Another lesson from a minnow in world rugby

992 28/05/2015 Minister of Sports and Recreation Fikile Mbalula at a brief confrence regarding the bribe that was made to secure that the 2010 world cup takes place at South Africa. Picture:Nokuthula Mbatha

992 28/05/2015 Minister of Sports and Recreation Fikile Mbalula at a brief confrence regarding the bribe that was made to secure that the 2010 world cup takes place at South Africa. Picture:Nokuthula Mbatha

Published Apr 30, 2016

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How do we know that there is an election or a World Cup around the corner? That’s easy. A politician questions the future of the Springbok emblem and a minister starts to lay down the law about transformation in our sport.

It’s so predictable.

Twitter goes bananas, people retreat into their stereotypical positions and there is noise, lots of noise and much of it degenerates into nastiness, if not naked racism.

This generates headlines in South Africa and they, of course, give the impression that politicians are doing their jobs well. That is what they feed on.

Sporting bodies plead for realism, people who don’t even watch some of the codes row in and we all feel bad. Remember when, in 2007, we had a similar explosion and then Thabo Mbeki, God bless him, told the Springbok team it was just politics and they should go and win the World Cup?

They did and the country, for a while, basked in the glory of international sporting success. Until the next time. It is so predictable and boring.However, don’t get me wrong.

Transformation is vitally important in all areas of life here. Including sport. At this time it is unacceptable to see profiles that should roughly match the national still stay far from it in areas where there is benefit and desire to succeed. Not only is it unfair, it is wasteful. The answer is development and coaching at the bottom and a system of recognising and realising any potential that emerges. That is all that is needed.

The rest will look after itself as the top hoovers it up. That is how Australia cast off the shackles of mediocrity in 1973 and set up their academies. A few decades later they ruled the world.It’s that simple.

The bottom and middle are the key areas. You could say: it’s inside, not on top!The problem lies in the great inequalities that exist here at grass roots level and just above, be they in school standards, amenities, nutrition, whatever.

Then you have to ask who is responsible? Is it Education, the Sports Ministry or is it the role of each individual sporting code? Think about it. It is not such an easy answer. Who is responsible for providing a school with a rugby or cricket pitch? Which of the three? Not so easy, eh?

The answer is co-operation between the lot and, if this is done well and bears fruit, the private sector will get involved and start coughing up. It always does when there’s the chance of reflected glory and marketing advantage. Maybe even tax benefits could be thrown into the mix. If the issue is so important then why not?

Just please stop the procrastination, threats, procrastination cycle that we have seen so often. Get your hands dirty, do the hard yards away from the cameras and let’s finally transform our sport.As a Lions fan their performances in the last few seasons have been marvellous. With a relatively mediocre inventory the team has been brilliant. If you agree, then do yourself a favour: Google Connacht in Ireland.

They are stuck on the Western side of the country and have always been rugby minnows. A few years ago they nearly folded. Now they are ruling the Irish roost with, guess what, a relatively mediocre inventory of players. Pat Lam, the Blues reject, came in and started to play a game based on skill and decision-making on the field.

Does that sound familiar?

They are even more of a Leicester City than are the Lions. Both elevations came with bold selection and inspired coaching and development. The three went together.Well, isn’t that what is needed for transformation as well? To reactionaries who see innovation here as rugby heresy, look to the west of Ireland.

It is awake and, with the Lions, can provide a blueprint for both development of a new game plan for our rugby, and also for bold transformation.

Please just let’s get on with it and do it properly this time around.

*Robbie hosts the morning drive breakfast show on 702, weekdays 6-9am.

**The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.

Saturday Star

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