In December 2014, the South African Rugby Union General Council approved a five-year roadmap in the lead up to the 2019 World Cup, called the Strategic Transformation Plan.
The most high-profile target of the plan was to field a Springbok team that is 50 per cent black by 2019.
Allister Coetzee was appointed coach in 2016, but was sacked this month on the back of poor results and having largely failed at transformation.
He was given four full seasons before the World Cup to give good black players exposure to Test match rugby. With effective planning, he should have been able to achieve the target with a competitive team.
Allister Coetzee (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Let’s look at the South African team that concluded last year’s Rugby Championship:
15. Andries Coetzee, 14. Dillyn Leyds, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Jan Serfontein, 11. Courtnall Skosan, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Ross Cronjé, 8. Francois Louw, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6. Siya Kolisi, 5. Lood de Jager, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Ruan Dreyer, 2. Malcolm Marx, 1. Steven Kitshoff
Subs: 16. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17. Trevor Nyakane, 18. Wilco Louw, 19. Franco Mostert, 20. Jean-Luc du Preez, 21. Rudy Paige, 22. Handré Pollard, 23. Damian de Allende.
This team had only 30 per cent black players, and a number of mediocre white players. He shunned black players such as Lukanhyo Am (13), Makazole Mapimpi (14), S’bu Nkosi (11), Nizaam Carr (8), and Warrick Gelant (15), who all had strong Super Rugby campaigns. Surely these guys would have been no worse than those selected?
Furthermore, the Junior Springbok team that made the semi-final of the 2017 Junior World Cup had 11 black players in the starting 15.
Damian Willemse can play 10, 12 and 15 and reminds me of Tim Horan. Curwin Bosch can run, pass and kick, and play 10 or 15. No.9 Embrose Papier reads the game well and has a crisp pass – this year he’s been picked ahead of Rudi Paige in the Bulls Super Rugby squad. No.8 Juarno Augustus is a beast that can play 7 and should get game time for the Stormers. Salmaan Moerat is a typical South African lock.
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These players can improve, but the right approach would have been to work with them and the regional franchises to develop their game in the lead-up to the World Cup. I seem to remember Jake White doing something similar with Bryan Habana, Jaque Fourie, Jean De Villiers, Fourie Du Preez and Shalk Burger, and that turned out ok.
After Coetzee’s axing, Rassie Erasmus was appointed director of rugby – although there’s talk he will have a dual role, doubling as coach, until the World Cup.
But, as a result of Coetzee wasting two years, Erasmus has little time to produce a balanced and competitive team that’s half black players.
However, he was reportedly planning well before his official announcement. Recently he’s been spending time with the regional franchises, visiting South African players in the UK, and watching England play at Twickenham. He’s a meticulous planner, and he brings tactical acumen combined with a clear vision of how to play the game. I’m sure he’s aware of these transformation targets and what he needs to do to achieve them.
Rassie Erasmus (Photo By Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
The following squad achieves the 50 per cent target and is packed with talent, even if they have aspects to work on.
Who would you pick, fellow arm-chair coaches? Can you achieve the 50 per cent target?
15. Warrick Gelant – Good in attack, but must work on his aerial and kicking game.
14. Makazole Mapimpi – Probably the best finisher in South Africa but must work on his defence.
13. Lukanhyo Am – Needs Test match experience.
12. Jan Serfontein – Was excellent last year and brings experience to the backline.
11. Sbu Nkosi – Has speed, physicality, defence, and apparently he’s incredibly focused on improving his game.
10. Curwin Bosch – Lots of potential and with time his reading of the game will improve, but must work on his defence.
9. Embrose Papier – Has played with Bosch from junior level and also needs game time, but must work on his kicking game.
8. Nizaam Carr – Athletic and physical.
7. Jean-Luc du Preez – Athletic and physical.
6. Siya Kolisi – He would be the captain of this new Springbok era.
5. Lood de Jager – Physical and mobile.
4. Eben Etzebeth – Physical and mobile.
3. Vincent Koch – Experienced tight head.
2. Malcolm Marx – First name on the team sheet.
1. Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira – Brings experience and wasn’t as bad as people think last year.
