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Guest Column

Time to embrace transformation

2007-10-26 08:40

Jannie Momberg

Os du Randt walked off the field at the end of the Rugby World Cup final against England straight into the history books.

Not only is Du Randt a legend in the annals of this country's rugby for his playing prowess, but he was - along with Percy Montgomery - the last player to play in an all-white Springbok team.

The last such team will not be fondly remembered by Springbok fans as they lost to Wales on June 26, 1999 in the official opening of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

It is surely the time to ask if the 2007 World Cup final will be the last time that South Africa take to the field with only a couple of black wings. Will this be the last non-representative team to play for this country?

In the past few days it has been mentioned by commentators and fans that now is the time to stop the "political interference" in rugby. This pie in the sky thinking is based on the fact that the Springboks won the World Cup and everything will be okay with the Webb Ellis Cup back in South Africa.

Rugby is a national sport and belongs to all South Africans. It does not exist in an 'island' outside the rest of society. Whether some rugby supporters like it or not, the pressure to transform the national team will not go away.

Not fair

Most reasonable people would agree transformation is necessary in South African sport due to our unique history. What form this transformation should take - in particular when looking at the selection of national teams - is the sticking point.

It's surely not fair to insist that the Springbok coach pick six or seven black players - for argument sake - if the SA Super 14 teams only fielded a total of 28 black players in this year's competition.

Springbok Under-21 coach Pieter de Villiers, who is vying for the senior coaching position, has been quoted as saying that there are more than 40 black players good enough to play for the Springboks. Why aren't they playing Super 14 rugby?

It is in the interest of Springbok rugby and South Africa as a whole that this pool of players is drastically increased to give the national coach more leeway with selection.

The time has come for SA Rugby to bite the bullet to ensure a representative Springbok team. Quotas should be introduced for all representative teams below the national side.

Pool of players

Take the Super 14 as an example.

It should be compulsory to start with five black players in all games. This would ensure a minimum of 25 players playing every week against some of the best opposition in the world. The pool of players to pick from for the Springboks would within months increase to 50 at the very least.

Jake White has selected 16 black Springboks out of a total of 36 new caps in his four years in charge. All things being equal White has tried manfully - despite some criticism - to increase the representatively of the national rugby team.

Saru president Oregan Hoskins said recently: "The lack of progress is not the national coach's fault, I think it's the administrators who are at fault and we have to take responsibility for that. I look forward to 2011, if we do our homework - and I believe we will".

The survival of the Springbok emblem might depend on how successful Hoskins and his colleagues are.

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    Disclaimer: News24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24.

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    • Comments have been closed for this article.

