Arrested development
25 Nov 2010
JON CARDINELLI investigates the lack of black forwards at the highest levels and whether black forwards are genetically smaller than their white counterparts.
The biggest transformation failure over the past five years has been up front. The pitiful number of black forwards to represent the Springboks testifies to the fact, as does the negligible representation at Super 14 and Currie Cup levels. Why is it that South Africa manages to produce so many black backs, but so few black forwards? With a predominantly white make-up and two black wings, it’s no wonder some jokers refer to our national side as the Seagulls rather than the Springboks.
Since the start of the 2006 Test season, 29 black (black African and coloured) players have been used by the Boks. Eighteen of those have been backline players (12 of those wingers or fullbacks) while 11 have been forwards. Subtract two from the latter because the Zimbabwean-reared Beast Mtawarira and Brian Mujati are not products of the South African system. Nine forwards remain, of which just three are currently playing at the highest level. Apart from Bandise Maku, Chiliboy Ralepelle and Gurthrö Steenkamp, six black Bok forwards have faded into obscurity.
Eddie Andrews has long since retired, although he’s still at an age where he could be contributing (33). Hanyani Shimange is Western Province’s third-choice hooker. When fit, Lawrence Sephaka plays in the Vodacom Cup, but struggles to make the Lions’ senior team. Kabamba Floors is a permanent fixture on the Cheetahs’ bench, Hilton Lobberts is languishing at Boland, and Solly Tyibilika is playing for Border in the First Division.
A spate of injuries and poor management has afflicted Ralepelle’s career, while Maku has been the victim of similar malpractice at the Bulls. Steenkamp is one of the few success stories, although one homegrown, experienced black Bok forward is not enough.
Consider the demographics of a country where black people outnumber their white counterparts by nine to one. You’d think that South Africa would be spoiled for choice in the black forward department, but as the evidence suggests, this is not the case.
We’re told by Saru that the racial make-up of the age-group teams proves that transformation is working, but so few of those black players progress. The SA U21 side that won the 2005 World Championship is a prime example. Twelve players of colour (six forwards and six backs) were in that squad. Of the forwards, Ralepelle and Lobberts (who both also represented the successful SA U19 side) went on to play for the Bulls and Boks. None of the remaining forwards are currently contracted to a ‘big-five’ union. Davon Raubenheimer (Griquas) and Martin Sithole (Pumas) are at least competing in the Premier Division, but great junior prospects like Nikolai Blignaut (Boland) and Sangoni Mxoli (EP Kings) are wasting away in First Division oblivion.
Meanwhile, a number of the white players who featured in those age-group squads are thriving. Gerhard Mostert (Sharks), Pieter Louw (WP-Stormers), Heinke van der Merwe (formerly of the Lions and Boks, and now with Leinster) and Derick Kuün (Bulls) have all had extensive exposure to Super Rugby.
Saru says that black players have received insufficient opportunities at Currie Cup and Super Rugby levels, and that coaches are to blame. Others argue that the level of the competition is significantly higher on the senior stage. This latter line of thinking follows that some black players are fast-tracked into junior teams and are unprepared for the high standards of professional rugby.
Transformation becomes an ugly issue when quotas or targets are enforced. People who persist with such thinking miss the point. Transformation is impossible without development. Pushing a player into a professional team when he’s not ready is counterproductive. Administrators and politicians should be investing their resources and energies into black player development at grassroots level instead, so that in the future these players progress through the junior ranks and earn their standing in senior teams on merit.
Developing a new generation of black forwards is a task former Bok assistant coach Gert Smal volunteered for in 2008. After the World Cup in France, Smal felt he could do some good in the rugby-rich region of the Eastern Cape. He hoped to spearhead a programme aimed at producing more black forwards.
Smal put together a proposal and sent it to Saru, but they never got back to him. After months of waiting for a reply, Smal eventually accepted a post with the Irish Rugby Union and is still working with the national team as the forwards coach today.
‘It was a pity that I never got the chance to help the Eastern Cape,’ Smal says. ‘I’ve worked with Border before and I have a good idea of the complexities and politics of the region. With my experience as a World Cup coach I could have offered a fair amount of help to the coaches and administration.
‘There needs to be a concerted effort to bring black players through, and especially black forwards. I don’t buy the argument that they don’t exist. The black forwards are there, they just need to be identified and brought through the system.
‘I can’t comment on what Saru is doing because I haven’t been in the country for a while, but there needs to be some sort of forwards academy that will help with the fast-tracking of black forwards in South Africa, and that academy needs to incorporate the help of quality coaches to ensure players progress to provincial and even national level with the necessary skills.’
