Step-by-step rugby integration preferred

Press, 9 April 1979, Page 36

Step-by-step rugby integration preferred

PA " Wellington Steps made toward the integration of sport within South Africa in the nine years since he had been there as assistant managercoach of the 1970 All Blacks had been impressive, said Mr I. M. H. Vodanovich, in Wellington yesterday. Mr Vodanovich, one of three members of the New Zealand Rugby Union’s council, who made private visits to South Africa during the tour by the World Invitation team, said that the steps taken had brought about a tremendous change in the administration of rugbv. “Most of the coloured and black administrators think that the step-by-step moves

which have been made in the way of sports integration is the right way to go“Mr Abbas, the leader of one section of the black administrators, wants instant integration and he is obviously not happy with the way things are going,” said Mr Vodanovich. He and Mr Abbas had discussed the situation in a telephone call Mr Vodanovich made to Mr Abbas in Kimberley during the tour. “Mr Abbas doesn’t believe the system is right. He wants swift change, but it seems that the rest of the administrators, and certainly the many that I met. are satisfied with the step-by-step integration that is continuing,” he said.

Mr Vodanovich said that examples of petty apartheid which had been noticeable during the 1970 Ail Blacks tour were no longer in evidence. Haif of the grounds in South Africa now had no discrimination in so far as seating of various races was concerned and there was regular competition between white, black and coloured South Africans, he said. There were no barriers to social gatherings after matches and white and coloured players mixed freely in various teams. Since 1973 there had been no barriers to coloured and black players joining white clubs but they wanted to develop their game first and

believed they could do this better by remaining in their various racial groups, and competing against other groups, he said. Mr Vodanovich said he was impressed with the standard of play that he had seen, both by the various local teams and by the black and coloured players seen in the World Invitation team. Two of those in the invitation team who had been especially promising were the black five-eighth, Errol Tobias, and the second fiveeighth, Hennie Shields, a Coloured player from Capetown. “In my opinion Tobias was a better five-eighth in the team than Phil Bennett. He was a straight feeder of

ths ball, a brilliant handler, and had the ability to kick equally well with either foot. “Shields was also a tremendously mobile player, reminiscent of Graeme Thome at his best,” he said. A black fullback, Sam Mahiba, at 6ft 3in and 14 stone, had the line kicking ability of Don Clarke, said Mr Vodanovich. Other players who caught Mr Vodanovich’s eye were the centre, Jo Molosai, a centre who kicked a 66-yard dropped goal in the match against the World XV which marked the opening of Danie Craven Stadium, at Stellenbosch. “All of these players must be regarded as contenders

for the South African team which will tour France. There will be no trials before the touring team is picked — I think they have made a mistake in this respect. “They had trials last year, but this year white Coloured and black players will be invited to take part in a training camp and the team will be selected from there,” Mr Vodanovich said. Mr Vodanovich said there was obviously a very high regard for New Zealand rugby in South Africa. They treasured their past rugby ties with New Zealand and they were looking forward to 1981, when a Springbok tour of New Zealand is scheduled.