The first question on most British rugby fans’ minds this year has been: will the Lions tour go ahead? And where?
But a more pressing question, noting the complete lack of game time for South Africa, should be: will the Springboks even be ready?
South Africa have not played a game of international rugby since lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in Tokyo in November 2019.
The global pandemic has brought with it many unintended sporting experiments, and rugby is no different. Curtailed seasons, extra midweek games, thorough testing protocols and no crowds have all been a huge test for the sport.
However, one of the biggest experiments in the last season came not from COVID-19 but from the Saracens’ salary saga. The result of Saracens being relegated along with their large England rugby contingent brought about the question of whether long rest periods between competitive games can create more opportunities and better performances.
(Photo by Francois Nel – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
Those Saracens players, who formed the backbone of the hugely successful England team over the last year, became unwilling participants in the experiment, testing this hypothesis when England coach Eddie Jones selected five of them to start the Six Nations. Almost all of them played absolutely no club rugby until very recently and played no competitive games between the autumn Nations Cup and the Six Nations.
The unfortunate result of that tournament very much supported the notion of so-called ‘ring rust’. England suffered their worst Six Nations performance since Italy joined the competition in 1999 and the five nations became six.
Owen Farrell and Elliot Daly were heavily criticised for their lack of accuracy and poor decision-making, Jamie George lost his starting spot to Luke Cowan-Dickie and Billy Vunipola, despite continuing to carry like a bulldozer, admitted his own performance wasn’t up to scratch.
The potential outlier, Maro Itoje, who at times performed at his freakishly good levels, still conceded a table-topping 12 penalties – with his Saracens counterpart Mako Vinupula coming in second with nine – which one could argue was due to being out of touch with the current referee’s idea of legal and illegal, a vital ability for a world-class jackler.
If we take the findings of this two-month experiment and look at South Africa, at the time of writing the national side has not played a Test in 17 months. That’s almost certainly the longest gap in the international schedule since the game turned professional. Compare that to the home nations who since the Rugby World Cup final have played the 2020 Six Nations tournament, the autumn Nations Cup and the 2021 Six Nations, tallying up 14 games apiece, with Wales playing a whopping 16.
At the club level a good number of the South African World Cup winners are now plying their trade in Europe and afar. However, almost half of the starting squad that last ran out in the green and gold play for the national clubs such as Lions, Stormers, Sharks and Bulls. Since the pandemic hit these sides have played in only two tournaments, the Super Rugby SA and the recent Franchise Cup, totalling a meagre ten games apiece.
Compare that to their northern hemisphere counterparts and the likes of Premiership clubs Exeter, Sale and Bristol, who’ve played over 30 matches. Pro14 clubs like Munster, Leinster, Edinburgh, Blues and Scarlets have played roughly 20 games. The clubs likely to supply players to the British and Irish Lions squad have all played double and in some cases triple the number of games as the South African clubs.
To add further worry for the Springboks, the newly incepted Rainbow League between the South African Super Rugby franchises and the Pro14 unfortunately looks like it may be cancelled, which will again leave a good portion of Springboks players with little valuable game time prior to July.
So will this hypothesis be further tested during this tour? Will the South African players show the same ring rust as the Saracens in the Six Nations with so many players having had much more time away from the highest level of the support? Or will Rassie Erasmus’s men prove why they hold the world No. 1 spot and, with the superstars such as Cheslin Kolbe, Faf de Klerk and Damian de Allende causing a storm in Europe, still provide the competitive series all Lions fans are hoping for?
The Rugby world waits with great anticipation, particularly, I’m sure, Eddie Jones.
Matt
Roar Rookie
Ha maybe the brink of re-writing the entire transcript of the television coverage.. how do I politely concede here Neil? The comment was a while ago now and yeah maybe you've successfully proved me wrong "buddy"
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
The brink? Of what? That's funny. OK, I did you the consideration of listening to 'the panel' at full time on ITV's coverage, which has to be the one you're complaining about. The panel was BOD, Rory, Clive and Wilko, and in summary and order, it went like this at the end of the game; Brian: Best I've seen Ireland play under Farrell, all encompassing performance, no mention of England. Rory: Brilliant Irish pack performance, no mention of England. Clive: Asked off the bat if England have gone stale; pulls the question back to how good Ireland were, best he's seen not just under Farrell but in many a year (note, beats BOD's claim), lauds Stander's career, calls Henshaw brilliant and makes Murray an outstanding (brilliant) MOTM, then answers the question he's asked. Wilko: Asked if England can win a RWC like this, goes to the homogenous nature of the game currently and power of coaches (not necessarily English centric), saw an inspired Ireland. Rory: Talked to the identity of Farrells Ireland, no mention of England. BOD: The multiple options of Ireland's game, no mention of England Wilko: Sexton's quality, supremacy of the Irish tight five, no mention of England Clive: England's continuing alarming penalty count. BOD: Sexton's great form and longevity, no mention of England. To summarize the summary, the Irish panel pundits only talked about Ireland, the English panelists talked about both. Buddy, if that's honestly what get's you riled, I go to my previous observation. Needy. Now, same polite invitation I made to JN (ignored, draw your own conclusions), please point me at these other offending media events you refer to.