Saru president Regan Hoskins and his deputy Mark Alexander refused to answer any questions on the subject when contacted by SA Rugby magazine. It appears that the president is happy to criticise Currie Cup and Super Rugby teams for their failure to field sufficient players of colour, but when it comes to telling the public about what Saru is doing to improve the situation, he isn’t so forthcoming.
However, Saru CEO Jurie Roux agreed to answer our questions via e-mail. He makes it clear that all 14 provinces need to work at developing black talent, and believes the structures are in place to provide top teams with black players. He denies knowledge of Smal’s proposal to develop black forwards in the Eastern Cape, and is non-committal in answering whether South Africa really needs a specialised black forwards academy.
‘Saru is in favour of any initiatives designed to develop and improve players,’ says Roux, ‘so long as they are appropriately managed and run and do not conflict with the interests of South African rugby as a whole.’
The Kings are set to join Super Rugby in 2013 and no doubt the region will be subject to various development initiatives in the interim. As the numbers in top-flight rugby suggest, black backline players aren’t short on opportunities, but black forwards are something of a rarity. Surely it’s in South African rugby’s interest to change that?
And what better place to start than the Eastern Cape?
‘Whatever they decide to do, there needs to be more of an effort,’ says Smal. ‘It’s something I took upon myself to do, even when I was coaching Western Province. I realised that we had a lot of talented black backs, but not many black forwards. [Former Bok lock] Quinton Davids was probably one of the rare success stories.’
Smal believes the black forwards are there, and that they need to be identified and offered the right opportunities to develop. In challenging this view, some believe that black South Africans aren’t as big as Afrikaans South Africans, and that genetically speaking, they’re never going to offer the same power and size as their white Afrikaans counterparts.
Sports scientist Dr Ross Tucker is aware of the perception. He believes that Saru needs conclusive scientific data if South African rugby is to move forward.
‘A study was conducted at Craven Week level, and it found that the black players were smaller than their white counterparts,’ says Tucker. ‘However, it was also taken into consideration how many of these players were from previously disadvantaged areas, and how that affected their diet and training. They obviously didn’t have the same access to gym equipment and supplements as the white kids.
‘The study did highlight some physical differences, but I don’t think it’s linked to genetics. There are certain population groups that are going to be more suited to a particular sport than others, and I suppose the east Africans are an example when it comes to long-distance running, but it’s a stretch to apply that theory to black South African rugby forwards.
‘There is no conclusive evidence that black South Africans are genetically smaller than white South Africans. To obtain that kind of evidence, you’d need to track players at the lower levels and ensure black and white players get the same opportunities. If the study shows that more black players hit the ceiling of their physical potential before whites, then there may be a case.
‘It’s an argument that will be dismissed as racist in this country, but it should be a matter of science. It’s worth investigating because the findings will offer conclusive evidence. It’s strange that no study has been conducted yet. Transformation is a big deal in South Africa and millions of rands have been spent on development.’
Tucker says that if it’s true that black South African players hit the ceiling of their physical potential before white players, then that must be factored into how transformation is approached at the higher levels. If it’s false then it highlights the importance of development to ensure the black players make the step up. With more quality players to choose from, South African rugby is always going to benefit.
But until there are conclusive answers, the debate will continue to rage. Transformation will remain a dirty word, the equivalent of a four-word epithet that evokes a dual sense of anger and prejudice. Unless Saru does some work to retrieve this information, they will continue to be part of the problem. South African rugby will continue to stagnate when it should be soaring.
– This article first appeared in the November issue of SA Rugby magazine.
156 Comments
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25 Nov 2010, 12:04 pm
@wackers(wackers) :
go easy on the brasso.
i would send Maevis round but the wrestling is on and then its champions league highlights.
so I can’t see much happening today.
maybe a two hour chat with the family in the eastern cape.
special callmore rates.
the more Maevis calls the more Gunther pays.
25 Nov 2010, 12:09 pm
@gunther(gunther) : imagine Maevis on Methylxaminane-whatever-the-Boks-were-taking? she would moer Tbozknows AND his BantuNigerian friends that migrated to where he lives
25 Nov 2010, 12:09 pm
@wackers(wackers) : This is what happens when you come on KEO at times. Some insecure ignorant dudes start to play with satire and sarcasm and think they are more intelligent than everyone else.. Usually the Gunther’s and the Transformation who I have no idea what his back ground is..
