The Springboks’ great strength is its depth
Roar Pro By kynang, 23 May 2010 kynang is a Roar Pro
110 Have your say
Related coverage
New Zealand are always crying about the number of players they have overseas, which, incidentally, is about the same as South Africa.
Yet the Boks have a significant advantage in experienced players in both the starting and back-up slots, positioning them well for a World Cup triumph over the All Blacks.
As this season is proving, the Kiwis are just one or two injuries away from disaster – partly because they refuse to even consider their foreign legion. But as my SA squad will prove, very few foreign players are even required for the Boks to look formidable.
The Kiwis don’t look so intimidating. Nonu’s injury, for instance, has left them with zero capped candidates worth considering. McAlister has been awful and second string at the Blues, Toeava is injured, Bowden is leaving and ineligible, leaving the uncapped and limited Benson Stanley as front-runner.
Same thing at flyhalf and loose-forward. Carter has been off the boil, but there is no viable back-up. Donald is injured (and can’t kick), Brett is erratic, Cruden is a child… and they won’t pick Nick Evans. McCaw, Read, Thompson and Kaino are awesome. Beyond them, So’oialo is past it, Lauaki is a nightmare, Latimer is inexperienced, and Braid is technically not eligible. They can only afford one injury here and it better not be to McCaw.
If the World Cup was starting tomorrow, everything would point to a Bok victory come semi-final time. SA has depth beyond the requirements of a World Cup squad in all but one position – and it’s not tight-head prop!
Bok international candidates include:
Props – there has been some fear about South Africa’s front row, but really the cupboard is pretty well stocked at both one and three.
1. Mtawarira, Steenkamp, W. Du Preez.
3. BJ Botha, van der Linde, J Du Plessis.
Hookers – even with a long-term injury to Bismarck, SA boasts a plethora of talented and experienced international hookers.
2. Smit, A Strauss, Liebenberg, G Botha.
Locks – again, the four best locks in the world probably all live in South Africa and plenty of others that would walk into most international teams.
4. B Botha, D Russouw, Fondse.
5. Matfield, Bekker, Sykes.
Loosies – no country can even compare to the richness of loose-forward talent South Africa currently have at their disposal, even with Brussow injured. Our outcasts are consistently the best loosies in the French and English competitions – drawing gasps of shock that Sowerby and Watson can be left in outer darkness.
6. J Smith, Deysel, Alberts.
7. Burger, Grobler, Potgieter.
8. Spies, Kankowski, Vermuelen.
Scrum-half – again, two of the three best scrumhalves in world rugby live in South Africa. The Welsh were all shocked Januarie couldn’t get a game in SA, but on merit he’s not even in the top five.
9. F Du Preez, Pienaar, Duvenhage.
Fly-half – this hasn’t been a strong suit for SA since Honiball retired. But it’s not looking too bleak this season with Steyn emerging last year as the ultimate match-winner and Grant leading the Stormers revolution.
10. M Steyn, James, Grant.
Midfield – this is probably South Africa’s weakest area. The front-liners are great, but then it tails off very quickly. With Jacobs out, who is really in line to replace Fourie at 13?
12. De Villiers, Olivier, Bosman.
13. Fourie… uh, De Jongh?
Wings – an injury crisis has left the Boks short of experience here, but there is plenty of talent to cover the position. Pieterson, A Ndungane, Mapoe and Nokwe would all have been contenders.
11. Habana, van der Heerver.
14. Chavanga, Aplon, O Ndungane.
Fullback – there are some solid, if unspectacular choices here. Steyn excepted.
15. F Steyn, Kirshner, Terblanche.
What do you think?
Recommend this story.
The Turkey 10
The Turkey 10 teams have now been selected, as Wild Turkey Bourbon's sport sponsorship kicks into the next exciting phase.
Choose which side you're going to support and get in the running to win $2,500!
Simply visit Wild Turkey Australia on Facebook for your chance to win.
Find out more.
- Explore:
- new zealand all blacks, Rugby Union, Rugby World Cup, Springboks
May 23rd 2010 @ 2:25am
allblackfan said | May 23rd 2010 @ 2:25am | Report comment
Yet the Boks’ attacking plans don’t go beyond the No 10 jersey.
