The Springboks land in London today and they would do well to leave behind the din that has accompanied them for much of the year.
Too much noise has emanated from their ranks, and too often it has served to undermine their on-field efforts.
The Elton Jantjies saga as well as Rassie Erasmus’ continued brushes with officialdom continue to divert attention.
Exactly one year to the day he was suspended for a video rant that made its way online, World Rugby this week banned Erasmus for two matches for criticising referee Wayne Barnes after the Springboks’ defeat in Marseille last weekend.
Understandably frustrated at inconsistent officiating, Erasmus has turned to Twitter, ostensibly to connect with fans but the price he’s paying is the Boks’ disconnect from him for the last two matches of their end-of-year tour.
Having a valid point is one thing, getting it across effectively is quite another.
Unintended consequences
His criticism of Barnes, whether direct or implied, has had unintended consequences. The ref, who has now taken charge of the most Tests ever, has received death threats and the Rugby Football Union (England) wants SA Rugby to take action.
Last year SA Rugby appeared to countenance Erasmus’ actions and they were fined £20,000 (about R410,000) by World Rugby.
Erasmus, who was given unprecedented powers when he took the job, heads all rugby-related matters for SA Rugby and few question his authority.
The organisation’s CEO and president can rein him in but they have chosen not to do so. At least there is no evidence to suggest they have.
The team’s popularity, meanwhile, is in decline elsewhere. The Boks were the toast of the rugby world three years ago, now they are being paired with sour grapes.
On the eve of the Test against Ireland, five weeks after his initial match-day ban ended, Erasmus said the dialogue between the Springboks and the game’s officialdom had improved but that both were guarded. He by then had been restored to the different committees he had been involved in before his suspension.
He was loath to go into detail about whether the Boks were better off in the way their matches are officiated. His semi-conciliatory tone changed after defeat to Ireland and last weekend’s loss to France as pressure started to mount on him and Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber.
In truth, the Boks weren’t far off against the two top-ranked teams in the international game but it is the wins column that determines success.
The team’s popularity, meanwhile, is in decline elsewhere. The Boks were the toast of the rugby world three years ago, now they are being paired with sour grapes
Going into this weekend’s clash against Italy, SA’s win percentage with him and Nienaber in their respective roles stood at 58. To suggest it is underwhelming would be an understatement. It really does not sit favourably when compared to the record of other coaches who have held the Springbok job since the end of isolation.
Only Carel du Plessis (37 win percentage), Rudolf Straeuli (52) and Harry Viljoen (53) have worse records. Du Plessis was shown the door, Straeuli’s contract was not renewed, while Viljoen quit midterm.
Heyneke Meyer (66), Peter de Villiers (62), Jake White (66) and Andre Markgraaff's (61) teams were competitive but they also had their wobbles.
Nick Mallett’s Boks won 71% of the time, while Kitch Christie had a blemish-free record in his 14 Tests in charge.
Perhaps the Boks’ current success rate should not be tied to the past but their contemporaries on the international scene. The game after all has changed, with threats now lurking around more corners. Rugby’s talent is spread more evenly across its top participants.
Even the All Blacks are no longer the imperious force they once were. Steve Hansen’s 87% win ratio towers above that of Ian Foster. When the All Blacks lost in Mbombela it was their eighth defeat under Foster. It came in his 26th Test, while Hansen waited until his 95th to suffer an eighth defeat.
Not preoccupied with win ratio
The Springboks though, are aware of but not preoccupied by their win ratio. “We want to win every Test,” said captain Siya Kolisi. “We also have to look at this realistically. We have to look at what made us lose.”
The Boks’ record is partly explained by their management’s push for game time across their squad. Some of the selections have been bold, even brave. Not all have had the desired effect.
Erasmus and Nienaber know this year’s pain is potentially next year’s gain. First though they need to ride the most immediate storm. They know too well winning the World Cup in France is the antiseptic, if not the panacea the local game needs.
For that to happen they will need to focus and keep an eye on the prize.
Kolisi was mildly philosophical about the corner the Boks now find themselves in. “Things happen. Nothing can come between us as a group.”
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