Need to select Springboks on merit highlighted at another transformation debate
HEIDELBERG: As the Rugby World Cup looms large, merit selection of the Springbok squad came under the spotlight during last night’s dialogue on transformation in rugby.
The event, hosted by Labyrinth Consulting and Independent Media, was held at Duiwenhoks Community Hall in Heidelberg, the home town of new Springbok scrumhalf Rudy Paige.
South Africa’s former No 1 volleyball player, Anne Siroky, legendary SA Rugby Union lock Aslam Toefy, former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers, female rugby player Robyn September, local club rugby executives and Pat Esau voiced their concerns about transformation in the Springbok ranks.
“The best players don’t become Springboks. The best team becomes Springboks. Merit selection is described as excellence. Merit selection is a question I can’t get my head around,” De Villiers said.
Siroky said she was heartbroken to see local children playing rugby in a road.
“It broke my heart to see the next Rudy in the community. We saw young rugby players, playing on a tarred road, with slippers on. Maybe they can’t have the best fields, but they are still talented. Merit selection should happen. It should happen with best facilities and best nutrition,” said Siroky.
The lack of transformation in the sport was highlighted following the Springboks’ embarrassing 37-25 defeat to Argentina during the recent Rugby Championship, as coach Heyneke Meyer selected only two black players, Tendai Mtawarira and Bryan Habana, in the starting line-up.
Three black players were substitutes – Trevor Nyakane, Siya Kolisi and Lwazi Mvovo. During the discussion, co-ordinated by ANC MPL Cameron Dugmore, Toefy said: “We have got to assist the local clubs financially and improve our facilities. After all, we want to be a rugby country because we are not represented at all.”