Peter Bills: Pride in jersey, not World Cup wins, makes All Blacks unique

COMMENT

Australian George Gregan sneers contemptuously, polite society in Britain sniggers discreetly. New Zealand will not have held the World Cup for 20 years when they next attempt the feat, in 2007.

But if ever a young rugby player epitomised the pride, the passion and the pleasure at pulling on the New Zealand All Blacks rugby shirt, it is Joe Rokocoko.

And during this past week, Rokocoko's words nudged my memory as the story of a South African rugby player was unveiled.

While New Zealand's young rugby men still embrace the great aura, culture and tradition of playing for the All Blacks, it appears a rather different mentality is creeping into South African rugby. Once a land as synonymous with pride in their rugby jersey as New Zealand, the case of Victor Matfield demonstrates an altogether different scenario.

Indeed, if the 27-cap Springbok second row forward is any kind of guideline, some South Africans have already lost that pride in playing for their country.

To listen to Rokocoko talk so revealingly on this topic goes to the heart of what has always made New Zealand such a great rugby nation.

People like me grew up with certain staples in our lives: ghastly algebraic puzzles were good for us, cunning Frenchies always had to be watched closely and, finally, New Zealand was the land to visit if you wanted to find people who really knew about rugby.

It used to be the same in South Africa. But comparing the examples of Rokocoko and Matfield must be a painful business for rugby followers in the Republic. Listen to how Rokocoko feels about pulling on the black jersey:

"You just want to make a name for yourself of being a great All Black.

"That is every New Zealander's ambition; every player would say the same. When they hand you that black jersey, you are aware it is something really special. Next to your family, it is the most important thing in your life.

"It is because of what has gone before ... It is understood by every boy in this country."

I was reminded of those words when Matfield's case reared its head in the past few days.

South Africa were beaten in the lineouts on both their recent Tri-Nations test matches, in Christchurch and Perth. On each occasion, their best lineout forward by a mile was nowhere near the action, but marooned back in South Africa. His name was Victor Matfield. The reason he wasn't there was due to an attitude very different to Rokocoko's - seemingly, a lack of pride and desire to wear the jersey.

Potentially, Matfield is one of the best lineout operators in world rugby, as he reminded us with a man-of-the-match display in the World Cup match against England in Perth last October.

Alas, that peerless quality is in danger of disappearing because Matfield allegedly cannot be bothered with the other qualities a modern lock requires: clearing the rucks, driving the mauls, ball handling and running in broken play, making tackles and grinding out the hard yards. In other words, the energy-sapping stuff that makes your chest burn, your heart thump and your team successful.

Matfield doesn't want to buy into new Springbok coach Jake White's mantra that pride in the jersey and collective effort are fundamental qualities for anyone seeking a place in his side. So Matfield went home from the Springbok's recent tour allegedly with a knee injury, yet managed to play for his provincial team, the Blue Bulls, just a few days later.

But his attitude problem was apparent even at that level. He did so little around the field he was dropped from the Bulls' 22-man squad for its next game. Unless his attitude changes, Matfield will squander a huge talent.

I can't see Rokocoko ending up in the same mess. Because one thing Graham Henry has already revitalised within his All Black squad is pride in the jersey. It is for that reason that this long-time visitor to your country won't be joining the sniggering brigade.

New Zealand will always be a benchmark for rugby excellence, World Cup wins or not. Deep pride in that shirt is an intrinsic reason for it.

* Peter Bills is a rugby writer with Independent News & Media in London