Dave, I doubt Rassie will extend the squad, there might be replacements for injured players but unfortunately he's going to go with what he's already groomed. With newbies he has to start again and it takes time.
To be honest I was really pissed off that we lost by 1 point to Ireland and then a missed penalty kick by libbok against the Bargies.
But, having a 85% winning record is phenomenal.
I still see some of these guys will be too old and no matter how much conditioning and resting they undergo will help them.
I saw how tired that team was in the 2023 World Cup. Etzebeth, Kolisi got yanked, Bongi was on the floor after the Semi's. Lot of pressure on the team not having a younger more experienced hooker in the team. However, the gamble paid off and Deon Branna's Fourie will forever be a legend.
What help was their defence, but the team of 2019 would have done much better given the age and if they had another 4 years together UNDER Rassie.
That said, he has now the time and luxury to bring known players through and even unknowns.
So we may not need so many old guys, just the right amount to come off the bench and close out the games.
I can't see Kolisi play an entire game nor can I see him in 3 years time play 20 min
There are only 33 seats for the World Cup and about 7 that normally on standby. So out of 50 players. Who would you put in your Match Day Group, Dirt Trackers and hanging around the airport.
for me
Match Day 23
33+: Marx, Eben, Pollard, Kriel, Kolbe
30 - 33: RG, Wiese, Ox, Grobbies, Stenekamp, Du Toit, PSDT, Kwagga
27 - 30: Roos, Arendse, Williams, Willemse
20 - 27: Moodie, Sasha, Hannekom, Hendrikse Jordan + Jayden, Louw,
I think this my spine, but not many players other than Willemse that fits in that sweet spot of 27 - 30 age gap. Then if you look at the big names, the are mostly +33
You guys are smoking something. The team was 31 years old in 2023. Not one forward who started against England in November would be under 32, four would be over 35. No team averaging 35 years is going to be fresh for the next WC. Best case a few specialists like Pollard could be available.
We are going to need 10 or so new players who have hardly played test rugby…continuity of tactics and skills is going to be difficult to achieve.
2024 was always going to be a flattering year given the schedule. But we were tied at home by Ireland and really struggled against the Poms at year end. 2025 starts super easy but then we play NZ away twice and we likely have a proper YE tour.
During that tricky period we will need to expose new players. 2025 will give us a better measure of where we stand.
Funny how it's made out that Rassie has it wrong when he has the results on the board.
Forum » Rugby » Erasmus the stumbling block
Hall Of Fame
11150 posts
Jul 17, 2024, 03:02The single biggest factor to breaking the conservative Bok pattern of play and the dawn of a refreshing and much needed new pattern of play rests with Erasmus. Personally I don't think he's up for real change, how could he be?......conservative rugby is in his DNA he wouldn't know another way. Anyone of Williams, Moodie, Faasi, Libbok, Sacha and Hendriks would all aboard into an AB side......not so with Erasmus, clearly he is out of his depth.
Faf for example should be deported if not dropped from the squad, Pollard should be benched, the centre pairing of Da Allende and Kriel should be sentenced to bible readings for the rest of their playing days and Kolisi should take up a political cause with the Democratic Alliance. Malherbe should be banned for promoting McDonalds and Bongi should devote all of his time hiding his visog from the children in his neighborhood.
Jan 07, 2025, 00:59
Three WC’s in a row will never be matched ever again
Rassie is so far ahead of any other coach and has the runs on the board to prove it.
Jan 07, 2025, 13:28
Mate, I'm telling you, Rassie has the RWC sussed, his plan is to extend the careers of the oldies, it won't extend if he plays his best side in every test. At the same time he is also building a seamless B side, a side that is ready to fire on all cylinders from the get go. I've never been as confident about Rassie as what I am at this moment in time.
Jan 08, 2025, 04:23
A lot is going to depend upon how Rassie manages the oldies and how effectively the oldies hold up.......let's not forget that no-one beats father time. So Rassie would have to keep the oldies ticking over but at the same time energized. That is Rassie's challenge and he's fully aware it's the only way his plan will work. He only has to manipulate their contribution for three games of the WC which is the quarters, semi's and final to achieve maximum benefit from his plan.
As an example one is reminded of that memorable semi in the RWC when England played out of their skin to beat the AB's but had nothing left in the tank against the Boks the following week to realise where Rassie is coming from. Rassie's plan won't allow what happened to England to happen to the Boks.
And while the opposition prepares they will also have to prepare for the added individual brilliance and fire power at Rassie's disposal.....which is Williams, Sacha, Moodie, Fassie and Willemse not to mention Kolbe and Arendse.
Bring it on, it seems like there are interesting and exciting times ahead for Bok rugby who are fortunate to have a coach like Rassie pulling the strings.
Hahaha the post where you think we have won 3 WCs in a row, yes we are aware of that embarrassment Quisling. Here’s another, picking the ABs to beat us at home because Harrassmiss picked Pollard. Actually trashing the strategy of preserving oldies you are gushing about in this string. Egg upon egg.
DennyHall Of Fame
11151 posts
Sep 06, 2024, 12:42any sense in selecting a WC backline Trifecta at 10,12 and 13, there were no tries on tap during the WC why would things change, seems like a square peg round hole kinda selection, Pollard the penalty machine vs scoring tries and being rewarded with a bonus point. That aside what exactly is he trying to prove stepping back into the past?
The Kiwis won't lie down, they're hurting and will be coming with all cylinders firing in the first half, I just hope they won't get too far ahead on the scoreboard for the Boks to pull them back like last week.
AB's by 10
GL Bokke!
Actually I'm predicting the Boks will win 3 RWC's, my prediction is a run on from Dave's post. Sounds like you're begging for a Moffie style conversation by the amount of times you've knocked on my door. Understandable being bolted up indoors with the amount ice, snow and wind piling up. Careful though with the egg on face thing, remember how relentless you were in slagging off PSDT? He then won rugby's player of the year but instead of shutting your face you kept banging away for another year until he won it for the second time Huh? Now that my friend is priceless, matter of fact nothing anyone has ever said comes close. There must be a record attached to the length of time spent slagging off a player who was voted in as Rugby Player of the year by World Rugby, a neutral body.
Now before you bore me even further, please pop the response to my question.
IMAGE: EVERETT DENNISON
A typical response.....always living and doing better than everyone else, BTW I had a look at the island it looks pretty boring and ordinary to me.
What was the comment about perpetual losers wanting to accuse others of always having to win?
Case in point.