Worst Bok side ever?

Was the Springbok side that lost the last test match to Argentina the worst Springbok side ever?

I don't think there was a pre-isolation Springbok team that was anywhere near as bad as this current bunch of losers so the contenders would have to be from either the Rudolf Straeuli era in the early 2000s or Joke White's easybeats in 2007.

Let's list them. Note that I have chosen the notorious "van Riebeeck" team from the Straeuli era (so named because of the 16-52 scoreline) rather than the rabid bunch of thugs who were creamed 53-3 by the Poms, because the 2002 team at least had the excuse of having a player red carded early in the game . . . and they were away rather than at home.

The Joke White team from 2007 is easy enough, it's the team that lost 33-6 to the All Blacks in Christchurch.

19 July 2003 - Pretoria
South Africa 16, New Zealand 52
Coach: Rudolf Straueli

1. Lawrence Sephaka
2. Danie Coetzee
3. Richard Bands
4. Bakkies Botha
5. Victor Matfield
6. Corne Krige (C)
7. Wickus van Heerden
8. Juan Smith
9. Joost van der Westhuizen
10 Louis Koen
11 Ashwin Willemse
12 De Wet Barry
13 Andre Snyman
14 Stefan Terblanche
15 Brent Russell

16 Dale Santon
17 Robbie Kempson
18 Selborne Boome
19 Pedrie Wannenburg
20 Craig Davidson
21 Gcobani Bobo
22 Andre Pretorius

14 July 2007 - Christchurch
New Zealand 33, South Africa 6
Coach: Jake White

1. CJ van der Linde
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Jannie du Plessis
4. Albert van den Berg
5. Johann Muller (C)
6. Wickus van Heerden
7. Pedrie Wannenburg
8. Jacques Cronje
9. Ruan Pienaar
10 Derrick Hougaard
11 Jaco Pretorius
12 Wynand Olivier
13 Waylon Murray
14 Breyton Paulse
15 JP Pietersen

16 Gary Botha
17 Eddie Andrews
18 Hilton Lobberts
19 Gerrie Britz
20 Michael Claasens
21 Peter Grant
22 Tonderai Chavhanga

27 August 2016 - Salta, Argentina
Argentina 26, South Africa 24
Coach: Allister Coetzee

1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Adriaan Strauss (C)
3. Vincent Koch
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Lood de Jager
6. Francois Louw
7. Oupa Mohoje
8. Warren Whiteley
9. Faf de Klerk
10 Elton Jantjies
11 Bryan Habana
12 Damien de Allende
13 Lionel Mapoe
14 Ruan Combrinck
15 Johan Goosen

16 Bongi Mbonambi
17 Lourens Adriaanse
18 Steven Kitshoff
19 Pieter-Steph du Toit
20 Jaco Kriel
21 Rudy Paige
22 Morne Steyn
23 Jesse Kriel

Plenty of players in all those teams who should never have been Springbok but to be fair, I must mention some exemptions.

In the 2003 test match, Gcobani Bobo was an unused sub while Ashwin Willemse has to get a special mention because he really stood out in a losing cause. It was his debut test and he was the only Springbok who posed any kind of threat, being rewarded with the only Springbok try of the match.

In the 2007 test match, Wickus van Heerden was the only Springbok to emerge with any credit. I am aware this was something of a B team that Joke White picked but the fact remains it was a Springbok team selected to play the All Blacks so Joke deserves his place in rugby infamy.

In last week's humiliation, Bongi Mbonambi was an unused sub while Pieter-Steph du Toit was the only Springbok to show any guts.

So which was the worst? I'm sure everyone has their own view but to me that 16-52 result (still a Springbok record home defeat) remains the worst Springbok performance in living memory.

Now, how about a combination team made up of the 2003 front row, the 2007 locks and loose trio, Rudy Paige at scrumhalf, Louis Koen at flyhalf, the 2007 centres and the 2016 back 3?

If anyone can think of a Bok side as bad as any of the ones above, let's hear it.

The 49-0 loss against Australia in the White era also comes to mind. 
A game that sticks in my mind as another completely embarrassing Bok performance is the 29-9 loss against the All Blacks in the 2003 World Cup quarter final. It is not a blowout scoreline, but throughout that game I got the feeling the All Blacks were just toying with the Boks, cruising in second gear and doing no more than the little they had to do to beat an inept team that never posed any threat to them.

 Easily the worst Bok side was the one that toured the NH in 02 and lost to England, France and Scotland in a total 3 match wipe out. As you can see from the ages this was another of those young teams fans are always asking for and there was no leadership. 
Among the players notable flops included Deon Carstens at tighthead, Wentzel at lock, flavour of the day Krige and Pierre Uys who has to be a candidate for the most unknown Bok flank.



Combined caps: 161 tests (starting 15)PositionPlayerProvinceAgePrev TestsScoringLoose-head PropWessel RouxBlue Bulls271 HookerLukas van BiljonSharks2610 Tight-head PropDeon CarstensSharks230 LockMarco WentzelPumas231 LockJannes LabuschagneLions269 Flank (C)Corné KrigeWP2729 FlankPierre UysPumas260 EighthmanJoe van NiekerkLions2215 ScrumhalfBolla ConradieWP248 FlyhalfButch JamesSharks2372 penaltiesLeft WingFriedrich LombardCheetahs230 Inside CentreAdrian JacobsFalcons228 Outside CentreRobbie FleckWP2729 Right WingBreyton PaulseWP2637 Full BackWerner GreeffWP257 ReserveAndré PretoriusLions238 ReserveAJ VenterSharks2913 ReserveCJ van der LindeCheetahs220 Scotland: 2 tries, 1 conversion, 3 penalties

The Straeuli era side is probably the best bet . Not only for their lack of results on the field, but also for the thuggery they brought to the game. 

 However, none of the teams mentioned lost against Japan - that was to my mind the worst performance ever of a Springbok team

 However, none of the teams mentioned lost against Japan - that was to my mind the worst performance ever of a Springbok team

I think the current Springbok team are certainly contenders to be the worst ever. They have only played one game overseas- and lost. 
They could have lost all games against the Irish at home- and it was luck that things were not worse

Its quite possible that we will win only one more game this year, I really don't give this inexperienced team much chance on the NH tour. That would give us 4 wins and 8 losses in certainly one of the worst years for Bok rugby.

Its quite possible that we will win only one more game this year, I really don't give this inexperienced team much chance on the NH tour. That would give us 4 wins and 8 losses in certainly one of the worst years for Bok rugby.

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