16. Bongi Mbonambi / Scarra Ntubeni – I’d leave Marx on for as long as possible, but these two would combine with the Stormers locks if they came on.
17. Steven Kitshoff – Brings anger and mobility off the bench.
18. Trevor Nyakane – Needs more time at tight head.
19. Franco Mostert – Mobility off the bench.
20. Pieter-Steph du Toit – Covers lock and flank.
21. Jaco Kriel – Mobility off the bench.
22. Damian Willemse – Covers inside back positions.
23. Jesse Kriel – Covers outside back positions.
George
Guest
I cant be asked to play juggler with your quotas. Sorry lads. You have a tough ask to field a team and then galvanise it. Prefer to have another pint and toast the once mighty.
HayMrDj
Guest
Has anyone tried Kolbe at halfback? He'd be lethal off the back of a springboks scrum!
Harry Jones
Expert
Rugby was built on memories like this ...
Harry Jones
Expert
DavSA Smart comment
Harry Jones
Expert
Strong team, that Balanced
Harry Jones
Expert
Kolbe was named Best Signing in the Top14 He’s a real rugby player
Harry Jones
Expert
Up to now, I have to agree with BB Seems like he only uses force effectively on attack; not defense
Carl he has been with the Sharks since 2015, he doesn’t hit like a guy weighing 97kg. I think those numbers are inflated
Mielie
Guest
You know, the duplicity, and the extreme dishonesty of the two faced international Rugby fraternity is positively nauseating. The Rugby quota system as practised in South Africa is Apartheid. There is no other name for it. I challenge anybody to describe it otherwise. Apartheid died in South Africa 25 years ago, but officials in South Africa are ensuring that Apartheid is alive and well and living in Rugby Union in South Africa Yet, where are the Anti Apartheid demonstrations of yesteryear? The flower bombings? The demonstrations in the streets? Australia, of course, refused to play the Mighty Boks but are now however more than happy to claim a magnificent victory over the mighty Boks when the Boks are playing with one hand tied behind their backs. I am not a grumpy old man. I am a Rugby patriot. I want to see the game of Rugby win. Internationally. And internationally Rugby is being allowed to lose. Why? On the 2/12/2017 I ticked off an item on my bucket list. I attended a a Rugby Union match in Cardiff, Wales between Wales and the Springboks.I have never been so emotional in all my life. An atmosphere totally indescribable. And all this, simply for Rugby. As a little boy I well remember standing on two empty Coke bottles for height and hanging between the shoulders of my Dad and my Uncle on the grassy slopes of Ellis Park. Yes, this was before all the stands had been built, and catching the occasional ecstatic glimpse of a Springbok jersey, and then an All Black jersey. This was the game where Don Clarke kicked the ball between the poles from a yard inside his own half, and his memorable opponent on the Springbok Wing was Hennie van Zyl. These are my memories of Rugby. Why should they change?
DavSA
Guest
Nyakane ? Dreadful for the Bulls in Superugby . Poor for the Boks . But surely Ox Nche deserves a run . He has been sensational in Pro 14 Rugby and getting plenty of attention in Europe. As I post this there are sweeping and I might add exciting political developments in SA . Although the quota policy will stay I suspect it will not be driven with the same uncompromising and divisive attitude as under Zuma's regime. The government often got involved directly in quotas as a mechanism to deflect attention away from their own failures. Lets see.
Carl
Guest
Sorry Biltongbek I agree with a lot of your sentiment, but Nkosi only made his debut last year and was electrifying in a handful of Super Rugby games before getting injured. He is 97kgs and turned 22 a couple of weeks ago - hardly a lightweight for that age!
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
It's absolutely ridiculous that anyone can think it's somehow okay to have a rule where you have to select a certain number of players (or not select) because of the colour of their skin. Regardless of the percentage. Yes it was unfair in the past, but it's unfair now too. Two wrongs don't make a right. Sorry Jonty I'd be worried about that team. England would put 40+ points on those guys. Too inexperienced. And Bosch is talented, but he's no Butch James in defence at flyhallf and the English halves will exploit this.
