Florence — South African rugby is in a huge crisis, from top to bottom. Changes are going to have to take place to steer the sport into the future, and it starts with the Springboks. Since readmission to international rugby, the Springboks’ form has been able to mask the many deficiencies that exist in the domestic game. Whether it was former SA Rugby president Louis Luyt foolishly taking late president Nelson Mandela to court, or the after-effects of Kamp Staaldraad, if the Boks did well on the field, all other problems faded into the background. Currently, the provincial game is weak, which is not unprecedented, but through previous lean domestic years, the Springboks have always managed to be competitive. Until 2016, that is. Saturday’s loss against Italy was a new low point. Losing to Japan at last year’s World Cup was a shock, but at the time, it was an outlier of a result. The Boks still rallied to come third at the World Cup after losing a titanic semifinal 20-18 against even...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.