Cape Town - South Africa missed an opportunity to build on the impetus of the 1995 Rugby World Cup and transform rugby. World Cup hero Chester Williams - the only non-white player in the team - believes South African rugby needs a complete overhaul if it is to take the first step on the journey to transformation.
The World Cup 20 years ago meant more to the country than just winning the William Webb Ellis Trophy.
“Back then, it meant a lot to us. The unification as a nation, through myself, through the team, through Nelson Mandela… we always knew it was about unification,” said Williams.
In the run-up to the tournament, the Springboks were urged by Nelson Mandela to visit townships and carry out coaching clinics in a bid to get the nation behind the team.
Williams remembers the visits to the townships vividly. He was also acutely aware of the task set for them by the country’s first democratically-elected president.
“It was a huge burden. But as the tournament progressed, we slowly started to realise what it was that was at stake for us as a country, as a nation and where we want to be in the next 20 to 30 years.”
Twenty years on, Williams believes the country has failed to live up to those ideals striven for in 1995.
“You know, for a while there it looked like we were on the right track. Things were working out quite well, the next thing you know things have broken down. And then we build up and it gets broken down. But, I think we do have progress, we should have been way ahead. I sometimes think that we should just start from scratch.”
Williams believes an inability to transform is what was stunting the growth of SA rugby. When asked by the Cape Argus who was to blame for the lack of transformation in rugby, he answered: “Well, you can’t blame the public. It’s obviously the people in control of putting plans and strategies in place.”
In fewer than 90 days, the 2015 Rugby World Cup kicks off in England. While Williams believes now is not the right time to meddle with the make-up of the team, the Springboks need a long look in the mirror after the World Cup.
“When we are done (with the World Cup) we need to look at how it is we want to play, how are we going to make these changes, where rugby needs to go to, not only that we’re winning but how we represent our supporters because if we carry on like this, rugby is going to die.”
The ’95 Bok hero said a lack of belief in black players was what was standing in the way of transformation.
“There’s no belief, so the players don’t get an opportunity to get comfortable in a position, establish themselves in a position where they can become successful.”
He believes some of the white players who are playing at the highest level have managed to achieve those heights because they were given time to settle in. Williams cited Elton Jantjies as an example of a black player who was not given the chance to establish himself at one union, and when he was allowed an opportunity to feel at home with the Lions, he was then in a position to stamp his authority on the number 10 jersey and become “one of the best flyhalves in the country along with (Bulls flyhalf) Handre Pollard”.
On the other hand, Williams said that Stormers flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis became the go-to number 10 because he had been given more time and opportunities to make mistakes and settle in. He also emphasised: “We haven’t done enough for the country to support the team at this stage.
“No one, whether they’re black, white or coloured, no one is really supporting the team because they’re not believing in the way we are playing at this time.”
As far as the current make-up of the team is concerned, Williams said there were too few players of colour in the team, but it was the lack of support by Springbok fans that was more worrying.
“It’s not about colour. If you look at the team now there are three or four (players of colour). But it’s more about the way we play. Our style of play.”
Despite this, Williams said South Africa would make it to the knockout rounds and if the All Blacks aren’t able to defend their 2011 title, it would be the Springboks winning their third World Cup to cap off the 20th anniversary of the 1995 win in style.
Cape Argus