Absence from shortlists amid the continuing show trial of Rassie Erasmus has left Springboks fans feeling disrespected
It was the last straw for many South Africans. So far this year they have battled their way past Covid-19 and the British & Irish Lions, beaten New Zealand on the Gold Coast and, more recently, overturned Wales and Scotland. And how many of their beloved Springboks have been shortlisted for a men’s player or coaching World Rugby award? None, niemand or akukho nanye, depending on whether you prefer to receive your bad news in English, Afrikaans or Xhosa.
On its own this would have been a relatively minor issue. France’s Antoine Dupont, England’s Maro Itoje and the Wallabies’ duo of Michael Hooper and Samu Kerevi are all fine players and no one has ever argued that award shortlists are a perfect science. But the context is all: plenty of people in South Africa are already outraged at what they regard as the continuing showtrial of Rassie Erasmus, the Springboks’ director of rugby, in the wake of his infamous Lions tour video rant and detect a recurring theme.
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