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Teichmann axing draws fire

Fans, provincial coaches blast Springbok captain's ouster

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Posted: Wednesday July 28, 1999 02:54 PM

Teichmann was captain for 36 matches over the past three years, and led an unbeaten 17-match run ended by England at Twickenham in November last year. Nick Wilson/Allsport

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) -- Fans and provincial coaches blasted the axing of Gary Teichmann as Springboks captain, saying Tuesday that it signaled uncertainty about the team's future for the World Cup amid brewing ethnic tensions.

Teichmann was replaced by scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen and dropped from the squad for upcoming Tri-Nations Tests because of lingering injuries, coach Nick Mallett announced Monday.

Recent losses to Wales, New Zealand and Australia sealed Teichmann's dismissal, some observers said. Others worried about how the shakeup would affect the squad's ability to focus on defending the World Cup in October.

"Teichmann's sacking effectively removed the only strand keeping a disjointed and unhappy family in tact," wrote Grant Robbins, a columnist in the daily Sportsday in Johannesburg.

Australia's stand-in captain David Wilson was surprised by the move that also included naming Bobby Skinstad as No. 8, Teichmann's old position.

"To dump a captain and then get a new No. 8 in a World Cup year is a bit strange, but if the other guys are playing better, then so be it," Wilson said.

The selection of van der Westhuizen to replace Teichmann triggered speculation about ethnic conflicts among the Springboks.

Historically a sport dominated by the white Afrikaner community, South African rugby has been criticized for its lack of non-white players, a battle that has been fought in courts and the media in recent years.

But even among the whites, there has been tension between the Afrikaans-speaking and English-speaking players who have gained a stronger foothold on the Springbok squad since the World Cup victory in 1995. The fact that Mallett is a native English speaker has reinforced the perception of ethnic preference for English speakers.

Skinstad -- long thought to be Teichmann's heir apparent, and a fellow English speaker -- just last week was booed by fans as he entered the field in a provincial match in one of the Afrikaner strongholds, Bloemfontein.

Van der Westhuizen, on the other hand, speaks Afrikaans as his mother tongue, a quality that some onlookers thought made him attractive for Mallett's selection in correcting perceptions of bias.

"We all know that if Skinstad was made captain, then there would be a walkout of senior players including Johan Erasmus and Andre Venter," said Martin Gillingham, a radio sports talkshow host on Cape Talk station in Cape Town on Monday.

Speaking English, Gillingham was openly disdainful of van der Westhuizen, suggesting he was unintelligent and calling him "bonehead."

Van der Westhuizen, speaking perfect English in a radio interview, dismissed the idea there was bad blood on the squad. He said he was "shocked" by his selection.

"I consider myself a friend of [Teichmann's], and it is going to be very difficult to step into his boots," the new captain said.

Teichmann was captain for 36 matches over the past three years, and led an unbeaten 17-match run ended by England at Twickenham in November last year.

Former Springbok coach Ian McIntosh suggested Teichmann had been treated "shabbily."

"It's a hell of a blow to Gary, especially in terms of his aspirations," McIntosh said.

In Johannesburg, leading radio personality John Robbie, who used to play international rugby for Ireland and the British Lions, supported Mallett's decision, saying on 702 Radio that a player not able to hold a regular spot on the team could hardly be selected captain.

Roster

Backs: Gaffie du Toit, Robbie Fleck, Henry Honiball, Deon Kayser, Percy Montgomery, Breyton Paulse, Pieter Rossouw, Andre Snyman, Werner Swanepoel, Stefan Terblanche, Joost van der Westhuizen, Brendan Venter

Forwards: Selborne Boome, Naka Drotske, Os du Randt, Johan Erasmus, Adrian Garvey, Ruben Kruger, Ollie le Roux, Krynauw Otto, Chris Rossouw, Bobby Skinstad, Albert van den Berg, Andre Venter, Cobus Visagie, Andre Vos.

 

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