Boks drop to 3 in the rankings

Current World Rugby Rankings

I suppose the good news is that NZ is now comfortably ranked above us, so another loss this weekend will have less effect.

But despite all the hype about NZ’s win, we outplayed them for the last 60 minutes of the contest and they have weaknesses like the scrum. The failed Brown ball hardly appeared in the match but has confused our focus.

How this was ever going to work without introducing players who had the proclivity to play a more modern game is the question our rugby press should have been asking.

Esterhuizen could have played a foundational role, he was brilliant at putting players through gaps in his UK stint. Instead he wasn’t selected or when selected clearly instructed to continue crash balling.

So here we are, between two strategic stools with a match we have to win on Saturday. Erasmus has no choice but to go back to 2023 rugby. Probably that means Faff, Pollard, Wilco, Snyman and a hard edge.

The big question mark is our defense which seems to have gotten a lot worse. Both Oz and NZ have found space. Again the new system is not working and given we only won the WC because our defense was watertight, it’s unclear why this had to be changed.

On the defensive front Erasmus may have to get personally involved and take Kriel’s lead. Not the best tackler he was the on field leader of the Boks 2023 defense.

It’s all a bit of a mess right now and there’s lots of work to do. But nothing gets better with another loss in NZ. It’s time to play to our strengths.

I think a lot went right for the ABs on Saturday that could have just as easily gone wrong.

It feels to me like both teams are underperforming quite badly.

It's probably a touch of arrogance and bias, but I feel like the potential versus performance delta is much bigger than NZ's.

In Rassie's defence, injuries to Hanekom, Elrigh Louw have set him back a touch. But then not picking player's like Roos, who is exactly the types that get to plenty of rucks but can create a spark, is purely on him. On sheer athletic ability and hunger alone I feel that Roos should be in the mix. Not starting RG this past weekend was a stupid decision. He's probably the most pricey lock in rugby right now...yet the genius doesn't see a need for him in the biggest game of the year!?

I agree that Rassie has to, at least momentarily, regress to 2023 ball to get through the coming weekend, but that is nobody's fault but his own. There is no shortage of absolute quality personnel available to him.

Here is Pretorius doing a bit of an expose on Tony Ball. Note how often DDA is the culprit in killing play. A bit long, but who cares, we love the game haha

Tony ball;

7up Rassie soon to have the boks back at number 7. Right where he started.

Interesting to see he got rid of Sweis as attack coach and opted for Nienaber all out defence. Then 5 years later he bring in Brown, Nienaber is gone and the guys can't even string a single set play on attack together.

I have nothing against Brown, but Swys would have gotten more out of these player's

Korn...just image what Swys and Akkers could achieve with the current crop of players.

Mozart

You must be a very happy man about this situation - he bloody poor Easmus as a coach is to ne blamed for it that the Springboks is only ranked no 3 in the world,

"Here is Pretorius doing a bit of an expose on Tony Ball. Note how often DDA is the culprit in killing play. A bit long, but who cares, we love the game haha"

I watched this yesterday, the perfect length for analysis whilst preparing the braai, meat and soorts.

Korn...just image what Swys and Akkers could achieve with the current crop of players.

Just remember that Swys dropped out of this level of coaching himself due to being unable to handle the stress.

"Just remember that Swys dropped out of this level of coaching himself due to being unable to handle the stress."

In my heart of hearts, I still don't fully believe that. I suppose it's confirmation bias and not being helped by his involvement with the U21s and the now the Bok ladies...which have both resulted in success.

Dream with me, Pakie.

Pl;um

In your heart of hearts you ignore facts totally and believe in dreamed up BS.

Sure Plummie, let's dream, why not.

It’s well documented that Swys quit because of stress and anxiety issues - helloooooo