0
Boks coach hammered for whitening team
By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE - RugbyHeaven | Wednesday, 13 August 2008
Boks coach hammered for whitening team - New Zealand's source for sport, rugby, cricket & league news on Stuff.co.nz
The colour issue has raised its ugly head in South African rugby again with Springboks coach Peter de Villiers under fire for his selections to play the All Blacks after axing fullback Conrda Jantjes and halfback Ricky Januarie for the vital Tri-Nations match in Cape Town.
Reports in South Africa say Cedrick Frolick, vice-chairperson of the parliamentary sport portfolio committee, is unhappy with Januarie being replaced by Fourie du Preez and Jantjes giving way to Percy Montgomery who will play his 100th test in the match at Newlands.
De Villiers, the first non-white coach to be put in charge of the Springboks, has had few distractions in this area up till now.
But it seems he's under fire for this weekend's home fixture with just four black players in the starting XV - wings JP Pietersen and Bryan Habana, centre Adrian Jacobs and prop Tendai Mtawarira.
Januarie, who got the Boks home against the All Blacks for their historic 30-28 win in Dunedin last month, is on the bench along with Jantjes, who has been in hot form. Prop Brian Mujati is also in the reserves.
"It was Ricky who helped make history in the House of Pain," Frolick said on South African website SuperSport.
Then he put on a selector's cap to offer de Villiers a bit of advice.
"Personally, I think Ricky has proved himself as South Africa's leading scrumhalf. Is it Fourie's World Cup status that now elevates him above Ricky. In my view, Fourie has done nothing to justify a place in the starting lineup."
Frolick said he felt de Villiers had selected Montgomery for sentimental reasons, allowing him to raise his century of test appearances in his old home city.
"Conrad Jantjes is, on present form, the No 1 fullback. It is worrying that people make decisions with their heart to give someone (Montgomery) his 100th test cap."
Frolick made no attempt to hide the race issue and believes de Villiers is being driven by success in results rather than transformation. In Frolick's mind the 2008 Boks are relying too much on the World Cup winners shaped by the previous coach Jake White.
"This creates questions about where we are heading I know Peter wants to win the Tri-Nations but he must realise he will be measured according to his ability to transform the team and to make it representative of the country's population for the 2011 World Cup.
"We have also seen nothing of the new type of rugby that Peter has spoken of.
"It is interesting that coloureds and blacks traditionally support the All Blacks when they play at Newlands.
"Is the team that has been selected of such a nature that it will ensure the support of most South Africans?
"We cannot repeat the cycle of the White era. We must build for 2011. It is easy to fall into a comfort zone. Peter should be reminded of his mandate.
"It's not all about transformation but it (transformation) is an important part of it. Not one black player has let South Africa down this year."
De Villiers, who comes from Cape Town, has a two-year contract. Despite his apparent responsibilities to transformation he was adamant on his appointment that he would always pick the best team, regardless of colour.