The rugby critics have had a field day with our Springbok rugby performance, the team selected, and the management team for 2016. Choose the better team irrespective of racial quotas they say. Employ the best coaches and assistant coaches irrespective of skin colour they say. And so once again racism divides and conquers South Africa, whilst this young team with their backs against the wall carry the criticism of a nation that should be embracing them and supporting them, should be proud of them and should be in awe of their dedication and commitment.
Well, I fully agree that individuals should be chosen on merit only, after all, the entire mood of the country depends on the sporting results of the weekend! Remember the feeling in the country when we hosted the 2010 soccer world cup? Remember the elation of winning the RWC in 1995 and 2007.
For this reason and in my opinion the question should be why do the Springboks appear to be in a decline?
Immediately the critics could answer, “Because we have political interference and the players, selectors and coaches are not chosen on meritâ€. We could also put forward the theory that our opposition teams are improving due to a dynamic drive and the necessary political support to do just that. After all, sport is a bigger money spinner than any other form of entertainment. Sport therefore has the potential to boost a flailing economy. Given this scenario, surely it is important that South Africa gets past the issues that divide us and that we are able to tackle those solutions that will unite, strengthen and take us back to the top of the world rankings.
My answer to why we are in a decline would thus be: Because we are a small nation with limited resources who are not doing everything we can to create a bigger pool of players, coaches and administrators to choose from.
Why is that?
Clearly because we do not have the correct political support and the correct rugby administration in place to ensure that our talent is unearthed and nurtured from an early age. Also we are losing top players to wealthier countries who are driving their national teams, and we are losing young men with great potential to apathy, lack of opportunity, drugs, crime and gangsterism as they see no way out of their apparently hopeless situations.
Why then would we continue to lose top players to wealthier nations?
Clearly this is pure finance - or is it? Because if it is and money drives everything, why then do we still have some world class players in South Africa? For me it’s a no-brainer. Yes, money plays a role but so does patriotism and job satisfaction. So does loyalty, the nation’s support and the cohesive political will of a country united. So does job opportunity and mostly so does the lure of playing for the top international team in the world. If we can return to our status of 2007, and a team chosen purely on merit, there is no money in the world that will entice a true Springbok to leave in the prime of his career. Therefore I applaud Alistair Coetzee’s #loverugby campaign. I think it is the first tiny step on a long road to retaining our top players.
Why also would we continue to lose young players to drugs, crime and gangsterism or even simply to lack of opportunity? In my opinion this is because we are not making rugby a club sport in South Africa. An administrative short-coming, I would suggest.
Rugby is played from a young age at school level. The traditional model C schools are the main nurturers of the game. It thus stands to reason that the wealthier schools have the better coaches and the youngsters from these schools continue to get the better opportunities.
If we were to make rugby a club sport, if we were to have an administrative body that works with NGOs and social workers, poorer schools and church groups, utilising the community grounds and infrastructure that is already available; if we were to use the tax payers money in a way that brings the game to the less advantaged and if we were to expand our thinking , moving away from the first port of call being the defense of, or criticism of quotas and instead switching it to mentorship and community support, I really doubt that any country in the world would be able to compete with our pool of natural talent.
If a percentage of sponsorship money could be allocated to local teams and permanent coaches at clubs that are included in the fixture list alongside the model C schools, we will within a year or two double our pool of players to choose from, simply by expanding our intake of players at a younger age. It makes sense to me.
So why has this not been done?
In my opinion? Because we are so busy placing emphasis on all the wrong things, that we are not seeing the woods for the trees. I am under no illusion that this is a mammoth project, a transformation of note. But it is the only way that we will not need a quota system because it stands to reason that if 90 plus percent of our population are people of colour, approximately 90% of the Springbok team could be. And as long as we are winning, I do not believe for one second that this will be a problem for anyone.
In the meanwhile I stay firmly rooted behind this team and their management and wish them all the success in the world. I mean that literally!
© Debbie Engelbrecht | 21 June 2016
Debbie is the director of Staff Training, a training company offering management and leadership skills training nationally. She is also a rugby lover of note! For more information on the courses presented by Staff Training visit our workshops page.