'Politicians frolicking around the touchline'

Just when we thought Butana Komphela had gone away for a while, up pops one of his parliamentary pals to dredge up yet another racist attack on our sports bodies.

I think Komphela may be watching our no-hopers as they struggle to assert themselves in Beijing, but, according to a newspaper report, Cedrick Frolick, vice-chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee for sport, has slammed Peter de Villiers for selecting just four players of colour in his Springbok team to face New Zealand in the Tri-Nations on Saturday.

According to our rugby scribe Mark Keohone's website, Frolick is unhappy that the Bok coach has replaced Ricky Januarie and Conrad Jantjes with Fourie du Preez and Percy Montgomery for the Newlands Test.

As we all know, Du Preez is regarded as the best scrumhalf in the world and returned to Test rugby from an injury lay-off last weekend, while Montgomery, another World Cup winner, is set to win his 100th cap.

However, Frolick says he can't understand why the two players of colour have been dropped.

"It was Ricky who helped make history in the House of Pain," he told a Cape Town newspaper. "Personally, I think Ricky has proved himself as South Africa's leading scrumhalf. Is it Fourie's World Cup status that now elevates him above Ricky? In my view, Fourie has done nothing to justify a place in the starting lineup.

"Conrad Jantjes is, on present form, the No 1 fullback. It is worrying that people make decisions with their hearts to give someone his 100th Test cap."

Frolick reminded De Villiers about the importance of transformation and also had a go at the coach for the way the team has been playing.

"I know Peter wants to win the Tri-Nations, but he must realise he will be measured according to his ability to transform the team and to make it representative of the country's population for the 2011 World Cup. We have also seen nothing of the new type of rugby that Peter has spoken of.

Support

"It is interesting that coloureds and blacks traditionally support the All Blacks when they play at Newlands. Is the team that has been selected of such a nature that it will ensure the support of most South Africans? We cannot repeat the cycle of the White era. We must build for 2011. It is easy to fall into a comfort zone. Peter should be reminded of his mandate."

Well, I must say I warned against this and all of us wondered how long it would be before De Villiers came under attack for his selections, just as White was criticised.

I just wish these parliamentary buffoons would go away. There was Komphela, just a few weeks ago, having a public slanging match with Sascoc head honcho Moss Mashishi about remarks Komphela made against sporting bodies.

They were racist remarks but, after much huffing and puffing, the two men seemed to have sorted things out. Komphela was, famously, also the man who said he would take the Springboks' passports away before last year's Rugby World Cup.

Now Mr Frolick has to have his two cents worth and cast a shadow over what should be a great Test match between the Boks and All Blacks on Saturday.

I think De Villiers has been on the ball and totally fair with his selections. Yes, Januarie has played well, but the coach says he needs a break and against the All Blacks he obviously wants our World Cup-winning half-back pairing to work their magic.

At fullback, Monty is peerless but of course Jantjes is also a fine player. We are transforming all the time and more and more players of colour are making many national teams.

I just wish Frolick and his kind would shut up and let the sportsmen get on with it.