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The worldclass Springboks XV who fell between RWC wins
With the Springboks recent Rugby World Cup victory in Japan still fresh in the memory, spare a thought for those most unlucky of South Africans rugby players – the World Cup-less Boks.
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Some truly worldclass Springbok rugby careers fell in the 12 years between the Rugby World Cup victories in France in 2007 and in Japan, 2019.
While some of this list’s time will come and others are more unlucky than some, it’s a formidable XV.
1 COENIE OOSTHUIZEN
The 127kg prop never quite managed to fully convince Bok selectors during his time in the green and gold. Arguably the world’s most destructive ball-carrying prop now plies trade for Sale Sharks.
2 ADRIAAN STRAUSS
Strauss played in 66 international test matches between 2008 and 2016 and captained the side in his final year. One of the first names on the team sheet for the latter part of his career.
3 WILCO LOUW
Was released from the 2019 training camps just weeks out from the Rugby World Cup. He’s just 25-years-old so likely to add to his 13 caps.
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4 ANDRIES BEKKER
The 6’10 giant’s first cap came in 2008, and he went on to make 29 appearances in the green and gold. While a lot of his early career coincided with the tail end of legends Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield, he was laterally overtaken in the pecking order by the Eben Etzebeth generation of locks. He currently plays for Kobelco Steelers in Japan.
5 FLIP VAN DER MERWE
The 126kg had an on and off relationship with the Bok since his first of 36 caps back in 2010. Despite his talents van der Merwe opted for France in 2015.
6 WARREN WHITELEY
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The athletic backrow has been plagued by injury and with news breaking that he may not feature in Super Rugby in 2020, it could be all over for the former Springbok skipper.
7 WILLEM ALBERTS
The Bone Crusher’s Bok career started in 2010 and he was for a long time a mainstay of the South African backrow. Known for his physicality, the now 35-year-old left for France abd Stade Francais in 2015.
8 PIERRE SPIES
Spies was selected was in Jake White’s Springbok squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup but was forced to withdraw from the squad nine days later after blood clots were found in his lungs. Possibly the most jacked rugby player of all time.
9 FRANCOIS HOUGAARD
That rarest of things – a wing-cum-scrumhalf – Hougaard has become a mainstay at Worcester Warriors in the Premiership as one of their tent-pole stars. Powerful and abrasive at 9, Hougaard may yet add to his 46 Test caps.
10 MORNE STEYN
Although Steyn was never a player to set the world alight with ball-in-hand, he’s Mr Consistent from the kicking tee. He earned 66 caps in a career in the Bok jersey that spanned seven years between 2009 and 2016. Now 35-years-old, he makes serious bank for Stade Francais.
11 APHIWE DYANTI
The World Break Through Player of the Year in 2018, Dyanti could have been a star for the Springboks in Japan, until he tested hot this summer for PEDs. Touted as the natural successor to Bryan Habana, we’ll never know quite know how good a career he could have had, or indeed, how much his career to date was chemically enhanced. One thing is certain, he won’t be adding to his Test tally anytime soon.
12 JAN SERFONTEIN
A strong, bruising carrier at 12, Serfontein won an impressive 35 caps for his country before opting for big spending, Saffa-friendly Montpellier.
13 LIONEL MAPOE
The Port Elizabeth born Mapoe made the most of his talents with 14-caps between 2015 and 2018. The Lions player has hoped between clubs since and is no longer part of the Springbok reckoning.
Rent free in England's head at the moment! ? #rwc2019champions pic.twitter.com/dIqKVX5COo
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 21, 2019
14 RUAN COMBRINCK
A short but successful Bok career, Combrinck won 7 caps in 2016, including impressive performances in SA’s three-match series with Ireland. Chose to pursue lucrative deals in Japan and France respectively.
15 GIO APLON
The size obsessed world of the Springboks, Aplon was always up against it to prove himself. It didn’t stop him from scoring 5 tries in 17 appearances for South Africa between 2010 and 2012.
Comments on RugbyPass
Nice that Connor Evans is happy to stay on here, that JD Schikerling is returning and Steven Kitshoff. Dobbo is careful to bring back just anybody but having a new financial lease of life, it has made the Stormers a more attractive club. On top of being good quality, having the financial backing helps a lot
1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
1 Go to commentsThis might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
38 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
6 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
38 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
6 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
6 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
3 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
10 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
6 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
38 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
10 Go to commentsWowee!
10 Go to commentsEvery team that has played a game in Africa this Champions Cup season is already out of the competition - including the SA teams. Could be a concidence.
30 Go to commentsthat should offer some experiences for Jordie.
10 Go to comments