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'It would be unwise to write them off': South African scribe's warning to Lions as Springboks stars shine
A South African scribe has warned the British and Irish Lions not to write the Springboks off following the return of key players and a rise in form of numerous others.
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At the forefront of the growing confidence within South Africa’s media cohort is the form of Springboks captain Siya Kolisi, who Sharks head coach Sean Everitt believes is “almost back to his best” after spending much of last year on the sideline with injury.
Since joining the Sharks from the Stormers this season, Kolisi has played in all four of his side’s Rainbow Cup fixtures, including in last week’s 25-22 defeat to his former team at Kings Park in Durban.
Despite the loss, Everitt was pleased with his star man’s output in a result that leaves the Sharks trailing the South African Conference-leading Bulls by four points.
“Siya was really good today,” Everitt said shortly after the match. “He got two steals on the field and had two big moments in a row in the build-up to Yaw Penxe’s try.
“I though he was really good. He’s had a good week and I have said to you guys before that he is getting better and better. I am just so happy that he put in such a really good performance and deserves it, because he has worked extremely hard.”
Kolisi ins’t the only Springboks hopeful who has found himself in strong form at the right time of the year.
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Munster midfielder Damian de Allende produced a man-of-the-match performance in his side’s Rainbow Cup opener against Leinster, while Handre Pollard has recently returned for Top 14 juggernauts Montpellier after an eight-month injury spell.
Star wing Cheslin Kolbe, meanwhile, was in inspired form for Toulouse as he helped the French club clinch their first European Champions Cup since 2010 at Twickenham over the weekend.
Within the Republic, 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit marked his return from a long-term leg injury with a man-of-the-match showing against Kolisi’s Sharks on Saturday.
Stormer boss John Dobson described the utility forward as “a remarkable machine” and labelled his 80-minute return to action as “great for South African rugby”.
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The same could also be said of the rejuvenation of veteran playmaker Morne Steyn’s career given how well the 36-year-old has flourished for the Pretoria-based side this season.
All Blacks great Sir John Kirwan has revealed he has deep concerns about New Zealand’s upcoming test matches against Tonga and Fiji in July. #AllBlacks https://t.co/ANewm5E41f
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In fact, Steyn has been so good that there have been calls from fans and pundits alike for the three-time Super Rugby champion to be handed a national re-call, five years after his last test appearance.
One of those same pundits, Craig Lewis of SA Rugby Magazine, believes that the return from injury and growth of form of various South African players around the globe only bodes well for the Springboks.
Taking into account the return of Malcolm Marx, Franco Mostert, Jesse Kriel, Willie le Roux and Makazole Mapimpi from Japan’s Top League, as well as the classy outings of Faf de Klerk and Eben Etzebeth in Europe, Lewis wrote “it would be unwise” to rule the Springboks out of a series win over the Lions.
“While many suggested not too long ago that the Springboks would be undercooked heading into the Lions series, it’s become apparent that it would be unwise to write them off regardless of an absence from action that stretches back to the 2019 World Cup final,” he penned.
Despite South Africa’s 20-month test match drought, Lewis went on to suggest that it may be the Lions who are considered the underdogs of the upcoming series, even if their players have already played in three major international campaigns since last year.
“In fact, as Lions boss Warren Gatland battled to secure the services of his first-choice coaching staff, while players such as George North (injured) and Ben Youngs (family responsibility) pulled out of the tour to South Africa, it’s the tourists who suddenly look to be on shaky ground.”
The Springboks will have the chance to play their first test in over a year-and-a-half when they play two warm-up tests against Georgia throughout July.
Likewise, the Lions will have their first hit-out against Japan in Edinburgh on June 26 before they begin their eight-match tour against the Lions (the Rainbow Cup franchise) at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on July 3.
The three-match test series between the Lions and Springboks will kick-off at Cape Town Stadium on July 24.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Chiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
227 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
3 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
86 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
29 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
227 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
227 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to commentsCan’t wait for the article that talks about misogyny in Ireland. Somehow.
19 Go to commentsI would like to see a rule change, when the attacking team is held up over the try line, by allowing the defensive team to restart a goal line drop out releases the pressure for the defensive team, but what if the attacking team had to restart a tap 5m out from the defensive team it gives the attacking team to apply more pressure, there are endless options for the attacking side and it will keep the fans in suspence.
2 Go to comments