Paulo, of course I understand the context about playing against Georgia 😊
The bomb squad front row comment needs to be read and decoded by the receiver of text in isolation about the Bok performance as a whole or whether or not they will beat the Lions. To add further context, my view is that the Boks made a lot of mistakes in the 1st half and struggled with their rhythm, as expected, but started to get some going in the 2nd half. There is still heaps of room for improvement.
But on that bench front row, sure they haven’t played Test rugby for 19 months but were dominant against all opposition as a front row (read in isolation) during 2019, and again there was a marked difference when Malherbe came on temporarily in the 1st half, and again when all 3 took the field in the 2nd.
Honest question, what front row do you consider better or close to Kitshof, Marx and Malherbe? Honestly, I can’t think of any. It doesn’t mean that the Boks will beat the Lions, but those boys are something special and the NH hasn’t seen much of both the Boks’ front rows because they play their rugby in SA, although Marx has had a stint in Japan recently.

Same old same old click-bait stuff from backinblack 😂

The ABs are always an excellent side and will be tough to beat this year again, as always.

10/10 – PSDT & Pollard
If Poland goes down against the Lions we are stuffed.

The “bomb squad” front row of Kitshoff, Marx and Malherbe is the best in the world. Daylight between them and any other front row. Just what you need to inject into a game at 50 minutes.

Ignore this. I have now found it on Stan. I swear it wasn’t there over the past few days 😂

Can anyone tell me how we can watch the Springboks vs Georgia tonight? In Australia
I have Stan Sport but I can’t see it on their fixtures list, neither can I see it on Kayo.

Correct, the care factor has changed. You cannot judge South Africa or the (extreme and often illogical) restrictions of last year through the lens of an Australian/NZ perspective. One of was no sport, training or gathering of teams for months on end. It’s apples and oranges. As Ex Force Fan mentioned, they tried to stop the spread, but failed, so now it’s accepted, like the USA.

Another big difference is recent blood tests are showing that the majority of people in SA have had Covid already, because they have the SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Google it. My brother (and other family members) have had it and he didn’t even know. Because his kids got it, he had a blood test which showed he had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

AndyS- The point you raise has been addressed previously.
South Africans are playing rugby now, and have been since late last year. However, last year no-one in South Africa had done any training, let alone play any form of rugby or even gather as teams since March 2020. This was due to the SA government restrictions in place. The same government restrictions are no longer in place.
Therefore, covid numbers or cases per day this year to last year are completely irrelevant. It’s all about what people (and sportsmen/teams) were allowed to do and weren’t. You weren’t even allowed to go surfing mate, let alone gather or train.

I miss Kings Park, but happy I wasn’t there that day in 2016…

Great comment RT. I agree with everything you said. Those who weren’t paying much attention to the Boks building momentum from 2018-2019 may have been surprised, but I wasn’t, and dare I say anticipated the Boks would make the final. I wasn’t keen on making bold predictions that could be construed as “arrogance” though, it was mere observation of the team culture and the way they were playing, as well as the calibre of talented players in the Bok team who were considered no-names and not up to scratch before the WC by overseas rugby “experts”. Those people weren’t paying close attention to their abilities and the team culture Rassie was fostering …. At the end of 2017 I would’ve said “you’re dreaming if you think the Boks have any chance of winning the WC in 2019”. But a (very) good coach can make all the difference. When I knew the final was against England, that turned my anticipation into expectation that the Boks would win it. If it were NZ, it would have been a 50/50, or perhaps 60/40 in favour of NZ.
But it’s all history now. Boks need to regather, start again and front the Lions.

Jacko I agree that using 500 minutes was a silly excuse. The real reason was they were ill prepared because all South African based players (more than half the team) had not played any rugby, or trained since March 2020, except for maybe in their houses and towards the end around the time the decisions had to made. The ill preparation was forced upon them, irrespective of how hard they tried to make it work which is why they delayed committing to the RC in the first place.

That’s it. That’s all it was.

Jacko…. your lack of knowledge on South Africa’s government restrictions over 2020/2021 is on full display. The restrictions were FAR worse last year with all sport, training etc rules out, irrespective of the COVID case numbers or numbers per day.
SA is nearly back to normal life now, just have to wear masks wherever you go.

Do you know anybody well, that you talk to often that lives in SA?

