Rugby: It's not all black and white for Springboks

By Chris Rattue

For the record, South African rugby coach Nick Mallett does not have to follow any race quota when he selects his side.

But in reality, Mallett - who names his side today for Saturday's test at Carisbrook - is under extreme pressure to include coloured or black players under a policy described as "merit with bias".

The race selection row exploded before South Africa's test against Wales in Cardiff last month when Mallett left out coloured wing Breyton Paulse. It meant the Springboks ran on to the field at the new Millennium Stadium with what has been dubbed "the last white team."

The issue continues to boil away under the surface, sometimes bursting through as it did in Cardiff, as a nation trying to deal with a terrible and complicated past tries to reflect its new direction in the flag-bearing national sports team.

An indication of what bitter reactions the alleged "race quota" system brings came in letters to South African newspapers last week.

"This is racism at its worst in a sick society," said one.

Another letter stated: "Until such time as this nation stands as one, until colour is not a factor in team selection ... South African sporting teams will lack that killer instinct which is necessary when it really counts."

The manager of the touring South Africans Arthob Petersen, who is an executive member of the South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU), yesterday explained the rules and guidelines for rugby teams in his country.

Petersen said from Dunedin: "In rugby we almost had a situation where there was a kind of intransigence and reluctance to change.

"The pressure from our society, from the Government, and from those who felt they were being left out, became more and more.

"It reached a very dangerous point ... that if we didn't do something then we ran the risk of having legislation passed that would leave rugby with no options.

"In order to maintain control and have an orderly change, we had to do something ourselves.

"... the reasons were not just for the sake of rugby. We also wanted to ensure total representation and make sure that everyone in the country had a sense of belonging to a team that represents our country.

"Unfortunately we have the legacy of apartheid. That school of thought would become entrenched and perpetuated if we were to only have white exclusive representative teams.

"And it is not a matter of considering just rugby and rugby alone any more. We are a society in transformation and we are hoping to take a whole national along with us."

Petersen said the major sticking point in creating an environment where black and coloured players had equal opportunity came when the coaches in the Currie Cup, South Africa's major domestic competition, selected their squads. Of the 264 players, just 12 were black or coloured and five of those were in the Boland squad.

"It was a disturbing phenomenon," said Petersen.

He described the quotas and guidelines:

* Springboks: No quotas but selectors in top-level rugby must operate a system of "merit with bias". That means when two players of equal talent are in contention, the black or coloured player must be chosen.

"We have never mentioned that there will be a quota imposed as far as the Springboks are concerned," said Petersen.

* Super 12: There must be two black or coloured players in each squad and they must be given regular appearances. Petersen said all four sides complied, with players like Breyton Paulse, Tinus Linee, Deon Kayser and Chester Williams playing major roles in the tournament.

* Currie Cup: Petersen said once it was clear that few black or coloured players were being selected, SARFU met provincial representatives who agreed to "guidelines." Southern provinces, where rugby is stronger among black and coloured players, must have at least two of what are referred to as "disadvantaged" players on the field at any time. The northern provinces must have one. All teams are expected to have at least one black or coloured player on the bench, to ensure the on-field quota is met. Only Boland and Western Province complied, leading to threats that SARFU would impose a quota. All 14 provinces have since complied, and Petersen does not believe a quota will be required.

* Vodacom Cup: Quota regulations at this level, one down from the Currie Cup. The southern provinces must have three players on the field at all times and the northern provinces two. If they start with the minimum number, the teams must have two black or coloured players on the bench. Petersen said the northern provinces contracted quality southern players to meet the regulation, and SARFU had no complaint about how any of the teams operated.

But the issue remains a volatile one. Mallett sparked controversy in Wales when he said he would not be pushed around on selection. A team spokesman said yesterday that Mallett would no longer comment on the issue, although that could be tested at a press conference today.

The controversy in Wales led to Petersen having a two-hour meeting with the coach, to impress upon him the essence of SARFU's strategy. When Mallett returned to South Africa, he had a long meeting on similar lines with SARFU boss Rian Oberholzer.

Then came a bombshell, which Cape Argus rugby writer Mark Keohane described as a "joke".

Centre Kaya Malotana, who had not even played in the Super 12, was picked in the squad which arrived in New Zealand this week, joining Paulse and Deon Kayser as the black or coloured players.

Petersen defends the selection, saying Malotana could well have played in the Super 12 but for a shoulder injury, and that he has played for South Africa at under-19 and under-21 level.

Keohane and other writers have claimed that South Africa has shown no real commitment to the development of black rugby, and Keohane blamed black administrators equally saying they had "negotiated as if grateful to be included in the flashier privileged environment."

"Unity, in SA rugby, sadly has been nothing more than blacks giving up everything and the whites welcoming back international rugby," he wrote.

Petersen says SARFU has pumped 80 million rand into the development of black and coloured players. (As well, the Emerging Springboks must have six "disadvantaged" players.)

Keohane also called for the creation of black teams, like the New Zealand Maori sides, to give them identity. Petersen said SARFU could never contemplate such a step, given South Africa's apartheid past.

SARFU is due to meet this week on the issue and will also talk with new sports minister Ngconde Balfour.

Balfour opposes quota systems, and said the change to the composition of largely white national sports teams had to come through change at provincial level.

"Obviously my attitude would be that of persuasion, but representativity will have to start at provincial level. I would not like to bang in huge legislation on the issue," he said.

At every turn, there seems to be more questions than answers. The apartheid system may have gone and the Government changed, but South African sport, like the rest of its society, is still trapped by the past.