Posted on 11/13/2014 8:22:30 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
"I do not care how the Springboks team does. It is not a reflection of the nation. It is not our team. I support the All Blacks instead. We don't support the national team, because it is a white South African team. It is not a true South African team."
Where would you date that sentiment from Zola Ntlokoma, secretary of Soweto Rugby Club? Autumn 1986, when a rebel New Zealand team broke the sporting boycott to tour apartheid-era South Africa? June 1995, when the Springboks met All Blacks in the first World Cup final after Nelson Mandela's release from prison? That it comes from November 2014 may come as a surprise to many of the 80,000 who will watch South Africa play England at Twickenham on Saturday, to the millions more who will watch on television.
Almost two decades on from that celebrated, poignant World Cup win for Mandela's 'Rainbow Nation', on the 20th anniversary of the first free elections in the country, isn't race a historical rather than live issue in South African rugby?
To which a few simple statistics should provide the sobering answer.
When the Springboks triumphed at Ellis Park in Johannesburg those 19 years ago, there was just one black player in the starting XV. By the time of their second World Cup win, seven years ago, there were two. This weekend, when they run out to play England at Twickenham, there will still be only three.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Mainly white Afrikaners. There are some people who can only see red, er white.
“Earlier this year, a five-year ‘Transformation Strategic Plan’ from the South Africa Rugby Union (Saru) was leaked to the media. Among its stated aims were that the Springboks remain in the top three of the IRB world rankings. The headlines, understandably, were focused elsewhere.
By 2019, according to the plan, 50% of the national representative teams - including the Springboks - must be non-white. 60% of those should be black African.
By the time of next year’s World Cup in England, the transformation must already be accelerating; South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer must have seven non-white players in his squad and five non-white players on the field at all times, two of whom should be black.”
I thought we are supposed to judge a man by the content of his character, not the color of his skin?
Will the NBA have to field 90% non blacks?
“Hey listen mon you gonna love this game, you just dive into this mud and ten heavy men will jump on you and pound your body until a ball comes out, then you run a few yards and dive into some more mud, and ...”
Umm okay you can stay all white then, boss.
Maybe black South Africans don’t much care for that sport? How many black swim stars are there in the world?
Soccer is a black sport while rugby is a white sport (mainly Afrikaners, not sure ifEnglish plays rugby)
Rugby is huge in Ireland.
.
Well, there you go. Is there also a quota for whites on the national soccer team? /rhetorical
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