Journey of hope for Boks

It is apt to state in the context of the Springbok departure to Japan that “a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step”. In a sense this Chinese proverb sums up the South African rugby team’s venture to the Land of the Rising Sun as one of trepidation tinged with excitement. Expectations are high that Rassie Erasmus and his Bok squad will deliver the holy grail of rugby – the World Cup – after failing in the past two tournaments.

It all appears to be in place under Erasmus with the coach ticking all the boxes with his selections and his tactics during the Rugby Championships featuring the Boks, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina.

After accounting for the Wallabies and Argentina and drawing with the All Blacks, the Boks clinched the title and with it expectations for the World Cup went up a notch.

It was a significant achievement which comes just weeks before the South Africans embark on what could be the most challenging assignment they will undertake in years.

Over the years the hot button issue on the rugby front has been the question of transformation with the general consensus that not enough scope is given to black players in the Bok setup.

Try as they may a number of coaches have been deemed to have fallen short in getting the numbers right. The demand was there should be at least 50% or seven black players in the starting lineups.

Sporting federations had to adhere to a code thrashed out at the National Sports Plan years go which came with a threat there would be consequences if they did not.

This forced the hand of some stick-in-the-muds who argued that players should be picked on merit and not be seen as a “quota”.

The debate around this has not been as toxic as in past years and it could be to Erasmus’ credit that his squad did not elicit any outrage or controversy.

For the record he picked eight black players and three coloured players for his 31-man squad.

Of greater significance is that the team will, for the first time, be led by a black player, Siya Kolisi.

That is a plus for a side who will need full support from all South Africans who are hankering for some success on the international front after miserable failure by other codes in various World Cup tournaments this year.

Erasmus feels they are in with a shout and if he can get the right formula and the players play ball it will be Mission Accomplished.

We can only hope so.

This Chinese proverb sums up the team’s venture to the Land of the Rising Sun as one of trepidation tinged with excitement