Van Rooyen versus Hoskins
Sport365.co.za, the big brother of rugby365.com, take a look at the Brian van Rooyen versus Oregan Hoskins debate and come to the conclusion that it's got to be Hoskins for the South African Rugby Union (SARU) presidency.
It's a little over 36 hours since WRU Chief Executive Steve Lewis ruined most of Britain's Rugby journalists' Valentine's dinners by announcing the departure of Mike Ruddock.
Quite simply, for the good of South African rugby, Oregan Hoskins has to win Friday's election. Has to. Were he not to win, it would be a staggering manifestation of everything that is wrong in our game. When self-interest, politicking and downright skullduggery triumph, it really is a sad indictment on what ought to be a national treasure.
Brian van Rooyen's Presidency has been nothing short of disastrous, more akin to an embarrassment than anything else. The only possible aspect that has not fallen in the 'Complete Fiasco' folder has been the performance of the national team, but all those in the know will say that has been completely independent of Mr van Rooyen and his administration. The more cynical may even say, despite Van Rooyen…
The case against Van Rooyen is staggering, overwhelming, one that even reminds one of the much-vilified Judge Hilary Squires' oft-quoted phrase "a generally corrupt relationship". Rover-gate, Bid-gate, Labattoffices-gate, CelticCup-gate, Rian-gate, Lategan-gate and the like. Throw in the effemination of the Currie Cup, the Spears conundrum, an irate government and a litany of bad headlines and you have, to be blunt, an abysmal Presidency.
In fact, should, and please he does, Hoskins get the requisite 23 votes on Friday morning, he is going to have to have so much tidying up to do it is going to be like trying to put Humpty together again. Especially as he tries to sort out the six-into-five-will-never-go Super 14 representation debacle and tried to elevate the Currie Cup back to something around the acceptable mark. Do not be blinded by one good final – it does not a good season make.
But Van Rooyen's real curse on Hoskins, and perversely it could be the reason that Mr Van Rooyen is returned to office on Friday and allowed to bumble on, is that of the curiously named President's Council. Van Rooyen, for all his other faults, is a wily campaigner. You need not be Albert Einstein to work out that the mighty Griffons carry the same vote as the Sharks, the Leopards the same as Western Province. Promise the small boys Currie Cup action, Test matches (Springboks versus All Blacks in Rustenburg) and you will get their vote. Stuff the Lions and the Sharks. Who are they?
That there is talk of people running around gathering proxy votes in the build up to Friday shows the level of desperation that some are to enjoy power. It is almost pathetic.
It is, sadly, the old adage of Turkeys and Christmas. The Turkeys are just not going to vote for something which threatens them, no matter the greater good of the game. Van Rooyen fell over himself to empower these Presidents and allow them to fluff out their tail feathers and enjoy the dolce vita. Hoskins has already talked of a greater balance between the Rian Oberholzer-led company model and the President's Council.
But to get someone to vote in a man that will depower them, in theory, takes a very big person seeing a bigger picture, not someone quite content in his little pond. Let's just hope that they will realise what has happened over the past few years has been so abjectly bad for South African rugby that they will be forced into a little courage and elect Hoskins. It will be for their good in the long run.
Oh, and do not fall for this poppycock that a Hoskins victory will pave the way for the return of the Devil Incarnate, André Markgraaff. It is a great scare tactic used in our rugby circles that this Machiavele is straight disrespect.
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