South Africa Rugby Union (Saru) president Oregan Hoskins has fiercely defended Springbok coach Jake White from MPs who challenged his supreme powers and transformation practice.
White came under attack from the National Assembly's portfolio committee during Saru's first presentation to parliament on Monday under Hoskins's presidency.
Hoskins was elected three months ago after defeating Brian van Rooyen, who is facing disciplinary hearings in Bloemfontein.
MPs criticised Saru for the power it has bestowed on White, allowing him the freedom to choose the Springbok rugby team as he saw fit.
"The powers which were given to Jake White - I find it very strange. I say Jake White is supposed to give account to you people and you are supposed to give him instructions, not just say Jake White go ahead we are trusting you," African Nations Congress MP Mgolodi Dikgacwi said.
Dikgacwi feared that if team selection was left to White, transformation would not take place despite the adoption of the Transformation Charter and Scorecard by Saru last Friday.
"Recently when the team was announced by Jake White... I was astonished to see that the African players who have been playing their hearts out were not part of that side," he said.
He questioned why the Ndungane twins - Odwa and Akona - were excluded from the team in favour of Andre Snyman, whom he described as "over the hill".
His criticism was echoed by fellow ANC MP Lanvil Reid, who accused the Saru boss of abdicating his responsibilities to White.
"A coach is not supposed to elect a team... a coach has never been so powerful as this guy Jake White," Reid said.
But Hoskins, who earlier stated his desire to try to mend the strained relationship between Saru and the committee, strongly defended White and the responsibilities bestowed on him by the Union.
"Let us, yes, criticise, but also give credit where it's due. We want to be No 1 in the world and we can only be number one in the world if we have a winning team and a transforming team... we know that," Hoskins said.
The union has had meetings with White during which he was told that "it was important that he be seen to be working within a structured framework and not be seen to be going out on a tangent doing his own thing", Hoskins said.
"At the same time we have to acknowledge as a country that before Jake became the couch our win record... was about 61 percent. Jake's record is 70 percent plus. It has never been achieved, even in the best Springbok days."
White had managed to instill a sense of positivity in the team following the notorious Kamp Staaldraad and the World Cup debacle, he said.
The move from sixth to second in Rugby World Cup ratings under White's leadership was a "huge jump", he said, and one that everyone should acknowledge.
While White had acknowledged his omission of the Ndungane twins was a slip-up, Hoskins stated there was no way the Union would take over the job.
"Because then I must become the selector, I must become the coach and we must fire Jake," he said.
There were certain realities the Union had to work with regardless of who the president was, he said.