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?
coza
Guest
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,.
zhenry
Guest
It needs to be pointed out that NZ has about 100,000 registered rugby players. South Africa has 400,000 and a burgeoning population ready to go well beyond that figure.
counterruck
Guest
as a SH fan, I have to admit I enjoy the top 14 immensely and agree it is right up there with s14 in terms of quality. the s14 has ridiculous travel which surely goes some way towards cancelling out the more games in the top 14. the travel from nz to sa is gruelling and quite frankly insane, detracting from the whole tournament. one thing is for sure, its great too see rugby making strides in France, that can only be a good thing for the game. it would be great if there was eventually a splliover effect into francophone areas/other parts of Europe. another observation - these inter-hemishpere debates only seem to exist in Rugby circles, I cant think of this occuring in other sports.
Derm
Roar Guru
I'm glad you found it funny, Just A Fan. To add to Mr Saunders' comments, here's couple of thoughts on the matter to consider. Why not have a look at the line-ups of the Top 6 ranked teams in Europe - http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/121_9900.php - and see the amount of SH players in their starting XVs? It's instructive to see that not all teams have this over-dependence or preponderance of SH players that you appear to think they have. However, some SH players do play in NH leagues obviously, and they add to the variety and enjoyment of the tournaments. Which supports my point about the gaining popularity of the Top 14. France is attracting a heady mix of players to their shores to play in the Top 14 in recent years. It is the most expensive league in world rugby at the moment, and likely the richest. Its attendances are increasing each year, and France has won pretty much everything this year in NH across European competitions. We all know they are mercurial but their results against NZ and South Africa has stood them in good stead. The other thing you should check is the number of game minutes that a Top 14 player has to play compared to a Super 14 player - currently. That will change next year with the advent of the Super 15 comp structure. But right now, you'd have to dispute whether a Super 14 player could suddenly switch from playing a 1040 maximum game time tournament (leaving out playoffs) to another tournament that is TWICE as long at 2080 minutes. During that season, test squad players have at least another 10-12 tests to play. Of course there's squad rotation for players, but I wouldn't be so quick as to make assumptions of the lasting powers of a Top 14 player in another league. Something tells me they'd greet it with open arms compared to their current endurance schedule.
Seiran
Guest
Your opinion is severely biased my South African friend.
Seiran
Guest
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.
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
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.
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
Just a 'Fan', Toulouse, winners of the Heineken Cup on the weekend, fielded this side versus Biarritz: 1. Poux (France) 2. Servat (France) 3. Lecouls (France) 4. Millo-Chluski (France) 5. Albacete (Argentina) 6. Bouilhou (France) 7. Dusautoir (France) 8. Sowerby (SA) 9. Kelleher (NZ) 10. Skrela (France) 11. Medard (France) 12. Jauzion (France) 13. Fritz (France) 14. Clerc (France) 15. Poitrenaud (France) 16. Basualdo (Argentina) 17. Human (SA) 18. Johnston (Samoa) 19. Maestri (France) 20. Picamoles (France) 21. Elissalde (France) 22. David (France) 23. Heymans (France) So... what to make of this comment: 'the only reason anyone is paying any kind of attention to the Top 14 or any other NH tournaments is because of the SH players over there….' How many SH *stars* will be taking the field for Clermont and Perpignan this weekend? This comment is very interesting as well: 'Anyone of the current S14 players can go and play in the Top 14 for 80 minutes straight away' Really?
Just a Fan
Guest
Don 't know why people complain about SH players going to Europe. The more players that go over seas to play, the more players come through the system - the greater the depth. The guys overseas are getting coached and paid at no expense to SA. SA has three rugby academies now and could easily open more to train up the talent pool. Definitely no shortage of talented rugby players now or in the future. What SA do lack is decent coaching structures (read...Management egos too big....) Jake White not coaching, Heinke Meyers only just started coaching again after the Springbok coach debackle.... VERY VERY disturbing that the Lions coach is part of the Springbok set up. Sharks let David Campese walk away through mismanagement (they have NEVER been the same (as good) since...then the creme de la creme, we have Peter De Villers - aka Snor, for the Bok coach...need any proof of his insanity...apart from the humiliating subbing during the British and Irish tests last year, he has Ricki Januarie in starting line up for the Welsh test.... Funniest joke of the day: "Top 14 is slowly overtaking Super 14 as the premier club tournament."(Pothale)....the only reason anyone is paying any kind of attention to the Top 14 or any other NH tournaments is because of the SH players over there.... Anyone of the current S14 players can go and play in the Top 14 for 80 minutes straight away - but there is no ways that a Top 14 player would be able to cope with that for weeks in a S14 comp. And we moan about the reffing in the S14.....reffing consistency, and "unbias" is practically non existent in the Top 14.
allblackfan
Guest
I've been gobsmacked by all of the NZ teams' attitude to their games this year. It looked like they simply couldn't be bothered. All the teams were hot and cold; there was no consistency. I wonder why
Matthew
Guest
Good post Rusty. I also have to say that the Stormers and Bulls both played an attractive brand of rugby this year, moreso the Stormers.
Sylvester
Guest
I'm sure Slade dropped only one or two, one of which was a shocker to be fair. Other than that, I thought he was quite solid and even took a couple of tougher ones. I doubt Slade's too on the AB fullback list at this stage, but Henry will like how he chimes into a backline. It's Cory Jane's best attribute. Slade's quick hands in setting up Maitland was a sight to behold.
Lee
Guest
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...
mmax
Guest
Thanks for the reply. Cooke was a loss and Brits and Claasen are far superior to Chilli and Januarie. Can you imagine Beast and Brits coming onto the field with twenty minutes left? A couple of the guys in France are young and i wouldn't be surprised if they're in the French national team in a few years. Consider the amount of props alone and France and the shortages locally? But you're right, the super 14 would be unbelievable if all these guys /and their nz colleagues) had to return. Barritt would've been fantastic backup too and E Joubert never got the deserved recognition in SA. Really happy J Kruger is returning, he has class written all over him.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
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.
Lee
Guest
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!
Lee
Guest
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)
ohtani's jacket
Guest
You forgot Japan.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
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.
Derm
Roar Guru
"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.