'South Africa's second XV beat New Zealand's first XV': 101-cap veteran

World champions South Africa have three teams that could possibly beat any other team in the world currently, former England scrum-half Danny Care has claimed.

The 101-cap veteran, who retired from international rugby earlier this year, made this assertion on his podcast Hits Different alongside fellow host Mark Atkinson and current Harlequins coach, former All Black Nick Evans.

In the section of the show labelled ‘Debatable’, Care and Evans discussed whether South Africa now produce better rugby players than New Zealand. However, the conversation descended into whether the Springboks’ second XV could beat the All Blacks‘ first XV.

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While both Care and Atkinson believe a second-string South Africa side would come out on top, Evans vehemently disagreed, saying they had “no chance”.

Of course, the sides have already met this year, with South Africa coming out on top in back-to-back Tests on their way to winning The Rugby Championship. Scorelines of 31-27 and 18-12 show how close both encounters were, but the Englishman believes the Springboks’ bench, plus seven more players could achieve the same feat.

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“You look at the strength in depth in South Africa right now and think they could put three different XVs against any other team in the world and I think they might win or be very, very close,” Care said.

“I think currently South Africa’s second XV would beat the current New Zealand first XV.

Atkinson added: “I think they beat them. If you’re signing individuals, then Kiwis still seem like better rugby players as individuals, but at the moment it’s hard to argue that South Africa aren’t producing better teams.

The Quins legend cited former team-mate Andre Esterhuizen, who left the Stoop this summer, as an example of the depth that the Springboks currently have following a Rugby Championship where the centre did not see a minute of action.

“Look at the players that can’t even get in the South Africa team,” the scrum-half added. “Andre Esterhuizen, one of the best players that’s ever worn a Harlequins shirt, currently can’t get a game for South Africa. He would be in the second team. I think they beat New Zealand’s first team.