As the All Blacks prepared for their 2016 season with the just completed three-Test series against Wales, South Africa and Australia are also underway with their seasons, but once again South Africa has been in the news.
Because all the interest in New Zealand has been in the naming of the All Blacks team in the wake of the loss of experience in Richie McCaw, Dan Carter et al, an issue of significant impact in South Africa has been overlooked in the mainstream media.
That is the ‘transformation’ agenda in South Africa sport. This is all about increasing the numbers of black players in international teams and the pressure has been on South African rugby and cricket teams, especially, to up their numbers.
It is highly controversial in South Africa as can be imagined because it is considered the black players are often not the best players in their positions in their country. It is a matter for South Africa to resolve but in watching from afar should anyone be feeling any sympathy for the South Africans?
The reason they are in this position is because the imposed a legal statute that made anyone not white an inferior citizen. That law was introduced to legalise a social system that had been in practice since the earliest days of colonisation, so we are talking something like 150 years of separatism.
That’s an awful lot of time to make up in terms of transformation. And quick fixes don’t happen in a hurry. In a way the government of today is getting its own back in demanding transformation and New Zealanders, especially, have their own injustices with the South Africans to offer up as evidence.
From 1919, when it was suggested only whites be included in the New Zealand Army team invited to play in South Africa on their way home from World War One until the Cavaliers tour of 1986, South Africa case a shocking shadow over New Zealand.
Their policy of not allowing Maori to be included in New Zealand teams was a disgrace on South Africa’s part, but also a blight on New Zealand’s right to determine its own choice of players.
In 1928, 1949 and 1960 New Zealand was forced to send inferior teams to contest Test series with South Africans at a significant cost on the results for and against ledger. Just how much New Zealand sides were weakened can be seen from the results in games played in South Africa since 1992 when South Africa were welcomed back into the rugby fold.
Before 1992 New Zealand had won only five Tests in South Africa, had lost 14 and drawn one. Since 1992, New Zealand have won 16 and lost 11. A more graphic illustration could not demonstrate just how much New Zealand was disadvantaged when unable to field full-strength sides.
Now the balance on New Zealand’s account has been redressed, and it is the time for South Africa to achieve the balance among its own races. It will take much longer than it has for New Zealand to do so, and really there is not a lot of sympathy to be had for the plight the South Africans find themselves in.
History will balance things out in time and in promoting their apartheid policies the South Africans forgot that for every action there is a reaction. And that is what the Springboks are now finding out.
Article by Lynn McConnell. Read more about Lynn here.
Lynn writes for GrownUps, courtesy of Golden Oldies & Vintage Sports Tours.