He obviously needs to Read more befor emaking judgement.. “The Banter” is unknown to me “Maevis” sounds like a chick so I get that much.. Speaking of physiques I suspect Transformation find me attractive. Well I dont swing that way..
Thanks anyway Transformation…
25 Nov 2010, 12:12 pm
@Transformation(Transformation) :
Methylxaminane-Muti
unfortunately one of the side-effects is that you get all upper case…
25 Nov 2010, 12:13 pm
@Transformation(Transformation) :
“Transformation not so transformed..” Anyway each to their own.. Bok support division is expected from from such ignorance..
Are you tranformed because of your ***-change or opinions, I am confused??
25 Nov 2010, 12:16 pm
@gunther(gunther) : Man up Gunter!!
25 Nov 2010, 12:17 pm
@Tbozknows(Tbozknows) : you reek of an inferiority complex, calm down you coming across like uribenzi
25 Nov 2010, 12:19 pm
And this is what you get when you have rugby journos and fans trying to do social commentary… Farce and Comedy.
25 Nov 2010, 12:20 pm
@Tbozknows(Tbozknows) : 105 there you go, putrid but still attempts at being funny…try, try & try again…
25 Nov 2010, 12:21 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game) :
its always funny until somebody gets hurt
25 Nov 2010, 12:26 pm
@gunther(gunther) : 110. Ja “bru” like a meerkat killed with an axe…
Still chuckling…
25 Nov 2010, 12:27 pm
@gunther(gunther) :
Thank you for helping.
With the high prices of rugby tickets, ever wonder why the “people” at the games are not representive of the country? Simple those who dont earn the huge salary needed to buy a single ticket cant get to watch the game. If the rugby tickets prices were exactly the same as the soccer tickets prices the stadiums fans will be more representitive of the country.
Not only that but they will be full as well, have a look at the first division final game, the EP clowns against I forget who. Tickets were sold at R30 or R40 per adult for that game. 45 000 fans went to see it…. I have no idea how much the normal prices are but I am sure it is not that low.
Using your way of thinking then, that only the rich and wealthy who earn huge salaries that can afford to go and watch the rugby at the venues. Does the petrol you use to go to the venue cost more or less than the person using the HIACE E20 ? I am sure you will pay more to get to a venue. Then you want to buy something to drink and eat at the venue, PLUS your tickets…. Who makes more from one game then rugby or soccer? My guess would be Rugby.
Now have a look at this, how many of the new stadiums built for the SWC are nowbeing used at all by the rugby code? I know only of the EP clowns. now have a look this weekend at the local PSL games, see how many are at the new venues. See how many people there are and multiply that by R40.00 .. Now have a look at the sharks semi final , find out how much it was per time for that game and how many people were there, big difference in the amounts??
Then take a look at how much of that money from the sharks game could and would be put back into development at grass roots.. You cant develop the game without getting people involved, you cant create interest if people cant get to see their hero’s. Talk about taking the game to the people, it is more like taking the game away from the people.
25 Nov 2010, 12:28 pm
@Transformation(Transformation) : I was not trying to be funny. I tried to have a debate you turned belittling along side Gunther and now you are coming with a sob story about humour…. Dude lets lets appease this and move on..
25 Nov 2010, 12:36 pm
@Drlector(Drlector) :
it supply and demmand.
sure you can make the smaller games cheaper and encourage people from outside the traditional fan base to go and watch them.
but nobody is going to sell tickets to a semi or a final for the currie cup at R40 each.
its a nice idea, but it’s a pipe dream.
25 Nov 2010, 12:42 pm
“JON CARDINELLI investigates the lack of black forwards at the highest levels and whether black forwards are genetically smaller than their white counterparts.”
I just read the first sentence and it’s already funny.
25 Nov 2010, 12:54 pm
@gunther(gunther) :
http://totalfootball360.blogspot.com/2010/11/telkom-knockout-ticket-prices.html
Tickets selling fast for Telkom Knockout Final
TKO Final tickets selling fast
Posted: 2010-11-24 07:31
The tickets of the Telkom Knockout Cup final between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at Soccer City Stadium on December 4 are already on sale.
Within two hours of the tickets going on sale this yesterday, some 6000 tickets had already been sold, raising expectations that the match will be sold out before the end of this week.
The tickets for the TKO Final range from R40 to R60 for adults, whilst tickets for juveniles cost R10.
According to PSL spokesperson Altaaf Kazi some suite tickets are reserved for soccer fans at the FNB Stadium.
