Wynne Gray recalls the magic of the 1995 World Cup and says South Africa should win the 2023 hosting rights.
The approval was rapid and the tournament a bit frayed round the edges but the passion throughout the event was unrivalled and remains to these misty well-travelled eyes, the greatest argument for a repeat.’
ANNIVERSARIES FILL this month’s calendar as the Lions move towards the most telling phase in their New Zealand expedition.
Thirty years ago in an invitation-only tournament, the Rugby World Cup started life as a modest trans-Tasman event of questionable lifespan with the All Blacks claiming the inaugural title against the French.
Eight years later, in 1995, South Africa joined the rising wave of global rugby interest for the first time and also, remarkably, acted as hosts.
That dramatic conjunction brought stacks of different dynamics to a tournament which ended with a dramatic extra-time win to the Springboks against the All Blacks.
Since then, South Africa has been wrenched and pulled in many directions as the political and social forces juggled their aspirations with sport draped across those demands.
Only last month, the Ministry of Sport group, which has been monitoring transformation in sport, allowed South African rugby to place a bid to host another event.
South Africa is competing against Ireland who have yet to host the event and France who oversaw the 2007 tournament, with a decision expected towards the end of this year.
Ireland’s strong history in the sport and wish to be a first-time host will bring some compelling arguments to delegates at World Rugby.
The Irish will point to the decision to award Japan the 2019 tournament as evidence they should be strongly considered if hosting rights are going to be given to new markets.
They will point to their traditions alongside their founder member status and suggest, if rotation comes into the equation to award Europe the 2023 tournament, that Ireland has better claims than France in that region.
With their tongues planted deep in their cheeks, the Irish could also say they’ve been involved in all eight tournaments and it’s about time World Rugby looked down on its nearest masses – that organisation being based in Dublin.
Ireland hosted matches in the 1991 and 1999 tournaments and were offered games in the 2007 event hosted by France but had to decline because their national stadium was undergoing reconstruction.
Hosting the 2023 event will bring a multi-billion dollar boost to the economy and looks to be a duel between Ireland and South Africa.
Both countries would do a fine job with masses of emotional content although you’d guess Ireland may have to shed a few games to the larger stadiums and accommodation markets in Scotland or Wales.
That’s not an issue as travel is an easy fix and for many supporters it may be a greater attraction to dovetail their sightseeing adventures around the rugby.
As much as I like Ireland and all it brings to a rugby banquet, if anyone gave me a vote it would have to go to South Africa.
Back in 1995, three years after isolation ended, the third World Cup was held there as the sport embraced one of its major nations.
The approval was rapid and the tournament a bit frayed round the edges, but the passion throughout the event was unrivalled and remains to these misty well-travelled eyes, the greatest argument for a repeat.
Opponents will point to a number of issues which count against that idea including the political instability, security, uncertain infrastructure and aging sports stadiums.
As evidence of that deterioration, they can use the talk about shifting the All Blacks test later this year from the dated Newlands to the nearby football stadium used for the 2010 soccer World Cup.
Supporters will counter with upbeat conversations about having twin stadiums in Cape Town with huge capacity well ready for a World Cup in six years time. South Africa has enough stadiums and enough time to be well dialled in for another tournament.
Security issues are a repugnant yet recognised turbulent part of life in these times and South Africa, like Europe, Asia and the Americas, is subjected to those problems.
No one has a crystal ball to see what the world will be like in 2023 and whether any area is more problematic.
The British and Irish Lions toured South Africa in 2009 and are returning to the Republic in 2021, which will be a superb stage for the nation to put out its best rugby kit and check all the finetuning for a Rugby World Cup two years later.