I herd that our average age was 32 and the wee abs 27. The abs are about perfect age wise for the next RWC I would think.
Is age a problem and what Boks need to be retired. It is in my view a bit of a worry. Players will be one year older next year.
Deon Fourie, Mostert, Siya and Cobus Reinach are concerns. After that its Its Eben and PSDT. Both of these two though are all time greats and should be in the squad.
Its very clear that Rassie likes experience in his squad and doesn't throw away players. But some unease exists about how many older players there are.
**Starting XV **
Ox Nche (Prop): 31
Malcolm Marx (Hooker): 32
Wilco Louw (Prop): 32
**Eben Etzebeth (Lock): 34 **
Ruan Nortje (Lock): 28
Siya Kolisi (Flank / Captain): 35
Pieter-Steph du Toit (Flank): 34
Jasper Wiese (Number 8): 30
Cobus Reinach (Scrumhalf): 36
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Flyhalf/Utility): 24
Ethan Hooker (Centre/Wing): 23
Damian de Allende (Centre): 34
Jesse Kriel (Centre): 32
Kurt-Lee Arendse (Wing): 27
Cheslin Kolbe (Fullback/Wing): 32
Replacements (Reserves)
Deon Fourie (Utility Forward): 39
Gerhard Steenekamp (Prop): 29
Thomas du Toit (Prop): 30
Lood de Jager (Lock): 33
Andre Esterhuizen (Centre): 32
Cameron Hanekom (Loose Forward): 24
The following are the Boks in the squad who did not play last Saturday
Backs
Damian Willemse (Flyhalf/Utility): 28
Handré Pollard (Flyhalf): 32
Grant Williams (Scrumhalf): 30
Canan Moodie (Wing): 23
Aphelele Fassi (Fullback): 28
Quan Horn (Fullback): 28
Herschel Jantjies (Scrumhalf): 30
Forwards
Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Hooker/Prop): 25
Ntuthuko Mchunu (Prop): 27
Ben-Jason Dixon (Utility Forward): 28
Marco van Staden (Flank): 31
Franco Mostert (Lock): 35
Elrigh Louw (Loose Forward): 26
Johan Grobbelaar (Hooker): 28
Vincent Tshituka (Utility Forward): 27
Cobus Wiese (Utility Forward): 29
