Damian Willemse was abused in 2023, criticised, dismissed, and written off by large sections of the rugby community. And yet, when you actually watched the games rather than the number on his back, it was clear he was far better than people gave him credit for.
The great irony? Willemse had the 10 on his jersey, but it was Willie le Roux who was actually calling the shots and functioning as the real fly-half. Willemse wasn’t being asked to steer the ship in the traditional sense; he was tasked with covering ground, making hard carries, and injecting energy where it mattered most. And he did that job superbly. Anyone paying attention could see he was one of the few players consistently delivering under pressure.
What an extraordinary match. Almost every Springbok on the park...whether onr rated them in the past or not, came good. That in itself marks a shift.
New Zealand, by contrast, are in deep trouble. Beaten by Argentina, now dismantled by a Bok side still experimenting with combinations, they look threadbare. Razor faces the impossible task of reviving a dynasty with no dynasty players left. It’s a poisoned chalice, and today exposed it in brutal daylight.
But if this is the Springboks’ new chapter, we have to start writing it honestly. Yes, Kolbe’s intercept was the spark, and yes, scrum dominance was the hammer blow, but individual performances spoke volumes. Wiese was immense, Willemse again proved indispensable - saying that as a former detractor.
And then there’s Esterhuizen. How long must he continue to be overlooked while de Allende coasts on a reputation forged over a decade without a single defining Test? Esterhuizen has shown, at every level, that he brings a blend of power, intelligence, and directness that our midfield has sorely lacked. In a squad this rich, the jersey should be earned on form, not on sentiment. Wiese and Willemse have shown what happens when talent meets trust. Esterhuizen deserves the same faith.
Today’s victory matters. It proves we can unleash our backs, dominate up front, and still play intelligent, opportunistic rugby. But if we truly want this to be the start of something lasting, selection has to match performance. Celebrate the win, yes, but let’s also raise the bar.
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What an extraordinary game. Watching almost every player….those you rate and those you don’t rate come good. This starts a new chapter in our game, with riches to choose from. Hell Williams would walk most sides as a wing, that tackle he put on Jordan, the distance he made to pull it off was outstanding.
New Zealand by contrast are in real trouble. Beaten by Argentina and now crushed by a speculative Bok team. They simply don’t have the players. Razor may not survive this, but whoever gets this team, it’s a poisoned chalice
The game turned on the Kolbe intercept, but the All Blacks massive vulnerability at scrum time always made them vulnerable. Players who cemented their places include Wiese and Willemse. Hooker made a spectacular big stage start.
Finally, we play the rugby we were always capable of playing. We have the best backs in the game and hopefully this is how we play going forward.
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