A big liability if you have to play in bad weather on a ground like Wellington or Christchurch — has Morne Steyne mastered the knack of kicking in fog yet?
May 23rd 2010 @ 2:43am
Lee said | May 23rd 2010 @ 2:43am | Report comment
I would have thought the ball not going past the 10 was beneficial in bad weather? But besides that, the claim that the Boks don’t get it past 10 now is laughable and one that surely a knowledgable rugby fan wouldn’t make.
Plus the Boks out-scored both the Wallabies and the ABs in tries during last years Tri-Nations.
To me, you have just shown what is wrong with NZ rugby at the minute ABfan. Who cares how often the ball goes anywhere? As long as you score points, it doesn’t matter if they are a prop or a winger who gets them. However, the Kiwi teams this year in the S14 has been obsessed with getting it wide(from anywhere), there were 3 intercepts by the Brumbies in the first half last week against the Saders, how many times did an intercept cost the Blues this year? Or the Canes?
Morne Steyn has mastered the art of kicking, something Dan Carter seems to be un-learning at the moment…
May 23rd 2010 @ 3:09am
allblackfan said | May 23rd 2010 @ 3:09am | Report comment
Point 1: When you’re taking penalty goals from 50m-plus out in fine weather, that shows just how valued wingers are in SA rugby at the moment!
Point 2: I just saw the points scoring details for the Bulls-Crusaders game. I rest my case!!
Point 3: I can’t argue about the efficiency of such tactics. After all, NZ’s results in the previous WCups speaks for itself and it is of great concern to me that the drop goal remains a mystery to NZ players.
What I can argue about is the appeal of such tactics. In an ultra-competitive marketplace like Australia (and even NZ), that is far more important than you may realise. Teams in Aust-NZ cannot afford to adopt such tactics; the damage it could do off the field is too great to risk (especially in Aust).
I have been very underwhelmed by the NZ teams’ performance this year. Their mental attitude has been missing (especially the Chiefs and Blues) but that can be easily fixed. Especially with the RWC around the corner!
May 23rd 2010 @ 10:29am
kynang said | May 23rd 2010 @ 10:29am | Report comment
I think the greatest appeal of a sport is a winning team… as a Sharks fan, I lost interest when they could no longer qualify for the semi – an average of 40,000 at Newlands and about 5,000 at Ellis Park are testament to the value of a winning team… even though the Lions try play a brand of “attractive” rugby. There’s nothing attractive about being hammered by 50 points. Go ask the disappearing fans in Dunedin. If Australia actually won something again, the rugby fans would re-emerge. They’ve been second rate for the better part of a decade now. Here’s hoping the Reds sparked a revival.
May 23rd 2010 @ 8:20pm
nicksa said | May 23rd 2010 @ 8:20pm | Report comment
spot on, winning rugby is good rugby!! our aussie and nz counter parts cant seem to get that. U can be as flashy as you want if ur not winning it means nothing…
May 25th 2010 @ 1:16am
Seiran said | May 25th 2010 @ 1:16am | Report comment
That’s far from true….although I suppose that’s the greatest difference between us all.
Kiwi’s and Aussies like to be entertained by our rugby. Sometimes it doesn’t even matter if they win or lose. A team that spends all day playing negative rugby kicking penalties and drop goals to win a match without even trying to score a try is not ‘good rugby’.
It’s boring rugby.
June 4th 2010 @ 8:05am
coza said | June 4th 2010 @ 8:05am | Report comment
kynang…. Shame on you. You’re a plastic supporter. I’m a Sharks fan and will NEVER lose interest for my beloved team. Sharkies we’ve supported you guys through the good and bad times and will continue to no matter what.
kynang I’d suggest you go and support the Bulls for the moment as you’d might have some interest there as they’re winning.
Please I beg you… Never ever claim to be a Sharks supporter again,.
May 23rd 2010 @ 2:36am
Colin N said | May 23rd 2010 @ 2:36am | Report comment
Ironic considering their depth of squad was criticised during the Lions series and November tour. Make your mind up!!
