hahha – sharp hey boet.

you guys still keen on the motorhome version of rwc2011/

i’ve decided helen and i have passed that stage in life – car hire and hotels will be our way of seeing nz next year.

you know us ballies – we need a bit of comfort

unfortunately the reality is that the academies at sharks and bulls also need to fulfill quota ratios.

those complaining about racial selection should also consider what happened in this country only a mere 20 years ago.

so what seems unfair now was also unfair 20 years ago.

still, two wrongs don’t make a right.

so how do we proceed???

no other rugby-playing country has a similar conundrum.

Can anyone spell quota?

The thing is, the more organised and professional unions like the Bulls and the Sharks love this sort selection criteria.

It means that those better players who may be pigmentally challenged will get snapped up into the respective union academies with great gusto.

Its a talent scouts dream.

Not too surprising if you think about it… A big school = 1000… and then think about how many rugger playing schools…

Anyway a nasty number

In SA it is a case of ‘the cream rising to the top’ as so to speak and although we are pretty fortunate with all the schoolboy talent we have in SA, there are basically only THAT much places in Uni teams/good club teams to fill. We are one hell of a competitive nation and many boys play rugby because they aspire to higher honours or recognition – take away the opportunity to do that and my bet is very few boys will continue playing. Also, when playing for a ‘lesser’ club in a league (e.g Randfontein in the Godlen Lions/Pirates Grand Challenge – with all due respect) and getting thumped 103-5 and 89-10 on consecutive weekends by uni teams will make many players gatvol..! If you have a look at the system at PUKKE – they recruit loads of Craven Week players every year and can fill up probably 6 senior teams if they have to – only for them to have no teams to play regular competitive rugby against. There are many more reasons and I could go on and on, but would like to hear your opinion on the matter (or anyone else’s for that reason)

There are countless stories of players only flourishing later in life (Lem Honiball & S Burger Jnr are 2 examples) so as long as these guys keep going they will hopefully be able to get all the opportunities they need to reach their levels.

From the article, I did not get much of a sense that quotas are implemented, but if ever there is a place to implement quotas it is at this level. I know it sux for the kids (my nephew has suffered at the hands of quotas at cricket), but it doesn’t mean the end of line, it pushes them to work harder & exposes more talent.

If we have to have an imperfect system I would much rather see it at this level than the levels nearer to the top.

If the squad really was chosen before the Final was played – and you speak of certain players’ inclusion being justified on the basis of fine performances for their home school during the season, or earlier in the tournament – then – sure – if we ‘accept’ that reasoning – then why aren’t there any more Grey Bloem players in the squad…???

There’s a reason why Grey Bloem is no.1 – year after year – because THEY produce the BEST players in SA. So – if a season’s consistent form is the criterion – surely Grey would have 9/10 or more players in the squad – and certainly many more than 2 in the starting line-up…???

You can write what you wish – fact is – the BEST rugby school in SA (by far) has been snubbed again… Like every year – witness 2007 too – the invincible FS team that ANNIHILATED WP in the Final that year – 52-3 – also only 2 players in the starting line-up… Go figure!

Hahahahahahaha – yeah, sure Messrs selectors/administrators/politicians – sure the team is selected only on merit… Hahahahahahahahaha – next joke please!

We all know the truth about SA rugby squad selections – especially at school level… In the senior team too. But – we must all hush-hush – don’t say anything – let’s all pretend…

Perhaps you will then be able to answer why South Africa loses close to 60 000 players (falling off the map completely) in the transition from schoolboy to club/age-group player???