Boks bosses move to defuse anthem row

SOUTH AFRICAN rugby bosses have moved to defuse a potentially explosive row over the Springboks’ behaviour during the national anthem before Saturday’s test win over the British and Irish Lions.

SA Rugby were quick to issue a statement yesterday which “emphatically denied” allegations that players staged a silent protest by not clutching any of the emblems on their jerseys while singing the anthem at Loftus Versfeld.

“We refute this allegation in the strongest possible terms,” said team manager, Arthob Petersen. “The Springbok players and management support both National emblems – the Protea and the Springbok – which have been acclaimed and approved by government.

“As a mark of respect for both emblems, the players took it upon themselves not to cover any of the emblems during the anthem singing and decided to rather interlock their arms. Their decision to do so was fully endorsed by team management.

“To suggest that this was some form of protest is totally untrue. The players feel strongly that the two national emblems must be given equal prominence and they should therefore be commended for their actions.”

Excluded for decades from mainstream international rugby, the Springboks were long viewed as a huge element in white South African identity. However when Nelson Mandela joined Francois Pienaar on the victory podium following the Boks’ World Cup victory over New Zealand in 1995 it was viewed as symbolising a new era of inclusion in South African sport.

Even now, though, racial tensions appear to bubble beneath the surface. Chester Williams of the 1995 World Cup-winning side recently alleged that he had been racially abused by teammate James Small during the campaign, Boks coach Peter de Villiers faces censure by his own union over racial comments made last week about Ricky Januarie – and the symbol of the Springbok itself has been moved from pride of place on the team jersey.

Though the antelope remains on South African jerseys, it is now on the right-hand side of the chest, with the King Protea flower, which is used by all other South African sports teams, worn over the heart.

The Boks aren’t the only side whose anthem performances have come under scrutiny. Having hosted France and Italy in recent weeks – with their players’ passionate renditions of their anthems – New Zealand players’ lack of vocal support for their own anthem has been criticised by supporters.

“It’s just something that’s crept in,” said coach Graham Henry recently.