zealand, England, Ireland and France. Factor in three defeats to Australia and another to Wales and the forecast is not an encouraging one less than a year from their title defence.

ADVERTISEMENT

And yet, there is cause for optimism. Despite the near-misses over the last two weeks, the obvious deficiencies in key positions on the park, and their director of rugby’s inability to refrain from tweeting nonsense, the side has a secret weapon.

Last week in Marseille they put in their best performance since thumping England to become world champions for a third time. They were a man short for 46 of the 80 minutes and still came within touching distance of beating a team many have tipped to claim their crown on home soil next year.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

Once Pieter-Steph du Toit was rightly red carded for a reckless – but, in my mind, wholly accidental – head charge on Jonathan Danty, the Springboks were not only playing with a man disadvantage, but had to contend with the vaunted French pack without one of their linchpins.

Until that point, Du Toit, World Rugby’s player of the year for 2019, was instrumental in marshalling a rush defence that was posing a unique challenge for the French who have for so long grown accustomed to generous time and space. More than once Romain Ntamack received the ball on his heels rather than his toes and were it not for a brilliant kicking display from Thomas Ramos, South Africa would have overwhelmed their hosts in the early exchanges.

Related

Cards are so often the difference at the sharp end of elite rugby and Du Toit’s sending off looked to have consigned the contest to a formality. Shortly after, Cyril Baille burrowed over from close range for the opening try and a rout was on the cards.

Instead, the Springboks rallied. Their seven-man pack started winning the arm wrestle. Willie le Roux stepped up from fullback and began running the show at first receiver. Faf de Klerk’s box kicks were pinpoint. Eben Etzebeth grew in stature as he underlined his credentials as the best second rower on the planet. Three different goal kickers slotted every attempt at goal.

ADVERTISEMENT

Something happens to a South African when you tell them that there is no hope. There are many reasons why this may be the case and no doubt sociologists, psychologists and economists would all have sound theories to prove this argument.

Perhaps it is the fact that the country was founded by colonialism, was forged in bloodshed and continues to be gripped by violence. But that doesn’t quite work. South Africa is not alone in this regard and other national sports teams don’t have nearly as much steel as the Springboks.

We can’t put this down to any specific cultural traits. It is a myth that South Africa is one united nation. It is in fact multiple nations where nine official languages are spoken in a land that, were it not for British and Dutch settlers, would be divided according to these native tongues. You’ll find them mixing in small pockets known as towns and cities, but venture beyond the sight of high rise buildings and you’ll find a world that is less homogenised than the politicians would have you believe.

Related

So, what is it then? What compels this team to reach deeper when resources are thin? What is it that allows them to keep the engines churning long after the reserve light has flicked on?

ADVERTISEMENT

It might sound trite to those of you not from the country but it’s really quite simple. I’m certain that no other rugby team on the planet feels as obligated to win as the Springboks. No other side feels as tethered to the triumphs and laments of the people they represent. This might seem like marketing guff fabricated to promote documentaries and sell replica jerseys, but look any one of the players in the eye and ask them yourself. To a man they will tell you that they are performing their duty with zealous fervour.

Of course this means nothing if the other team is simply better at playing rugby. All the gees (spirit) in the universe won’t diminish the potency of Antoine Dupont or the composure of Johnny Sexton. But it might turn a seven-man pack into a force that belies logic.

‘Wanting it more’ is a cliche in sports the world over. That doesn’t mean we should dismiss it out of hand. Rugby is a game where wanting it more might actually be the difference between winning and losing. Tackling another human being, especially a very large human being, requires bravery and self-sacrifice. When you’ve managed to convince yourself that you’re performing that task for something that is more important than gainline advantage then you’re more likely to hurl yourself into contact with little disregard for self perseveration.

The Springboks are masters at forging a narrative that turns the world against them and them against the world. Like wounded soldiers defending a surrounded fort, they rally together and fight til the last. Again, this might seem like a sleight of hand and a trick of the mind. But listen to the language the players and coaching staff use when talking about what motivates them. They have convinced themselves that winning World Cups goes beyond their remit as athletes. They’re providing a service to a country that has little cause for joy elsewhere.

This is why recent results should be noted but not used as a cold fact that the Springboks won’t win next year’s World Cup. They’re on the wrong side of the draw and even a victory over Ireland in the group stage would see them face either France or New Zealand in the next round.

The bookies will have them as outsiders. They wouldn’t have it any other way.

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
Jon 5 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”?

35 Go to comments
j
john 7 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.

30 Go to comments
A
Adrian 9 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

30 Go to comments
T
Trevor 12 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
FEATURE
FEATURE Luke Cowan-Dickie: 'I didn’t feel right. I felt like I was going to pass out. Everything was going black in front of me' Luke Cowan-Dickie: 'I didn’t feel right. I felt like I was going to pass out. Everything was going black in front of me'
Search