May 23rd 2010 @ 2:48am
Lee said | May 23rd 2010 @ 2:48am | Report comment
I wouldn’t say our depth is out-standing. Definately some good depth at lock, hooker, loosies and scrum-half. Otherwise, a lack of proven contenders in most of the other positions, but compare that to our Tri-Nations opponents and it looks pretty good.
We would be screwed with an injury at FB or in the centres, if we persis in not picking overseas players.
May 23rd 2010 @ 2:42am
Mr Saunders said | May 23rd 2010 @ 2:42am | Report comment
Perhaps the most obviously South African article I have ever read outside of the Keohane website. I can only hope that this ‘article’ is actually tongue in cheek, in which case I applaud the fantastic humour.
May 23rd 2010 @ 3:17am
allblackfan said | May 23rd 2010 @ 3:17am | Report comment
I don’t mind a South African viewpoint. It’s always good to hear different viewpoints!:-)
May 23rd 2010 @ 5:18am
Mr Saunders said | May 23rd 2010 @ 5:18am | Report comment
Gadzooks! You must be one of those glass half-full guys, ABfan.
May 23rd 2010 @ 10:25am
kynang said | May 23rd 2010 @ 10:25am | Report comment
I could also write about how Australia has more depth than the ABs at the moment… it would almost be true.
May 23rd 2010 @ 11:36am
Kevin Lodge said | May 23rd 2010 @ 11:36am | Report comment
‘almost be true’ – says a lot about you. Your lack of rugby knowledge, logic, insight and balance is embarassing. Get off this website so we can have decent debate.
May 23rd 2010 @ 11:46am
Ace said | May 23rd 2010 @ 11:46am | Report comment
… and your comment says a lot about you.
I suspect that your idea of a decent debate involves a brick, a handbag and a lot of shouting and/or screaming.
May 23rd 2010 @ 11:51am
Kevin Lodge said | May 23rd 2010 @ 11:51am | Report comment
That’s better!
May 23rd 2010 @ 1:00pm
kynang said | May 23rd 2010 @ 1:00pm | Report comment
Debate is exactly what these articles are supposed to inspire! If I had no opinion, there’d be nothing to debate… I’m not a journalist writing news. I’m the common man, expressing opinion… just like your very common opinion. So get out your handbag, turn and march ten paces.
May 23rd 2010 @ 1:29pm
ohtani's jacket said | May 23rd 2010 @ 1:29pm | Report comment
I’d love to know what room you left for debate in this article.
May 24th 2010 @ 7:05pm
Doos said | May 24th 2010 @ 7:05pm | Report comment
Dear Mrs Saunders (has to be a Mrs!)…please change your panties before blogging here…your comments are a first-class YAWN! How u feeling after the SA sides thrashed u girls this weekend?? Not so big mouth anymore, are u….lol !
May 24th 2010 @ 7:10pm
ohtani's jacket said | May 24th 2010 @ 7:10pm | Report comment
He’s from England… lol ! His girls didn’t play the South Africans on the weekend?? lol !
May 24th 2010 @ 7:22pm
pothale said | May 24th 2010 @ 7:22pm | Report comment
“Please change your panties before blogging here”
Choice. The level of debate and wit always seems to centre around “I’m a bloke, and you’re a big girl” or some other schoolyard stuff.
May 25th 2010 @ 1:13am
Mr Saunders said | May 25th 2010 @ 1:13am | Report comment
Thanks, Doos. I actually stopped work for a minute to read that comment. Thanks for stealing that 30 seconds from my life. What a dingleberry I am.
May 23rd 2010 @ 4:32am
rugbyfuture said | May 23rd 2010 @ 4:32am | Report comment
and their “neutral” referrees
May 23rd 2010 @ 9:36am
Seiran said | May 23rd 2010 @ 9:36am | Report comment
The depth is so good that their S14 teams can hold up both ends of the ladder!
Surely if depth was so great in SA then three of their teams shouldn’t be languishing at the bottom half of the ladder.
May 23rd 2010 @ 10:21am
kynang said | May 23rd 2010 @ 10:21am | Report comment
The Sharks had a nightmare start, but were the form team of the 2nd half, winning 7 from 8, with only an away loss to the Bulls… something was mentally/politically awry at the start of the Sharks season – else it would have been 3 SA semi-finalists. Also, remember they had 5 away games Down-Under, including a double trip across the Tasman… which Aussie team had that honor?