It is chalk and cheese to compare 2020 SA to how life was here in Australia.

Again I’d have loved the Boks to have played, but being aware of the excessive restrictions for so long, I understand why the decision was made and it’s certainly not what you think or keep repeating.

Mate, no one is disputing how good the All Blacks were for the entire teens decade. They deservedly won 2 World Cups. And who knows whether this Bok team will back up their performances of 2019? We don’t know….

To the Boks, correct one game does not make you the worlds best, I agree. But if anyone had been paying attention in 2019 it wasn’t 1 game…. They drew to NZ in NZ, which is not very common for any team, and then lost the pool game (their only loss in 2019). But their eyes were always on the bigger prize irrespective of the pool game….

The same Wales that were ranked world number 1 just before the tournament?
The Boks were always going to play that way against them, the reasons for their game plan were as clear as day to me, it was simply to play the game required for the Boks to beat Wales. That’s all. Kick, keep it tight, defend…. beat Wales.

3 teams were the front runners imo, NZ, England and SA, while 4 others “could have” won on a given day with Wales the top of that next best list.

The Boks also beat England in a test series in SA in 2018, when all the talk was about the “big” game at the end of that year to decide the world’s best between England and NZ. There was slim chance the Boks were going to lose to England in that final. If they had played the All Blacks, I personally think it would’ve been 50/50, that could have gone either way. Just like the previous games between these two in 2018 and 2019. But that never happened.

I guess so Jak… I guess so… 😂 😁

😁 😁

1. Argies went brilliantly 👍
2. No mate, most are (or at least were) SA based.

The thing is mate, you’re last point is very easy to say in hindsight, when you haven’t had the lived experience of it.
Personally m, I would’ve loved to have seen the Boks play, but I understand the reasons why the decision was made at the time. And the reasons are not because of what you say it is. I agree that the 500 minutes was a silly thing to say and blew it a bit out of proportion, because now it’s used against them when anyone wants to have a dig. The main point was that no training was allowed at all, not even surfing for months and months!! Imagine that, I can’t and I’m so happy that I didn’t have to live it like my family members had to.

Would you do an Iron Man with no training? It takes months to prepare for that.

Likewise for Test rugby or any rugby.
I cannot emphasise enough that there was no rugby and no training. The SA domestic season only started again with full contact games after a few months of training.

In my view, it beggars belief how self righteous people here in Australia and New Zealand do not have a comprehension of this. If the shoe was on the other foot, I guarantee you that your opinion would be different.

Bluesfan- in 2016 and 2017 you’re including the worst 2 years in Springboks rugby history, the absolute bottom, they couldn’t sink any lower. And 2015 wasn’t that flash either, (although they were one drop-kick or penalty away from making the WC final).
But in 2018 they started to believe, and in 2019 they did believe and played like it. That’s all.

Keo is intentionally provocative, like many other overseas journalists in their respective countries are, such as some on this site (cough Spiro…) and in NZ and in the UK. But he is only one man who is giving an opinion, equally as valid as mine or yours. He does not represent everyone or all journalists.

Conversely, I think the Boks should get it done as I think the pack will be too strong and then Pollard can run the show with the boot and play, but it will be tough. If Pollard doesn’t play all 240 minutes, the Lions will win.

But here’s the plan thing, the SA based players, which is well more than half the team (and many overseas based players returned to SA to be with their families when when travel closures and chaos ensued, like Vermuelen), had not even trained (because they weren’t allowed to) let alone gathered as provincial or club teams, and don’t even mention a rugby game since the March 2020.

It was like chalk and cheese being a rugby player, or everyday person, in Australia or New Zealand in comparison to South Africa. I cannot comment on the Argentina because I do not know about their Covid restrictions or previous training.

It certainly wasn’t selfish or intentional and SARU had never agreed to playing, waited to make a final call m, so as to explore all possibilities to make it happen. But in the end, it was the SA government’s rules and restrictions that were too overbearing to make it a possibility to front a competitive team.

