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'Easiest draw imaginable' - Confident Springboks fans already think they have 2023 in the bag after World Cup draw
Springboks fans are highly confident of repeating their 2019 World Cup win in France after Monday’s draw confirmed they will play in Pool B at the next tournament.
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After being named in the same pool as Scotland and Ireland, Springboks fans were ecstatic at having obtained an ‘easy’ path to the final where many proclaimed they will win their fourth World Cup trophy.
One fan wrote ‘that’s a walk in the park’ after seeing the draw, while another claim the Springboks will be ‘cruising to the 2023 RWC finals’ after ‘dusting these teams’.
The humility of a few Springboks fans was in full display as they proclaimed a final matchup against hosts France which they would prosper in.
Springboks will retain the rugby world cup in 2013 in France.Wait and see.
— Nigel Stuart Taylor (@NigelStuartTay1) December 15, 2020
The Springboks got the easy draw. Scotland and Ireland… #justsaying #RWC2023
— Barney Simon (@BarneySimon) December 14, 2020
Thats walk in the park we are champs #RWC2023 #OneNationOneBeer
— NAZEEM GROOTBOOM ? (@NAZEEM_G8) December 14, 2020
Springboks cruising to the RWC2023Finals
Lord! I shall be there https://t.co/4uwLyaxZcO— Nomtha Pakati (@hopetoafrica) December 14, 2020
Indeed, how great will it be to be crowned world's best rugby nation for the 4th time
— ???? (@TJ_Thulo) December 14, 2020
Will play France in the final n yes will win it #OneNationOneBeer #RWC2023
— The Villager (@JacksonBecks06) December 14, 2020
Calling it now. We playing France in the final
— Kree (@thesoberavenger) December 14, 2020
@jaredwright17 so what’s the @Springboks road to the final panning out to look like?
— R$M???? (@RSMorison) December 14, 2020
It’s ok — we’ll win this World Cup with the toughest path to the cup ????????????
— Chris Rolfe (@chrisrolfe1) December 15, 2020
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https://twitter.com/matthewinvest/status/1338501270496272384
Pool B: @Springboks V Ireland, Scotland, Asia/Pacific tbc + Europe tbc.
Yeah, that'll do nicely #RWC2023. That will do just fine for a back-to-back Bok win??? https://t.co/6TWNmD9lZk
— Lauren Clarke (@rensyclarke) December 15, 2020
we dusting these teams @Springboks https://t.co/herFWXi5tn
— tlogi. hlogi. hloni. (@hlons_) December 15, 2020
Easiest draw imaginable. Lol
— Travis (@Travman6746) December 14, 2020
It will be the first time in World Cup history that the Springboks face Ireland, despite the Bok fans confidence the ledger between the two sides has been quite even in recent years with Ireland winning six of the last 10 clashes stretching back to 2004. The last outing resulted in Ireland spanking the Springboks 38-3 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin in 2017.
While both teams fortunes have changed since then, the historical results say this will be no easy task for the Springboks, particularly on neutral ground.
The Irish noted the response online, with journalist Cian Tracey bringing up comments made by CJ Stander recently which he stated ‘we will get them at some stage’ after comments by Rassie Erasmus had called them soft.
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https://twitter.com/eoinnnnn/status/1338549885239521280
At least Ireland will get a chance to rid themselves of their ‘softies’ tag against the Springboks.
CJ Stander on Rassie Erasmus’ comments last month:
“That is a big statement to make. We will get them at some stage.”
— Cian Tracey (@CianTracey1) December 14, 2020
With Scotland and Ireland in their pool, the four South African Super Rugby franchises move to an expanded Pro16 competition gives each side a comprehensive look at each other at domestic level which could be a bonus for South African Rugby who would otherwise not see much of the Irish & Scottish playing styles.
Progressing from the pool stages is one thing, but winning a quarterfinal is another altogether. If the crossover system is the same as 2019, Pool B will face Pool A where New Zealand and France sit, resulting in a mammoth quarterfinal for the Springboks.
This was not lost on SuperSport writer Brendan Nel who wrote in his column that “the governing body has opened up an interesting can of worms” by “deciding that the rankings go out the window”. He argued that making the draw so early in the cycle is unnecessary.
“The governing body has opened up an interesting can of worms that will leave France 2023 with a lopsided draw that sees it top-heavy, while the bottom half looks like an absolute dream for Eddie Jones’ England,” he said.
The reaction from Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber was one of muted excitement, full of praise for the pool stage opponents.
“I must say we are quite excited, if you look at the pool I think we’ll need to be on top of our game just to get out of it.
“There are no two ways about it. It’s funny to think that one of either South Africa, Ireland or Scotland may not make it to the playoffs. So, it’s going to be a tough pool, but we are very much looking forward to it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
27 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
27 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
27 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
27 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
27 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments