VIDEO: Transformation high on Bok priority list
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Transformation remains a profanity to many in South Africa, but it is a priority to the Springboks.
Bok coach Rassie Erasmus this week highlighted the three main goals for his team in the forthcoming Rugby Championship ships – which gets underway when they host Argentina in Durban on August 18.
Transformation has been one of the key issues since Erasmus took over at the beginning of this year and he made no secret of the fact that one of his Key Performance Indicators in his contract is “transformation”.
He must have 45 percent black (non-white) players in the 2018 team and that will increase to 50 percent next year.
“We must make sure we are transforming [the Bok team],” the coach said.
Erasmus said the other priorities are winning, along with building depth and experience.
“Winning will always be the primary thing [goal],” the coach said.
“We all know, just like the June Tests, I probably won’t sit here if we have a terrible Rugby Championship.
“We would like to win and also have that long-term goal in mind of building towards being successful. Sometimes that frustrates people, saying: ‘You are building towards the World Cup’.
“I am not saying: ‘Judge me on the World Cup’. I am saying, let’s build towards the World Cup [in Japan next year].
“Trying to win the Rugby Championship is a major thing [goal].”
The Boks’ Rugby Championship campaign starts against Argentina in Durban (Saturday, August 18), followed by the rematch with Los Pumas in Mendoza (Saturday, August 25), Australia in Brisbane (Saturday, September 8), New Zealand in Wellington (Saturday, September 15), Australia in Port Elizabeth (Saturday, September 29) and New Zealand (Saturday, October 6).
By Jan de Koning
@king365ed
@rugby365com