May 23rd 2010 @ 8:28pm
Taniwha said | May 23rd 2010 @ 8:28pm | Report comment
It is true that the Sharks had a nightmare start. Conversely The Bulls and the Stormers had a dream start that set them up well on the log, playing the first 7 or 8 rounds at home. No mention of this though?
May 23rd 2010 @ 12:41pm
Nathan said | May 23rd 2010 @ 12:41pm | Report comment
South Africa should be considered favourites for WC because they have the best 15 players of any international team in my opinion. If you look past depth for a minute their top 15 players are head and shoulders above the rest. Their front row is strong, the 2nd row the strongest, their back row formidable, inside pairing world class and the rest of the backline is at least on par with the rest. I don’t think it always matters how much depth you have if you can produce a world class XV because you can only have fifteen players on the field at any one time. 1 through to 15 the South African’s, at the moment, are the most complete ie no apparent weakness, regardless of depth. If a world fifteen was selected today most of the players would come from SA I would imagine. Ben Robinson, Will Genia, Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Brian O’Driscoll are the only ones that might get a look in but even then it’s debatable.
May 23rd 2010 @ 10:58pm
pothale said | May 23rd 2010 @ 10:58pm | Report comment
Do you actually believe that or is that a wind-up, Nathan?
“Their top 15 players are head and shoulders above the rest”
Do you watch players from any other country besides SA?
May 23rd 2010 @ 11:10pm
Seiran said | May 23rd 2010 @ 11:10pm | Report comment
For once Pothale, I totally agree with you. Obviously Nathan only watches games that involve SA teams.
May 24th 2010 @ 7:06am
Nathan said | May 24th 2010 @ 7:06am | Report comment
Ok, your’e right…I will concede that the ‘their top 15 players are head and shoulders above the rest’ remark is a slight exaggeration. Just wanted to emphasize the fact that SA’s top 15 players is where they hold the advantage and to an extent that’s all that matters. Player-for-player perhaps not head and shoulders above the rest but collectively they would have the edge ie they are the most complete side in my opinion.
May 25th 2010 @ 1:19am
Seiran said | May 25th 2010 @ 1:19am | Report comment
Your opinion is severely biased my South African friend.
May 23rd 2010 @ 2:33pm
Katipo said | May 23rd 2010 @ 2:33pm | Report comment
The South African’s are looking good. They have dominated the S14 3 of the last four years. They are defending tri nations champions, they beat NZ 3 test to nil last year. Worrying for a kiwi!
I agree they have player depth, and also that Australia is increasing its depth under Robbie Deans guidance. NZ with the greatest player strength has given plenty of players all black jerseys but this hasn’t transferred in to player depth – we still don’t know who will back up Carter and McCaw? We are starting to hear excuses from the all black coaches already. Worrying times.
NZ’s remaining advantage is having the RWC played in NZ – home ground advantage. France beat NZ in NZ last year. SA beat NZ in NZ last year. Will NZ be able to defend their home turf against the Springboks and Wallabies this year? NZ’s two home tests against Springboks will let us know where we stand. The two Bledisloe matches in Australia will let us know how the Aussies are progressing. Unfortunately I have this creeping feeling that the tide is actually turning against NZ 18 months out from the RWC. I rate the Springboks RWC favourites at this point in time – they are building some real momentum and a winning culture (plenty of time for this to change though!)
May 23rd 2010 @ 4:29pm
brian said | May 23rd 2010 @ 4:29pm | Report comment
some very valid points – should the boks best 22 remain fit, they’ll walk the world cup next year. having watched most matches of the super 14s this year, i don’t believe i’ve ever seen nz rugby looking so pedestrian. for just about the first time in my life, i feel every time an sa side gets on the park opposite a nz team, the sa side will win (lions excepted, of course!). never had the pleasure of experiencing that before.
May 23rd 2010 @ 4:31pm
TembaVJ said | May 23rd 2010 @ 4:31pm | Report comment
Kynang, I have seen this too, i am with you but don’t expect anything else but what you are getting when you dare say anything about the “mighty” All blacks…
They will be 3rd in this 3N and unless they change this “god of rugby” attitude they will loose the next home RWC too.
