Ash is red-hot on success of Springboks!
WASPS ACE BELIEVES SUCCESS HAPPENED AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME IN HOMELAND
ASHLEY Johnson had three international caps under his belt but when he missed out on the Springboks’ 2011 World Cup squad. It gave the green light to start a new adventure 8,000 miles from home.
He settled at the then Londonbased Wasps and fast became a fans’ favourite for his wrecking ball, abrasive style on the pitch juxtaposed by his engaging, welcoming personality off it. Ending his Test career aged just 25 was paying dividends, not that his heart is ever far away from the fortunes of his national team
Aged just nine it would’ve been difficult for ‘junior Johnson’ to fully take in the significance of the 1995 Springboks World Cup triumph as Francois Pienaar lifted the trophy alongside Nelson Mandela and what that meant for crossing boundaries between rugby, politics and race. This time around, however, the powerhouse forward keenly feels the impact this achievement has had and the similarities of history being made when South Africa’s first black captain, Siya Kolisi raised their third title at England’s expense earlier this month.
“It was great, massive to see what he came through and all the adversities,” said Johnson, who is closing in on 200 Wasps appearances.
“Everyone’s been saying it’s a great story, great story for him, a great story for South African rugby and for black people in particular.
“They went to East London where it’s like the epicentre of black rugby in South Africa but for them to have four or five black guys lifting the World Cup trophy it’s unbelievable.
“They went to the town where we kind of started rugby. It’s not even a pitch but it’s literally hard ground. So, it’s great to see that type of story but from one to 22 in that whole squad, it is based on feel-good stories that everyone’s using at the moment for South Africa. It’s good.
“They’re obviously inspiring a whole new generation and it just came at the right time for South Africa as a country.
“Hopefully it can be used as a springboard for all the young black players coming through.”
The Yokohama showdown ended in favour for Johnson and some of his previous team-mates, including Willie le Roux who left Wasps only six months ago.
He laughs about how he has mentioned the result a few times during training to his English counterparts but he understands the deeper meaning behind the result earlier in the month.
“It’s massive in South Africa. It’s great. It’s uniting a country at a time where it kind of needs that,” said Johnson, who moved to 41 Wasps tries with a weekend brace against Agen. “The same could have been said for England. They would have done exactly the same in terms of uniting a country with all the unknowns going on in the UK and England at the moment.
“We needed it but it’s a shame to see that you play against all these English players and they’ve worked just as
It’s massive in South Africa. It’s great. It’s uniting a country at a time where it kind of needs that. Ashley Johnson
hard and you can kind of see what they went through, unfortunately they had to be losers and it’s tough luck for them.”
Johnson can be regarded as one of Wasps’ most recognisable players, his broad frame and Afro hair makes him stand out from the crowd, as does his beaming smile and commitment to the cause. As a child he decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and tread the rugby pathway. Seven years ago he decided to pave his own route. He became one of the pioneers of black South African players moving their career to the northern hemisphere.
Fast forward to the 2019/20 campaign and ‘Saffas’ are plentiful in the Gallagher Premiership – and the numbers are growing. Sale Sharks signed seven South Africans in the summer, Harlequins and Leicester Tigers added three each while Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester, London Irish, Northampton Saints and Saracens have also hired the services of at least one South African each.
Now in his eighth season in the Premiership since joining from Free State Cheetahs, the 33-year-old is complimentary about the English league, pointing to how his fellow countrymen have improved since making the move.
“All the guys that came over to the Premiership became better rugby players.
“Vincent Koch is unbelievable and went to Sarries and had a brilliant World Cup and Faf [de Klerk] improved his kicking game massively since he’s been in the Premiership.
“Obviously Willie le Roux as well, he kind of got a second lifeline when he got to Wasps and they called him up again for the World Cup squad.
“Loads of guys have come here and become better rugby players. I definitely think the Premiership has played a massive part, not just Wasps, all the other clubs too.”