“The tickets for suites with no catering will cost R230 while tickets with catering will cost R750 per person.
“All tickets are available at Shoprite /Checkers and Compu-ticket outlets around the country,” said Kazi, adding that information regarding public transport to the stadium will be released before the end of this week.
Ernest Fakude
Yup rugby is a game for the rich, not for the fans, soccer is a game for the poor. You are right, we are wrong to believe that the poor will ever be able to see quality games and good venues for cheap prices. Then again this is football and real men, as we all know dont play football.
25 Nov 2010, 12:59 pm
@Transformation(Transformation) : What is Uribenzi?? Sounds like Shona.. I don’t understand that.. Thanks anyway mate..
25 Nov 2010, 13:00 pm
@Drlector(Drlector) :
bru
don’t try and be a martyr.
all I said is that they will never sell tickets to big knockout rugby games art R40 a shot.
nobody said its fair.
its supply and demmand.
if you don’t like it go and talk to ABSA and see if they will subsidise the tickets.
otherwise this is boring.
25 Nov 2010, 13:25 pm
Not that I am pouring water on all these lovely theories but SARU is not to blame nor are genetics. The simple and plain fact is there are not enough playing fields in townships. Kids will not play rugby on tar. But people can always blame all this on genetics. If we want this country to improve on what we have here is an idea. Put more effort on infrastructure. Not dumb arguements.
25 Nov 2010, 13:27 pm
@Tbozknows(Tbozknows) : 117. Its just Transie trying to translate Swahili…
25 Nov 2010, 13:35 pm
Not one of Gert’s brightest ideas – looking for black forwards in the Eastern Cape… He should be looking further north east in the Kingdom of the Zulu… I guarantee that SARU will find chaps that will make Bakkies seem sweet and Spies look like a Donkey…
Speed in the Eastern Cape, aggression and size in Zululand!
25 Nov 2010, 13:42 pm
Plenty of fat black men to become props and tall ones to become locks.
Problem with all young rugby players regardless of age is that one needs to make a living – get a job or study and work to get ahead, cause there are only so few pro rugby contracts available. That is when they are lost and cannot even find the time to attend a club’s practices or matches, simple as that. The best young players I’ve ever seen and I’m talking about the very best, have gone that way, especially white backline players that were denied opportunities because of quotas.
25 Nov 2010, 13:46 pm
@gunther(gunther) :
LOL!
I am not trying to be a matyr! I am trying to make a simple point. With rugby ticket prices so high, you wont get lots of blacks at the stadiums. Without being able to sell tickets you wont get money. Without money you cant invest in development.
No development means less quota players in the teams.
Why is the bulls team so strong? They have lots of card carrying fans, who can pay those prices, the more fans , the more money, the more money the more they can grow and develop or just buy players from elsewhere like Bjorn Basson.
It is a cycle, one driven and controlled by money. No money no development , lots of money lots of development. So how do you start this entire process from scratch then? It starts from SARU.. We know how gifted they are , look at Krusty..
25 Nov 2010, 13:46 pm
Very very good article Jon.
The Smal debacle reminds me of the King’s/Spear’s struggle to get recognition by SARU. It is as if they want nothing to do with the region.
Funny that…..but they’ll b i t c h and moan about transformation all day long.
25 Nov 2010, 14:04 pm
@Transformation(Transformation) : @ 13
You are the cut & paste King (or Queen!) so that can be your job.
Enjoy
25 Nov 2010, 14:12 pm
I AM SO VERY SORRY, but when is this BS going to end? A player should be chosen for skill NOT because of the colour of their skin. WHAT A JOKE.
Politics and Sport should NOT mix. EVER.
25 Nov 2010, 14:14 pm
@gunther(gunther) : @ 48
De best erb in de world maan!
25 Nov 2010, 14:57 pm
imo its just the nature vs nurture argument in colour (geddit?)
it may just be a little of both?
ross tucker says that a study has been done but…but….but….
are the black kids at craven week disadvantaged? i dont think its fair to use that line if many of them come from model c or private schooling.
in a far bigger population, it is inevitable that you will find outliers who will be held up as proof that black players are just as big but is that proof?
but will we all be mature enough to handle the results of a proper study? methinks not.
but i have no problem saying that black athletes seem to have the edge over white athletes and that japanese people…make great sushi? (oh ja, asians are GENERALLY shorter but culturally apply themselves to education like few other races).
25 Nov 2010, 15:01 pm
@rangerman(rangerman) :
I believed that asians had no pubic hair until I was about 18.
