Andrew Austin: Divided Springboks represent a divided nation

COMMENT

South African rugby has once again shown its uncanny knack of shooting itself in the foot. Just when you think it is safe to be a Springbok supporter again, an incident like the Geo Cronje saga comes along to remind you how deeply embedded racism is in South Africa.

The sad fact is that the comments and actions of certain Springboks over the last few weeks merely mirror the racist comments still being made in many offices across corporate South Africa.

The last eight years since the victorious 1995 World Cup have seen the country become more polarised than ever before.

Black people believe whites have not shown enough remorse for apartheid, while whites believe they are fighting an unfair system of affirmative action.

The difference from the apartheid era is that very few white people are openly racist these days. In fact it would be difficult to get many to admit they were supporters of apartheid, yet the Nationalist Government won each whites-only election by a landslide.

The latest Springbok saga has also put many white South Africans on the defensive. More questions have been raised about why mixed race lock Quinton Davids made an issue out of Cronje not wanting to share a room with him, than about Cronje's alleged racism.

Former Springbok media liaison Mark Keohane has also had his integrity questioned. Shoot the messenger, rather than listen to the message, it seems.

Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli also seemed to be more intent on finding the person who leaked the incident to the media than dealing with the problem. It was only when he was faced with the real possibility of being removed as coach before the World Cup, that he apologised for the way he handled the situation.

It seemed lost on him that he was apologising for handling a situation he had earlier denied existed.

The King Commission of Inquiry into racism in the Springbok squad was an ideal chance to start afresh and finally make the sport truly representative. Sure, a new Springbok coach might have battled to find success in Australia, but at least all the skeletons would have been out the closet.

With the commission postponed until next year, South African rugby looks set to lurch from crisis to crisis. Surgery was required to remove racism from the squad, but instead the Springboks were given a plaster and sent off to the World Cup.

It may have been that the South African Rugby Football Union considered it too costly to remove Straeuli at this late stage. However, its actions lead many to believe the issue is being sidestepped.

The sad thing is that if the Springboks do well in this World Cup, nothing will change. Just as a long line of defiant apartheid era leaders waved their fist at international opposition, so Straeuli and his team will see it as a vindication.

The World Cup forecasts make gloomy reading for South African fans.

The Springboks will put in unconvincing performances against newcomers Uruguay and Georgia.

There will be allegations of foul play levelled at them after their Samoa pool match and they will do well against England either just losing or even pulling a surprise victory out the bag.

The old arrogance will return and they will approach the quarter-finals - and possibly semifinals - with a swagger, only to be sent packing before the final.

In the process, they will live up to their bad name and their disenchanted fans will begin to lose interest. A divided team representing a divided country does not lead to World Cup victory, just misery.

* South African Andrew Austin is the Herald's deputy chief reporter.