South Africans dumbfounded as major prize proves elusive

The sense of amazement was palpable when it was announced South Africa were the first of the three bidding nations for the 2011 Rugby World Cup to be eliminated. The expectation was that New Zealand would be removed at the first hurdle. South Africans looked on with incredulity, the unexpected words finally registering.

Francois Pienaar, the Springbok captain for their World Cup triumph in 1995, provided the focal point of their presentation and it was to him that most turned to explain a stunning decision. "We knew it was going to be very close. We never really listened to what the press was saying. The only thing we had to focus on was the bid.

"We saw everyone with a business case, we saw them again. We paid them the respect as council members and then the decision is up to them. That's all you can do. We thought that we had a good chance but it wasn't meant to be."

He rejected the suggestion that the result would provide a huge blow to rugby in Africa.

"South African rugby has that responsibility to rugby in Africa and that will continue. If it doesn't continue then it will be sad because that is one aspect of the bid we highlighted. A World Cup in South Africa would have meant a lot for Africa.

"We are not an established rugby nation as everyone says we are: in a sense yes but (we are only) 10 years young. We drew from 10 per cent of our population. We are also a developing rugby nation with more black players on our teams than ever before, which is great. We are Under 19 and Under 21 world champions with the team evenly split in terms of the demographics of South Africa. That is encouraging."

The sense of disbelief enveloped the South African delegation and some former Springboks at home. SARFU president Brian van Rooyen magnanimously admitted: "I think the rugby World Cup is relatively young and I think when it gets a little bit more established like the soccer World Cup they can take it anywhere in the world."

South African Minister of Sport Makhenkesi Stofile also spoke with dignity: "It came as a very big blow to us and it was a huge disappointment, but we are not about to die. We are sports people and we played hard and we have to accept the outcome."

Joost van der Westhuizen and Joel Stransky, who were the halfback combination in the victorious 1995 team, were both stunned. "I just don't know what to say, it's come as a complete shock," Stransky told a live television audience in South Africa while van der Westhuizen railed: "I want to know why, why did the vote go against us?" He won't be alone.