Because its harder to be a good soccer player than a good rugby player and of course the lack of wealth of the general public doesn’t help
There are 50 million approx black South Africans and the game of soccer is huge there . However compared to say Egypt , Ivory Coast , Cameroon , Etc. they haven’t really achieved . This isn’t a soccer v rugby argument rather a curiousity why SA have underachieved at soccer .
id imagine there is just no investment whatsoever in football over there
The “quota” allright @Fagan_ODowd is interesting
a similar thing is at play in israel with the football team and it even spreads as far as industry - tech companies for example receive serious incentives for hiring arab women in the sector
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very few of their players make it in Europe also
say for example where in Ligue Une you would have a huge north and west african contingent - in Belgium players from Zaire and the congo would be popular - very few south african players (that i can think of ) are playing at a decent level in europe
A process which can possibly trace its origins back to the Slatts and the British Lions in 1974 going into the townships, spreading the gospel of rugby and the blow that was struck against the Broderbond and the inner sanctum of Afrinkanerdom with the ground breaking match against Erroll Tobias and the Proteas.
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15 - L.B. Williams (Waunarlwydd, Saracens & Wales)
14 - J.H. Adams (Worcester & Wales)
13 - J.J.V. Davies (Llanelli, Scarlets & Wales)
12 - S.M. Johnson (Glasgow & Scotland)
11 - J.J. May (Leicester & England)
10 - F.A. Russell (Racing & Scotland)
9 - D.G. Davies (Carmarthen, Scarlets & Wales)
1 - M.W.I.W.N.A. Vunipola (Saracens & England)
2 - K.J. Owens (Llanelli, Scarlets & Wales)
3 - K.N.J.S. Sinckler (Harlequins & England)
4 - A.W. Jones (Bonymaen, Ospreys & Wales)
5 - J. J. Ryan (Lansdowne, Leinster & Ireland)
6 - J.R. Navidi (Cardiff, Blues & Wales)
7 - T.M. Curry (Sale & England)
8 - C.R. Moriarty (Gorseinon, Dragons & Wales)
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Crap should be disbanded, ruining Irish players.
The British Lions is the pinnacle of rugby.
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That’s a fascinating selection.
It’s amazing what difference a championship can make.
Great to see some quality Scotch representation. They’re playing some fantastic ball at the moment. Hamish Watson would make a terrific impact sub.
We’re now into the real thick of the sorting out process, with two championships down since the last tour and two still left.
At this point, the peerless Alun Wyn Jones is an automatic choice as captain.
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He must be the best northern hemisphere second row since Martin Johnson.
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The great Alun Wyn Jones unquestionably the captain. The big issue is will he play on until 2021? He’ll be pushing 36 at that stage. Don’t forget Wales have had to make do in the Championship without the best Number 8 in the world, Taulupe Faletau as well. What an embarrassment of back row riches.
Darcy Graham very close to getting selected on the left wing, but you couldn’t leave out the tournaments top try scorer Jonny May. Stuart Hogg missed most of the Championship after his collision with Peter O’Mahony so didn’t really get out of the blocks at all. Stuart McInally is a top drawer hooker, but you couldn’t leave out the Sheriff. Hamish Watson, a top class player. Only played one and a half matches so didn’t have anything like the game time of the excellent Tom Curry.
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“collision” with Peter o mahony 
If a French lad did it to sexton, Gerry Thornley would be calling for bertie aherne to lead a diplomatic mission to Brussels
Simon Shaw was outstanding at second row on the 2009 tour at 37 years of age, so there’s precedent there if the Welsh warrior decides to continue on.
Alun Wyn has already won a series as Loins captain when he deputised in magnificent fashion for the injured Sam Warburton in the famous deciding test victory at Stadium Australia in 2013, but to be named as tour captain would be a fitting way for one of the true greats of the game to bow out.
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Surely you mean Paris. Brussels is in Belgium.
The European courts would need to hear the case
The European Court of Justice is in Luxembourg.
Anyway, you said diplomatic mission, which is separate to a court case.
The last four tour captains to South Africa have all been second rows - Paul O’Connell in 2009, Johnno in 1997, Bill Beaumont in 1980 and Willie John McBride in 1974. Robin Thompson in 1955 as well.
There’s something about the high veld that demands a leader of high standing, both literally and metaphorically.
I can’t remember whether it was Tony Ward or perhaps John Robbie who said it, but one of them once described the feel, the smell, the dryness (outside of Durban and the other coastal cities at least), the thin air, the whole experience of a tour to South Africa as being unlike anywhere else, and more intoxicating than anything and anywhere else, almost like a drug. Once you go to South Africa to play rugby, you want to go back again and again and again.
Possibly John Robbie. Tony wouldn’t have played on the high veld. He was famously flown in for the first test in Cape Town in 1980 (after failing to make the original selection of 30) when both Ollie Campbell and Gareth Davies both had to cry off with illness and injury. Gareth Davies returned for the second test on the high veld in Bloemfontein and Ollie Campbell played the last two.
Robbie would make sense alright as he made his life in South Africa afterwards. The words stuck with me but not who said them, for some reason.