Fair comments. My own view stated before the RC was this is the golden year for the Boks.. ...no France….Ireland and NZ only at home…an easy YE tour….NZ and Oz in transition….the peak year for the incumbent team. From next year we will see a gradual fade into retirement.
So it’s a year to enjoy after winning the WC, but the next cycle starts next year. And in terms of new players, I’m only convinced by Sacha and Hanekom.
sharkbok
Hall Of Fame
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The Boks were deserving winners, only losing one game without many of the top players. Next year’s championship will be a tougher test with 2 games in New Zealand, the land of Mordor.
The Boks played their best game of the season over the weekend against Argentina - at least in the first half by scoring 4 tries. In the 2nd half, Argentina dominated the third quarter. Argentina played with 14 men for some time, then 13.
The Boks could have scored more tries during the game, but there were several handling errors by the backs. Especially towards the end of the match- the Boks could have racked up another 2-3 tries if the game went on for another 10 minutes.
The Bok attack has improved - and less dependent on individuals.
The defence is better with Delande on the field- especially when combined with Kriel.
Kolbe had a blinder of a game. He may have lost a bit of speed - on one movement he ran inside instead of backing himself for the outside break.
Libbok showed why he was selected to be a Springbok. His long passes and kick passes make it less necessary to have Willie Leroux as a playmaker on the pitch. This is also the case with Sasha who is also a very good playmaker.
Leroux on the pitch as a playmaker is more essential when Pollard is at 10.
Peter Steph Dutoit has an x-factor that is beyond coaching and the game plan.
The only drawbacks are:
Defence: The defence is getting beaten more often. Quick hands, with a draw and pass, can create space on either side of the ball carrier waiting for the Bok outside centre to shoot out of the backline to create the umbrella. The All Blacks and Argentina put the Bok defence under significant pressure.
The Boks would win the World Cup if it was this year - but some of these players will be past their best- or not even in the squad by 2027.
A few players will certainly not make the next World Cup like like Reinach, Koch and Mapimpi. They should be replaced by next season at the very latest to test younger players to see which ones can deliver at test level- and which ones cant (e.g. the Creatine Twins.
There are a few positions the Boks need to work on their depth to prepare for the next World Cup.
Tighthead prop: Both Malherbe and Koch will not make the next World Cup. Both would be around 36. New players need game time in this position. Thomas Dutoit should be playing loose forward, he is not a test-standard tighthead.
Even if some of these players are still the best in their positions, will the team have enough pace? A player like Kolbe might be less effective even in 2 years. He is 31 in one month. So around 34 by the next World Cup.
Other backup players are needed for each position to cover injuries or loss of form.
Loose Head Prop:
Ox is the best, but a solid backup is needed. Kitshoff will be 35 by the next World Cup, as seems injury-prone at this stage,Number 5 lock: Mostert will probably not make the next World Cup. Snyman is injury-prone.
Blindside flank: Hopefully Steph makes the next World Cup. There are currently limited options, nothing remotely close to Steph
Flyhalf: Sasha is the first choice, with Pollard probably 2nd. Manie's pole kicking is unlikely to improve. Pollard will probably not make the next World Cup.
Outside centre: Both AM and Kriel are ageing. AM turns 31 in 2 months. Kriel is 30.
Fullback, Wing, Scrumhalf and flyhalf seem reasonably well covered. Inside center too given Damien Willemse and even Sasha can play 12 if needed.
Overall the backline seems reasonably well covered. It is in the forwards that the Boks need to build younger players with enough caps.