Quotas end of Boks says Mains

RUGBY: Laurie Mains has predicted the end of the Springboks as one of rugby’s super powers because of the racial quota system being enforced on new coach Allister Coetzee.

Coetzee must have half of his quad made up of non-white players by the time of the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

‘‘For my money they’re gone, with racially selecting teams, they’re not going to cut it,’’ Mains said.

‘‘With the quota system they have, I think the days of them being top competitors are over.’’

Mains coached the All Blacks against the Boks on South Africa’s return from political isolation in 1992 and oversaw New Zealand’s exciting 1995 World Cup campaign in the republic. He also coached South African Super Rugby outfit the Cats with some success in the early 2000s.

He believes there has been enough time for transformation to take place and feels a merit-based system is the best way to keep the Springboks competitive at the top level.

‘‘When I coached over there I could see the reason for it (a quota system),’’ Mains said.

‘‘It was a genuine attempt to create opportunities for the black and coloured players and I respected that, because there hadn’t been big numbers of them.

‘‘But heavens above, that’s 15 years ago. And the reality now is that they’ve had plenty of time to develop.’’

Historically, South Africa remain New Zealand’s toughest opposition. The All Blacks have a 58.24 per cent winning record against the Springboks across 91 tests, their lowest against any nation.

Coetzee opened his tenure with a tough 2-1 home series win against Ireland in June.