Oh for a bit of jolly rugby news from Santa
‘TIS THE season to be jolly but there is nothing to be happy about if you are a South African rugby fan.
If rugby is your way of life then there won’t be any white Christmas moments with presents from Santa Claus at the foot of that decorated tree.
And forget that stuffed turkey, too.
Instead, many of us will be wondering what it is that lies in store for the Springboks and our Super Rugby franchises next year.
Well the expectation won’t be much considering what a horrible year 2017 has been in South African rugby, and with the lone starlight being the Springbok Sevens side, one shudders to think the unnecessary burden of expectation that will weigh heavily on that side as they head towards the Commonwealth Games and World Cup.
I want to talk to the suits that have already stolen a pleasant Christmas this year and implore on them to make the right decision in the next coming days for the benefit of our game and a better festive season next year.
While the Blitzbokke are that Christmas turkey that never stops giving judging by their world-conquering antics last season and the promise they hold of defending their Commonwealth Games gold medal, the right thing needs to be done to ensure that Neil Powell has everything at his disposal to retain that gold medal and also win gold at the World Cup.
The big decision will be on the availability of Seabelo Senatla, Kwagga Smith and Tim Agaba as they are contracted to the Stormers, Lions and Bulls for Super Rugby but the national cause supercedes that of their franchises and their services need to be secured as early as the new year begins.
The elephant in the room over the weekend at the Cape Town Sevens was obviously how to avoid talking about the unceremonious and embarrassing downfall of Steinhoff who happen to be the main sponsor to the Blitzbokke and this just after allegedly extending their sponsorship and locking down themselves as the sole sponsor on the jersey and shorts.
The Blitzbokke are an easy sell to any sponsor and as much as the crumbled empire from Stellenbosch would have put down top rand and Euros to be the sole sponsor, this is a no brainer for any company that wants to be affiliated with a successful and picture perfect rugby brand in South Africa.
Another elephant in the room in Cape Town this week will be the small matter of Springbok coach Allister Coetzee’s future. Does he stay or does he go? I’m glad I’m not the one making this decision but it is one that will have to be made with haste in order to afford the Springboks the luxury of time in the new year to prepare for the three-Test series against England in June.
There are a lot of factors against Coetzee, starting with the team’s mediocre results to the loss of faith by many, if not most, Springbok supporters.
Surely even the sponsors are crying for a new man and voice in charge of the Springboks but the dilemma that Saru faces is who?
Truth be told, there are no South Africans within the borders of the country with the necessary skills required to coach internationally and those that are available but outside the borders, have burnt the bridge and no good will come off trying to ignite on a failed partnership that had been built on mistrust and deceit.
And then there is the ghost of the Currie Cup that continues to haunt Saru.
Try as they may to get rid of it, it keeps on coming back to haunt them as if it is the age old soul of South African that refuses to rest peacefully.
And maybe it shouldn’t rest peacefully but be brought back to life with a permanent place being found for it on the calendar and as an important pipeline between amateur and professional rugby.
Amongst the big decisions to be made let Saru not forget about awarding the two new franchises to the right provinces and beyond looking at the numbers presented to them, they must consider the long term sustainability of the franchises and their ability to grow the game.
These two franchises are the ones that could be playing in the Anglo-Welsh competition and they need to project the changing face of South African rugby in the best possible way.
Then there is transformation. As it stands be it at Springbok, Super Rugby and Currie Cup level, the numbers are shockingly low and paint a picture of a sport that is at war with itself.
The sad reality is that rugby refuses to embrace the majority of South Africans and it is that very stubbornness to change at all elvels that will ultimately lead to its demise.
But I get the feeling that I am demanding too much from the suits to make these decisions and make this Christmas a jolly one.