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'I don't think Ireland poses any threat to us, neither does France': Bok legend dismisses RWC threats

By Ben Smith
(Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Former Springbok legend Schalk Burger is confident that South Africa can defend their Rugby World Cup crown after what he has seen on this year’s European tour.

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The Springboks lost their first two clashes in tight fashion to the world’s top two ranked sides, Ireland and France, before blowing out Italy and finishing with a dominant win over England at Twickenham.

Despite a 50 per cent return from the four tests Burger was buoyed by how South Africa played when assessing what to take from the the tour overall.

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“We want the Springboks to win every test, don’t we? But I think it’s more the way they played,” Burger told the SuperSport panel on the post-match show.

“Yes, this was sort of a tour defining game today, getting the result and shutting out England was what we wanted to see, and we did that.

“If we lost and played well, we would be disappointed.”

After seeing the way the Springboks dismantled England, Burger went as far as saying that Ireland and France don’t ‘pose any threat’ to South Africa at next year’s Rugby World Cup despite losing to them over the past month.

France completed a perfect season with 10 wins from 10 tests in 2022, capturing a Grand Slam title in March while Ireland similarly had an impressive year after beating the All Blacks at home in a historic series win.

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“If you look ahead to next year, I don’t think Ireland poses any threat to us really, neither does France,” Burger claimed.

“They are great sides, the games can go either way, we are not going to be blown out of the water.

“This team is not [going to get blown away]. So a massive positive tour.”

“We’ve been negative about referees, we’ve had some bizarre refereeing displays, but I thought Angus Gardner and his team today put up a normal refereeing display.”

The Springboks showed over the final two games of the tour a more adventurous game with more emphasis on ball movement.

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With more appetite to take on more risk, they had many wide movements from deep inside their own half against England to get the ball into the hands of Kurt-Lee Arendse, who dazzled with a stunning try on a kick return sparked by Damian Willemse.

Speaking pitch side after the win, captain Siya Kolisi said they had talked about changing and said the team decided to ‘risk it all’ before the game and try new things before next year’s World Cup.

“We said ‘we’ll risk it all, because you know it’s worth it’,” he said.

“We need to find answers before the World Cup, but at the same time, respecting them and playing in the right areas of the field.

“It’s not that much of a difference but we are seeing a lot more opportunities than we have in the past.”

On whether they can defend the World Cup title next year, Kolisi hoped that they had seen everything that will face so won’t be ‘shocked’ at the tournament.

“We’ve tried a few things but there is still a lot more we can do,”

“We are going flat out for it as a group. We wouldn’t be going if we didn’t think we were able to defend it.

“It’s going to be tough and face a lot of challenges this time, but I really think we’ve learnt so much about our team, got a lot of answers for questions.

“So going forward next year, I’m hoping there is not a lot that can shock us as a team because of all the challenges we have faced.”

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Adrian 16 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

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Trevor 3 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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