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The Rugby Championship

Rugby Pass Podcast: Are The Springboks A Sleeping Giant?

Lood de Jager

This week on the Rugby Pass podcast Scotty Stevenson in joined by Matthew Pearce of South Africa’s SuperSport and Justin Marshall from New Zealand’s Sky Sport. Matthew explains why he thinks the Springboks could be on the verge of something big as they head into their big Rugby Championship clash with the Wallabies on Saturday, before Marshy and Sumo discuss where the All Blacks vs Pumas test will be won and lost.

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Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 7 minutes ago
Hoskins Sotutu signs three-year deal with Newcastle Red Bulls

And his bank account.

4 Go to comments
J
Jen 8 minutes ago
Five bold possible debutants for the All Blacks in 2026

Really like the look of Harkin!

9 Go to comments
J
JW 9 minutes ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

I doubt that’s the case. I mean it was a fun run but I don’t think he’s anywhere near Wallaby level. I suspect he wants to return and is trying to shop around to see if any team will have him (they only have four and he will want/need a starting role).

I was reading about NDC the other day, someone who had some really dynamic games in Super this year, and he was thought to have been one of the best loosies in the Top 14 before returning. Just like Mercer it would seem. Kemeny is better off staying in the Prem and hoping he can get included that way.



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279 Go to comments
J
JW 19 minutes ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

I caught them on the rounds hls package.

279 Go to comments
J
JW 21 minutes ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

This year the ABs have tried to use a Leinster styled Lancaster attack system, sweeping plays designed to do I don’t know what, and it’s hindered them severely. It’s not where near as sophisticated, not even copy pasted, it’s some weird inbetween mix of their own and it’s a joke how easy it is to read for opposition.

Funny you say that of England in 2019. That is waht I remember being repeated ad nausem after the result. But when I did some research on it this year, watching a reply, I find that the All Blacks were by far the bigger pack. I’m not sure about the backline though, and there is the big question of whether they went big in response but then didn’t have the speed and fitness of Englands to counter anything.



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dw 35 minutes ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Will need to watch!

279 Go to comments
d
dw 35 minutes ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

I did see that big tackle he made and immediately thought it would have hurt! I see he needs surgery. Hopefully it’s quick

279 Go to comments
c
cw 53 minutes ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Without a fully fit Lomax its really hard to tell. The De Groot, Taylor, Lomax combination has done well in previous seasons, but there may be some logic in playing the Crusaders together - Tamaiti, Taylor and Newell, with Ofa / de Groot, Taukeiaho and Lomax linking up. From memory that combo seemed ok against the Boks in Wellington from a scrummaging perspective in the first half and I could imagine them going well in the impact role too, provided they have good second row support.

279 Go to comments
J
JW 54 minutes ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Yeah I dunno, Argentina played England? That must have been after Scotland on their tour? They don’t backup well.

But yes, you mean Englands tackle stats? I wouldn’t say rudderless, it kinda shows they commanded the game with ball in hand, but it certainly shows a distenct lack of threat. You don’t get those sorts of numbers when you’re making as many opportunities/scoring as you would like.



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279 Go to comments
I
Icefarrow 1 hour ago
Hoskins Sotutu signs three-year deal with Newcastle Red Bulls

Excellent match for his victim mentality. Bottom table results will feed into his ego very nicely.

4 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
Five bold possible debutants for the All Blacks in 2026



comment specifically quoting me saying “It was mostly Kiwi pundits who were criticising”

And that was the most absurd thing to say. Everyone was criticising them, even their own. Knowing the reality does not mean they accept it.



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Tommy B 2 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

I think a bit unfair on Sela, NB. The kid’s only 20. He looks bigger this year and will get bigger still, next. To hold his end up comfortably against Toulon’s starting pack is some achievement.

Are we getting a bit blase about 20 year old starting props?



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279 Go to comments
S
SB 2 hours ago
Five bold possible debutants for the All Blacks in 2026

Counties did the same last year, lost loads in a row then went on a winning streak too.

It’s not an attitude, it’s an agreement between LNR and FFR. You replied to my comment specifically quoting me saying “It was mostly Kiwi pundits who were criticising”, I can add other Kiwis too if you like.



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c
cw 2 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

I would love your logic to be proven true! The powder is certainly dry - query whether it is intentional…

279 Go to comments
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Tommy B 2 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Was the 14 point loss due to a meteorite shower, then?

In my view, England blew up in the two games in NZ because they’d been playing not stop for about 13 months.



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J
JW 2 hours ago
Five bold possible debutants for the All Blacks in 2026

They were still playing well when loosing but yeah he look uninterested for about a month and then something finally clicked.

About the French attitude? I don’t know what you want to hear, it’s a poor attitude, from memory your other post was nothing more than naming a kiwi rugby figure that mentioned it. Everyone thinks the same thing, you could name any new zealander. You could also name anyone who’s not a kiwi, I thought you would be referring to real articles about the topic, not reports of someones opinion. Basically I don’t care about what someone like Mil’s thinks, I was referring to those that care about rugby being just as critical of it as kiwis were.



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c
cw 2 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Is the Argentina game a better measure of England’s defence - because for me what the stats show is the ABs were rudderless for large chunks of the game - with lots of ineffective time with the ball.

279 Go to comments
J
JD 3 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Yeah, we all know the “Japies” couldn’t possibly have won the 2007 RWC without Eddie Jones, and Rassie would be totally lost without Tony Brown. Hell, everybody knows that the South Africans know nothing about rugby.

What utter arrogance on the part of whoever it was that composed this first class, gold plated, export quality drivel.



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E
EG 3 hours ago
Racing 92 vs US Montauban | US Montauban vs Racing 92 | Squads & Team Sheets | Top 14 Live

We’re can I see the game. I’m in Panama

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G
GP 3 hours ago
Josh Jacomb: From Taranaki beginnings to the Duane Monkley Medal

I agree with you. Duane Monkley should have been an All Black . He was way better than Barry. I always had a lot of time for Paul Henderson , fine 7. But gto think Mark Carter was an AB. The now overseas, Tom Christie , Crusaders player and Canterbury captain similar. His efforts captaining Canterbury this year and earlier for Crusaders was amazing. How guys like Monkley and Tom Christie never made the AB’s and you see some that do beggars belief.

2 Go to comments
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