Cape Town - He’s been up in arms every day about the selection of the national rugby team, but when asked which 15 players he would pick for the Springboks, Tony Ehrenreich said “no comment”.
Cosatu’s Western Cape regional chief, who has called for coach Heyneke Meyer’s head and has been very vocal about transformation in rugby, says: “I know as much about the technicalities of choosing a fantastic team as Heyneke Meyer knows about labour law.
“But I know the real talent can’t be all white. We proved that this past Saturday in our second game against the Argentinians.”
On Monday Ehrenreich celebrated the Boks’ 26-12 win in Buenos Aires and hailed it as a victory for transformation.
Five players of colour had been fielded for the match, and fared much better than the previous week’s team, which included just two non-white players, and were humiliated 25-37 by the Argies in Durban.
But Ehrenreich feels not enough is being done by SA Rugby.
“This was a move in the right direction, but it was done only because of the immense pressure applied from the outside. Inside, at the helm of the SA Rugby Union is where the real change needs to happen, Heyneke has to go. Obviously he can’t be fired as the World Cup is upon us, but he must go,” he says.
“Saru Chairman Oregan Hoskins is there, but what is he doing? Also there as the guy bringing in the colour, but all he’s done is embrace the salary and the perks of being in the seat, making no real changes in the boardroom and to SA Rugby.
Then, to our astonishment Tony sings: “Rock the boat, rock the boat baby, rock the boat, don’t tip the boat over…
“That is what we need to do. WP rocks the boat. That is why they are such a fantastic team. If Meyer HAS to stay, he cannot be part of the team selection process.
“Import a coach who will choose the players based on the strengths and not on the colour of the tan.”
Daily Voice