Former Springbok dynamo Hanyani Shimange has tossed a provocative idea into the rugby mix: the Boks might just need to clone themselves to handle their grueling year-end tour schedule. On a recent episode of The Verdict podcast, Shimange gushed about the depth of Rassie Erasmus' squad, which recently showcased its jaw-dropping bench strength in a 43-10 demolition of opponents in Wellington.
"If you take a hard look at the end-of-year tour lineup, you're basically talking about fielding two squads," Shimange pointed out. He highlighted the prowess of players like Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel, dismissing any notion that the team lacks experience.
"I think the 45 is incredibly powerful."
Erasmus, with his eyes set on the 2027 World Cup, has been playing a masterful game of musical chairs with his team selections, a strategy that Shimange believes puts the Boks leagues ahead of their international rivals. "What we’re actually doing now, I think we’re a step ahead and there’s a gap in terms of that in world rugby. I can’t think of a better squad," he added enthusiastically.
During the discussion, Shimange also took a jab at the All Blacks' somewhat precarious flyhalf situation. "If [Beauden] Barrett goes down, [Damian] McKenzie comes in – but who’s their third flyhalf?" This prompted fellow rugby legend Schalk Burger to chime in, suggesting New Zealand might have to "go and fetch [Richie] Mo’unga" from Japan to stay competitive.
The Boks' end-of-year tour is a packed affair with Tests slated against Japan on 1 November at Wembley Stadium, followed by France, Italy, Ireland, and concluding with Wales in Cardiff on 29 November. This brutal schedule highlights why Shimange's call for a dual squad approach might not just be an overstatement but a necessity to keep the Springboks firing on all cylinders.
2,193 posts
Former Springbok dynamo Hanyani Shimange has tossed a provocative idea into the rugby mix: the Boks might just need to clone themselves to handle their grueling year-end tour schedule. On a recent episode of The Verdict podcast, Shimange gushed about the depth of Rassie Erasmus' squad, which recently showcased its jaw-dropping bench strength in a 43-10 demolition of opponents in Wellington.
"If you take a hard look at the end-of-year tour lineup, you're basically talking about fielding two squads," Shimange pointed out. He highlighted the prowess of players like Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel, dismissing any notion that the team lacks experience.
"I think the 45 is incredibly powerful."
Erasmus, with his eyes set on the 2027 World Cup, has been playing a masterful game of musical chairs with his team selections, a strategy that Shimange believes puts the Boks leagues ahead of their international rivals. "What we’re actually doing now, I think we’re a step ahead and there’s a gap in terms of that in world rugby. I can’t think of a better squad," he added enthusiastically.
During the discussion, Shimange also took a jab at the All Blacks' somewhat precarious flyhalf situation. "If [Beauden] Barrett goes down, [Damian] McKenzie comes in – but who’s their third flyhalf?" This prompted fellow rugby legend Schalk Burger to chime in, suggesting New Zealand might have to "go and fetch [Richie] Mo’unga" from Japan to stay competitive.
The Boks' end-of-year tour is a packed affair with Tests slated against Japan on 1 November at Wembley Stadium, followed by France, Italy, Ireland, and concluding with Wales in Cardiff on 29 November. This brutal schedule highlights why Shimange's call for a dual squad approach might not just be an overstatement but a necessity to keep the Springboks firing on all cylinders.