THE FINAL WHISTLE
MARK KEOHANE: Boks prove against Argentina they have come a long way
‘South African rugby is rampant again, significantly as it prepares to bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup’
Just before you dismiss the Springboks’ 37-15 triumph against the Pumas in Port Elizabeth as "just being Argentina", let’s rewind to 2016 and 2015 when the Springboks lost to Argentina (twice), to Japan (2015) and to Italy (2016). The Springboks and South African rugby were a mess in 2016. Outside of the Lions in Super Rugby, there was no joy. Crowds were waning, pessimism was the only consistent and sponsors were running a mile from the Springboks. The win in Port Elizabeth, in front of nearly 43,000 passionate fans, gives substance to the reinvention of South African and Bok rugby. The leadership of South African rugby in 2016 was justifiably asked to confront the mess. So too the Springbok coach and those players who wore the jersey through the darkest times.Mark Alexander, president of the South African Rugby Union, inherited a disaster from departed president Regan Hoskins. I was vocal in criticising Alexander and CE Jurie Roux. I felt they were prominent only in their absence....
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