"Imagine a Springbok as a finished product coming off a factory assembly
line. What are the components required? And what does it take for them
to cohere into a successful team? Author Liz McGregor spent two years
behind the scenes interviewing the players, coaches, wives and
girlfriends, mothers and teachers. She also spoke to the Bok doctor and
physio, the sponsors, brand managers and the logistics guy. And then
there's the boss, the South African Rugby Union. What she discovered is
as fascinating as it is complex: that parents play a crucial role, as do
those early coaches and teachers who identify and nurture talent; that
injury lurks behind every corner; that it takes incredible courage to go
back onto the field to face another battering; and that the 'business'
of the Springboks is one that is both well and poorly managed, depending
where you look. By the end of her journey, McGregor had developed a deep
regard for the players and many of the people who work to put the best
team South Africa can offer onto the field. Nelson Mandela showed how a
Springbok team can unite a nation. But there are parts of the Springbok
Factory that are in urgent need of repair or, indeed, replacement. "