Mixed reaction to Meyer’s choices

Siyavuya Mzantsi

HEYNEKE Meyer’s Springbok team to face Japan on Saturday was met with mixed reaction during a rugby dialogue on transformation on Wednesday night – with some saying there were too many old and injured players, while others rallied behind the team.

During the dialogue, which was co-ordinated by Labyrinth and supported by Independent Media at the SABC studios and broadcasted live on DStv channel 404 on Wednesday night, former Bok coach Peter de Villiers chose a squad he thought was not only representative of the country, but could face the best rugby teams in the world.

Just under 100 people attended the debate, which was the brainchild of ANC MPL Cameron Dugmore.

Former rugby player Michael Pasiya and Murray Ingram, of Connect Rugby Academy, joined De Villiers on the panel.

De Villiers selected Zane Kirchner, Willie le Roux, Jean de Villiers (captain), Damian de Allende, Lwazi Mvovo, Pat Lambie, Rudy Paige, Schalk Burger, Siya Kolisi, Francois Louw, Eben Etsebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira.

De Villiers told the audience that as a coach, you need to serve the country.

The lack of transformation in rugby was highlighted following the Boks’ shock 37-25 defeat to Argentina in Durban during the recent Rugby Championship. Meyer had selected just two black players, Mtawarira and Bryan Habana, in the starting line-up.

“You must be honest with your selection. We are not using the opportunity to select the best players to represent the country. We just need to support the players that are there,” he said.

He said the question of transformation has an impact on players of colour who are not in the squad, and not only on those who are in the squad.

“It has an impact on your life daily. It is not a rugby thing. This goes beyond the rugby field. We should not take hope away. What apartheid did, it taught me how to fight. The youngsters can’t fight because they did not have that experience,” he said.

Pasiya was concerned about the number of old and injured players that had been selected, “but there is nothing much we can do about the squad now”.

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