Cut South Africa some slack and applaud Springboks

WHILE I applaud Matt Cooper’s sentiment (October 19) in suggesting that the Irish people still have some growing up to do when it comes to our attitude to England, it seems that, in his effort to give them a fair crack of the whip, he’s prepared to indulge in a little nation-bashing himself.

If Irish people should show some maturity in coming to terms with long-past troubles, perhaps he could cut South Africa a little slack less than 15 years into its democracy?

Associating the current Springbok side with those of the apartheid days is a low blow, as is the suggestion that because of that country’s recent past, we should all somehow shun them.

If Mr Cooper knew anything about South African rugby today, he would know that black players are slowly but surely coming up through the ranks.

Rugby isn’t a traditionally ‘black’ game in South Africa — yes, blame that on the past, but then appreciate the fact that black children born into a democratic South Africa aren’t yet old enough to play test rugby. Go look at teams like the Blue Bulls and the Sharks and see how many young black players are making an impact and will, in years to come, feature on the international scene if they fulfil their promise. The SA Sevens team has mostly black players, as do the underage national teams. The point is, there is no longer a policy of deliberate exclusion of black players, as Mr Cooper seems so keen to suggest. There are quotas, but it is widely admitted that the system only serves to undermine the confidence of black players selected — promising centre Gcobani Bobo being an example of a player crippled by the feeling that he was only there for his colour.

Mr Cooper’s inference that JP Pietersen is a quota choice says more about him than it does about South Africa. Obviously, he can’t be good enough because he’s black, so he must be a quota player; the problem, Mr Cooper, would appear to be all yours. Your ‘quota’ player was the leading try-scorer in the 2007 Super 14 tournament. How he got enough games out of the white racist rugby organisers to do that is anyone’s guess, but there you go. Yes, South Africa continues to battle to overcome the evils of the past. To me, that is all the more reason to get behind them on the rugby ground.

I’m Irish and made my home in Cape Town five years ago. Last week in the building where I work, everyone wore the Springbok colours — and that means EVERYONE. The black guys in the room next to mine brought in beers to share around. You could not buy a Springbok shirt in Cape Town for love or money. Even the guys begging at the traffic lights were shouting ‘Go Bokke’ at anyone who would listen.

There might be racists still knocking around, but don’t insult South Africans by denying them their right to feel proud of where they come from and where they are going.

If Irish people wanted to get behind South Africa in the World Cup final last Sunday, well done to them, I say.

As for slagging off those who say they wouldn’t shout for England because their style of rugby is poor, what’s wrong with that? Does Matt Cooper look back fondly on England v Australia and France as classics of beautiful rugby?

Come on, Matt. Dig for trouble if you want, but some of us shout for South Africa because that’s what we want to do — not because we hate England. Tarring everyone with the same brush is just mental sloppiness.

Pamela Weaver

21 Melrose Place

Myburgh Road

Diep River

Cape Town

South Africa