Brandon, I don’t know what articles you have been reading that suggest the Boks will whitewash the Lions… Or AWJ is a “pensioner” etc. I have very read different views ….
I believe in this Bok side though. All through 2018 and 2019 the momentum was building and the no-name South African based players such as Am, Mapimpi, de Allende, RG etc were very very underrated by many overseas rugby scribes before they became stars during and after the WC…. one or two of whom are regular contributors on this site but I won’t name names…. 😉

I hope the Boks can go 3-0, and anything less than a 2-1 win for the Boks will be very disappointing. But these Lions will be a heck of team and Boks are the underdogs in my opinion, and that tag suits them just fine…

I liked Super 12 the best, shorter and sharper. Or even Super 10 for the 3 years from 1993-1995, that was great!
I’d love to have a Champions League type tournament involving the top two teams from NZ, Aus and SA.

There’s the option of even having a host country, rotated yearly, for a tournament like this. The domestic final counts towards table points. Then 4 games against the international teams followed by 2/3rd playoff and the main grand final. 6 weeks total time.

If the other teams feel left out you could always have a “plate” tournament too, hosted by one or both of the other two countries. A final for the plate would still sell out a stadium I reckon.

OR… Australian rugby continues on its own domestically and South Africa and New Zealand form their own competition with each other…. South Africans love playing the Australian teams too so would love to be inclusive, but it appears that feeling is not reciprocated in Australia.

This is so that an Australian team can always win a final every year. That appears to be what Australian fans want as they’re used to it with NRL, AFL etc, as identified by Loosehead Greg too. I’m not being facetious, that’s simply the reality of Australian fans, whereas for years South Africans had the Currie Cup anyway, and kiwi teams often won Super Rugby and have their domestic rugby.

Haven’t many of the SA and NZ players been recently saying that they miss touring playing each other? I’m not sure how it would effect the proposed UK involvement though.

The Bok players will relish this opportunity as it only comes around once in every 12 years, basically once in a generation but for the odd individual like Frans Steyn who will probably crack a nod.

The Bok players will make sure they get themselves ready and not repeat the same mistakes in 1997 (if any of the current players can remember that series… ?)

The key for the Boks will be at flyhalf and in the centres. It’s where the synergy will need to be the most cohesive and accurate. I’m not worried our pack, scrumhalf or the back 3. Will Handre Pollard be back? Most importantly we need to have an accurate goal kicker who can bang them over from nearly anywhere, including beyond the halfway for the highveld games. Not having an accurate kicker is why the Boks lost the first two Tests in 1997, especially the 2nd Test scoring 3 tries to nil but losing 18-15.

Anyway, that’s my 2 cents

I dunno Kent, I have a different recollection about 2009.
I seem to recall that all the talk was about whether the Boks would be undercooked or not as they had minimal preparation time due to the Bulls playing the Super 14 final on 30 May, a week AFTER the Lions travelled to SA on 24 May, thus having practice sessions and played their first game against SA domestic opposition a couple hours before the Super 14 final.
The Lions had 6 games under their belts before the 1st Test, allowing the opportunity to get combinations settled and develop cohesiveness.
The Boks on the otherhand had zero preparation matches, so absolutely no match time together, (well 7 months between their previous game on 22 November 2008 and the first Test on 20 June 2009), and John Smit was going to be experimented at tighthead prop for the first time to create room for Bismark.
Who had the ‘fairer’ lead-in?

You must be kidding about Kings Park CPM? It’s access is the best in SA and the many fields around mean that you can park on a field, have a braai before and after the game as you chat the evening away with mates.
Foreigners always comment on the uniqueness of Kings Park’s after game festivities and atmosphere.

I used to live 30kms away from the Stadium, and for a 5pm Saturday Super Rugby kickoff I could leave home at 4:30pm and be seated in row F for kickoff, parking on the main northern field. Best. 👍

Surely the Lions have to play Connor Murray at 9? I believe he’s coming back from injury this weekend and I hope he goes well. If Murray hits good form like we’ve seen in the past, and the Lions are able to create space and mismatches for their back 3, then I agree we’ll be in trouble. In saying that I can’t see our wingers making the same defensive mistakes they did against England in 2018, they appeared to fix that defensive framework weakness during the World Cup.

I can only hope that they try and truck it up against our forwards or run at our midfield. They’ll end off 2nd best and we’ll score some turnover tries. If I was an opposite player I couldn’t think of anything worse than going up against some of the boys in our pack and try to front up against them, I mean there’s Etsebeth, Kitshoff, Lood, Marx, RG, PSDT, Vermuelen, Malherbe…… yurre!!