You had a better chance of debate on Keo as someone pointed out. I see many lifting their noses in disgust but non offering anything but that same old fear me attitude… something the SA teams including the boks have shed the last while. They aint scared no more, and it scares you.
Welcome to a new area boys, green is the new black, if I could make up a team out of the 3N countries i wont have many if any all blacks. They have the talent but can’t shift the attitude that even their fans have adopted. Arrogance… this is going to be a painful year. I don’t care about history so save it, don’t care for insults so save them too. I would have more Aussies in my world team then AB’s.
Come on you lot the man took time and thought to share something with you, I dare you to retort with something else but excuses, insults and the “fear me god of rugby” attitude. list me the same amount of players that can do the job.
May 23rd 2010 @ 4:42pm
katzilla said | May 23rd 2010 @ 4:42pm | Report comment
Your trolling is coming along well Temba.
Well done, no bites yet but im sure you’ll get some.
May 23rd 2010 @ 4:46pm
ohtani's jacket said | May 23rd 2010 @ 4:46pm | Report comment
“They have the talent but can’t shift the attitude that even their fans have adopted. Arrogance…”
Beats being arrogant, paranoid, insecure and just plain weird.
May 23rd 2010 @ 4:52pm
katzilla said | May 23rd 2010 @ 4:52pm | Report comment
SEE TEMBA! I told you you’d get a bite.
Go to the front of the Troll class Temba!
Your next assignment is a research article on the merits of generalising entire populations and how it improves your chances of being a successful troll.
A+
May 23rd 2010 @ 4:56pm
TembaVJ said | May 23rd 2010 @ 4:56pm | Report comment
Speaking of trolls are you planning to add anything but insults?
I have been on the roar long enough not to be effected by insults… I am enjoying how the arrogant ones have nothing left but insults.
May 23rd 2010 @ 5:05pm
katzilla said | May 23rd 2010 @ 5:05pm | Report comment
I love the smell of Trolling in the morning.
May 23rd 2010 @ 5:11pm
TembaVJ said | May 23rd 2010 @ 5:11pm | Report comment
I love the smell of bad attitude in the evening.
How about that bulls game, Aussie ref and all? nothing left but insults, at least I have a pirri pirri chicken to BBQ and a Bulls win behind me. It smell awesome.
May 23rd 2010 @ 5:22pm
katzilla said | May 23rd 2010 @ 5:22pm | Report comment
I was cheering for the Bulls.
Im as sick of the Crusaders Dynasty as the next man, 7 championship wins is just stupid.
I like any other fan wish my team had that many and acknowledge that next to them we’re all just pretenders really. If your guys win though this year you’ll almost have half of what they have, well on your way.
Unfortunately ill be cheering for the Stormers in the final. Much more enjoyable for the neutral to watch. I have nothing against your team though and openly acknowledge their strong play in all facets of the game. Good luck for the final my friend, win this one and you might catch sight of the Crusaders off in the distant.
May 23rd 2010 @ 5:15pm
ohtani's jacket said | May 23rd 2010 @ 5:15pm | Report comment
What are we supposed to add to this love-in?
May 23rd 2010 @ 5:26pm
katzilla said | May 23rd 2010 @ 5:26pm | Report comment
There is nothing left to add OJ.
Just sit back and bask in the Green glory that is South African rugby.
Dare we tread where South Africans fly?
May 23rd 2010 @ 7:39pm
ISO said | May 23rd 2010 @ 7:39pm | Report comment
TembaVJ,
Many don’t realise the objectivity when it’s staring at them.
Insults and arrogance are the norm when there’s little else to say. Certainly, I’d think that any form of criticism should also contain an acceptable, alternate solution. “Don’t criticise unless you have a perfectly acceptable solution!” **P o’ Conner
In comparison to N-hemisphere who mostly play a slower game, and a recent on where on of their refs was replaced because he was tired (hilarious), the s-hemisphere play a vastly different game – fast and tough.
