Transformation again

I was reading on the Keo.co.za website that Peter DeVilliers - the Springbok rugby coach - has been labelled a traitor by a group called the Transformation and Anti-Racism Rugby Committee (TARC).

They feel that by only selecting Habana, Pietersen and The Beast in his run-on lineup, Div has turned his back on the whole transformation thing.

Veiled threats and press statements from TARC are pointless - at this point they need to come out and say that they would rather we include weaker players rather than be a winning professional unit.

Apart from Chilliboy there are no real international calibre players of colour that spring to mind in the tight forward stakes. We are absolutely spoilt for choice in the loose forward space although I actually think that the Griquas captain and number 8 could be the type of player to watch in the near future.

At scrumhalf we have Ricky Januarie - who can't get game time and Heini Adams - but neither of them is in the same ball park as Fourie Du Preez at the moment.

Flyhalf? Nope there ain't too many players who stand out here whether they are black, white, pink or purple.

Centres... hhmmm Adrian Jacobs who is in the match day squad and gets a fair amount of game time.

Wings - In terms of specialist wingers the choices are Habana, Pietersen, Ndungane, Nokwe - they are all players of colour and there on merit.

Fullback - Personally I think Zane Kirchner has a lot to offer South Africa in the fullback role but with Frans Steyn having to be included somewhere and Ruan Pienaar also having to make up the backline numbers at the moment its a juggling act that there is no immediate solution to.

It is all good and well for TARC to talk about lack of transformation but with due respect where would they like these players to play? And why are they blaming the national coach for not buying into transformation.

Have a look at the Currie Cup sides. Almost all of the provinces meet or beat unofficial quotas and the players are there on merit. It is unfortunate that these are the best players in the world at the moment and there are only 15 players allowed on the field at any given stage... but unfortunately that is the rules of rugby and maybe TARC need to take it up with the IRB if they don't like it?