But more conspicuous is the inclusion of Hanyani Shimange in the Boland starting line-up, perhaps signalling the sad decline of another Springbok career.

This is symbolic of the confusion and sacrifice of transparency for the sake of political expediency that enshrouds this current era of the Springboks.

Shimange, who by Stormers and Western Province coach Kobus van der Merwe's own admission to this website was a shining light in the latter stages of last year's Currie Cup, is set not to play any Super 14 rugby this year.

For a Springbok who has not shown any visible signs of an acute loss of form - a la Marius Joubert - this is perplexing. Indeed the most logical conclusion is that since being replaced on the Springbok bench by a younger model of political window-dressing, there is no longer a need to play him in the Super 14.

First there was Owen Nkumane, then there was Hanyani Shimange, what on earth must Chiliboy Ralepelle be thinking as the Bulls prepare to convert Derek Kuün into a hooker, thereby pushing him lower down the pecking order?

All coaches, whether you coach the Bulls or the Springboks or the Stormers, are judged by their results, therefore they should be allowed to select the players who they believe can do the job for them.

One hopes that Springbok players are first choice at their provinces, but one can possibly allow for the odd discrepancy in opinion between the national coach and his provincial counterparts.

But when, in a country like South Africa, it is constantly the black players who form these discrepancies, then something is seriously wrong.

Two years ago Solly Tyibilika played a stormer against the Wallabies in a Tri-Nations opener that still stands as probably the Springboks best performance under Jake White. His next appearance in top-level rugby was for the Springboks in the Tri-Nations last year, where he was clearly paying the price of not having played at any decent level for an entire season.

Either these players should never have been picked for the Springboks or they should have no problem securing Super 14 game time.

That is the only conclusion. The racial issue is inevitable and somebody needs to be accountable for that.

At some level, be it the power brokers at the top, or the provincial coaches at the bottom, somebody is not doing their job properly.

Van der Merwe's explanation of this bizarre situation is simple.

"Hanyane [Shimange] found himself behind Tiaan Liebenberg and Schalk Brits in the pecking order at the Stormers and at his own request was deferred to the Cheetahs," Van der Merwe told this website.

"When the Cheetahs won the services of Adriaan Strauss in court, Cheetahs coach Rassie Erasmus then told Shimmie he could not guarantee him any game time. At Boland Director of Rugby Rudy Joubert's suggestion, Shimange returned to his new province to play his rugby there."

As it stands, Shimange is the fifth choice hooker in the Stormers region - not just behind Brits and Liebenberg, but now also behind Australian import Huia Edmonds and Simon Westraad.

After Shimange's performances in last year's Currie Cup, when finally he got the game time he craved, this is in itself fairly mystifying.

Van der Merwe has said a good showing for Boland on Saturday could mean he forces his way back into contention.

Van der Merwe attended the recent Boland trials, along with his assistant Jerome Paarwater, and maintains that Boland will pose a 'good test' for the Cape Town outfit.

"With their new financial backing, and the subsequent signings of new players, Boland will become more of a force again in South African rugby."

Another Springbok, lock Quinton Davids, also finds himself in the Boland side. Although his woes are greater than Shimange's - he is playing off the bench of Boland's B side.

Boland Team B: 15 Monray Liebenberg, 14 Pieter Stoffberg, 13 Kobus Meintjies, 12 Jacques Badenhorst, 11 Alvin Hugo, 10 Ossie Damons, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Francois Prinsloo, 7 Sebastian Hilpert, 6 Callie Wannenburg, 5 Connie Basson, 4 Duimpie Theron, 3 Pieter van der Merwe, 2 Frankie Horne, 1 Jané du Toit (captain)
Replacements: 16 Clement Lewis, 17 Hendrik Ferreirs, 18 Quinton Davids, 19 Zolani Mofu/Chase Minnaar, 20 Dewald Duvenhage, 21 Therlow Pietersen, 22 Claude Arendse

Boland Team A: 15 Justin Peach, 14 John Daniels, 13 Piet van Zyl, 12 Dewey Swartbooi, 11 Alshaun Bock, 10 Nel Fourie, 9 Charl Blom, 8 Chris Potgieter, 7 Evert Kleynhaus, 6 Conrad Burke (captain), 5 Piet Myburgh, 4 David de Villiers, 3 Tommy Dixon, 2 Hanyani Shimange, 1 Janro van Niekerk
Replacements: 16 Pieter Wium, 17 Andries Human, 18 Henley du Plessis, 19 Kobus le Roux/Roland Reid, 20 Neil Papier, 21 Jacques Schutte, 22 Walter Venter

By Chris Waldburger