In a previous article a few weeks ago, at least one All Blacks fan verbalised the great concern at lack of depth in N.Z. What’s changed now?
As a British journalist noted after the last world cup taken by the Boks, “…they are easily capable of carrying an ox under each arm…”
The expectations placed on the All Blacks by the Kiwis are often unrealistic. Much to the Kiwis’ credit, most of them finally acknowledge this…
A very true article indeed!
May 23rd 2010 @ 4:54pm
TembaVJ said | May 23rd 2010 @ 4:54pm | Report comment
Katz it took 5 mins for you to respond…
YES OJ let me hear it more, bring me some history… eh?
“Beats being arrogant, paranoid, insecure and just plain weird.” This is a prime example of how the downhill is affecting the fans…. take a page from the reds book. Start playing with your hearts again not your attitude.
May 24th 2010 @ 6:41pm
pothale said | May 24th 2010 @ 6:41pm | Report comment
I wonder if a s World XV at the moment is likely to have a more French bias to it.
Top 14 is slowly overtaking Super 14 as the premier club tournament. With the expansion to Super 15, bigger, talent-diluted squads and more game time for the franchises, this change is likely to increase.
The end of season tours will tell us a bit more about the French test team, though unfortunately not enough with them only meeting SA in a once-off in Cape Town.
I was asking myself who from the SA team would make it into a French XV?
From 9-15, du Preez is the only player in my mind to oust Parra/Yachvilli.
Trin-Duch, Jauzion, Mermoz, Basteauraud, Clerc, Malzieu, Rougerie, Poitrenaud would be comfortable enough, though Stormers winger, Habana, might dispute his non-selection.
In the back row, Harinorduquoy has eclipsed Spies easily with his recent form with Biarritz, and the talents of Picamoles, Dusatoir, Bonnaire strenghten their hand in this department. Pape, Pierre, Milo-Chluski would all be under pressure from the formidable duo of Matfield and Botha, but one senses the Bulls duo’s dominance of the past is rapidly becoming that – the past. Barcella, Domingo, Szarzewski, Mas, Poux would keep the SA front row handily at bay where SA propping skills have turned out to be less than effective in the last 12 months. SA will know they have a forward game on their hands when they step out onto Newlands this June. (And the Italians may have a word or two to say as well.)
Given the Bulls dominance of the S14 in the last couple of years, it’s a wonder that P de Villiers hasn’t just selected his test XV from that team. But then, as we know, club teams (or provinces/franchises) have a different dynamic to their test counterparts. Following the Tri-Nations, the test side have undertaken to play and win a NH Grand Slam in November. That’ll be a better time to assess where they are, before the final push in 2011.
May 24th 2010 @ 7:00pm
Lee said | May 24th 2010 @ 7:00pm | Report comment
I won’t argue with you about the front row, if the Boks picked on form and settled then a big maybe. Although when Bismarck actually plays rugby, instead of show boating and acting tough I don’t think there is a better hooker in the world, espeically with his relationship with Botha and Matfield in the lineouts.
For my money you still can’t go past Botha and Matfield as a duo – they just compliment each other so well, and Matfield still has no peer as far the lineouts go(for both his own and disrupting oposition ball).
Would agree about Harinoruquoy and Spies(can’t wait for this battle in the test – to see if Spied fronts up). But not sure about the flanks, I would argue that a flanker combo of Brussouw with Burger or Smith would be one of the most balanced in the world. However, Brussouw is injured nad we haven’t been able to see him much with the new interpretations.
Du Preez a definite. And Habana still gets there for me. Maybe Frans Steyn at fullback in a few years but not sure yet/ and SA definately has no other contenders(Lambie from the Sharks will be their big player but not for a couple of years).
I would say Fourie over Basteraud, but I won’t profess to know alot about Basteraud, just what I have seen has been disapppointing.
So for Bok players are:
2.Du Plesis 4.Matfield 5.Botha 6(blindside).Smith/Burger 9. Du Preez 11. Habana 13.Fourie
As far as picking most of a national side from one club, I think the ABs tried that with the Crusaders around 2002 and it didn’t really translate.
