Stop cheapening the colours

If Harry Viljoen does nothing else this year he must establish consistency in selection.

In fact, when you consider the wasteful and ill-considered selection practices that have been in place since re-admission in 1992 it is amazing to think that the Springboks have managed to win the Rugby World Cup, the Tri-Nations and remain in the top five of the world game.

Trawling through an inventory of South African rugby players one comes across a pattern that makes disturbing reading.

It might be a factor of having appointed eight coaches in as many years and it might also point to the horrific rate of attrition caused by exposing players to too many matches, but there is no denying that too many Springboks have been created in the post-isolation years.

Of course, it may also indicate that too many South African players are simply not good enough, or that they are not equipped to make the step up to international competition, but it is unacceptable that there are currently 67 (73 if you count those who are overseas) Springboks active in the game.

Some might be injured or, in the case of Cobus Visagie awaiting the outcome of a disciplinary hearing, but it seems entirely unjustifiable that that so many players who are still active have been given the green-and-gold colours. (If you don’t believe me, look at the list below).

Regular end-of-year tours and affirmative action add to the frequency with which players are capped but it does indicate that coaches and selectors don ’t really know what they are doing; that they have no master plan in mind and that they often pick on a whim.

Take the problem position of flyhalf, for instance. With no obvious candidate to fulfill the role in the way he would like it to be, Viljoen has committed himself to Percy Montgomery.

He could in fact have opted for any one of another eight candidates (Braam van Straaten, Gaffie du Toit, Chris Rossouw, Jaco van der Westhuysen, Jannie de Beer, Louis Koen, Boeta Wessels and Franco Smith) without creating a new Springbok. Van der Westhuyzen and De Beer are still injured but both expect to be back in the frame before too long.

That is why it is so important that Viljoen gets it right with Montgomery and why Monty should be allowed to play flyhalf at the Stormers. It is time South Africa settled on a style of play tailored to the potential of the players available rather than a method they have to adapt to.

There must be a lesson in the fact that the last time we had consistent selection, under Nick Mallett, we won 17 tests in a row.

The list of current Springboks, a big percentage of whom will play in the Super 12, is:

Fullbacks: Gaffie du Toit, Thinus Delport, Ricardo Loubscher.

Wings: Breyton Paulse, Pieter Rossouw, Chester Williams, Stefan Terblanche, Deon Kayser, Gavin Passens, McNeil Hendricks.

Centres: Robbie Fleck, Grant Esterhuizen, Japie Mulder, De Wet Barry, Kaya Malotana, Wayne Julies, Marius Joubert.

Flyhalves: Percy Montgomery, Braam van Straaten, Jaco vd Westhuyzen, Chris Rossouw, Louis Koen, Boeta Wessels, Jannie de Beer, Franco Smith.

Scrumhalves: Joost vd Westhuizen, Werner Swanepoel, Dan van Zyl, Craig Davidson, Hentie Maartens, Chad Alcock, Joggie Viljoen.

No8’s: Andre Vos, AJ Venter, Warren Brosnihan, Bob Skinstad.

Flankers: Rassie Erasmus, Andre Venter, Corné Krige, Hendrik Gerber, Thando Manana, Anton Leonard.

Locks: Mark Andrews, Albert vd Berg, Hottie Louw, Victor Matfield, Johan Ackermann, Jannes Labuschagne, Quinton Davids, Braam Els, Philip Smit, Phillip Schutte.

Props: Willie Meyer, Rob Kempson, Ollie le Roux, Cobus Visagie, Lawrence Sephaka, Brent Moyle, Toks vd Linde, Carel vd Merwe.

Hookers: John Smit, Charl Marais, Naka Drotske, Delarey du Preez, Chris Rossouw.

Overseas: Gary Teichmann, Garry Pagel, Selborne Boome, Joe Gillingham, Pieter Müller, Justin Swart.