Vice-chairperson of Parliament’s sport portfolio committee Cedric Frolick has questioned the selection of some white players in the Springbok rugby team for this weekend’s Tri-Nations clash against New Zealand.
The SuperSport website reported on Wednesday that his criticism stemmed from the inclusion of Percy Montgomery and Fourie du Preez.
They were selected above Ricky Januarie and Conrad Jantjes for Saturday’s Test.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers ”should be reminded of his mandate and [that] it is time to see the coach’s initial thinking being realised on the field”, Frolick told the website,
”It was Ricky who helped make history in the House of Pain,” Frolick told SuperSport.
He was referring to the scrumhalf’s try that enabled the Springboks to win a Test match in Dunedin for the first time since 1921 when they beat the All Blacks in their second Tri-Nations encounter.
”Personally, I think Ricky has proved himself as South Africa’s leading scrumhalf. Is it Fourie’s World Cup status that now elevates him above Ricky?
”In my view, Fourie has done nothing to justify a place in the starting line-up,” Frolick said.
”Conrad Jantjes is, on present form, the number one fullback. It is worrying that people make decisions with their heart to give someone [Montgomery] his 100th Test cap.”
Frolick is concerned that the new Springbok coach is increasingly selecting stalwarts from the era of his predecessor, Jake White.
”This creates questions about where we are heading,” Frolick said.
”I know Peter wants to win the Tri-Nations but he must realise he will be measured according to his ability to transform the team and to make it representative of the country’s population for the 2011 World Cup.
”We have also seen nothing of the new type of rugby that Peter has spoken of. It is interesting that coloured and black people traditionally support the All Blacks when they play at Newlands. Is the team that has been selected of such a nature that it will ensure the support of most South Africans?
”We cannot repeat the cycle of the White era. We must build for 2011. It is easy to fall into a comfort zone. Peter should be reminded of his mandate. It’s not all about transformation, but it [transformation] is an important part of it. Not one black player has let South Africa down this year.”
Frolick said that he was ”hoping and trusting” that De Villiers knew what he was doing and it was time to see the coach’s initial thinking being realised on the field.
Frolick did have praise for De Villiers earlier in the year when he selected a record seven black players for the run-on team against Wales.
The Springbok squad for Saturday’s match includes seven black players, of which four will be in the run-on team.
Wings JP Pietersen and Bryan Habana, centre Adrian Jacobs and prop forward Tendai Mtawarira will start, with Brian Mujati, Januarie and Jantjes on the bench. — Sapa