25 Nov 2010, 15:01 pm
@iluvafrica(iluvafrica) : when did you start having that view? #just asking?
25 Nov 2010, 15:19 pm
@Transformation(Transformation) : Round about the time it started working to his detriment. Im guessing.
25 Nov 2010, 15:28 pm
@Transformation(Transformation) : @Taahirah(Taahirah) : cmon guys.
when did the anc start agitating for a universal franchise?
how long is a piece of string?
is there anyone out there?
25 Nov 2010, 15:38 pm
@Taahirah(Taahirah) : the guy who coached France at the last RWC, bernard laporte, what is he currently doing? i think i heard he was Minister of Sport
25 Nov 2010, 15:52 pm
@Transformation(Transformation) :
Johannes Bal. Vorster and Piet Wapen Botha were not only Prime Ministers but also Ministers of GLOBAL Sport in their long lost days.
25 Nov 2010, 15:53 pm
@ET(ET) :
Thus those two m o n keys were the forerunners of combining politics and sports, forevermore.
25 Nov 2010, 15:55 pm
@ET(ET) : it’s been 15 years already, GET OVER IT!
25 Nov 2010, 16:12 pm
@Transformation(Transformation) :
Some people choose to remain ignorannt all their life by not realising that negative forces once initiated cannot not be arrested even by so-called development.
Classical examples:
exploitation
racism
and now………sports is politics and politics is sports.
Live with it as what has been the status quo for 350 years cannot be expected to be eradicated from peoples’ hearts and minds in 15 short years.
Just read the very, very ‘balanced’ comments here by the minutes to conclude that you are deluded and you are f arting against thunder.
25 Nov 2010, 16:24 pm
The reality is that many top-quality black players at age group and senior level are under so much more pressure to perform than their white counterparts that they ultimately fail to bring home the bacon.
Greater pressure to impress and to perform results in many exiting rugby altogether (think Eddie), or fading into mediocrity (think Solly).
Or, in the worst cases, they continue to be picked and to be picked on (think Chiliboy).
25 Nov 2010, 16:26 pm
What a crab article.
Why are there more white than black rugby and cricket sport journalists?
Why does Keo.co.za not feature more articles written by black bloggers?
Why are there so few whites making the national soccer side? Why are there more Afrikaans speaking players than English speaking rugby players? Why are there so many South Africans playing for other country’s national sides and that includes cricket. Why do we not develop rugby in the Indian communities?
Why are there so few black cricketers? Why do we not have more international black swimmers? Why are the not enough professional black golfers?
Why are there more world class black South African athletes than white athletes? Once you start forcing people into boxes just to satisfy politicians or to be political correct you are upsetting the natural development of sportsmen and woman. Black and white South Africans are equally talented, just let the whole process flow and the choose the best whether they are yellow or green.
Why do I keep on reading JC’s ****?
25 Nov 2010, 16:36 pm
@crowbar(crowbar) :
They were probably looking for another 1000 + thread.
I’m sure many so-called black people reading this would be offended.
25 Nov 2010, 16:44 pm
@crowbar(crowbar) : “just let the whole process flow” what does this mean? a large percentage of black people live in townships where there are no facilities for them to “flow” on, their schools are also bereft of the tools for development of their flow.
the National Basketball Association in America did not just turn Negro/black by simply letting things “flow”. facilities were provided in inner city projects for people to start playing the game, scholarships were offered and then the interest in the sport grew and more kids wanted to participate as they saw it as way out of their circumstances.
you can’t tell me Jongi Nokwe @ KwaMfundo Senior Secondary has an equal chance to make the Springboks as a Francois Steyn who is at Grey.
there would be no Wayne Parnell if he never got a bursary to Grey high…
25 Nov 2010, 16:53 pm
I should introduce JC to my big black buddy ……….
CHRIS GAYLE
Go on JC … tell him he’s small.
@Transformation(Transformation) :
What you are saying is true but there must be better ways of conveying it than JC’s theme for this stupid story.
25 Nov 2010, 17:19 pm
@Transformation(Transformation) :
How different is this sports-is-politiics-and-politics-is- sports tune you sing to the tune I sang earlier.
All those lack of sport facilities in the townships you mention is ….now wait for it …… sport is politics and politics is sports.
All I subscribe to are the FACTS not the dumb people asking or making dumb questions or comments respectively.
25 Nov 2010, 17:20 pm
@crowbar(crowbar) : “Why are the not enough professional black golfers?”