Have you heard PDV’s thoughts on the Grand Slam tour this year? It sounds like there will be no excuses, he has said that the Boks will treat it like a World Cup dry run i.e 1st week = Pool game 2nd week = Quarter final 3rd week = Semi final 4th week – final. Just so they can try win 4 games back-to-back with a settled squad. Will be interesting indeed.
May 24th 2010 @ 7:14pm
pothale said | May 24th 2010 @ 7:14pm | Report comment
Lee
All fair points on the players you’ve picked. And indeed the jury is still out on Bastearaud – he was being hailed as the second BO’D when the 6 Nations started, but that had become more muted by the time the tournament ended.
I did see PdV’s comments on the November tour. Good to hear from an SA coach as opposed to some of the excuses we’ve been hearing which seem to surround SA losses in NH (and which always detracts from any victories by NH teams). I wondered if PdV was assigning the teams respective merits with his pool/final analogy, but figured that whatever order SA met them wouldn’t matter. Ireland first up will be a tough one – Ireland will not want to lose the opening test match in the new Lansdowne Road, and they’ll want to keep their recent winning record against SA going.
Anyway, there’s a lot to happen before that, roll on June.
May 24th 2010 @ 7:30pm
Lee said | May 24th 2010 @ 7:30pm | Report comment
Ireland will be tough and the French game in SA is teh one that is worrying me the most(at the moment).
Also go to remember some teams grow an extra leg at the WC, others seem to lose one. Who will be able to put that behind them. It’s shaping up to be an interesting 18months!
May 24th 2010 @ 7:24pm
ohtani's jacket said | May 24th 2010 @ 7:24pm | Report comment
I don’t see how the Grand Slam tour will prove anything.
Aside from England, there’s never been a World Cup champion that capitalised on the perfect preparation. New Zealand prior to the last WC had more depth and better results than any side to ever enter a WC and we all know how close White came to being fired a year out.
Nevertheless, people still cling to this idea that what everyone does from here on out is crucial to the WC. In an ideal world, that would be true. Sides would be rewarded for their hard work and preparation but at the end of the day it’s a tournament and there’s no amount of planning that can prepare you for the crunch. That’s not to say that form doesn’t count for anything but I think it’s safe to say that South African could bomb the GS tour and still be competitive at the Cup. They will be the favourite heading into this Tri-Nations despite their end of year tour last season.
May 24th 2010 @ 7:28pm
Lee said | May 24th 2010 @ 7:28pm | Report comment
That’s a fair call, OJ. Afterall, in 2007 the Boks sent a B team on tour in the Tri Nations and that didn’t seem to effect them to much. If anything it probably contributed to the AB players not being tough match fit prior to the WC.
To me the next year, is interesting because by teh start of the Tri Nations next year, the Boks should have their WC team set in stone and I’m excited about who may be there(and who won’t)
May 24th 2010 @ 7:44pm
ohtani's jacket said | May 24th 2010 @ 7:44pm | Report comment
Well, the Boks have arguably got better player management than any other side right now. They’re not afraid to lose the odd Test here and there if it means resting players and they’ve wisely protected the Currie Cup and put it on a greater mantle than the end of year tour.
I don’t think it’s a surprise that the All Blacks have started having injury problems since the 2008 season when Henry was forced to rely on his core group of players for 15 Tests. The All Blacks are under too much pressure to drop a game but the NZRU keep organising end of year tours that flog our players, fail to blood new talent and are of little interest to the public back home.
The World Cup won’t be won in 2010 but it could be lost by overplaying guys.
May 24th 2010 @ 8:20pm
Lee said | May 24th 2010 @ 8:20pm | Report comment
Agree completely about losing it this year.
I would hate to be in charge of the ABs, because you are right, losing a test isn’t an option for them but sometimes you need to not be afraid of losing.
The player managemnet for the Boks is a must have purely because of the age of the likes of Matfield, Smit, Botha. We could end up with a huge lack of talent by 2011 if we don’t have some viable back ups for them.
Well the tests are going to be interesting…
May 23rd 2010 @ 4:36pm
TembaVJ said | May 23rd 2010 @ 4:36pm | Report comment
This does not count for everyone, just those who looked to play the man and not the ball.
How good of McCaw not to blame travel when asked post match, the last remaining of a once great team.