Player revolt in SA cricket?

Johannesburg - Some members of the national cricket team are allegedly threatening to withdraw from the tour of Bangladesh if disciplinary steps are taken against their coach.

South African cricket faces a serious rift as a result of a crisis caused by alleged interference in team selections by leading administrator Norman Arendse.

Arendse, chairperson of SA Cricket, and Proteas coach Mickey Arthur are on a collision course. It seems there is not enough room for both men in SA cricket. One of them will have to go.

Arendse has threatened to get rid of Arthur. The coach, in turn, said on Thursday he had obtained legal advice over an "insulting" email message from Arendse.

More.

NVDL: I saw Arendse wriggling and writhing on TV news last night. The reason they don't want this in the media is simple. The coach picks a team, some admin guy says: "Why didn't you choose these black players?" and the answer is pretty freaking obvious isn't it: "Because they weren't good enough for the team." He did the word play thing which is becoming so lame now; all the politicians and others worming their way out of trouble are doing it: "Well you see we are committed to transformation..." Let's say it the way it should be said - 'transformation at the expense of delivery'.
He was asked: "But aren't you interfering with the team?" Answer: "If pursuing transformation is interference then yes..." No, 'Yes' will suffice.

Fire Oregon Hoskins

Jake White’s book presents the perfect case for holding the custodians of sport accountable for their (often dubious) curatorship.

It is obviously untenable that Hoskins could be let off the hook for his speech made to the Bok team (whilst handing out their jerseys), on the eve of their game against the world champions, in which he admitted to the Boks:
- he was a victim of Apartheid
- as such he had supported the All Blacks in matches against the Boks

Naturally, this presents a personal ethos incompatible with his position in SA Rugby management. It is the sort of thing on a CV that would disqualify an applicant. So why did he even apply?

In this scenario, how can anyone expect this sort of person bringing their personal background into play, to contribute positively or supportively to the South African side? He has clearly admitted to subverting sport, and as it turns out in White’s book, the idea seems to have been to subvert and score political points all along, as though the Springbok rugby teams were a newspaper, not a bunch of professional sportsmen, and they were being used to convey personal political messages back to the South African public.

Truly Blessed

Rugby loving South Africans were truly blessed to have someone who not only loves and knows the game, but also demonstrated a stubbornly loyalty to the sport because of this. He also did his best to transform the side, not artificially, but using the good players he could find. But management was impatient, irrational and apparently disconnected to the game. White had to resist political opportunists who constantly took the ANC and the president’s name in vain. Ironically enough, when White decided to see the president himself to find out what was happening,and what he needed to do, he was threatened by Hoskin’s et al that he would lose his job and his chance to go to the World Cup. Crazy!

Double Jeopardy

This further demonstrates not only a personal agenda on the part of Hoskins’, but a double agenda. One agenda seemingly for the ‘disadvantaged’ (thus a political agenda) and the other, based on settling personal issues.

Interestingly, the Watson saga further demonstrates how easily political will could be forced over the Boks, despite Whites’ integrity and work ethic. The good news is that the sponsors, the media (hopefully) and the South Africa public, en mass, are now savvy as to how these political machinations are brought about. One hopes they will not miss a beat, and that both the press and public will not allow political interference, not allow the perpetrators of this interference, to get away it any longer. SARU management, you have been warned. This does beg the question: with their hands tied in terms of ostensible political point scoring, what exactly will the likes of Stofile and Hoskins do at SARU for kicks, as one assumes they were never there for the love of the game?

White Vs All Blacks

The great pity is that White did not get to see his dream realized, and it is a dream all rugby loving South Africans dream: to beat the All Blacks in New Zealand. Unfortunately, Jake White will never get his chance to do this, something he admits is his greatest regret. It’s also a cogent reminder why we ought never to not let SARU management forget who SA rugby really belongs to...

Jake Quits Boks (PRESS RELEASE)

Respect, honesty and dignity are among the values of the Springbok squad over the last four years. Given recent press statements indicating why I was not considered for the national coaching role next year I felt obliged to clarify a few points, so as to ensure the Springboks’ incredible success at the World Cup is not tarnished with misinformation or inaccuracy regarding my situation.

The match against the Barbarians at Twickenham will be my last one as Springbok coach and I want to publicly thank the 72 players I have been privileged to be associated with in the last four years. The selectors and I capped 28 new Springboks in 53 Tests and to award a new player his Bok cap is among any Bok coach’s career highlights.

I’ve also had a wonderful support team within the management, most of who started with me four years ago and finished with a World Cup winners medal. I will thank them personally for their contribution when the team gets together and my hope is the decision-makers in South African rugby realize how talented these individuals are and look after them in a way befitting of the sacrifice they have made for South African rugby.

Personally, I am extremely disappointed at the manner in which the message of my supposed unavailability was conveyed to the public on Monday in a South African Rugby Union media release that stated I would not be considered for the job on the basis that I did not apply.
My contract as Springbok coach is clear that I was not obliged to apply and that all considerations would be discussed at my annual review. I did ask for time to consider my options as I was mindful of making a wrong decision based on emotion. This time was not afforded me and that is particularly disappointing.

The purpose of this statement is to put on record my passion for rugby in this country and for the Springboks. Hopefully it will also put an end to all the speculation regarding my perceived motives to stay or go.

For the record: It was the greatest honour to coach the Boks and no one can ever take away the memory of those four years. When I got the job I promised to instill and promote those values I believe should always be consistent with Springbok rugby. In 2004 the Boks were ranked sixth in the world and emotionally we were at a low after the disasters of 2003. I maintained at the time we had good enough players to win the World Cup. In those four years the Springboks won the Tri Nations, won the World Cup, won two International Player of the Year awards, two Coach of the Year awards and twice were recognized by the IRB as the team of the year. In that time we also beat every team on at least one occasion. To those players I want to say thank you. To the support staff an equal thank you.

Not only have you won the World Cup, but you have restored respect for the Bok jersey and you have honoured those values every young boy in this country should aspire to want to live.
I walk away with no regrets, but with plenty of sadness.

This is a time to thank people and from a rugby perspective I can’t emphasise enough the contribution of Eddie Jones in the last two months. The Bok team sponsor SASOL was huge in its contribution, on a personal level and in whatever the squad needs were. So too the input of the other rugby sponsors Vodacom, British Airways, Southern Sun and Absa.

Former President Nelson Mandela was a constant source of inspiration and President Thabo Mbeki was as inspirational in how he connected with the squad. I agree with President Mbeki when he says John Smit for president. We as South Africans have a special son in Smittie and let’s celebrate the qualities of the man.

Finally, to my family, to Deb and the boys I would never be able to thank you enough for allowing me to pursue my dream.

The next guy will need everyone’s support because as wonderful as it is to coach South Africa, it can be particularly lonely at times.
I wish him all the best.
Thank you.

More stories:
Jake: I was pushed
Saru not waiting for White
Jake may opt for Wallabies job

NVDL: So it's a fight for the spoils now. Everyone wants to get their hands in SA rugby's money pot. SA rugby - will it ever be the same again?

On eTV last night White was interviewed on 3rd Degree, but more telling was what was said on the news, that White had never submitted an application and had apparently missed a deadline. Appealing on us to focus on these technicalities demonstrates a lack of...what is it...transparency and the shrouding of darker motivations.