A PLEA to certain oaks.

The Boks are going to have a very demanding test season. Rassie has an extremely tricky task ahead of him. Older players nearing end of careers, some injuries and younger players desperately needing test caps.

So don't be surprised if we lose a test or two oaks. If that happens the emotionally unstable oaks should ensure they are well medicated and only return to the board once emotions are under control and sanity has returned.

No blubbering in an unseemly manner on the board and embarrassing us all!

Then to certain dubious Bok supporters. Try to hide your glee if the Boks lose! Remember to have your wee abs jerseys all washed and ready when you watch the Great Rivalry series!

But do try to remember that we are building to the NEXT RWC and some risks. will need to be taken.

Bwahahahahahahaha.

Poor Beeno wracked with concern about Rassie running out of coattails to ride :)

Well said Beeno.

Often growth in teams means long term wins come at the possible expense of short term losses.

Rassies crew have and still are building a formidable cast for the next phase of Springbok domination.

let’s not lose focus of the bigger picture.

Poor Beeno wracked with concern about Rassie running out of coattails to ride :)

Regardless of the smiley, there are some who actually believe this to be the truth...and you seem to believing atheist some of that...contrary to the obvious evidence against it...WTF?

We are forever building.

The season after the WC...building. Last season, building. This season, building.

I still think that loss at Eden Park was a godsend. I feel like we caught a proper wake up after that game and the pecking order was vastly re-ordered. Necessarily so.

But despite me complaining about building, we did batter the ABs in Wellington, grind the Irish into dust and then embarrassed France in the sweetest of ways.

If we can keep doing that while building then who am I to complain about being forever builders?

Plum...

How would you like us to evolve?

Players will retire.

What next???

6 barren years of nothing?

Or continual evolution and integration of young talented players?

What we are currently doing is necessary.

There is too much rugby being played. So we basically need three Bok teams.

That has begun to dawn on me this season.

But if there was less rugby being played then I'd say we are spending a little too much time building.

Either way, Chippo, if you're looking for a counter point, it's not a binary argument of zero building or all the building.

I'm hoping this SA'a game isn't a one off and we try to get them playing more and more Curtain raiser games. Mix up the newbies, geriatrics and those returning from injury against some of the minnow sides ensuring gametime for all those involved in the setup. Have them play in some of those stadiums that hardly ever get a game. Not only is it exposing more talented players to international level abeit low but also coaches and support staff. We have the playing numbers. The infrastructure will follow.

Chillax, Draadio :)

6 barren years of nothing?

Or continual evolution and integration of young talented players?

What does that even mean, Chip? The Boks will of course continue with a balance of oldies ready to take pension and new talent. Of course we're entering a transitional phase for the Boks unlike any we've had to deal with since Rassie took office. That's just the way it is and it should run its natural course. It's not like many of our opponents haven't had to deal with, or aren't dealing with, the same thing.

Hi Pakster that didn't go well did it. Hahahahahahaha.

But you are right apart from the beginning of his tenure when the Boks were in a mess and had to be completely revamped this is the next very tricky part of his time as Bok coach.

Genuine Bok supporters wish him well. The 5th column hope he fails and any loss will give them great satisfaction and maybe the courage to attack Rassie yet again.

Mampara King, time to check your nappy. :)

Dr. Lucky needs a bit of criticism to keep him on his toes...Bwahahahaha

Pakie

thats exactly what I’m saying… keep mixong old with new. In my mind that’s what we are currently doing. And I like it.

it means continual growth and evolution.

Rassie is keeping the faith with Porthen.

He wasn't fantastic this season, just solid, but i keep having to remind myself...he's only bloody 22!!!

Still have money on him growing into one of the most important members of the Bok pack in years to come.

What do you guys think of him?

Porthen is a black rugby player from the Eastern Cape who shows a lot of promise.

His skin color indicates that he comes from a previously disadvantaged background.