    Realist2 10/26/2007 9:02:38 AM
    I firstly would like to commend you on a good article, it is about time someone realises and try and look for mistakes within selection processes. I would think that the problem originates at provincial level. The players at club rugby level do not have the opportunity and are not selected to play at provincial level. SK Walmers (a 87% black team), played for the first time in WP club Champs and walked away with the Plate Final, is any of these players in the Stomers team?
    SA Fan 10/26/2007 9:13:45 AM
    "Quotas should be introduced for all representative teams below the national side." I totally agree with this! As a white middle-aged SA male, I believe that transformation is possible and achievable without society's total collapse or war, that quotas is one measure in the trend (however flawed), but that transformation only really occurs in the heart. We've got a long road to go. We need to start listening to each other, instead of just talking.
    tina 10/26/2007 9:20:45 AM
    At last, someone writes a decent rugby column. its been disappointing to see how some "seasoned experts" just regurjitate what everyone else says. Good one, Jannie!!!
    regan 10/26/2007 9:22:55 AM
    Fair comment Jannie. Black players can perform as Bryan Habana and JP clearly demonstrated so people who think that standards will drop are mistaken. Give the black player an equal chance and he'll surprise many. Athletics, boxing, football heck the number one golfer in the world. Bring on transformation and watch the roses grow from concrete....
    ShRoOm 10/26/2007 9:25:06 AM
    I couldn't care if ALL 15 players are black. If they all play like Habana who cares right? The reason why quotas will NEVER work is because you are fast-tracking guys into the side that perhaps on skill just do not cut it. Also, when these guys retire, you have to fast-track some more. Let's rather develop the young and make them all into Brian Habana's - that way you wouldn't HAVE to use quotas because they will get into the side based on merit and skill - Or is politics more important??
    Ddb 10/26/2007 9:25:26 AM
    Guys am a missing it when i believe merit should be the only deciding factor. If you have someone in the selection group not picking on merit then so be it, get rid of him and choose someone that doesn't look at colour but on MERIT! Representaion of SA is rubbish, the team already represents SA as they all come from SA. What a great nation this would be if everyone was colour blind.
    ShRoOm 10/26/2007 9:31:54 AM
    Unfortunately there is a HUGE difference between club rugby and Super 14. Do you really think SK Walmers would stand a chance against the Crusaders or Brumbies?? I agree that if a guy is good enough he should be picked, but to pick him purely based on the fact that you need more players of colour in a team is a joke.
    JDW 10/26/2007 9:35:37 AM
    Yes I agree it's need, but what I don't agree with is the manner in which it is implemented! What is so wrong with allowing nature to take it's course?? "Freedom" in SA means equal opportunity for ALL..! Not preferential treatment!! Like they say over and over Rugby is a national sport, not a sport for individuals!!!!
    JapieDownUnder 10/26/2007 9:42:05 AM
    But Jannie the Springbok team is representative of SA - the players were all South Africans weren't they? What do you actually want? Doesthe team need to reflect the demographics of the country? Will that then apply to all our sporting teams including Bafana Bafana? So we will be basing selection purely on skin colour? Will that make you happy? Please just go ahead with the transformation process and change the name at the same time so that we can finally end this nonsense!
    tielman 10/26/2007 9:46:21 AM
    I like having players of all races in all teams. I am however totally against the new K word (allow me some liberty inthe spelling) name KWOTA. If K-word is used to pick the teams I will once again vote. The only effective way is with my cheque book. I will simply not pay for tickets any more. I know a lot of people with the same feeling. So pick only race only, (7 black 4 white 3 coloured and 1 rugby player) lose all matches and paly to empty stadiums
    pickthebest 10/26/2007 9:47:37 AM
    Imagine telling the USA olympic basketball administrators that their team should reflect the demographics of America ...... makes you think !
    I agee 10/26/2007 9:48:47 AM
    I must admit I'm not much of a rugby fan, but I did watch this year's and the '95 World Cup. Both times I asked myself why we had only one or two players of colour. Is it because they want to keep it an exclusively white sport or are black peolpe just not into rugby? I don't know. What I do know is that most blacks support the springboks regardless, although the same cannot be said about whites and the so-called black sports. Think back time when England visited, so many English fans
    Transformation 10/26/2007 9:53:59 AM
