2015 ABs vs 2024 ABs

So HM was derided for losing to the ABs in the WC semi, while Rasmus was a genius by narrowly beating the 2024 ABs at home.  Here are the two sides and the best player picks:

2024…………..2015

Jordan…………BenSmith……………..15

Reece…………Milner-Skudder……...15

Ioane…….….Conrad Smith………...15

Barrett……….Nonu……………….……..15

Tele’a………..Savea……………………..15

McKenzie…..Carter………………..……15

Ratima……..Aaron Smith……….…..15

Williams…….Moody…………………….24

Taylor…………Coles………………………Even

Lomax……...Franks…………………….15

Barrett………Retallik…………………….15

Vai’i………....Whitelock……………….15

Sititi………….Kaino……………………….15

Cane.,………McCaw…………………….15

Savea……….Read………………………….Even

So two choices which could go either way, one player out of the current team who would have made the 2015 NZ team and 12 slots where the 2015 team  was better. Leaders in 2015 were Ben Smith, Nonu, Carter, Retallik, Whitelock, McCaw and Read. In 2024 Savea, Cane and the Barrett’s, another massive edge to 2015.

There is no doubt 2015 was a much higher hurdle….we are benefitting from the weakness in Aus and NZ our direct competitors. And struggling against Ireland and France, the teams that have improved. 

Since 2018 …two wins/one loss against France….one win/three losses against Ireland.

Yes context is we played one game in Ireland, two in South Africa and one on neutral turf. 

France: 29 to 26 2018….26 to 30 in 2022….29 to 28 in 2023.

Aggregate score France 84/Boks 84…..let me rephrase my original statement, we are struggling against France and losing against Ireland.

And yet . . . the Springboks have won the last two RWCs in a row and become the first team to ever win 4 RWCs . . . while Ireland have never made it past the quarters.

I'll take the occasional test loss to the Irish . . . 

Like I said years ago, every dog has its day.

We had a run of 12-13 years where we were head and shoulders above everyone else but only an idiot will think that would continue unchanged.

As the game has shown at some stage someone will come up with a game plan that changes the way the game is played.

Some of the young AB forwards will be a force three years from now. I think you have lost a bit of backline leadership, one player could change that. The thing that has changed in the competitive landscape is the maturing of rugby amongst players of color in RSA. This is a dynamic new player pool that’s getting stronger by the year.

The rivalry will only get more absorbing as these trends play out. This year works for the Boks but we have our own issues with an old team. .

Mozart

Better adviice - forget about the illustrious career of some All Blacks before 2015 and compare their actual performances by 2015.   Most of the players involved started their international career before 2007  and wn everything since 2004 - when in 2004  the lst the RC on point difference and then went out  of the 2007 RWC against France due to what the AB supporters still complain about - an obvious forward pass leading to a  French try.  Ater 2007 they won virtually everything - included the RWC by one point agaist the French.    By 2014 signs were the elderly were starting to lose steam  and for the first time in years they lost - despite the presence of Matfield -  against the Springboks.   They did not win the 2015 Rugby Championship and had to play a BS Springbok team  fielded by Meyer by 2 points - a game that the Springbks could have won if Matffield was kept off the ground.

The moral of the story is that by 2015 the illustrious All Blacks players were in serious decline and when an assessment is done - the performances in tests in 2015 is the only actual norm that should be used if comparison to the present team of the AB's.   The BS spreading Mozart lost the plot already by not looing at actual performances in the  2015 All Black players  and compare them with present AB players,    That would and should be the only norm used - but as is normal with Mozart he remains the most stupid and prejudiced performance analysis ever.

So his analysis in starting this threat is of the same value as the shit I flushd down the toilet just now.

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NZ was lucky that we had so many once in a generation players at the same time.

Especially DC, greatest rugby player so far by a country mile. 

The rest were up there , maybe not the best ever in their positions but bloody close to it.

We are blessed with choice in our front five, got a few issues in the loose, strong depth at 9 with our young boys such as Roigard, Ratima and Hotham. Major issue is at 10.

It's our backs that we have our biggest issues which has always been our biggest strength. 

And this year our bench has been absolute mud, not sure what is going on there. Still better issues now gives us time to sort it before 2027

I'm  not so sure, he has had plenty of time to take ownership but too flakey at times. A position we have been spoilt in for so long but at the moment we have SFA unfortunately.

Mounga is no DC but we desperately need him back

Nice post Plum. Like many decisions that look brilliant in retrospect, I suspect the logic may have been found after the idea had already succeeded…but no matter. 

Dave n mdern sport te funding of professionals remain a major compoment of the viability of the sport.   This is where the major problem is with rugby at present.

In th case of New Zealand  and Australia the decision of New Zealand made a massive mistake when theykicked SA and Argentina out of  Super Rugby and that negative had  major impact on fundig of rugby in Australia  and in New Zealand.    In the case of Austalia the damage and will be ard to get rugby back on track.   In New Zealand the damage resulted in profssional players leaving NZ clubs and plyteir trade in Japan and France more tan in other countries.

