With just over a month to go to the Rugby World Cup, South Africa is having to deal with accusations made by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) regarding a lack of black players when it comes to SA rugby selections.

In a scathing statement, the organisation states that five black players have approached them about the matter, while two white South African internationals have also privately backed them.

We were joined on Off The Ball by journalist and Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made a Nation author John Carlin to look at those claims.

"It's been such a concern of the rugby authorities to try and project an image which is as non-racial as possible and I feel - perhaps utterly unfairly - but I have a slightly sceptical response to the scathing attacks [from Cosatu] and I wonder whether it's particular individuals who feel a grievance that may not be entirely merited in terms of their individual talents. That's my sceptical response and I'd be prepared to receive facts that contradict that position," said Carlin, who also added that Cosatu is a serious organisation, whose views should not be dismissed out of hand.

Carlin also charted the history of race and ethnicity in South African rugby which you can listen to in full via the podcast.