    I firmly believe that transformation can't start at the top. It must be a believe system in being the best and the broader our pool of potential players, the better quality we can deliver at the top. Rugby is about trophies and being the best. The best way to get more black players, is to win trophies, then blacks would want to play the game. Nobody supports a loosing side, everyone supports the winners! Look at the difference in crowd attendance at the Bafana Bafana games vs the Bok games!
    Martin 10/26/2007 9:57:01 AM
    I demand the "Bushman" from the advertisement. At least he would be the best for the "Up and Under!" Oh wait.. He is heading the ball, and that belongs in Soccer. Trannsform the soccer now... We want more Boesmans!
    Hugo 10/26/2007 9:59:08 AM
    Wow, what a well written article and some very interesting comments, how nice to see this type of discussion - mature level headed trading of views without the old mud slinging etc. The answer is probably some where in the middle, but no country in the world select teams based on demographic representivity, can you imagine the USA doing that for the Olympic Games, but again I agree that more opporunities for the segments of the population previously discriminated against must be created.
    Ryan Matthews 10/26/2007 10:00:33 AM
    Vodacom Cup - at least 8 non-white players in the starting line out. Super 14 - at least 8 non-white players in the match 22 Currie cup - at least 8 non-white players in match 22 I noticed that the Sharks were fielding a very representative side during the CC this year, the Bulls too are looking at introducing more talent. We have the players, we can get there. Look at our junior teams, our SUCCESSFUL junior teams. Times they are a changing.
    Charles 10/26/2007 10:00:34 AM
    A solution. Give Stofile ,Hoskins,Kompela and mates the pool of players.They choose their properly transformed team. Jake picks his from the rest. Play best out of 3 tests, whoever loses shuts up for the next 4 years !
    Zoo Keeper 10/26/2007 10:04:19 AM
    The issue which seems to escape you Jannie is why MUST a "transformed" side consist of a majority of black players? As an ex-athlete I can tell you nothing is more degrading for an athlete than being picked for something other than your ability (regardless of the reason). You can never be looked in the eye and respected by your peers because you didn't make it yourself. A transformed sport is a sport which does not discriminate on any basis other than merit - can you not understand that?
    Russ 10/26/2007 10:10:30 AM
    A good article, well thought out and eloquently put. We need more debate like this, so thanks Jannie. The reality is that white dominance is visible in rugby, and any attempt to keep it so is rascist, and perpetuating white unearned priviledge. The sooner it changes, by whatever means necessary, the better. And national selection is not a sacred cow, it will be slaughtered for justice and equality if need be - so quota's may be the only solution.
    Juan 10/26/2007 10:13:55 AM
    Saru must get off theire lazy backsized and start some serious development programmes in previously disadvantaged areas. This will unlock the natural talent of some black players, and when they mature, the national coach will be spoilt with BIG pool of natural talent to choose from. People will NOT support a team not picked on merit. There's no 'White Agenda' in sa rugby (pardon the pun) Jake picked the BEST OF THE BEST available and his SOLE aim was to WIN, and he did that! Saru needs some work!
    Peter Neill 10/26/2007 10:15:42 AM
    Jannie - well articulated. I couldnt agree more. Having watched Craven Week this year, I have no doubt that their are a lot of young emerging stars. Jake White has NEVR been the problem and I am glad that you recognise this. Your solution makes sense and if there are provincial and super14 coaches who are stuck in the past, then get rid of them. The fact is that White has tried his level best to select on merit and was desperate for a more representative pool of world class players for selection.
    Realist2 10/26/2007 10:19:28 AM
    Yes there is a difference, but if the guy are blocked at provincial level how will he ever play for WP and then Stormers. The point I am making is that transformation need to take place at provincial level. I went to watch a EP club game against Despatch and the Harloquins and the Quins (99% black) beat the boots off Despatch yet that same year (1997) Despatch had 7 players in the EP side and the Quins had a reserve. The first rugby club in RSA was black and dated back to the eighteen hundreds.
    Danie 10/26/2007 10:25:15 AM
    Lets enjoy this world cup for a while. This will be the last one for a long time. We are lucky this team ensured our participation in the next world cup After that we will certainly have to go through qualifying rounds if we make up a team based on race or the other nice political correct word.(Demographics ha-ha) I am looking to find an alternative reason for a Saturday afternoon braai. Any suggestions?
    RDM 10/26/2007 10:31:02 AM
