Big bruiser Lizo Gqoboko.
Given the zeitgeist, and it’s not a pretty place right now, it’s been a useful exercise putting together an “all black” SA rugby team.
Interestingly, it was less a problem filling in the 15 spots than it was who to leave out. There’s no room, for instance, for Beast Mtawarira, mainly because I’m a big fan of meaty Lizo Gqoboka, who deserves a chance with a big team.
Also, Sharks’ loosie Terra Mthembu is a terrific player, big, strong and bustling, but Carr has had a taste of Bok rugby, so gets the nod.
I’m a supporter of Bongi Mbonambi, but Scarra Ntubeni is a sharper operator at lineouts.
Trevor Nyakane is a loosehead, but he’s played tighthead and is too good to leave out, so the number three jersey is his.
Zane Kirchner astonishingly made this weekend’s Bok team. He doesn’t make mine. Nor does Cheslin Kolbe, but he’d be close.
Cornal Hendricks is in the Bok squad, too, but Mvovo is stronger and a better finisher. Remember the name Lukhanyo Am, a centre from Border. He’s not in the mix here, but you’ll be hearing about him soon enough.
In New Zealand, the Maoris – players qualify by being a member of Maori whakapapa or genealogy – often field a Maori-only team, but the SA dynamic is far different. The bunch below would never get to actually play together.
Even so, I’d bet that the team goes damn well in a green and gold jersey. It’s full of pace, attitude, power and talent.
SA RUGBY’S BLACK DIAMONDS
15 JP Pietersen (Wild Knights)
14 Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks)
13 Lionel Mapoe (Lions)
12 Juan de Jongh (Stormers)
11 Bryan Habana (Toulon)
10 Elton Jantjes (Lions)
9 Rudy Paige (Bulls)
8 Nizaam Carr (Stormers)
7 Oupa Mahoje (Cheetahs)
6 Siya Kolisi (Stormers)
5 Luvuyiso Lusaseni (Lions)
4 Cornell Hess (Kings)
3 Trevor Nyakane (Bulls)
2 Scarra Ntubeni (Stormers)
1 Lizo Gqoboka (Kings)
I’d include Senatla and Giant Mtyanda. An interesting idea this. Why not have a team in SA like the NZ Maori made up of people descended from the original people of the land? I think it’s a great idea..
Yes, both excellent players, wouldn’t be out of place in first XV. I think we have so many racial divides already, any suggestion of an all black team would be shot down. But it’s fun to speculate.
You’re thinking along the right lines, Clinton. What’s most notable is that guys like Mbonambi, Vermaark, Kolbe, Mtyanda, Majola, Benjamin, Hendricks, Sithole, Rhule and others who have extensive Super Rugby experience and would acquit themselves well against any opposition have not made this team.
The lack of transformation at Super Rugby level is a very serious problem because there is certainly talent available. The likes of Innocent Radebe at the Sharks, Kwezi Mona and Uzair Kaseem at the Pumas, Luyanda Am at Border, Earl Lewis at Boland, and many others are ready for Super Rugby and need to be backed.
However, your team above points out just how laughable it is that people can argue that Meyer lacked quality black options. Meyer’s lack of transformation is simply a lack of will. It’s guys like you who should be holding him accountable by not allowing such failures to go unchecked in the media.
Thanks Chulu, you know your stuff. We have tons of talent. Kolisi made his Test debut off the bench and won the Man of the Match award! Super Rugby coaches have much to answer for. I see stacks of black talent at schoolboy level too. Last year Jeppe had a Va’aiga Tuigamala lookalike at centre, a real brute. I hope the Lions contracted him. Just ridiculous how a guy like Gqoboko can’t crack a big contract. Holes everywhere. Pure madness.
The Springbok was regarded as representing both the exclusion of players who were not designated white under apartheid legislation and, by extension, of apartheid itself. Although the Springbok was adopted briefly by the first coloured national rugby team in 1939 and by their first black counterparts in 1950, it became exclusively associated with segregated sporting codes afterwards.