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'For the rest of the world, it's an ominous sign': Bok greats issue warning
By Josh Raisey
Round two of the Rugby Championship proved to the rugby world that South Africa have an unparalleled level of squad depth, if anyone was not already aware.
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A Springboks side so heavily rotated that there had been accusations of disrespect managed to pull off a 30-12 bonus-point win over Australia in Perth, to leave them at the summit of the competition table. For a side that had widely been described as a ‘B team’ or ‘second string’, that was some statement and one that South Africa legend Schalk Burger said is an “ominous sign” to the rest of the world.
Many, if not all, of South Africa’s available frontline players will be rolled out for rounds three and four of the Championship with back-to-back fixtures against the All Blacks looming after a week’s break.
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Scott Robertson’s side travel to South Africa for the two fixtures at a time where Burger’s former Bok teammate and fellow World Cup winner Jean de Villiers says South African rugby is in the “best shape” it has ever been in.
The pair discussed the position the world champions find themselves in at the moment on the latest episode of RugbyPass TV’s The Boks Office, and what that means for the rest of the world.
“Complacency is certainly something that you will not see with this squad at the moment,” de Villiers said.
“Because a little bit of complacency – you get selected, you don’t perform – you will be replaced. And you will be replaced by someone that is probably just as good as you.
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“There’s so little to differentiate most positions in terms of the players we have there and the depth that we have there. I think it’s the best shape South African rugby has ever been in.”
Burger added: “You look at the players that played tight five. And you can’t say they were third choice because that never happened- they were first choice on the weekend. But if you look at the players you can pick ahead of them, when they are all fit, a lot of these players will probably be third in the list for playing for the Boks. I think for the rest of the world, that’s an ominous sign.”
I love how everyone keeps having a ago at SA/SA players/SA Ex players and fans.... clearly we the worst country in the world with the worst people, but still they can't beat us.... should stop moaning and concentrate on their own teams and fans......we will see what happens come 2027.....
Neutral, unbiased officiating over the past 3 decades would see SA lucky to be a tier 1 rugby union nation. Fact. Sadly SA's world renowned army of rugby dunce supporters are just rmtoo ignorant to grasp reality.
Test, test and test again. Out of competition testing needs to be rigorous for the Boks. Huge red flags with Bok rugby and the recent band aid banning of a few Boks. A full enquiry needs to be started.
Please go ahead and start it.
Just a Q to Bok supporters. Is the team that played against Australia 2nd test, likely to be the rump of the team that will start the RWC in 2027? IOW were we looking at the Boks 2027 team there?
If that's the case then Erasmus approach is very interesting:
1st team is RWC 2023 with a sprinking of RWC 2027.
2nd team is RWC 2027 with a sprinking of RWC 2023.
Gradually more and more 2nd team (RWC 2027 players) are in the first team and new players enter the 2nd team.
Beating NZ twice is important for this project as it means that Erasmus can play the NC 2026/RWC 2027 team for one or both matches versus Argentina depending on the Argentina/Aussie results.
In the Nations cup for example SA will play 3, 6N teams down douth and 3 in Europe.
Depending on the opposition Erasmus may view it necessary to rotate the squad in some matches as the means to gain overall success.
Burger continues to spew an inordinate amount of ignorant shite. Even for a Saffa.
The thing you have to do to stay relevant to a nation of massive thickos, right?
It's sad anyone thinks he has something useful to add to the conversation.
Perhaps he should opine how very few Saffas actually attend matches - with stadiums at Currie Cup and URC matches barely 20‰filled (if that on a great day) - but still manage to talk a massive amount of laughable shite. At least that might be entertaining, if not informative.
Why to you bother Dumb C@%T tripple zero bigot. You probably live in a council house with parents and grandparents - never played rugby and put down those who you perceive as socio economically inferior and zone in on SA because you have absolutely no experience outside your dingy street and view South Africa through what you read on this forum. I can assure you I live a lifestyle and enjoy medical treatment and education that you could only dream of. PS look up some very interesting researched articles on how dumb and ill informed bigots really are. You fit the bill perfectly. So we will forgive you for your obvious lack of intellect, education and class.
URC stadiums pretty full especially Cape Town Stadium. Internationals sold out, yes CC has few spectators, it's no longer seen as a first class competition, which is sad, but we get more bums in seats than any team down under, even the Bulls and Lions do. SR is not that well watched.
Haha BOK proclaims self greatness and importance....... Shock horror.