    Can we ask what happened to those 16 Springboks. Where are they? The black springboks seem to think that the work is done when they get their colours. I was VERY upset when Solly Tyibilika faded from view as he was my favourite. Lawrence Sephaka seems to have a weight problem. Chavanga - where is he? Another problem you fail to address is the current and up coming white crop of players. Are you going to look Francois Steyn in the eye and say he can't play any more? Hilton Lobberts for Juan?
    Zakkie 10/26/2007 10:33:36 AM
    The government runs the country don't they - at least they are supposed to anyway. So we can achieve transformation if they can get their act together. No more spending millions on changing street / town names or having ministers flying to exotic destinations for personal reasons with taxpayers money - lets improve the facilities in the townships starting at school level and build from there.
    Robert 10/26/2007 10:35:23 AM
    It is all about the TV cameras! All the pressure is on the Super 14 and Springbok teams, because those teams are the teams we watch on TV. What do Stofile, Hoskins etc., intend doing about club rugby?
    Brian Algie 10/26/2007 10:35:55 AM
    Transformation takes time. Anybody who says that there is not Transformation taking place in Rugby should look at the facts.Go to any ex-modelC school that still plays Rugby and compare the team photographs 10 years ago and those of this year. Check the composition of the Craven Week teams then and now.In both instances you will SEE that the change in representation in fantastic.It is also clear that establishing a sporting , academic or any culture in a school or community is a lengthy process.
    Push 10/26/2007 10:37:16 AM
    I believe a lot of young black South Africans have the potential to play rugby. It is happening in the Eastern Cape. The govt must just make money available to develop young talent in the towships and schools.
    Mark 10/26/2007 10:41:03 AM
    I believe transformation begins at grass roots level & it has little to do with rugby. Think of all the youngsters who are malnourished,how do you expect them to grow strong bones & muscles to play rugby, where they arent getting the nutrients,to grow strong. Transformation starts with the goverment, to be able to give people jobs and improve their way of life. This isnt a black & white issue,more a moral issue. Politicians blaming SARFU instead of looking at the promises they made at the start.
    Russ 10/26/2007 10:42:20 AM
    Look up the terms "unearned" and "priviledge". Then call me up and we can take a trip into a coloured and black township. And could I also suggest that a workshop on diversity and cross-cultural issues may open your eyes.
    GatVol 10/26/2007 10:44:59 AM
    For all I care they can put 15 players of color in the team, if they deserve it. But does transformation also apply to so called black dominated sports like soccer? Or if we comply with the "so-called" demographics of the country, where is the player of Asian descent , the eleven different languages, the women, the handicapped player, etc.
    Glenn 10/26/2007 10:52:58 AM
    Brother, please try and use the facts instead of talking out of your pie hole. I for one support and love Bafana Bafana, I played club soccer, was one of only 2 whities in the starting line up and the best thing was that they ALL voted me there captain. Thats what you call sport! Not this political crap. As for the England supporters, AKA the BARMY ARMY! The TRAVELLING English, they aint local except for one or two of them. I just want to play sport with my brothers, not the polotics!!!!
    Realist2 10/26/2007 10:58:28 AM
    It is not about nutrients alone, Tobias was a great player and he grew up in an average home. Chester as well. There are players that can play the game who received good nutrition when they were younger. The players are there, we need to get rid of the influencial people like Markgraaf and his mates who still has an influence in who get picked for teams.
    Jaz 10/26/2007 11:01:55 AM
    Problem is most white boys play rugby at school and usually from a very young age. In contrast, only a small percentage of black (not colored)boys choose rugby over football. If anything, the transformation needed should come from our black population changing their involvement in the game. If more black kids commit themselves to rugby from an early age, the number of black stars would naturally increase. Change the rugby base under the black young and give it time. Don't force unnatural change.
    Jason Marriott 10/26/2007 11:04:24 AM
    1stly Peter De Villiers is desperate to get the National coaching job and will say anything and do anything to get it. Transformation requires effort at the junior levels. 4,5 Million New Zealander's produce the best rugby players and plenty of them. If you use SA rugby's logic we should be far stronger than the All Blacks. But its New Zealand that have the depth not us. 1million rugby crazy people will always produce more players than 10 million soccer crazy people.
