Skin colour doesn't matter for these Boks
WORLD CUP SPOTLIGHT: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus embraced transformation with such vigour that he has moved well beyond just the 50 percent ‘target’ set for him and his team.
Of course, there will be ‘quota counters’ that will tell you that the numbers simply don’t add up and that he has fallen short of the percentage agreed to between the South African Rugby Union and the government.
However, according to hooker Mbongeni Mbonambi the Bok team has ‘transformed’ to an extent where ‘skin colour’ is no longer an issue.
“Rassie has obviously made a massive difference – not just to the Springboks but a lot of decisions have influenced the whole nation,” Mbonambi told a media briefing at the team’s training base in Tokyo – ahead of their semifinal showdown with Wales in Yokohama, on Sunday.
“He is the sort of coach that has an honest opinion about each and every player and he will tell it to you honestly.
“He is not the type of coach that will do things behind closed doors – he does it openly in front of the whole team.
“The players have more respect for someone like him; someone that tells them openly and honestly what he needs from them and what he expects from them.
“He gives you more freedom to go out there and be yourself and express yourself.
“That has been the most outstanding thing about the team this year.”
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Erasmus set the team three goals for the two-year period since he took charge: winning, growing depth and experience, as well as transforming.
And those objectives have been achieved.
“To me and to everyone in this team, it doesn’t matter about your skin colour or wherever you come from,” said Mbonambi.
“Rassie will pick a guy who is there to work hard and do your job. You will work your way into this team.
“Previous coaches would pick someone who had been there for years, even though you could see that he was not pulling his weight.
“Now we know that you will get picked on the basis of the work that you do and how you execute it.”
The transformation from a team that was sliding down the world rankings during 2016 and 2017 has been inspiring for players and coaches.
The Boks won only 11 of 25 matches in those two seasons and suffered a chastening first loss to Italy, a record loss by New Zealand (57-0) and a whitewash in the three Tests on the 2016 end-of-year tour.
Performances improved in 2018 – although the win ratio remained a modest 50 percent – under Erasmus.
However, the fruits of that labour have been reaped in 2019, with only one defeat in 10 matches (a 13-23 loss to New Zealand in their opening pool match at the World Cup) and a win ratio of 80 percent.
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