The ther act is that spectatos want to watch competitive rugby and with te rset scenario spectators ar not rally interested in one-sided rugby and that s largely the case at present.    The the other teams at present in Super Rugby cannot compete against te NZ teams/   So in essense  with competitivnes reduced so are the opprtuities for players coming through the system detrimentally affected.

Taking into accout the above - the copetitivenes of the national team is effected as well.

In the case of England it seems to me that some of the premier league clubs are in financial trouble as well,   The fact eems to be that the cash cow system needs to be inroduced  and that may be or ngland to run the system like SA is doing at present to play for the Curry Cup and o have 4 Frnachises that compete in the URC/   In SA major funding of rugby of the national and franchise teams became te caaah cow that keeps the local provincial teams operational/

Another aspect i the player resources issue,   I saw comments from foreign obseres that the feeding resources of SA Rugby is "scary".    From the are lasting until about 2018 Rugby was not really a sport of iterest of the Black comunity,   Selection of Black and Coloured players in the Springk team was o the one hand regarded as quota players and on the other hand as token represetatves,   However, since 2018 the situation was turned around totally and now we have really good and top class players coming through to the Springbok team playing in varied positions.   As stated the country has player resources far exceeding those of other rugby countries/

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shamanic .......................... wtf. u smoking broer ?

Mpower

You and Mozart suppsely saw videos that I posted about try=-scorin i he last five yers.  The vried game now played is vastly dfferet from waht was played since 1992 by the Springboks - but you rfuse to recognize i and long for the waythe Springboks flop for many years,    Even the 2007 WC was a lucky draw that got the Springbks to win the trophy - they never played any ams ranked higher than them in world rugby in 2007.

In 2023 the Springbks played all four teams ranked highr than them and it was ugly rugby - but they still won the trophy.    Now Erasmus appointed Brown as attck coch and you refuse to see what si really in eidveddence and sill akeep ahrping about how bad De Allende si nd how good a rally under-performing Esterhuizen.   You harp about Kolisi - but he is not likely to play many more tests and the same goes for Pollard.- they are likely to add to the coaching set-up s specia;ist advisers.   

In the end one wonders  that snce accordig t you and Mozart Eramus is a coaching retard - who do you wan to coach he Springbok team - just give us the name and tell as why y ou support your recomended coach.

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The two main thing that have turned Bok rugby around is firstly we have a top flight rugby brain in charge and a coach whose motivational skills are second to none.

Secondly we have the contribution of the Black and Coloured players. This contribution has been mainly felt in the backs but some very good black forwards have emerged eg Ox

Black and coloured backs have made a very significant difference

Who would complain if the following backline represented the Boks:

Williams, Sascha.

Willemse and Am

Moodie, Kolbe and Fassi

The combination of Afrikaner forward power and the speed and running ability of black backs is a very potent combo. As I noted years ago. Not that white backs wont continue to make a contribution.

All this is contributing to our depth.

The biggest threat we face is going going back to second and third rate coaches.

Yes no side stays on top forever but I think as long as we have  top class coaches the Bok should do significantly better in future years.

Mpower

Stop the dramtcs and p;ease tell us whom you want to replace Ersmus?,

What is likely to happen is  whst you would "think".will not happen.   When last have you think anthing bar BS.   Your thinking has ben constantly negative  and 100% wrong.   If you said that Erasmus is busy preparing a new group of poential replacements after 2027 is that Erasmus is likely to revent to him being revering to he job of Director of Rugby and that he is in the meantime  is usind the situation where Vermeulen - soo to be joined by Kolisi and by 2026 Pollard would gain coaching experience under Erasmus and from those three the Head Coach, and the backline or forward coach would come.

Stick is already effectively been sidelined and your comments are again BS.   If Erasmus is not traning anyone as you claim - then why has Erasmus moved Vermeulen into the coaching set-up and announced that Kolisi would follow him and so will Pollard.   They are partly there because they showed skill in playing and having the abiliy to take over they get training in the coaching field,    Nienaber was giving opportunity to get independence as coach in his own and may also be coming back into the Springbok coaching set-up after working with Easmus for more than 4 years.

So your "...oops he has not groomed anybody" is the BS  you normally dream up and spout on site.    How many more people you want to be groomed - one is already there and two others are to follow - but Erasmus is not paying attention to his successor stuation.   It should rather be "oops I am talking shit again" as expected.

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Hahahahaha so this is the new way to belittle Rassie. These Mamparas are forced to admit Rassie gets results. It can't be because he is a great coach so what can it be. After months nay years of thinking the Mamparas led by mampara in Chief mozzietard now say it's because all because Rassie has so much talent at his disposal. Never mind that just prior to Rassie taking over that tskebtvwasnykt achieving much.

Never mind that they claimed Bok  stalwarts like Alkende, Du Toit, Malherbe and others including Kolisi. Nyankanye, Koch, Reunsch and a number of others along the way have been severely criticised. How many times have heard from these keyboard experts that Rassie has made bad selections ie the Bok players He selected were poor players. 

Hahahahahaha hilarious nonsense from these arch buffoons!

Try again lads. It's back to the drawing boards once again.