Suzy Poison
Guest
Overall a pretty good Team Jonty ...To be honest, I do think it's a bit light on experience, especially the backline, which is a real issue as the Boks are now two years behind in the the rest of the top teams in world rugby. If you remember, Jake White used to harp on about the number of caps, and actually I think he was correct. He often picked the most experienced Bok teams ever, and guess what he won a world cup? With this in mind, I would just make a few tweaks. Currently your backline has 36 caps. (Serfontien 35, Gelant 1) I would swop out Serfontien and add in Frans Steyn. Also Bosch is absolutely terrible in defence. I don't believe he is an international level yet. I not sure why you didn't include Handre Pollard. But with those two small tweaks your backline now has 84 caps. Actually I would go further and add in JP Pietersen, who is still only 31yrs old. That adds another 70caps. (from 36, to around 154) But if you think JP has lost a bit pace (I personally think what pace he has lost, he makes up for in defence) you could add in real flyer like Seobela Senatla instead of Nkosi. I do really like your Gelant, Papier and Willemse suggestions. I also like your suggestion of Siya as a captain. Other than that I would also add in Frans Louw and Duane Vermeulen in the forwards. That adds another 100caps. And that is starting to look a very strong team. On the bench I would get rid of Jesse Kriel for Dillyn Leyds. I don't rate Jesse Kriel, as a centre he lacks the core skill-set of ball handling and passing. I reckon Pollard supported by Frans Steyn with Lukanhyo Am, who is a physical player too, will shore up the very mid field defence, which has been an issue in 2016. So here is my team with just a few tweaks. 15. Warrick Gelant 14. Makazole Mapimpi 13. Lukanhyo Am 12. Frans Steyn 11. JP Pietersen 10. Handre Pollard 9. Embrose Papier 8. Duane Vermeulen 7. Fans Louw 6. Siya Kolisi (captain) 5. Lood de Jager 4. Eben Etzebeth 3. Vincent Koch 2. Malcolm Marx 1. Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira 16. Bongi Mbonambi 17. Steven Kitshoff 18. Trevor Nyakane 19. Franco Mostert 20. Pieter-Steph du Toit 21. Jaco Kriel 22. Damian Willemse 23. Dillyn Leyds
William
Guest
Not a bad choice but I think we just need to play our best 15 no matter whether you are black or white.We will never field our best 15 under this transformation policy.I think Rassie will make a big difference.
Jonty Shonty
Roar Pro
It's a timely issue in SA with Erasmus in full planning mode. The quotas are a bit ridiculous Redsfan, but unfortunately also a reality.
Redsfan1
Guest
Who cares about the Springboks harmony?! This last couple of weeks there is a constant stream of articles. Come the Rugby Championship yes will be interested in their form guide and personnel. The ridiculous racist quota they have is not something even worthy of being discussed to give it legitimacy.
Jonty Shonty
Roar Pro
Agree with all those names Harry. Kolbe’s 24! Hopefully he’s not lost to SA rugby.
Jonty Shonty
Roar Pro
Cheers Sherry. Yep I think he’s doing this dual role as Director and Coach. It’s what he was doing at Muster too. I do agree with Elton. There’s something to work with there, and he may be the best 10 we have in terms of a kicking game. Just not sure about his temperament. Our forwards will never be an issue. Getting the right backs with the right skills is the key!
Jonty Shonty
Roar Pro
I like your idea for the A team to give players exposure Biltong. It’s going to be key to achieve the target. It’s going to be interesting to see how Rassie tackles this. And I’m keen to see how some of these players develop over the next couple of seasons.
Harry Jones
Expert
Thanks, Jonty. Gelant looks promising, as does Willemse. They both seem up for the physical level of test rugby. L Am was just unlucky (broke his cheek right as he was selected). Looking forward to seeing these three this year. I'm worried about Mapimpi becoming Rhule 2.0. Nkosi also does not seem to love collisions, like Am does. To meet the quota, I'd look at these players for possible inclusion in the 35: Gelant, JPP, Leyds, Senatla, Kolbe, Am, Mvovo, Willemse, Bosch, Papier, Beast, Kolisi, Notshe, Carr, Nyakane, Johnson, and Ox.