Matt
Roar Rookie
Neil perhaps I could bring this back from the brink by correcting my original off hand comment. I certainly meant "all THAT the Media wanted to talk about was England's performance" and the media in question was the post match panel on the TV and the podcasts I've listened to. Rather than ALL OF the media said that. I apologise if my casual comment riled you up so much!
Kane
Roar Guru
Touche' They've provided some strong points, interestingly it's the Scots and Irish in the team that are more confident than the Welsh and English.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
I was more worried about your team mates. I’d suggest they go through the protocols with those opinions.
Kane
Roar Guru
I have adequate technique, I've never been concussed.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Further evidence of brain and concussion injury ????
Kane
Roar Guru
Can't argue with that one Neil. Side effect of living and playing rugby in the UK I guess :laughing:
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
You must keep strange company Kane.
Kane
Roar Guru
Most of the fans I've spoken with in the UK don't believe the Boks will win a game.
Unders
Roar Pro
Who plays 10 if Pollard can't? Jantijes? Steyn? Le Roux? Kolbe? Morne?
Unders
Roar Pro
True- Ireland inflicted England's worst defeat since the WC Final and probably worst defeat of the Jones era- beaten physically, mentally and outdone at the ruck. The Wales game was tinted by refereeing errors, the Scotland game was a one off given how close it was despite them dominating England. But the Ireland game was a comprehensive thrashing
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Please stop with the faux offence JN. 'Put up or shut up' is a million miles away from 'shut up'. It's not my fault if you can't tell the difference. Or choose not to. Which articles? Well, any would be a start buddy. Considering Matt's original premise, which I originally challenged, was that 'all' the media wanted to discuss was England's poor performance, I don't think that's a big ask is it? I mean, you must have formed your 'firm opinion' from something other than gut feel, right? I mean, surely? No disrespect, but show me any serious match report that didn't discuss both Ireland's great performance and England's poor showing.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Sheesh?? You got that right..and yes my firm opinion is that’s exactly what transpired.. Which articles would you like me to produce..? I’m talking a myriad of public comment right down to personalities such as Clive Woodward publically hinting at Jones being replaced……other reasons put forward such as Saracens players being undercooked.. This article is not the first we’ve read about that….Refs copping it too.. That’s all good because as I acknowledged this happens in my own country…I do believe that teams particularly Wales and Scotland have stepped up their game… I also believe that the way Ireland played vs England all teams on the planet would’ve struggled to stay with them yet the majority of opinion I certainly read from the English press and public was that it was England that imploded as opposed to the opposition outplaying them.. Which is exactly what happened.. Finally no disrespect but I do not appreciate you advising me to shut up simply because I express an opinion you disagree with on what primarily is an opinion based sports forum….
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Firstly, I won't target you JN, nor accuse you of blinkers. I'll simply request the same I did of Matt and ask you to produce those offending comments and articles. Simply put up or shut up because it simply wasn't what happened. Secondly, to both of you, consider this. A team (ignore nationality) in the space of a dozen games, has dominated the RWC favourites in a semi to make the final, won the subsequent Autumn nations cup and gone into the subsequent 6N as reigning champions. They have then completed their final game of that 6N producing their worst ever finish by position and stats in history. Ever. Now. Don't you think that would attract some comment at the end of the tournament particularly? You boys. Sheesh.
Kane
Roar Guru
Talk in the UK is that the result can only be 3-0 to the Lions
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Danie Craven…..he was a legend….was amused at his reported description of the Rhodesian Bok Ray Mordt ” A demented rhinoceros in the body of a man”
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Thought of you Harry, as I saw Ruhle play on the weekend...some classic comments from his days with the Stormers.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Well Bro, I can remember the 56 Bokkes, in Aotearoa, & as a young fella I had the great privilege of meeting the manager, the great Doctor ( Danie Craven ) outside the Waines Hotel in Dunedin. Geeez & that was a great team.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
I’m afraid Neil has his England blinkers on here….its quite obvious that the mindset when playing their NH neighbours is overwhelmingly more about how they blew the game rather than accepting wholeheartedly been beaten by the better team.. From the very top down to their supporters.. And in case I get targeted as anti English, that’s pretty much what happens when my own team the Boks play as well….SA supporters not too quick to give credit to its opposition when we get beaten..