Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has hit back at his critics, saying it’s not his fault if there are not enough black players in the Springbok rugby team.
Meyer was livid after severe censure because of the lack of transformation at Springbok level.
Apologies dear reader, the italics above were a deliberate device of mine to mislead you. The Springbok coach who responded in this way was Peter de Villiers, who was in charge of the Springboks from 2008 to 2011.
In an interview with Adnaan Mohamed in 2009, De Villiers hit back after being described by Asad Bhorat, secretary of the Transformation and Anti-Racism Rugby Committee as being the “ultimate traitor”.
This matter recently made the news again after it was reported that “five black Springbok players” had approached labour federation Cosatu to take up issues such as being sidelined in matches. In a sloppy piece of reporting attributed to Western Cape Cosatu chairperson Motlatsi Tsubane, the aggrieved players were not named and it appeared no comment was sought from the SA Rugby Union.
The article said Cosatu “still had to sit down and engage with [the players]” but gave no indication of why and how the players, who have their own association in the SA Rugby Players’ Association, had approached them. It was also claimed that two [unnamed] white players were in sympathy with the black players. There was also mention of Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich, who “insisted that a more racially representative team be chosen for the next test against Argentina in Buenos Aires [played late last night]”.
Cosatu’s claim was denied, notably by Trevor Nyakane, but the furore it unleashed yet again put the focus on transformation in rugby. Nick Mallett’s period as coach was soured over a row he had with then CEO Rian Oberholzer over racially prescribed selection ahead of a test in 1999. Four years later, Rudolf Straeuli had to deal with accusations of racism in the squad from media manager Mark Keohane after he walked out on the team.
At the time, the team management opted for the unusual step of getting the team to face the media and mine was the unpleasant task of confronting the black players. Ashwin Willemse, Breyton Paulse and Gcobani Bobo denied any unhappiness. All three are now SuperSport commentators and Willemse and Paulse have been quoted as being unhappy with the pace of transformation.
Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, by way of his trusted Twitter conduit, has called for patience and promised significant changes in black representation by the next World Cup in 2019.
Black representation is a catch-22 that rugby just seems to be unable to wriggle out of. Schoolboy tournaments, the national schools and Under-20 sides have strong black representation, but the situation changes at senior stages. What is the reason for this?
It is difficult to say, but perhaps the answer lies in the SA Rugby Union stepping in and nurturing players for a longer period after they’ve turned 20.
Maybe there should be more black coaches?
There’s no doubt that a desire to reach the top is an important facet, and so is winning test matches.
Or, as erstwhile president Thabo Mbeki has suggested, perhaps we should learn to lose for a bit until the numbers equalise.
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