Springboks assembling a ferocious squad
It’s been a significantly improved year for South Africa’s four Super Rugby franchises.
The Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers are all in the hunt for a playoffs spot and it’s expected that three of the teams will probably make the cut.
The Lions have not performed to the same standards as the last few years but the Stormers and the Bulls have already earned more points in 2019 than they managed last year. The Sharks are nearing that point too.
Whilst relative performance may have improved, however, there’s still restlessness out of the former republic the Super Rugby franchises are playing a brand a rugby that won’t yield great results at the next level up.
2018 brought mixed results for the Springboks. A 50% win-record does not make for pretty reading for one of world rugby’s most historically successful teams.
The highlight of the year was the team’s successful venture to New Zealand – besting the All Blacks at home, 36-34.
That win marked the first time that the Springboks had successfully knocked over the All Blacks in New Zealand in nine years. The British & Irish Lions had managed a win the year prior but other than that result, travelling teams have had very little luck in New Zealand over the last decade.
Outside of that victory, however, results didn’t give Springboks fans a whole lot to smile about.
The end of year tour was particularly disheartening, with the Boks falling to both England and Wales whilst securing wins against France and Scotland.
Still, while there are concerns about the Super Rugby sides’ style of play and last year didn’t exactly go to plan, South African rugby supporters should be feeling optimistic about their team’s chances in 2019.
The constant stream of top-level players leaving the Rainbow Nation has made it difficult for them to maintain high standards in their Super Rugby sides, but South Africa doesn’t need 140 high-calibre players to put together an impressive test team.
The Sharks, Lions, Bulls and Stormers all have their weaknesses in key positions, but together they can amass a formidable side.
Power and athleticism in the forwards
Scrummaging has always been of South Africa’s strengths but their front rows have sometimes lacked the ball skills to compete with the best in the world. Whilst subtle touches may still not be Spingboks tight five players’ fortes, they’re also no slouches.
Malcolm Marx is arguably the best hooker in world rugby right now and the Lions have performed noticeably worse without his experienced frame on the field. He has the athleticism of the likes of Dane Coles and Codie Taylor in New Zealand and the power of Ireland’s Rory Best.
The locking pair of Eben Etzebeth and either Lood de Jager (should he have sufficiently recovered from his shoulder surgery) or RG Snyman is as confrontational and aggressive as they come. Etzebeth, in particular, is the abrasive kind of player that every team needs at least a few of.
In the loose forwards, the Springboks are as well stocked as any other nation. In captain Siya Kolisi they have one of the most athletic flankers in the world and a man who leads by example. Kolisi has been one of the Stormers’ form players this season. He will be well supported by the likes of South African based loosies Pieter-Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen and Warren Whiteley. There are other prodigious talents like Kwagga Smith also doing the rounds in Super Rugby.
Meanwhile, overseas, former Springbok Marcell Coetzee is putting in some monster performances for Ulster and there have been suggestions that he could be in the mix too. Francois Louw has been his typical self for Bath and may have one more international season in him.
Fully fit players will strengthen the backs
The halfbacks are an area of particular strength, especially after factoring in foreign based Faf de Klerk and Cobus Reinach. Sale’s de Klerk was considered by most to be the league’s best halfback of the season. Reinach has been on-form too and was officially named the Premiership scrumhalf of the season.
Handre Pollard and Elton Jantjies will steer the team from the 10 jersey. Both players have high ceilings but they’ve struggled to live up to their early promise. Jantjies has never quite looked at home in test rugby, even though he’s guided the Lions to three straight Super Rugby finals. Pollard will likely get the playmaker role from day 1, but injuries have inhibited his development.
Rassie Erasmus favoured a midfield combination of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel at the end of 2018, but Lukhanyo Am has been performing so well for the Sharks that there may be a changing of the guard. Am was used in last year’s Rugby Championship and started in the victory over the All Blacks but missed the Springbok’s end of year tour due to a fractured arm sustained in that very match. His Sharks midfield partner, André Esterhuizen, will likely be the fourth centre selected.
The Springboks have countless options in the outside backs. Willie le Roux will continue to offer the Boks a second playmaker from the back field – but local talents such as Curwin Bosch have also done enough to suggest they shouldn’t be too far off a test call-up.
Per usual, wing is an area of strength of South Africa – although also one of relative inexperience. Kriel was sometimes used on the wing last year but when Erasmu has access to the likes of Aphiwe Dyanti, S’busiso Nkosi and recent Sevens convert Rosko Specman, you have to imagine that outright speed will be the flavour in the wider channels.
Further afield, Cheslin Kolbe has been one of the form wings in European rugby – though questions will inevitably be asked about his size.
All in all, there’s enough depth in the Springboks squad to seriously challenge for the World Cup. Their key players have been on-form in Super Rugby and it would be a huge mistake to write off the South African team’s title credentials.
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments