Agree with most of these selections.so many are close calls
Bit tough though to drop Jessie Kriel but understandable. I could quible about other selections but wont
I have concerns about Malherbe who seems to be fading. I prefer Hanekom at 6 and Wiese at 8.
What say the Oaks
No original thinking here
Judging by that video thumbnail, many of those players will not be around for 2027, and they need to be weeded out sooner than later.
Flab Malherbe is done. Kolisi must be doubtful, as is the case with Eztebeth. I notice the older Boks are getting injured more frequently.
Amd take longer to recover from injury,
Said another way, a few Vermeulens strengthen the team. A team of Vermeulens will implode.
What the blue blazes is Luckmus looking at…a hamburger?
My 23 would be:
15 Fassi 14. Kolbe 13 Jurenzo 12. Willemse 11. Arendse 10. Sacha 9. Williams 1. Ox 2. Marx 3. Wilco 4. Etzebeth 5. RG 6. Hanekom 7. PSDT 8. Roos
16 AH Venter 17. Steenkamp 18. Thomas 19. Ruben v Heerden 20. Elrigh Louw 21. vd Bergh 22. Pollard 23. Moodie
Along with 15. Jordan Hendrikse 14. Green 13. Wank v Wyk 12. Hooker 11. Edwill vd Merwe 10. Libbok 9. Jayden Hendrikse 1. Wessels 2. Dweba 3. Sadie 4. Ruan Vermaak 5. Cobus Wiese 6. Buthelezi 7. Ruan Venter 8. Manu Tsituka
16 Grobelaar 17. Mchunu 18. Hanro Jacobs 19. JF v Heerden 20. Ludwig 21. Vincent Tsituka 22. Nohamba 23. David Kriel
That’s the future
So who does this guy select as the Bok 13 this year - Jurenzo Julius of course - wonder why that is?
It's called a hype train for a reason, Saffex
The hype is merited, JJ is a special rugby talent just like Sacha and Moodie
Sacha and Moodie have proven it.
JJ still hasn't yet.
Once/If he does then I'll buy a ticket.
But here’s the team Luckmus will play when it counts:
Willemse, Kolbe, Kriel, Dud Allende, Arendse, Pollard, Hendrikse
Ox, Bongi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Nortje, Kolisi, Dud Toit, Wiese.
Video material suggest JJ is a star in the making….but before he actually plays to prove his star status, it’s assumption.
Video material of a settled Bok Warrior like Mostert, is undeniable facts.
No Moz a fit RG will start ahead of Nortje
Mpower don’t insult us with that Mostert crap - he is just plain shit
I can understand you feel insulted, as Mostert keeps on proving you wrong.
How on earth can Mostert prove me wrong with that sad excuse of a physique. The only thing powder puff can do is make 10 plus process tackles a game - hardly the fucking job of a Bok lock
His physical inadequacy means he simply can’t impose himself physically in the carry, the maul, the tackle, the scrum, the maul defence - all primary functions of a lock
Saddest thing about him is that he is not even athletic or skilful - one would swear given he is a physical liability that he would offset that with some eye catching rugby skills
What the fuck Rassie sees in this loser is beyond me but let’s face it Rassie has a blind spot when it comes to locks - Mostert is his second worst selection ever, neatly tucked behind the utterly useless Orie. There have been some others like Nortje and Nico JVR and to a lesser extent Moerat and Kleyn
Id take these last 4 over Mostert and Orie though
"Willemse, Kolbe, Kriel, Dud Allende, Arendse, Pollard, Hendrikse
Ox, Bongi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Nortje, Kolisi, Dud Toit, Wiese."
Still our best side...by far...Malherbe going out ...Wilco coming in...Nortje the new Mostert...lucky but deserved...
Fuck Nortje or Mostert - RG is better than both of them put together, especially in his current form
No contest
I agree that Snyman is leagues ahead of Nortje, but Rassie had that chance last year, but played Snyman off the bench. He’s the genius your’s is not to reason why….
Bullshit RG started alongside Eben against England after Mostert started the first game against Scotland - so the genius eventually woke up to who should be starting with Eben
Let’s just pray that this is the case throughout 2025 and we see a better option on the bench other than Nortje or Mostert
And then Mostert was brought back against Wales where he was the MOM .. you just can’t get anything right Dave.
Nice try Moz - Eben and RG were on the bench that game with Kleyn and Mostert starting so hardly a merit selection now was it?
Thomas started at 3, Grobelaar at 2 with Hanekom making his debut off the bench.
PSDT was allowed to go home early with Elrigh Louw starting at 7 and Jordan Hendrikse at 10
Yeah I remember Mostert winning his first and only MOM and for what exactly - that was a joke
Bullshit right back at you Dave:
Um I don’t think so
By Liam Heagney
106 days ago
Rassie Erasmus has announced a Springboks team to take on Wales in Cardiff this Saturday that has seven changes from the XV which defeated England. The South Africans beat the English 29-20 at in London last weekend and they will now aim to complete their three-game Autumn Nations Series unbeaten with a team showing two backline alterations and five more switches in the pack against the Welsh.
Brothers Jordan and Jaden Hendrikse have been named as the starting half-backs with Manie Libbok and Grant Williams excluded. They are the first set of brothers to appear together since Dan and Robert du Preez featured against Wales in Washington DC at the start of the 2018 season.
Up front, Ox Nche, Siya Kolisi an Jasper Wiese are the three repeat picks with Johan Grobbelaar, Thomas du Toit, Jean Kleyn, Franco Mostert and Elrigh Louw added to the selection. Grobbelaar is at hooker for Bongi Mbonambi, after last featuring in a match day 23 against Australia in Perth, while du Toit returns at tighthead for Wilco Louw.
The fit-again Kleyn, who last appeared in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final, and Mostert are at second row in place of benched duo Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman. Meanwhile, the only back row change is Elrigh Louw replacing Pieter-Steph du Toit, who is nursing a shoulder niggle. On the bench, where there is a six/two forwards/backs split, Cameron Hanekom is set to become the 12th Springbok to make his Test debut this season.
Erasmus explained in an SA Rugby statement: “This is our last match of the season and we are determined to finish the year on a positive note. We selected a squad that shows a good mix of experience and youth, which is crucial as we look to maintain some consistency in selection, while at the same time giving guys like Jordan and Cameron, who have been exceptional at training on tour, a chance to show us what they can do.
“Jordan played against Wales in June, and we are very excited to see how he dictates play with Jaden alongside him, and we are also delighted that Cameron is getting a chance to play after showing his class at training throughout the tour and for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship.
"Cameron also offers us a few options at loose forward as he can play No6, No7 and No8, and that will be valuable with two locks on the bench.”
The coach added: “Wales are a proud nation with a world-renowned coach in Warren Gatland, and they will do everything to finish their campaign on a high note. We have experienced first-hand how a run of defeats can galvanise a team, and the fact that they will be playing at home with a passionate crowd behind them will inspire them even more – just as our supporters inspire us when we play at home.
“Obviously we would love to finish the tour unbeaten, but we are well aware of the fact that we have have a few close results against them over the years at the Principality Stadium. A lot can change in rugby with a change in confidence and mindset, and Australia is a perfect example of how things can change in the sport if one considers how well they are playing now compared to last year."
South Africa (vs Wales, Saturday)
15 – Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 10 caps, 30 points (6t)
14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath) – 39 caps, 111 points (18t, 3c, 5p)
13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 78 caps, 90 points (18t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 86 caps, 55 points (11t)
11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 23 caps, 85 points (17t)
10 – Jordan Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 1 cap, 7 pts (2c, 1p)
9 – Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 19 caps, 19 pts (2t, 3c, 1p)
8 – Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 33 caps, 10 points (2t)
7 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 12 caps, 0 points
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 91 caps, 60 points (12t)
5 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 77 caps, 15 points (3t)
4 – Jean Kleyn (Munster) – 7 caps, 0 pts (Ireland 5 caps)
3 – Thomas du Toit (Bath) – 22 caps, 5 pts (1t)
2 – Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls) – 2 caps, 0 points
1 – Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 39 caps, 0 points
Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 75 caps, 105 points (21t)
17 – Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 10 caps, 0 points
18 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 60 caps, 0 points
19 – Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 130 caps, 30 points (6t)
20 – RG Snyman (Leinster) – 39 caps, 10 points (2t)
21 – Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls) - uncapped
22 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 38 caps, 70 pts (14t)
23 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 79 caps, 772 points (7t, 109c, 168p, 5dg)
Kleyn did not start because of injury and was replaced by eben to start?