    Marius 10/26/2007 11:16:43 AM
    Firstly, rugby is a sport, not a political tool. And in sport you get picked on merit. Now, I'm all for transformation. Have all the rugby acadamies you want, all the training camps/weeks. Fill these with PDI's, train them and give them all the opportunities in the world. But when it comes to slection time (national and provincial) choose on merit!!!! Otherwise we might as well kiss the sport and everything that surrounds it goodbye!
    A DJ 10/26/2007 11:18:39 AM
    Amen brother, I too played, from an early age, sport where I was either the only white or a small percentage... (soccer). I talk about the soccer with my black colleges at work, I even go watch Amazulu (yes I still support them!!) when they play in Durban and there are PLENTY of whities in the staduims, seriously people TAKE OFF YOUR BLINDFOLDS RACISM MAKES YOU UGLY.
    greggo 10/26/2007 11:19:37 AM
    If one looks at our sports teams, you will see that they are extremely discriminatory and non representitive in their make-up. In all the Super teams and the Springbok team there are no players over 40 or under 18. The teams are 100% male. There are no dissabled players. There are no gay players (possibly 1 or 2 in the Lions team, but this is unconfirmed), no lesbians and no Zimbabwean asylum seakers. We have a long way to go to achieve a fully representative national team.
    Snake 10/26/2007 11:22:30 AM
    Transformation is one thing but as soon as everyone accepts government and its minions have successfully introduced their own form of apartheid, we can possibly go forward. There are levels of government that want a totally black team irrespective of their ability. True transformation comes from recognising talent at top levels and actively seeking it at the lower levels.
    K.G. 10/26/2007 11:24:17 AM
    Transformation needs to start at a young age where a child is introduced into a sport and then he/she decides on pursuing it...u cannot have a situation where u enforce transformation on the national side to please certain people.Anyone who represents the country should be the best available, thats true patriotism.We should look at the french football team as an example, 90% black but the whole country loves them.(p.s. i am not moving to france, so dont suggest it to me)
    Realist2 10/26/2007 11:32:01 AM
    Where do Chilliboy, Sephaka and Chavanga come from, are they (like Chester and Errol) freaks of your argument. Black teams have been playing the game for years, even longer than any of us can imagine. Stop side stepping the facts, we had black (both coloured and black) players in the 1999 baby boks, and every year since then, where are these players? Either heating the bench during the RWC or playing for Boland who only this year played in the Currie Cup.
    Sam 10/26/2007 11:32:50 AM
    Transformation yes, losers no! The fact of the matter is people will always support winners if a senseless transformation process means a team that can only compete with second rate teams then this sport will lose its shine and glory and support. Sam
    Anton 10/26/2007 11:35:02 AM
    Jannie,please let us look at the TRUTH. This article makes MONEY for your paper, this debate generates VOTES for the government! Let us ask the REAL questions, where are all the rugby facilities at schools for the millions of black children that want to play rugby! Why has YOUR newspaper and the government refrained in the last TEN years to build any rugby facilities? Surely this cannot go on that all these players that is just as good as Habana are kept out of the team? Bloody well grow up!
    The_Mustard 10/26/2007 11:37:10 AM
    Fool, it dosent start at super 14 level it starts at school and club level. Where are the black schools up there with Grey, Paarl Gymnasium, Affies, Pretoria Boys....the list goes on? If the system is not getting fed from the bottom teams filled with blacks will fail every time, as it is teams filled with whites who have been to these institutions all their lives struggle to find parity with NZ and AUS teams so one can imagine what will happen as soon as targets are introduced.
    TK 10/26/2007 11:41:19 AM
    Rugby belongs to all those players who are willing to sacrifice hours and days practicing, all those amateur coaches who coach without being paid and all the supporters who pays to watch. It does not belong to politicians or "professional" administrators
    Anton 10/26/2007 11:45:07 AM
    When is people like Jannie going to realise that it is about the GAME. Everybody wears GREEN. Who but Jannie and his newspaper buddies and certain members of parliament still sees Brian Habana's etc.colour? Let me tell you that the worst AWB member screams like a girl when Brian scores a try! Jannie how many of the Bulls cheerleaders are black? Jannie, Kabamba is the best hooker in the Free State and has Millions of fans! Come oonnn! It's time we cut the cr.p and put your money were your mouth is

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