Rugby World Cup (as we are no longer participating in the cricket one)

GaryMac

Hi to all,

After the cricket debacle lets now move on to the Rugby World Cup.

I have just seen the "Springbok" shirt for the 2011 rugby World Cup thats coming up in New Zealand.

The Springbok has all but disapeared from the shirt and is now a very small emblem relegated to the left arm of the shirt.
A lovely large Protea a'la the cricket emblem is emblazoned on the left breast.

Words fail me.

And I am a Scot born and bred, so I cannot begin to imagine how it must make the true South African Springbok rugby supporters feel to see what "they" have done to the beloved Springbok jersey!!!!!

A sad day indeed.

GaryMac

Bob-Dubery

GaryMac wrote Hi to all,

After the cricket debacle lets now move on to the Rugby World Cup.

I have just seen the "Springbok" shirt for the 2011 rugby World Cup thats coming up in New Zealand.

The Springbok has all but disapeared from the shirt and is now a very small emblem relegated to the left arm of the shirt.
A lovely large Protea a'la the cricket emblem is emblazoned on the left breast.

Words fail me.

And I am a Scot born and bred, so I cannot begin to imagine how it must make the true South African Springbok rugby supporters feel to see what "they" have done to the beloved Springbok jersey!!!!!

A sad day indeed.

Personally I don't understand this mythology and emotion around that symbol. The cricket team got past that one pretty quickly and nobody really seemed to notice or care.

Now some wiseacre is going to say "and look at our cricket team now". Do you REALLY think that SA's apparent inability to win a knock out match in the CWC (which, in any case, predates the adoption of the Protea emblem) is down to a badge? And if it is then do we give credit to whoever came up with the Protea emblem credit for Smith's team being the first guys to beat Australia in Australia for donkey's years?

raithza

for me it's about as unimaginable as the all blacks switching their jerseys to pink or something.

MikeM

Agreed. I've always known us as "THE springboks"?

Bob-Dubery

I think it's all overdone. I don't think most of those symbols are that old, and that entrenched and I don't think it's a tragedy if they go. The main thing should be representing your country.

Sometime in the 60s English entered F1 cars stopped being green. The French blue held out a bit longer - but that was courtesy of blue and white cigarette packets. I'm not sure how long England cricketers have had 3 lions on their shirts but for overseas tours they were "M.C.C" and played in that club's colours until well into the 70s at least. NZ originally wore white shorts when playing rugby - and the haka changes from time to time.

Warren

X-rated Bob wrote I think it's all overdone. I don't think most of those symbols are that old, and that entrenched and I don't think it's a tragedy if they go. The main thing should be representing your country.

I totally agree. Rugby lovers will still support the team and will still expect the same top-flight rugby from one of the giants on the world stage.

If the All-Blacks had to switch to pink, we'd all still get our asses handed to us by a bunch of Pacific islanders dressed like girls ?

Ray

It's sad and it is a tragedy but perhaps the biggest tragedy is the fq'd reasoning for changing it. Ag it's all blown anyway.

Bob-Dubery

Warren wrote
X-rated Bob wrote I think it's all overdone. I don't think most of those symbols are that old, and that entrenched and I don't think it's a tragedy if they go. The main thing should be representing your country.

I totally agree. Rugby lovers will still support the team and will still expect the same top-flight rugby from one of the giants on the world stage.

If the All-Blacks had to switch to pink, we'd all still get our asses handed to us by a bunch of Pacific islanders dressed like girls ?

During World Series Cricket the West Indies got handed out pink uniforms (they didn't ask for them, maybe it was somebody's idea of a joke) and that didn't render them any less formidable. Colin Croft was still making opposition batsmen wish they were wearing brown cordrouy.

Squonk

Nah Guys, the Springbok is South African Rugby. <- notice the full stop

Warren

Squonk wrote Nah Guys, the Springbok is South African Rugby. <- notice the full stop

Naw, we'll have to agree to disagree. ?

MikeM

Why was it changed?

Warren

MikeM wrote Why was it changed?

I don't think it has officially changed, but there has certainly been movement towards making it less prominent, and there has been noise about removing it in the past. Just a purely subjective observation from me.

Ray

MikeM wrote Why was it changed?

Supposed to represent something that burns a whole lot of people's asses. Transformation? It's a f'n abomination.