Why transformation by legislation won't work

Fighting a lost cause is pretty pointless. But one must. This is specially so after midweek's parliamentary announcement that the government intends to force sporting organisations to transform, as self-regulation by various sporting codes has failed.

The matter is brought into even sharper focus because of the announcement later on Saturday of the Springbok squad to tour the Four Home Unions and Argentina, starting on November 6.

Let's be brutally honest. Transformation is a euphemism for the quota system. Let's admit, too, that it's a heinous system. It is patronising, it is demeaning. It is the lowest form of flattery. It does a player's self-esteem no favours.

What is the point of masquerading as a Springbok when you know your team-mates look on you as a token selection because of the colour of your skin?

If there is a racism issue here it is on the part of those who want to see such legislation written into the statute book.

Rugby has made significant strides in the right direction in the past decade, whatever its detractors might say. Remember when there wasn't a single black or coloured face in any Currie Cup line-up? Now some provinces field up to four and five on merit. That's progress, surely?

Soccer has it right. White faces in Bafana Bafana squads are as scarce as hens' teeth - and rightly so. Whites generally lag far behind their black counterparts in soccer.

Let's switch our attention now to the touring squad to be named tonight by Springbok coach Jake White. Because of the severity of the itinerary it seems likely it will number 35.

There will no doubt be more players of colour in the squad, but 1970s Springbok centre, Ian Robertson, who is passionate about the game and a sworn enemy of the quota concept, says if he were a selector he would find room for only four - but all on merit.

Here are his 35:

P Montgomery (overseas)

J van der Westhuyzen (overseas)

B Paulse (WP)

E Fredericks (OFS)

J de Villiers (WP)

M Joubert (WP)

De Wet Barry (WP)

E Botha (Bulls)

B Habana (Lions)

A Pretorius (Lions)

D Hougaard (Bulls)

B Russell (Sharks)

F du Preez (Bulls)

N Jordaan (Bulls)

T Carse (WP)

G Botha (Bulls)

S Brits (Lions)

D Coetzee (Bulls)

G Steenkamp (OFS)

O du Randt (OFS)

J Smit (Sharks)

C J vd Linde (OFS)

R Bands (Bulls)

D Human (WP)

B Botha (Bulls)

V Matfield (Bulls)

G Britz (OFS)

D Rossouw (Bulls)

A J Venter (Sharks)

J Smith (OFS)

P Wannenberg (Bulls)

J van Niekerk (WP)

L Watson (WP).

His four players of colour are wings Breyton Paulse and Eddie Fredericks, scrumhalf Norman Jordaan and Free State prop Gurthro Steenkamp. Even if the squad is reduced to 30, these four would remain on merit.

Notable absentees are Ashwin Willemse ("no form or game time",) says Robertson, and Eddie Andrews who has played all of this year's Tests but who Robertson believes would be more than adequately replaced by CJ vd Linde - "a better allround player and specialist tighthead".

His Test team contains even more surprises. He can find no room for Os du Randt; the durable Free Stater would have to make way for captain John Smit at loosehead. But he insists, looking ahead, that a front row of Van der Linde, Schalk Brits and Steenkamp would be "the best fielded by the Springboks for many years".

Another player of colour who would fall by the wayside if Robertson were wearing a national selector's cap would be Hanyani Shimange.

"There are just too many outstanding hookers to find a place for the OFS second-stringer."

Robertson's Test team bristles with shocks. Here it is: Montgomery; Paulse, Joubert, Barry (Jean de Villiers or Ettienne Botha among other big names on the bench), Fredericks; Russell, Du Preez; Van Niekerk, Burger, Watson, Botha, Matfield/ Wannenberg, Van der Linde, Brits, Smit (capt).

That means no place for Jaco van der Westhuyzen (except perhaps as a utility player on the bench), a shock appearance in the back row of Luke Watson; no place for Solly Tyibilika; and Matfield's place, despite his valuable line-out ability, under threat from Pedrie Wannenberg - "if he doesn't show the necessary physical presence to complement the work of Bakkies Botha".

There's food for thought there. Pity Robertson and Jake White can't share a beer before the final announcement.