For far too long in South African rugby, ‘transformation’ has been – and is right now – just what the Minsiter says…the vulgar simplification of numbers in the Springbok team.

I have long argued that we’ll only reap the benefits when true transformation – creating equal (as equal as can be in a fundamentally unequal world) opportunities at grassroots level and from thereon in – and then it’s over to merit.

The benefits, of course, are fielding the best possible team, based on merit alone and without giving a fig for social engineering.

Finally, I guess we all appreicate that the flip side of true transformation is selecting the best match day 22 and starting 15 and throwing full support behind the selected squad – even if that squad, and there’s only a miniscule chance of this ever being the case, all happen to have lily white skins or, for that matter, black skins.

Now that’s true transformation.

Over to you, Oregan.

No problem, you’re not the first & definitely not the last to touch the keyboard at the wrong time!

Sorry for the pun but “it’s just not cricket”!

@David-319: Nice try but that’s a pastime not “sport”!

Why?

I find women soccer quite enjoyable to watch- there are less interruptions as women players do not fall around as often as men, the players are quite skillful, athletic and the game has usually quite a nice flow to it. You also hardly ever find the ego’s and showboating that are so common in top level male soccer. I have never watched women 7′s rugby but reckon it might be quite fun to watch as well.

And other contact sports like boxing, soccer, etc.

Oh excuse me, I had no idea you were a fool. Had I known, I would not have engaged you in the first place.

As you were.

Are you still at it.

No, how do you measure “Transformation” not an obfuscation into woolly cotton wool semantic dishonesty?

What measures will be used for “Transformation” in order for SARU to determine failure or success?

You see, when fuzzy faux liberal bullshitt is exposed, the resultant frustration generally does end up with comments such as “South Africa is changing whether you like it or not. Embrace change boet”….

Your comment implies that you reckon South Africa is “changing”…Buzzer… Newsflash… South Africa has changed and always will – for better or worse… Your comment implies that you embrace “change”? WHat change? Transformation? How the fark can you when you have no idea what it means?

Farken Lily Liberal Nimbys… The best measure for Transformation of SA Rugby or SA is how many of these can be lined up against a wall and then shot…

The best way to measure it, would be for all those involved to start viewing rugby players as just that…. When an all black or all white team runs out, the fans are in no doubt that is the best XV players available for that particular team. Black people do not cheer any louder if a try is scored Habana, JJP, Bismarck or Jacque Fourie. They’re all springboks.

When unions put structures and facilities in place so that township youngsters that enjoy the game, who cannot afford to go to former model C and private schools, will have better access to the tools that might help them attain provincial colours. When they initiate a nutritional programme for malnourished black kids who might not otherwise grow to be as big as their privilaged black and white counterparts. When ex boks and provincial players frequent township providing some coaching assistance to these youngsters. When the provincial team culture is introduced to these youngsters at a young age, so that they are under no illusions should they one day go on the make the senior team.

When provincial coaches embrace the smaller more skillful players and actually trust them to deliver… Ridding them of the bigger is better mentality.

Perhaps then will the number of black players in SR and CC increase, thus giving the national coach a greater pool to choose from.

This is so typical of an organisation in denial believing their own releases.

The measurement of transformation is simple.
There is a scorecard for SARU 10 years ago 5 years ago and between us we could do one now in 2012.
Those are details that should be released. Otherwise get the HSRC to do it.

Oh what BS, so putting a few more different coloured faces in the Bok line up is gonna stop social tension, crime and resentment. faaak dude go smoke the other tweet!

How do we measure the success of transformation?… Firstly by how much additional support it gains from South Africans who currently dont support the Springboks. Secondly, by how well the team performs (transformation could potentially lead to short term poor performances if executed incorrectly).. And Thirdly, by how much it is embraced by white South Africans… No one is saying that transformation in rugby will finish with full marks by those standards, but at least those are the standards (in my view).

There are issues in South Africa bigger than rugby boet.. Dont underestimate how far a national sports team can go to help bring people together. A common team to support can help unite people where there is currently tension.

South Africa is changing whether you like it or not. Embrace change boet. You either have equality in South Africa along with a team which all race groups can support or you have social tension, crime and resentment.