Black and white

The Rugby World Cup won the South Africa team in France ended with a VI Rugby VI ROSIC. On Friday, having beaten the team of the owners 34:10, the bronze medals were first won by the Argentine national team. And the Saturday final brought the victory to the South Africa to the Rugbists of the now ex -champions of the world - the British - 15: 6.

The South African Republic became the second - after Australia - a two -time trophy owner. For the first time, Spring Box won the World Cup in 1995. That triumph of a 12-year ago meant the beginning of a new sports era in the country, which has remained in isolation for many years due to the apartheid policy it carried out. In fact, only the British, despite the international boycott, maintained contacts with the regbists of South Africa - other competitive practice clubs and the team were deprived of the team. It is noteworthy, however, that when the decision was made on the establishment of the World Cup, the opposition to the new undertaking was very strong in the International Federation of Rugby, and the voice of South Africa played a decisive role. Although he perfectly understood that his country would not be able to participate in this tournament, it would not have been the relations between the black and white population of the country will not be clothed in a civilized form.

The first two draws passed without the participation of Spring Box, but by 1995 the political situation in South Africa had changed, and the boycott was canceled. Moreover, South Africa was entrusted with the organization of the III Cup of the World, and Nelson Mandela personally opened the tournament. Many then demanded to change the emblem and, accordingly, the unofficial name of the national team, believing that the previous one - the Gazelle (Springbok) is associated with the apartheid regime. Mandela rightly reasoned that the history of sports should not depend on momentary political trends. The South Africa team, dressed in shirts with an old symbol, beat Australia in overtime in the final - 15:12 and became the world champion.

It included then only one color player - Chester Williams. Traditionally, Rugby in this country was a “white” sport, and football was “black”. Of course, the exceptions met, and often: so, a year later, South Africa won the African football nations home, and one of the best players of the tournament was the red -haired defender Mark Fish, who later played in the Roman Lazio. The artificial introduction of racial quota will hardly contribute to the achievement of success. Without it, South Africa became the first football power on the continent and the first rugby in the world.

Repetition of success 12 years later can mean the end of the golden era. Last year, the team coach Jake White complained that he was not able to include several strong white players. The new policy of the ANC (African National Congress - the ruling political party) in the field of sports involves the establishment of racial balance in national teams in game types. Of course, in France, White would not have done without Brian Khaban, who set the record of the tournament in the number of attempts, and the other extreme three -quarter - Jay Pi Pitersen. But they got a place in the national team with their game, and not by the decision of the government. Now new racial quotas come into action, and it is difficult to assume when we will again see the Spring Box in their strongest composition.

However, any Cup of the world, played once every four years, is a farewell immediately with many outstanding rugbyists of their generation. Australians George Grigan and Stephen Larkham, French Rafael and Christoph Dominisi, Argentine Agustin Pichot and many others will no longer play for the Australian national team. In 2005, the Englishman Jason Robinson was already leaving the national team, but returned to get to the finals again, get a shoulder injury in a decisive match and watch his partners unsuccessfully trying to hack the strongest South African defense.

It was not necessary to expect that the last meeting will become productive. In the two previous fights of the playoffs with the participation of the English team, only two attempts were brought. For many years, Rosa has been building their game in the calculation of strong defense and skill beating. In the presence of Johnny Wilkinson on the field, such a tactic justifies itself. England on his teeth crawled to the final, in front of which Josh Luchesi also lost - the same three -occasional one who laid the only attempt in a match with France.

Both finalists played flawlessly in defense. It was not easier to break into a 22-meter zone than jumping to a huge inflatable-piercing ball, suspended at the top of the Eiffel Tower. The result was supposed to determine the accuracy of the impacts of Wilkinson and Percy Montgomery, or rather, of them to whom the partners will be able to create more convenient situations to defeat the goal. Wilkinson realized two penalties, but missed twice, trying to score the drop-goal. Montgomery was accurate in all his four attempts. In addition, the South African team also had Francois Stein, who was able to break through the crossbar from his half. His blow at the 62nd minute was the last effective action in the match - 15: 6 in favor of South Africa. Montgomery became the most effective player in the tournament - 105 points.

The audience never waited for a single attempt (by the way, it was in 1995, when the South Africans played in the final with Australia). Only once did the British have a chance to earn more than three points at the same time - at the beginning of the second half with a score of 3: 9. Matthew Tate slipped into the South African rear in the center, his partners after the “cancer” launched the fan to the left, and Mark Kuto put the ball behind the line, but a moment earlier Dani Rossou grabbed his leg and flew out with her by the side. After a long video review of the episode, the attempt was not counted.

Thus, the gold medals went to the rugbyists of South Africa, the silver - England, and the Argentines won the bronze, who had overcome the days earlier at the “Park de Prens” of the French. The team of the owners remained completely incomprehensible to their spectators. She won the only vivid victory over the main favorite of the tournament, New Zealand, in a match, which by the will of the calendar passed outside France. At home in fights with strong rivals - England and twice with Argentina - the French did not show a hint of the game that won them a lot of fans around the world. Due to the cautious tactics of Bernard Laporta, the audience did not see either beautiful combinations “on their hands”, nor quick breakthroughs, nor, most importantly, attempts and victories. And in the last match, the “Puma” arranged for the owners a uniform defeat - 34:10. This is their largest victory over three -color in history. Laport is now resigned, however, like Marcelo Loffred. However, the resignation of the Argentinean is much more honorable: he is invited to train the best club team of England "Leicester Tigers".

10/21/2007 / Mikhail Melnikov, the material was published in the "newspaper" No. 197 of 10.22.2007.