The Springboks have unveiled their squad to face France this weekend – on the occasion of Siya Kolisi’s 100th test cap. However, their team portrait has received mixed reviews from the public, with many questioning the “transformation” in the national team.
The Boks will play Les Bleus at the Stade de France on Saturday, 8 November – their first time meeting since the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final.
SPRINGBOK TEAM GETS MIXED REACTIONS
On the eve of their game against France, the SA Rugby released the Springboks’ official portrait. The team pic marks a special occasion – captain Siya Kolisi’s 100th test cap and Rassie Erasmus’ 50th test cap as head coach.
However, amid the tributes to both men was criticism from rugby fans on the topic of race representation in this weekend’s squad selection.
In the comments section, South Africans expressed their concerns at the team having just one black player – Kolisi.
@CurAlwaysMe: “In a country with a population of +50 million, there is still only one black person who plays rugby”.
@FuthiGama: “Good luck, Boys. What happened to quotas?”
@mzimba_n: “Are there no black people in South Africa?”
@mosebjadi26849: “Wait 🙊so Siya Kolisi is the only black man in the squad?? 😭”
In September, the Springboks also came under fire over a similar issue, this time featuring assistant coach Mzwandile Stick in the main seat.
WHERE ARE THE OTHER NON-WHITE PLAYERS?
While Siya Kolisi is the only black person to play this weekend, other players of colour include Kurt-Lee Arendse, Grant Williams, Damian Willemse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cheslin Kolbe and Mannie Libbok.
Black players who did not make the Springboks squad include injured Aphelele Fassie and Ox Nche, with Lukhanyo Am on the standby list. Bongi Mbonambi was left out of the squad as coach Rassie Erasmus expressed his desire for the player to have a “much-needed break”.
Meanwhile, Makazole Mapimpi is on a five-match ban for a dangerous tackle against an Ulster player last month.
NO SPRINGBOK QUOTAS, SAYS RASSIE
While rugby fans departed the race representation of the squad to face France, Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has repeatedly claimed that he has embraced racial transformation in the national team.
Earlier this year, Rassie accepted the Goodwill Award from the FW De Klerk Foundation for helping to “unite South Africans.”
In his acceptance speech, he said: “A lot of people think when we talk transformation, it’s ‘white out, black in’. Transformation in any other country means change. It became such a nasty word in South Africa…”
Rassie added that back in 2013, he began establishing the foundation of transformation via a database of rugby players from all races.
He continued: “In that way, we were not ‘white out, black in’. We built a database of players who are now playing for the Springboks.
“We don’t have quotas. I hate that word, and I think it’s embarrassing. We call it a change in how we select the team and management. It’s purely about what you put out and how you get better.”