Can’t remember - but reality is Kleyn was originally selected to start with Eben on the bench
SA
NO.NAMEFrom ESPN…Eben started, Mostert started….Snyman on the bench.
Yes Moz that’s because Kleyn pulled out injured on the day or whenever leading up to the game
As the article indicates, Kleyn and Mostert were originally selected to start with Eben and RG on the bench. Kleyn pulled out and Eben replaced him in the starting line up with v Staaden coming onto the bench.
That side against Wales was hardly the best 15 now was it, with Jordan at 10, Grobelaar at 2, Thomas at 3, Kleyn at 4 and Mostert at 5
There is some measure of doubt as to what was in Luckmus’ mind….I agree. But he rarely changes his mind about anything, and so I think he still sees Snyman as a bit of a lucky packet…. He might offload to the opposing wing. Hell he set himself on fire! A bit unpredictable and Luckmus is a control freak.
That was more about over playing Eben than a change in his views on the locks.
Bullshit everyone knows RG is twice the lock powder puff is and Rassie eventually woke up to that fact against England
It had happened previously but good old RG pulled out in the week leading up to the test with what was reported as a minor injury only to see RG out for months
Lets hope we don’t get to see useless Mostert starting ahead of RG this year or Nortje, another slight upgrade from powder puff
So everybody knows Snyman is twice the lock Mostert is and after coaching the Boks for eight years the penny has finally dropped for Luckmus…ROFL!
No unfortunately RG has been missing in much of those 8 years
Something even you know
Here’s something even you don’t know Dave. Snyman has played 40 tests for Luckmus….29 of which he has played as a reserve. He has started in only 11 tests.
Now even someone as clueless about rugby selection as you, has to see a pattern. Luckmus has viewed Snyman as part of the bomb squad, a player who makes his best contribution in a twenty minute burst.
I don’t share that view but there it’s is….learn and thank me.
Well there we go that’s 39 tests in 8 years that’s less than 5 a year which explains why we have only see him operate mostly off the bench on return from yet another injury
So as per usual you have taught me stuff all and I’ve provided the reality check
Had RG been as injury free as Eben, we no doubt would have seen a 50 cap lock partnership by now
Reality as we all know, is that RG has had an injury blighted career
39 tests aged 30 says all you need to know about potentially the second best lock behind Eben to ever play the game
Very sad indeed, evidenced by the fact that his start with Eben against England was their first time start together
Thanks for making my point again….he’s injury prone, so Luckmus uses him off the bench and will continue to use him off the bench. Look for. Mostert in the East when the Rugby Championship dawns.
I hope like fuck we never see useless Mostert again
Thankfully Lood is back playing as Rassie will at least select him
Personally it’s a no brainer that a fit RG should always start but if not then Lood is a far better option than Mostert
There is no place in a Bok tightfive for a 110kg lock - fuck that
How the 2015 Rugby WC semi was lost:
‘After Pollard's early penalty, the All Blacks struck back when Kaino thundered through De Jager down the right and touched down one-handed in the corner, but two more pin-point penalties from Pollard gave his side a two-point lead with 20 minutes gone.’
We don’t want that useless bugger back. In 2019 Vunipola did the same thing leaving Lomp lying on the deck….on comes Mostert and we are sooooo much better off.
That was bullshit and a player is never defined by the odd low point
Mostert offers a big fat zero physically and lacks any skill to offset his physical inadequacy
What is the point of him - 12 process tackles a game?
Massive low point:
Right through Lomp
IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES
Image caption,
Jerome Kaino's second try of the tournament gave New Zealand an early lead