Springboks return home to uncertain future

By GREG TOURELLE

SYDNEY - The Springboks have returned home from Australia to an uncertain future, but not before making an impassioned plea for administrators to continue with the team eliminated from the rugby World Cup by an impressive All Blacks side in their quarterfinal at Melbourne on Saturday night.

Already in South Africa, former national coach Nick Mallett has called for a mass resignation of South Africa's rugby hierarchy in the wake of the Springboks' disappointing campaign in Australia.

But Springboks manager Gideon Sam in Melbourne before the team's departure said that while a review was needed, so was stability.

"One of the biggest benefits for South African rugby in the future is to get together and decide what it is that we need to do as a country to have stability in our rugby," he told a press conference after the All Blacks' 29-9 victory over his team.

"The youth in this team is attractive, but we would be foolish back home if we were to chop and change. Unfortunately most of us will not be there to continue supporting the team in the fashion that we have done now," said Sam, who is stepping down from his post to concentrate on his job as head of South Africa's Sports Commission.

"But I would urge all our rugby supporters back home to get it into their minds that if we really want to get to the top again in world rugby then stability is unquestionable.

"It is clear from what has happened here, on and off the field, that we've got a great team. With the coach and his coaching staff, I can only wish them well as they move forward into the future and I can only plead with management at the top level, in the corridors of Newlands, to give them a break, give them a chance to build so that in future we can be we can be the respected nation that the world knows us to be."

Coach Rudolph Straeuli also said the team should be maintained. "There is a core of players here that showed they've done it and (we) should keep a group like this together."

He said earlier comments might have been right that the World Cup had come a year too early for the Springboks.

He said Sam had said during a beer with the All Blacks in the changing rooms immediately after the match: "We will be back."

Straeuli would not be drawn on his future, but comments from South Africa Rugby managing director Rian Oberholzer appeared to back the coach, notwithstanding record defeats to France, Scotland, England, France and the All Blacks.

"We employed him until 2005," Oberholzer told South African media in Melbourne.

"We never said we appointed him to win the World Cup. We have a fantastic young team and continuity is the important thing. If only we had another year with this team we might have done better."

It is understood South Africa Rugby would have to cough up Rand 3.6 million in severance pay if he was fired, as he doesn't have a performance contract.

But former coach Mallett said in the Sunday Times newspaper in South Africa: "The people in charge of South African rugby must resign en masse and thought must be put into the appointment of a professional board.

"This is a watershed moment for SA rugby -- to grasp change or to continue losing the plot," Mallett said.

The administration is in the awkward position of having to deal with public fallout over the loss at about the same time the King Commission probing allegations of racist behaviour within the team is due to convene.

Whatever happens, the team will be without the services of long-standing halfback Joost van der Westhuizen, who played his last international match on Saturday night.

He had a record 89 test caps for South Africa and revealed he would in future concentrate on television work.

"I've got a position with a TV station back in South Africa. I'm looking forward to playing a happy family man from now on." His wife, Amor, is pregnant.

Asked what he thought of the current state of SA rugby, van der Westhuizen said he was encouraged: "I'm very excited. If you look at the age of this team and the youngsters who came through I'm excited about what will happen in four years if we keep them together."

In failing to make it past the quarterfinals in this tournament, the Springboks will have to qualify to play in the 2007 World Cup.

- NZPA

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