The dawn of a new era?

12 years ago I watched a World Cup Final in South Africa. A year after an embryonic democracy was delivered to the country just about every person who could call themselves a South African united behind a squad of players - predominantly white, and a President - very definitely an icon of his era.

Tonight South Africa once again held aloft the Webb Ellis trophy and were crowned World Cup Rugby Champions for 2007 - a title they have no doubt deserved, being the only remaining unbeaten team in the competition, and always looking stronger than any opposition that faced them on the pitch.

But... and yes there is a BUT...
Even today on the news the attention was once again drawn back to a race issue - an issue many South Africans would wish was a thing of the past. But alas - "More players of colour" is the call from some quarters.

Don't get me wrong - I understand the issue that underlies the problem. But South Africa have a decision to make.
As World Champions for the next four years they need to decide whether they uphold that title with the best 15 available players - regardless of the pigment of their skin, or whether they call for quotas and players of colour to be represented.

As World Champions for the second time, only the second team ever to achieve this, South African business need to get behind the teams - national, regional, provincial and local to support up and coming players - not players of colour - South African players who tonight have been inspired to be the best they can, regardless of their colour.

ITV, who covered the match here in the UK tonight, had a feature on Brian Habana before the game, and it was mentioned how Francois Pienaar, captain of the 1995 squad had been an inspiration to Brian Habana, and from the first day of the World Cup in 1995, Brian's destiny had been sealed - and tonight it was completed, top scoring player of the 2007 tournament.

But who will support the players who tonight were inspired to be the best they could be? What companies will step in with investment and sponsorship of South African rugby players, regardless of what level they play?

Tonight I saw the South African President, Thabo Mbeki, hoisted aloft on the shoulders of the Springbok team, and hold on high the trophy they had clinched.
Hopefully Thabo does not return to South Africa on Monday and forget those 15 brave warriors... Hopefully the quota question is now a thing of the past... Hopefully Thabo will get on the case of business to support up and coming SOUTH AFRICAN players - regardless of their colour!

Ama Bokko Bokko - you did the nation proud!