Leave racism on the touchline

Siya Kolisi is going to have enough problems on the field when he leads a new-look Springbok side against England in the first Test at Ellis Park next month.

He certainly doesn’t need racist and bitchy sniping from South African supporters.

And neither does the rest of the country.

Why can’t South Africans just get past the issue of the colour of a person’s skin? Kolisi is there as Bok captain on merit, not because he is a “quota player”, as some white whingers on social media believe.

Nor is it true, as the black haters on platforms like Twitter and Facebook think, that White Monopoly Rugby chose him as a diversion from the issues of racism in the sport.

Kolisi is a South African. He puts his body on the line when he wears the green-and-gold. He is a talented player. And the same could be said of the rest of the players selected by coach Rassie Erasmus.

Wouldn’t it be nice if South Africans could focus on the real issues … such as whether the forwards can hold their own against the tough Welshmen this weekend and England next month.

And whether the Springbok backline has the pace and guile to treat opponents to a lesson in southern hemisphere running rugby.

Leave racism on the touchline.

For more news your way, follow The Citizen on Facebook and Twitter.