Bok captain Adriaan Strauss announces retirement on eve of Brisbane Test

Strauss' announcement, while welcomed by most Bok supporters, is really par for the course for Springbok rugby over the last decade where an incumbent has to either retire or die before better talent can make their mark as starters. Unlike the ABs, where no position is guaranteed, the Bok culture is one of tenure, and one of the many reasons they are now losing frequently. As for the timing of this announcement? An educated guess is that Strauss' dismal performance of late has put the pressure on him and his coach to make this public now.

You're so right mate, it jogged my memory a tad and it was Buchler who did the job at Fullback! But wasn't that a fabulous tour, jeezuz' it really did it for me as a young fulla', and for sure it was "controversial", but the average Kiwi just didn't seem to be concerned much at all, probably because you couldn't be seen to let anything get in the way of any top rugby and certainly not a "Tour by the Springboks". The first Test rugby I saw was the 1950 Lions, and boy that was a tour to remember, went off them a bit as they beat the All Blacks in the Tests, never approached that result since. That Team had some of the best players I've ever seen, mind you I was only 12 years old, but I sucked it up, ~ to see those brilliant backs in action had to be seen to be believed, ~ Think Jack Kyle, Bleddyn Williams, the Jones boys and it goes on, good forwards also, but that Jack Kyle was possibly the best first five eight I've ever seen, he was legendary. But the Bok tour of 1956 was the epitome for me, and I've pretty much made a bit of a study of it ever since, as the whole set up of the Boks prior to the tour smacked of absolute nepotism, (and that other word I hate using) no doubt about it. It's a good read if you care to get into it believe me. and outwardly the Tourists we all were of the opinion of them being a damn good bunch, and they did their bit in Public Relations etc to the max, available to the public and visiting old Ladies and Schools etc, but there was a lot going on and had gone on that we of the rugby nuts didn't know about and very likely just didn't want to know anyway. Wonderful tour playing 26 games and a couple in Aussie' on the way down!

Exactly Chook', it shows!

Right on Hopalong, it's important that you get to be one of those "old cynic" things, absolutely mate particularly as you age even!

'The Bok have often picked a skipper who wasn’t clearly their best player in that position and built a team around him – Smit a prime example.' Then moved him to loosehead which saw the scrum go backwards

Vermeulen has been carrying an injury for some time and the Boks need a ball carrier with the Beast struggling.

I should remember as it was the very first test match I had every seen live but I don't recall so looked it up.

I think the fullback was Johnny Buchler

Does SA actually have a better Number 8 than Whiteley, now that Duane has gotten pudgy (well pudgier) and lacks the fitness for the top level of the sport?

That would be a big mistake IMO.I think it'd take the edge of Etzebeth. If he was always in hot water like Hartley then it'd be justified but he isn't so he should be let be. The Beast would only be a short term option and after his disastrous cameo as skipper of the Sharks (where he made Moore look like a diplomat) then he shouldn't even be on the list. Besides his days must be numbered now anyway. The Bok have often picked a skipper who wasn't clearly their best player in that position and built a team around him - Smit a prime example.

Better than BdP ? Only when the Biz was injured or asleep.

Strauss is a champion and a great captain. His style with referees is as good as it gets. He may have been playing with injury in recent times.

Basie Viviers was the Bok Skipper in 1956 and played in no Tests and you're correct also when you say he was a controversial pick as Captain of the Touring side as seemingly he was never the most popular guy around as Danie Craven wanted Salty du Rand as Captain but because Viviers who was an Afrikaaner and was married to the daughter of the South African Minister of ''something or other'' in the Government of the day, the said Father in Law intervened and made sure Viviers got the Captaincy and du Rand who was not an Afrikaaner ended up as the Vice Captain. Craven just didn't like Viviers by all accounts as he was seemingly not a very good Fullback either and when on Tour Craven pretty much got the way of the Coach as he saw it and dropped Viviers for du Rand as Captain in all four Tests. I can't off the top of my head remember who played Fullback in the Tests, but that 1956 Springbok team was a wonderful side, beset with injuries, mainly hamstring type caused seemingly by using the wrong boots, but that didn't get in the way of quality of rugby played. A lot of memories of that tour with some wonderful rugby played, and although it was a regarded as controversial in some circumstances there was awesome stuff like Public Relations etc that went on and the rugby was superb, win, lose or draw, It commanded respect between the two very best rugby sides playing the game! The All Blacks won the first, third and fourth Test with the Boks prevailing in the Second Test. One of the wingers was a 9 point seven hundred yard sprinter, (Tommy Van Vollenhoven) and two of the Flankers one of who was also an ex Winger converted (Daan Retief) along with another speedster Loosie, name of Ackerman who could hoof it almost as quickly! I could go on forever about that 1956 Tour and all it's subtleties and lack of same, as seemingly there was gross Political interference right from the Selection Trials and subsequently it was a squad of two Factions, but that never got in the way of rugby on game day. The only exception was the Captain~Vice Captain scenario. But as a 18 year old rugby Fan, I just loved it as did most New Zealanders.

It was a short term position. Coetzee took over a month to name a captain for the Ireland series and said it was for that only. Winning the series changed that obviously.

They follow a bench player?

Same problem as Whiteley. You don't want to be giving leadership roles to players who aren't certain of their spot the Wallabies are a case in point and not the best in their position so they are shifted elsewhere (see Smit at loosehead). Link had often dropped his captain and vice captains due to lack of performance.

Two of our best players (form and class), Bismarck and Marx, can now get a look in...

Yes, go with Whiteley. Refs understand him, too. A bonus for Boks! Let Duane focus on France. The guys seem to follow WW.

Great player over the years alternating with the Battle ship, must be Marx and Bismark, you would think.

Jaco Kriel as vice surely