Do you not think one Tiger is enough for the world to deal with? Now you want more!!!????
25 Nov 2010, 17:20 pm
“One of last week’s stand-out performers Juan Smith on Wednesday said he, Van Niekerk and Cronje would all perform the crucial “fetcher” role. The job was last week expertly performed by Solly Tyibilika, but the new trio will do well to contain the brilliant ball stealing abilities of Wallaby George Smith.
“I suppose it’s easier when Schalk (Burger) or Solly are playing because we know that they’re the men first at the breakdown and doing the graft on the ground,” said Smith.
White may be gambling with his new-look back row and change of scrumhalf when one considers how well they worked last week. But the Bok coach is no fool and has made the changes for a reason.”
Or better yet
“” Great game – you’re dropped
July 25 2005 at 07:29AM Get IOL on your
mobile at m.iol.co.za
Next » 1 2
By Jacques van der Westhuyzen
It was the Springboks’ most compelling display this year, but coach Jake White will still make several changes to his side for this weekend’s Tri-Nations start against the Wallabies in Pretoria.
Saturday’s new combinations could not have clicked any better, with the loose-trio of Solly Tyibilika, Juan Smith and Joe van Niekerk, and the midfield pairing of Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie especially influential in the Boks’ 33-20 victory over Australia.
Added to this, rookies Enrico Januarie and Gurthro Steenkamp were also a handful for the Aussies, gaining plenty of metres and defending like Trojans, but changes there will be for the Loftus showdown.
Continues Below ?
The Boks have the edge on the Wallabies in South AfricaThe Boks have the edge on the Wallabies in South Africa – as they do over the Boks in their country – and it would seem only a very poor performance by White’s men would allow the Wallabies to steal a rare victory in the Republic.
The team that will go into battle at Loftus will have a more familiar look about them – whether they will do better than the side that ran out at Ellis Park is debatable – but still have the goods to get the Tri-Nations defence successfully off the ground. White, it seems, is still testing certain players and trying out combinations ahead of the real Test against the All Blacks Saturday week in Cape Town.
It is no secret the New Zealanders are the best team in world rugby at the moment and victory over them is what White and his players are targeting.
Maybe he’s experimenting, maybe he’s not, but White is certainly mixing and matching with a greater goal in mind. He has hammered home the point of consistency in the last 18 months, but while his squad selection remains the same, he has this year chopped and changed his starting XV, to varying success. But as White points out “that’s the beauty of keeping the same players together. They all know the calls, the running lines and what’s expected of them, no matter who comes in or who is left out.
“Some players were given time off at Ellis Park, others were deliberately left out,” said White after his side’s Ellis Park victory.
“I was happy with everyone’s performance, but there will be changes this week… I’ll pick a side to play at Loftus,” he said, hinting at the return of a number of Bulls men to the green and gold.
Pedrie Wannenburg has been added to the squad and he may form part of a new back row that will in all likelihood also include Jacques Cronjé. Fourie du Preez will also start again, as will Jaco van der Westhuyzen.
But after Saturday’s solid outing by a bunch of “new-comers” White will find it difficult to leave certain men out. He admitted as much.
“I gave some guys a chance to play at Ellis Park and they showed me they must play again,” said White.”"
Now compare what Deon Stegmann has dished up so far, to what Solly Tyibilika did, but hey!!!, why let facts get in the way of a nice k@k belief system
25 Nov 2010, 17:35 pm
@ET(ET) : 143 i was being facetious but u took me seriously…
25 Nov 2010, 18:26 pm
@Transformation(Transformation) : Off course you are right, I should have added never stop the development of rugby and any other sport for that matter in those areas, I just assumed that is the normal thing to do in any society, therefore the “normal flow process” term. Some times I forget that our society might not just be that normal, at this stage.
25 Nov 2010, 18:28 pm
@Dawn(Dawn) Well said.
25 Nov 2010, 18:31 pm
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck) : Hey Tiger is my hero and I am worried about his form, I think he should just go back to ….basics
25 Nov 2010, 18:44 pm
No physiological reason why Zulu’s, Xhosas and the like can’t be great forwards.
As with their white compatriots they are great warriors, big and proud, hard fighters built on generations of solid nationhood.
The Coloured community tend to be smaller historically and best suited to the softer positions where they can blame the bounce of the ball if all else fails. They are by second nature fleet footed and able to slip through the smallest of gaps; which off course befits a backline practitioner. (The bigger uns tend to end up in politics or sports administration and so are lost to on-field rugby).
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