He should be able to hold down his place as a result of this.

....joking.

The oke is inspiring man. A modern day prop. Very mobile, good scrummager and quick enough to play flank.

As you mentioned, he is only 22... most props only come right after 25/26.

Rassie and Daan obviously sees something in him. What I really like is his natural leadership potential.

I dont think he'll let us down in the scrums either.

Ja Nee, I think we had our best season in years last year. Now is the time to rotate and experiment on which players should be trimmed for next year.

This year I have no expectations, but lets be realistic which games Rassie should gamble on given the form the team was in last year and can the All Blacks and other teams raise their games.

For our first 4 matches I expect for us to win all games. Eng, Sco and Wales we should win and for the last two games we can bring some additional players through. All in on England game.

Argentina, this should be to bring out of form or players lacking game time out to speed.

For the Greatest Rivalry tour, I would suggest that the boks release their players to the local provinces. It would have been one test in 4 weeks which may leave some players undercooked.

We have a one of trip to Australia and then the end of year tour. So I expect that to be 50/50 game and would put the up and coming players who are most likely go to Australia but not part of the core team to go.

The final 3 matches of the year, I would love for use to make a clean sweep. Beat Ireland and France again at home. So I think to lose 4 games this season is acceptable

Jun/July’26, Home Fixtures: 4/4 Wins

1. Sat. 20 June – SA vs Barbarians, Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha (PE)
2. Sat. 4 July – SA vs England, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
3. Sat. 11 July – SA vs Scotland, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
4. Sat. 18 July – SA vs Wales, King’s Park, Durban

August’26, Away Fixtures – 50/50

1. Sat. 08 August – Argentina vs SA, Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Buenos Aires

New Zealand Tour to South Africa – 3/4

August & September’26

1. Fri. 7 August – Stormers vs NZ, Cape Town Stadium
2. Tue. 11 August – Sharks vs NZ, Kings Park, Durban
3. Sat. 15 August – Bulls vs NZ, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
4. Sat. 22 August – 1st Test: SA vs NZ, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
5. Tue. 25 August – Lions vs NZ, Ellis Park (tbc) Johannesburg
6. Sat. 29 August – 2nd Test: SA vs NZ, Cape Town Stadium
7. Sat. 5 September – 3rd Test: SA vs NZ, FNB Stadium, Soweto
8. Sat. 12 September – 4th Test: SA vs NZ, M&T Stadium, Baltimore US

September’26, Away Fixtures – 50/50

1. Sat. 27 September – Australia vs SA, Optus Stadium, Perth

November’26, Away Fixtures – 2/3

1. Sat. 07 November – Italy vs SA, Turin
2. Fri. 13 November – France vs SA, Stade de France, Paris
3. Sat. 21 November – Ireland vs SA – Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Am I the only bloke who thinks that 4 tests against NZ in 1 year is a bit of an overkill?

Why the 4th?

These games should be highlights of peoples lives... yet we randomly throw in a 4th which it totally unnecessary.

Thoughts?

"Why the 4th?"

To give some people the opportunity to go and watch them play in the States!

It’s overkill.

diluting the spectacle.

rather then play 2 in SA and one in the USA.

Am I the only bloke who thinks that 4 tests against NZ in 1 year is a bit of an overkill?

Mebbe time for an change of avatar chimpo?

I don't mind 4 test, given the old tours use to be 4 test, sometimes even more. If I recalls when the All Blacks won their first series in SA was back in the 90s also on a four test series, we only won 1 and they finally broke SA. Something we would never recover from. Before then SA was leading on test against them and then subsequently they had us and since the accelerated their dominance over us for decades to the point that they are still 20 games ahead and it will take 50 years to claw back that historical dominance we once held over them.

So maybe 4 test is fine and allows us to chalk of 4 matches. I would say to Rassie to whitewash them once and for all and finally put them to the sword. They had no mercy on us. This is RUGBY!!!! bring back the rivalry