Time to move on from the ABs, now the real teams are waiting

As much as it was fantastic to see how the boks finally managed to put a poor All Black team to the sword. Finally asserting dominance over New Zealand after decades of trying to get back to the top of the pile.

NZ was always the team we would love to beat and for many years. You had the old boys talking about how South Africa was the greatest team ever to play the game until isolation.

In the 90s the brave team of Fitzpatrick finally won a series in SA and so the, the bok aura of yester year came to rest. For the rest of us it was endless suffering and it always felt we could never seem to get close to them. We did have a brief moment in Super rugby where our teams dominated them but we just had a very poor coaching structure.

Since 2019 our fortunes has changed and we are now 7 out of 10 against the Kiwis. We seem to beat them regularly at age group.

However, as much as we enjoy finally getting ahead of the old enemy. We still have the real force in world rugby to overcome and they are France and Ireland. We don't have a great record against these teams.

Rassie will have to first get past a resurgent Argentina team a d then focus on Ireland and France.

Less we forget that Rassie is Mr 7up. He is not known for setting up a winning run.

The jurie is still out but I would say time to move on from the Kiwis and now focus on world dominance.

We have the players

Argentina is already going to be interesting and the scoreboard starts at zero again, the AB blowout is over now. I wonder who the World Rugby gods will be instructing the ref to favour in those.

The Argies are a damn good side who love to attack and have some man handlers in their back row

It’s going to be a tough two tests

Completely disagree that the AB’s are poor there is no such thing but we simply have to beat France and Ireland

I think it'll be a long old while before the ABs are ever again what they used to be.

Just like Waugh's Ozzies, those types of teams come along once in a lifetime.

I'm in full agreement that France are the new biggest enemy. But, while they're not taking Test matches seriously and sending B sides to NZ should we give them the luxury of playing our full strength side in France?

They're only competing seriously against SH sides when they have the advantage of playing in France. Seems to be making a mockery of international rugby. Ireland would never do that and neither would England.

After the shit their fans pulled in the WC and Olympics, and then the choice to send a B team to NZ, I'm feeling all the hate for the Frogs right now.

Ja, France is not in my good books at all. They have ruined rugby with the crazy amount of money as well as the endless club season. Weakening players so that there are nothing left for the international season. Lets not forgot how corrupt they are too with Aldstrad owner bribing the french national team, yet, they still run his advertising.

I love watching the french team play when they are on form, but I no longer have a liking for them.

Agree on how they never respect the game or New Zealand.

Ireland is still a dangerous team.

We're playing our final game in the championship against the bargies at Twickenham. I was in two minds whether I want to go to Twickenham again given what a ball ache it is.

I see we play Japan at Wembley which is a million times better and easier to get to.

So who knows

Just hope Rassie can stick with this team now and let them play the last two games on a high

Firstly we will kill the Bargies in RSA even though they play more sophisticated rugby…. Antonio ball if you like. But their scrum is even weaker than NZ. As Mains said, you can’t win without a solid scrum. In Argentina it will be a huge emotional thing. I still think the fundamentals favor us, but it will be a test of nerve for the youngsters.

Both Ireland and France will be loaded for bear. Those are less predictable matches. Unfortunately I have to miss the Irish/AB test in Chicago….but it may provide some clues about the Irish team.

France has brilliant players, but I still believe we have an advantage in most positions. Can DuPont be the difference or can Esterhozen at 12 ensure victory. Things to ponder.

We are not playing the Argies in Argentina it’s at Twickers - our second home

Noted…bit unfair on the Bargies, but it should be a great occasion.

The new breed of Bok will do well against the Argies, for a start they have no fear, they are supremely confident, they think on their feet and are skilled and enterprising. They don't need to feed on calcium.

Nobody seems to be talking about England.

They've been building a very good side. For me, they're ahead of Ireland and have just about caught up to France. Yet, they're still some distance from their ceiling.

It feels like England have done most of the tinkering that they are going to and they now have a very strong side that they can run with into the WC in 27.

No ways are England ahead of Ireland