The demise of Boks' guts and glory

The national team's inept performance against the Wallabies in Brisbane last Saturday had many pundits asking: "What's wrong with our game?"

We look at the team's steady decline and the major role players over the last 10 years as well as outline the areas of concern that have shackled the local game.

There are several problematical areas in the local game. Just where does one start when the demise of club rugby, poor standards in domestic competitions, the chasm between age group ranks and senior rugby, ill-discipline, questionable coaching and the high turnover of players and coaches are all of concern?

1. High rotation of players and coaches

South Africa have called on the services of eight national coaches since readmission in 1992. Ironically the two most successful coaches, Kitch Christie and Nick Mallett, were sidelined.

It's been the same on the playing surface. Springbok colours are being handed out at an alarming rate and the players who have Super 12 experience who have not cracked the national team must feel a little hard done by.

2. Talent spotting and selection

It is rather disconcerting that South Africa are able to hold their own and often beat the pants off their rivals at Under-23, Under-21 and Under-19 level, but are unable to do so in the senior game. Senior coaches have a lot to answer for.

3. Conditioning

The high number of injuries in the Super 12 and in the international season have got to be a serious concern.

Straeuli could not supply reasons for the high rate of attrition, but indicated he would be guided by science in dealing with it.

4. Poor discipline

Straeuli lamented the poor discipline of the country's players in the Super 12 earlier this year. He kept record of the players who fell foul of the laws and the repeat offenders received a stern warning. Ironically, however, the country's leading players have misbehaved with similar regularity at Test level. From the start of 2 000 the Springboks have received 22 yellow cards, while six have been red-carded since the team's return from isolation.

Areas addressed

1.

Professionalism was at the root of club rugby's decline. Provincial/Test players rarely featured in club colours, exacerbating the draining effect.

Sarfu have addressed the problem and the more affluent clubs are encouraged to forge partnerships with the lesser developed.

There was more interest in this year's National Club Championships than previously.

2.

The poor standards that were maintained in the provincial competitions have also been addressed and the Currie Cup will now at least vaguely resemble the force it once was.

The Cup's previous format was blamed for much of the national team's ills. A report urged a reduction in the number of teams in the top tier. Eight teams now compete in the Premier Division, six in the First.

The Captains

Naas Botha

Botha was the first Springbok captain after readmission, but in this brief stint he failed to rise to his former heights. He still holds the points-scoring record with 312 points from 28 Tests.

Francois Pienaar

The country's most celebrated captain was also unceremoniously axed from his position. Pienaar led the Springboks in all 29 Tests he played in, but his exit led to the most heated debate in the game over the last 10 seasons.

Gary Teichmann

Teichmann was one of his country's finest leaders, but he too was kicked in the teeth by the national coach. The soft-spoken Natalian captained the team in 36 of the 42 Tests he played in, but despite his distinguished career, he never played in a World Cup.

Bobby Skinstad

The former Springbok and Stormers captain has been loved as much as he has been loathed by the South African rugby public since he broke into the senior ranks. His achievements on the field have, however, largely been over-shadowed by his elevation to the Springbok starting XV and to the captaincy at the expense of Gary Teichmann and André Vos.

The coaches

Rudolf Straeuli

The current coach is under the cosh. His team has displayed very little direction and purpose against the stronger rugby playing nations. Straeuli's combative and often sullen public image needs addressing, and it was hardly surprising when he was likened to a "lugubrious moose" by a well-schooled coach.

Record: Played: 17. Won: 9. Lost: 8. Win ratio: 52 percent

John Williams

After a euphoric return to international rugby, reality soon caught up with the Springboks under Williams in 1992. The former Northern Transvaal strongman brought an uncompromising approach to the job, but the team's poor results in that year ultimately took their toll.

Record: Played 5. Won 1. Lost 4. Win ratio 20%

Kitch Christie

The former Transvaal coach provided a midas touch to the Springbok set-up. Christie, a successful businessman, applied similar principles in the running of the team which helped win the World Cup trophy. His ailing health and the unsympathetic top brass in Sarfu brought an end to the Christie era.

Record: Played 14. Won 14. Win ratio 100 percent.

Ian McIntosh

The colourful coach brought success to the Sharks for the first time in their history in 1990, but he too struggled to mould the Springboks into a successful unit. Axed in 1994, many saying unfairly.

Record: Played 12. Won 4. Lost 6. Drawn 2. Win ratio 33 percent.

André Markgraaff

The well-connected administrator and tactical guru made an inauspicious start to his career in charge. Early the following year, however, Markgraaff was exposed making racist remarks in a secretly taped conversation. He quit his job before he got the boot.

Record: Played 13. Won 8 Lost 5. Win ratio 61 percent.

Nick Mallett

The garrulous coach could do no wrong in his first 16 Tests in charge. His outspoken nature, however, did not endear him to the Sarfu executive. He famously criticised the pricing of Test tickets which ultimately cost him his job.

Record: Played: 38. Won 27. Lost 11. Win ratio 71 percent

Harry Viljoen

Arguably the Springboks' most misunderstood coach in the last decade. Viljoen too brought strong business principles to the job, but was widely criticised for taking the sport "away from the fans". He quit the job early last year, citing the pressure the job brought to bear on his family.

Record: Played 15. Won 8. Lost 6. Drawn 1. Win ratio 53 percent.

Carel du Plessis

The visionary Du Plessis's reign was arguably the most acrimonious in the post-isolation era. His team lost a three-Test series to the British and Irish Lions, and by the time the Springboks suffered a record defeat to the All Blacks in Auckland the writing was on the wall.

Record: Played 8. Won 3. Lost 5. Win ratio 37%

Current captain

Corné Krige

Krige's credentials as an openside flanker cannot be disputed, but his record as captain is hardly flattering. In the last 10 months he has captained South Africa to record defeats against France, Scotland, England and New Zealand.

The officials

Louis Luyt

The larger-than-life Luyt has been the game's most influential figure over the last decade. His iron grip on the domestic game, and indeed at the Lions, was broken in 1998, but no one expected him to go without a fight.

Rian Oberholzer

The suave Oberholzer has called the shots in South African rugby since Luyt's departure. He is now widely criticised for the demise of the national team, but it would be naive to suggest that his tenure has been devoid of success.