I think that about sums it all up. And it seems people love to ignore that word "merit" in SA sports - it is all political.

Then there is the fact that there were 8 players "of colour" in the Bok squad that beat the French, pretty much all of them who had a run.

I think the most important fact that is being overlooked is that sport starts at "grassroots" level. How many schools in South Africa offer sports? Let alone rugby and cricket?

For someone to make it to the top, interest, training and development starts at school and the quality of training or development those schools provide. You are not going to just make it into the Bok or Protea squad without having being developed from a tender age.

So ask this.. What had the ANC-led government done over the past 20 years for development of sport at school level? Just a few years ago a study showed that only a tiny percentage of schools offer sports whatsoever. So how do people like the author want those players to come through?