It would be nice to believe that Springbok coach Jake White had patched up his differences with the South African Rugby Union (Saru) after both sides released conciliatory statements this week following the mess over the extension of White’s contract. But you can tell when politicians lie: their lips move.
So it is that the team to play Australia in the second match of this year’s Tri-Nations is perceived to be something other than Jake’s selection. If there is any truth in the rumour, at least it is part of a long, inglorious, South African tradition.
Gary Teichmann didn’t go to the 1999 World Cup, Francois Pienaar was dumped at the peak of his powers in 1996 and Joel Stransky was not allowed to tour New Zealand in 1994. The connection between the three incidents is simply that politics triumphed over rugby.
If this were only true of the national side it might be bearable, but it happens at every level of the game in this country. ”Okay so we lost by 50 points,” is the cry, ”but be positive and support us.” And, behind closed doors: ”We were under pressure to pick too many black players, so bear with us until the pressure goes away.”
The latter is the mantra trotted out at Craven Week, the 43rd edition of which is being played at the University of Johannesburg this week, for Saru has prescribed to the provincial unions that each squad of 22 players must contain a minimum nine of colour.
It is one of those edicts that might seem like utter madness right now, but it will inevitably be introduced at national level so we may as well get used to it. As it happens, at this year’s Craven week the selectors might easily pick an entire squad devoid of white players, such has been the quality of the black players — but imagine how many people that would upset.
And so we soldier on, pretending that the game is being dragged down by the quota system and making believe that there are hundreds of white wings as good as Carel du Plessis who leave the game after school because, as everyone knows, white people aren’t allowed to play on the wing at provincial level any more.
And we lament the fact that the black and coloured communities are not genetically programmed to produce 100kg centres and we actually believe what the Springbok coach tells us; that an average, gymnasium-treated big ‘un will always beat a good little ‘un.
This nonsense filters down to Craven Week. Six years ago a 100kg schoolboy in any position was a rarity. These days they are 10 a penny. They probably spend more time in the gym than they do in class and when they damage knee ligaments not licensed to carry heavy goods they have absolutely nothing to fall back on other than the certain knowledge that they were stuffed by the quota system.
All of the above should inform our reaction to the Springbok team announced on Wednesday, which will play Australia at a half-empty Suncorp stadium in Brisbane on Saturday. There are three black players in the starting line up and two on the bench, which is rather better than having Eddie Andrews soldiering on alone, but in the greater scheme of things a big, fat, hairy deal.
Let’s posit, just for now, a scenario where White has to select by Craven Week rules.
In comes Lawrence Sephaka and out goes CJ van der Linde, Wayne Julies returns at the expense of Wynand Olivier, Pierre Spies doesn’t get to make his debut because the in-form Tim Dlulane slots into the back row, and Danie Coetzee returns to the wilderness to allow Chilliboy Ralepele into the mix.
Is the side worse, better or the same with the nine-man quota in place? Answer truthfully and you may just discover that talent has very little to do with it in the professional game, it’s simply that most of the decision makers feel comfortable in the presence of white Afrikaners and uncomfortable around black Africans.
Ultimately it’s a matter of trust and right now there is a short supply of that precious commodity in our game. As usual it all comes down to whether the Springboks are winning or losing at the moment.
Should they beat the Wallabies on Saturday and show at least a competitive edge against the All Blacks next week, then the Damocletian sword suspended above White will continue to defy gravity.
Lose badly and despite all the official messages of support from Saru, we will have a new coach by the end of the year.