Former South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has criticised the new Bok set-up, labelling Heyneke Meyer's squad "too white".
De Villiers, who coached SA from 2008-2011, isn't happy with the racial composition of the current side after Meyer started three non-white players - Bryan Habana, Zane Kirchner and Tendai Mtawarira - in the past four Rugby Championship games.
Meyer is already under pressure from South Africa's rugby-mad public following the two wins, two draws and two defeats from his first six Tests in charge since taking over from De Villiers.
And Meyer might be facing even more pressure should his predecessor's campaign to change his mix of players gathers pace.
"We have to know what country we're living in, and at the moment we're turning a lot of black people against us by making the team white," De Villiers - the first non-white head coach of the Boks - told Ballz Radio in an interview.
"People don't want to talk (about race), but I have to... we're breaking up the country, and damaging a sport that we all love.
"We do have a lot of great (black) players who can make a difference. You have Gio Aplon - here in Cape Town - who can make a hell of a difference.
"You've got Juan de Jongh, an exciting player who can make a difference. We never played (Siya) Kolisi - who's now injured, he was never given a chance," added De Villiers.
"There are a lot of players like Chiliboy Ralepelle (who is also injured). He was the one guy who can make that 10 per cent difference that you need from a replacement to come onto the field.
"We're turning all the black support against the Springboks. Wherever I go I hear people talking negative about the Springboks."
Comments
Dylbull says...
Pdv's last game in charge:
Steenkamp 2. Smit 3. J Du Plessis Rossouw Matfield Brussow Burger Spies
Du Preez, M Steyn, Pietersen, De Villiers, Fourie, Habana, Lambie
= 3 players of colour
Meyer's most recent game
Beast, Strauss, Du Plessis, Kruger, Vd Merwe, Louw, Alberts, Vermeulen, Pienaar, M steyn, Habana, F Steyn, De Villiers, Hougaard, Kirchner
= 3 players of colour
Pot calling the kettle ummm black?
Posted 09:51 20th September 2012
georgesmith says...
PDV, you don't wanna play the colours game in rugby please. Get real!
Posted 09:02 20th September 2012
jonesy2 says...
what nitwit is letting this nutcase on radio is what i want to know. there should be punishable law against saying such outrageously brainless and racist things. although you cant say he doesnt provide the laughs
Posted 08:41 20th September 2012
rolf says...
To me it seems, the problem is not the Bokke.
Whenever I watch Curry Cup or S 15 - there are not exactly huge amounts of black / Coloured players, let alone their class.
Yes, Kolisi, Aplon and de Jongh, maybe even Jantjes could have been included in the squad. Arguably. They are not untouchable, I'd say.
So it seems, SA Rugby still needs to put mor effort into developing black/coloured Rugby on grassroots level, to fully exploit its potential.
Maybe this is also SARFU task, and maybe partly Meyers responisbility.
But NOW he needs to select the team he deems the best from those available on high class. And if he prefers Coetzee over Kolisi - on a non-racist basis - i think that is acceptable.
Posted 08:26 20th September 2012
Carpelone says...
KiwiLad
Spot on, as usual.
We all remember his end-of-the-year tours with the squad picked on "political" choices.
It is good that, overall, a similar statement comes from a kiwi and not from a Saffa, somebody could see a racism abuse in it otherwise.
You could not have said it better.
Posted 08:19 20th September 2012
hellovanite says...
All the politics aside one must ask how Gio Aplon is not in Meyers side!
Posted 07:17 20th September 2012
saffastormer says...
I agree that Siya Kolisi and Juan de Jonge should be in the team but not because of their colour but rather because they deserve their place in the team
Posted 07:12 20th September 2012
noord_transvaal says...
i dont think Aplon and de Jongh would like to be called black.Chilliboy is a Bull so there's a no no and as for the black support ? I still don't see white face's in Bafana Bafana and I don't see them trying too hard to keep their white supporters happy.
Posted 06:10 20th September 2012
ben7 says...
Theyve actually won 3 tests so far. Not 2.
Posted 22:51 19th September 2012
bokbevok says...
Question is which black players did he bring into the bok squad and how many did he field. I think he took jakes team to the last world cup except for the guys who retired.
Posted 22:39 19th September 2012
Carpelone says...
Classy statement, from a widely appreciated coach.
Posted 22:15 19th September 2012
fattysock says...
@kybone - totally agree. Pretty big call to basically accuse Meyer of intentionally leaving black players out in favour of inferior white players!?
To add to the ridiculousness of it all, of the three players that he's mentioned, two are currently injured and unavailable... JdJ is a good call, but that's ONE player... and I guess he's to have to replace F. Steyn (can't drop the captain)... which would almost certainly mean putting FS at 15 and dropping ZK... leaving the Boks in the same situation anyway!
Posted 21:48 19th September 2012
kappelange says...
I actually agree with PDV on this one. If you are going to sit there and tel me that Aplon and De Jong arent good enough for the boks then you are delusional.
Marcell Coetzee got his chance in his first season, why not Kolisi, who played just as well and has more dimensions in his game? Its not about politics, its about white players getting the heads-up before black players. If these players werent any good then there wouldnt be any argument.
HM is turning the public in SA against the Boks with his selections and obvious bias for his bulls darlings. One example being Bekker's one bad game, he gets dropped the next game, yet Morne, Potgieter and Flip are still getting second, third and fourth chances.
Jean might be the captain but its sooo obvious that he has no business playing 13, yet we have (black) young talented and hungry player warming the bench.
White people wont understand this, but coloured and blacks are affected by things like this, maybe its because they dont come from history of being victimized like we were.
Posted 21:26 19th September 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Right up there with Carpelone in being taken seriously.
Posted 21:01 19th September 2012
KiwiLad says...
This rant from the man who whilst coach complained about having to pick coloured players rather than form players.
Good on ya PDV, continue to make a monkey of yourself, we can all do with a good laugh.
Posted 20:26 19th September 2012
daibok says...
Meyer isnt prejudiced against black players. He is prejudiced against Pale Blue, Orange, Red and Black&White.
He does favour blue though.
Posted 20:19 19th September 2012
leinster_goy says...
what a tool. and "white people" aren't "white" - we're pink. that's what my chinese flatmate told me once, anyway
Posted 20:07 19th September 2012
Alaskarugby says...
"Wherever I go I hear people talking negative about the Springboks."
Maybe it's because they are not very good at the moment.
Posted 19:56 19th September 2012
leebok says...
And Kirchner shouldnt be there and Kolisi will get his chance
Posted 19:47 19th September 2012
leebok says...
oh shut up PDivvy. Your opinion is not valid anymore. And Chilliboy is not good enough.
Posted 19:45 19th September 2012