Really meaningful comment. Can't wait for the next announcement. Talk about self importance and arrogance.
The Boks are an amazing team but their fans, ex players and media are becoming rather install about their status currently
I mean Ireland just beat them
France combusted at the World Cup but look the most dangerous of anyone and really should have won the World Cup just IMO
By far the most talented side and put away the ABs with ease frustratingly
Who knows about the ABs and England but they are rebuilding big time
The few months before the SA-Ireland series were dominated by outraged claims of Irish arrogance after Warburton and Davies (both Welsh) suggested Ireland might be the current no 1 after beating France by 21 points away. Now Erasmus is a master at galvanizing his troops with a common sense of injustice in 15 brains driving them on before and during matches. I understand that although I'd contest he galvanized Ireland more than SA in that series.
This stuff now could be undermining though. I see Erasmus has reigned the trash talk in a little after the Ireland series but SA are setting themselves up as a target to be knocked down. Altitude complicates things in the first test, but Ireland showed plenty that NZ can use. Underdog status will suit NZ also, big time.
Correct. I'm a Saffa and a few moments ago I made a comment to someone about us South Africans who can get bigheaded very quickly. Yes the Boks is a good team. For now. Rassie has a huge task on his hands to keep the players grounded and humble.
Like Jake mentioned in his comment on Rugby pass, team dynamics is a fragile thing. With Siya and Eben suddenly becoming celebrities with the MMA fight the other night, comes ego.
Burger and JDV were out of line with their comments. Stay grounded boys...
for a long time the Bok supporters have been ridiculed by arrogant rude people mocking the Boks. Do you get it?????
If I have to hear one more time of how Ireland or France should've won the RWC in 2023🤦🏽♂️
France have immense depth too, but "by far the most talented side" is very subjective
SA are not the only ones building incredible depth:
French squad that beat Argenina 13-28 in Mendoza recently.
FB 15 Léo Barré
RW 14 Théo Attissogbé
OC 13 Émilien Gailleton
IC 12 Antoine Frisch
LW 11 Lester Etien
FH 10 Antoine Hastoy
SH 9 Baptiste Serin (c)
N8 8 Jordan Joseph
OF 7 Oscar Jegou
BF 6 Lenni Nouchi
RL 5 Baptiste Pesenti
LL 4 Hugo Auradou
TP 3 Georges-Henri Colombe
HK 2 Gaëtan Barlot
LP 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements:
HK 16 Teddy Baubigny
PR 17 Sébastien Taofifénua
PR 18 Demba Bamba
LK 19 Posolo Tuilagi
FL 20 Mickaël Guillard
FL 21 Ibrahim Diallo
SH 22 Baptiste Couilloud
FB 23 Melvyn Jaminet
What was the French side that lost to Argentina recently? Another French master team?
Springboks do have alot of depth when you consider their injury list prior to the Rugby Championship. Damian Willemse, Canan Moodie, Jean Kleyn, Steven Kitshoff, RG Snyman, Lood De Jager, Franco Mostert, Faf De Klerk, Andre Esterhuizen, Jaden Hendrickse, Herschel Jantjies and Jasper Wiese are all world cup winners and they did not play a game in Australia.
And that injury list can also be thought of as a rest and recovery list. There is a lot of value in being able to rest players for prolonged periods without the team suffering.
There was a lot of noise about Evan Roos getting sidelined. But I’m pretty sure there was an open discussion that said - go get surgery, get the issue sorted. We’ll bring you in for the NH tour. We want to sue this time to give others a chance. Louw. Smith even.
Same story for Damian Willemse. Get the op. We want to see what SFM and Fassi can do.
Kitschoff coming off a sh1t spell from europe. Moving back home. He must be raring to go. Fresh as a juicy plum ready for the market. Maybe Koch gets a break?
Right now there is probably, on average, three players per position in the Bok fold.
There are definite 1st stringers and 2nd stringers, and in some positions that might switch up fairly regularly. Like at 9 and 10 at the moment. I’m not sure who Rassie views as 1st choice 10. Based on form.
But then there’s the option for the game at hand. So for example, Pollard or Manie will start against the ABs. My gut tells me pollard is the safe bet but Manie might be sh1t hot in form in training. Thats the benefit of our depth currently - which de Villiers is highlighting.
Kirwan said the same thing - that SA are where the AbS were, with 33 odd players who could slot in and it didn’t matter who you picked.