Lessons from World Cup 2022

Many of the big guns produced very large scores against low-ranking opposition, which saw them heavily favoured in their next game; they went on to produced anemic performances before exiting the competition. What we saw was the value of physicality, discipline, structure under pressure, and patience to take opportunities. Free running against open opposition, or opposition who cannot maintain their structures under pressure, is not the definitive mark of excellence. Another factor is fitness. I shall leave these as warnings for where the Boks themselves are headed.