Opening Pandora’s box – SuperSport – Rugby
November 8, 2012 in rugby, sport
So my plea to South African coaches across the board is to take that chance and to fans to be patient.
We certainly cannot say we’ve succeeded in transforming the sport in this country if only a handful of Bok candidates are available for selection.
We’ll always disagree on individual selections for the national team. But in the bigger picture, we need to broaden the base of top class provincial and Super Rugby players that can take the step up to international rugby.
This is where rugby is failing in South Africa.
Until the Bok coach has 50 black players to choose from in Super Rugby, and not 10 we will never say we are transformed as a sport.
That is the real battleground. That is where rugby can win hearts and minds. Some will make it and some won’t, but if we can reach that ideal goal, we can forgo some of the uncomfortable conversations we hate having in this sport in South Africa.
Long has it been known in Rugby circles […]
lazoola said on November 9, 2012
There is a need for transformation cause inspite of the fact that there are good players that are not white they are constantly over looked.Why we as Black South Africans can over look colour and support the boks but we are not so sure the couch can. The couch will over look a player that has been performing consistently and choose a player that is out of form but the right colour could you explain why
Cash said on November 9, 2012
The problem is that some coaches think that white/Afrikaner in Meyer’s case is better,it can be agued that Kolisi made more tackle brake than J Potgieter,W Alberts and only Coetzee who is deemed small made more breaks. If Stander is not selected because he is heading to Ireland than it makes no sense calling back Louw
Baylion said on November 8, 2012
Off topic but I see the Lions have signed some more ex-Maties (and ex WP juniors) in Stokkies Hanekom and Hugo Kloppers
Leeubok said on November 8, 2012
Tell me this. WHY MUST WE TRANSFORM SA RUGBY? Why must there be more black players in the team? Just because they make up 80% of the country?
Why can SA not see past colour and the % of whites vs blacks. Why can we not just choose the best players there are to represent our country? Is it not good enough to be in the top3 rugby nations in the world most of the time? Or is it more important to have 5 whites, 5 indians and 5 blacks in the team?
Baylion said on November 8, 2012
Because it makes sense financially, politically and socially. Consider the numbers and you’ll see that.
However, I agree that it shouldn’t be on a quota system, which I think most people think of when there’s talk of transformation.
Leeubok said on November 8, 2012
Eish I dont know.. I just want the best 15 players to be playing for the bokke.
I commented on another blog a while ago, that transformation should be from the bottom up. Focus on schools, and township schools and give those kids an opportunity to play rugby. And look after those kids as they get older and rise through the ranks and give them an opportunity to make a career out of rugby
wesvulcan said on November 9, 2012
Simple answer…. People are stupid selfish creatures that do not care for the common good or performance of anything. They care only for the benefit of themselves and their narrow interests to see their (insert race here) brothers and sisters given an ego boost and thrust in the limelight, even at the expense of others. Human race as a collective does not exist.
KzR said on November 9, 2012
Leeubok: The idea of transformation often is aimed at the wrong principles. The idea is not simply to put in more players of colour into the Springboks. Rather, it’s to ensure that the sport which was once exclusive only to White people, can be an inclusive sport to Blacks, Coloureds, Asians, etc. The broad agenda is to ensure that we use sports like rugby, that were once used to divide, as a way to unite. If the transformation of the sport is not done, 30 years from now, we will still have half the country not supporting the Springboks because they don’t feel welcome. 50 years after democracy, rugby will still be a divisive agent, even though there is no longer a law that excludes specific race groups. The issue goes waaaaay beyond the oval ball. It’s about how we as a nation can really unite in the true sense of the word.