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'Incredible': Erasmus tweets about smart tactics' of Sexton, Steyn
South African director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has tweeted praise for veteran pair Johnny Sexton and Frans Steyn and the way they are still a force at the highest level of Test rugby with their respective teams, Ireland and the Springboks.
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The 37-year-old Sexton has arrived into the 2022/23 season off the back of the historic Test series victory away to the All Blacks that currently has Ireland positioned at No1 in the World Rugby rankings. Meanwhile, the 35-year-old Steyn stepped off the Springboks bench last Saturday in Buenos Aires in place of the concussed Damian Willemse to steer them to their Rugby Championship victory over Argentina.
With South Africa currently third on the World Rugby rankings, they now go in search of the Championship title in this weekend’s Durban rematch versus the Pumas, a match that will see utility back Steyn run onto the pitch wearing his country’s No10 jersey for the first time since a June 2008 game versus Italy.
Showing a picture of the world rankings with the positions of Ireland and the Springboks circled, Erasmus also uploaded pictures of Sexton and Steyn to his Twitter account that had the ages of both players circled.
In the accompanying text, Erasmus wrote: “My opinion. Just incredible how these two top guys and players still doing the job at the highest level considering the type of players they are – physicality and smart tactics every game. Lekka!! Proud.”
My opinion : Just incredible how these two top guys and players still doing the job at the highest level(considering the type of players they are ( physicality and smart tactics every game) Lekka !!Proud ???? pic.twitter.com/IkMAbeCmY3
— Rassie Erasmus (@RassieRugby) September 21, 2022
The compliment about the two 30-somethings is an intriguing observation for Erasmus, the Springboks rugby boss, to make as it is now practically just a year out from when Ireland take on South Africa in what is viewed as the pivotal Pool B fixture in Paris at the 2023 World Cup finals.
Steyn was named as the Springboks No10 on Tuesday after head coach Jacques Nienaber opted against recalling the axed Elton Jantjies to the squad after he was sent home the previous week from Argentina due to allegations about his personal life.
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Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments