KPI boost for Rassie
JUNE SPOTLIGHT: New Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus looks set to score major Key Performance Indicator points with the government.
Dispatches from sources close to the Bok camp suggest that Erasmus will exceed the 50 percent 'target' - for including non-white players - when he names his the team to face England in the first match of a three-Test series.
South Africa and England go head-to-head at Ellis Park on Saturday.
While the 'transformation KPI' is calculated over the whole year and is only 45 percent for 2018, the South African Rugby Union's agreement with the government is that it must reach 50 percent at the World Cup next year.
Erasmus looks set to name at least seven non-white players, perhaps even eight, when he announces the team on Thursday.
In fact, the Bok coach could make history by naming the first all black front row.
The match is already historic for South Africa, as the team will be captained by Siyamthanda Kolisi, the first black player to be given the honour in a Test.
Mahlatse Chiliboy Ralepelle became the first black player - and the youngest - to captain the national team, when he lead them against a World XV at Walkers Stadium in Leicester in 2006.
However, that was a non-cap match.
Kolisi will have the honour of being the first black Test captain.
* Article continues below video.
Loosehead prop Tendai Mtawarira will start his 99th Test on Saturday in an expected all black front row - completed by hooker Bongi Mbonambi and tighthead Trevor Nyakane.
Other players expected to boost Erasmus' KPI count include Sibusiso Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am and Aphiwe Dyantyi.
Possible starting XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Franco Mostert, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
@rugby365com
Related articles:
AUDIO: Rassie opens up on quotas and captaincy
VIDEO: England training tactics caught Bok coach off guard
Bok foreign legion out of Tests
England ready for Rassie's tricks
VIDEO: Kolisi answer his critics
The English selection that can beat the Boks
VIDEO: Kolisi opens up on captaincy
VIDEO: Kolisi explains how to get into Bok team
VIDEO: Jones knows what to expect from Rassie’s Boks
AUDIO: Erasmus pin-points reasons for Bok loss