Well let’s face it this article is way way off the mark given the fact that the likes of Kolbe, Mapimpi, Jessie Kriel, Willemse, Kolisi, Etzebeth, Roos, Hanekom, Henco v Wyk, Edwil vd Merwe, Ludwig, Jordan Hendrikse, Kwagga etc are pretty muscled up as a result of hours in the gym
Our players are no different to the NH sides in terms of hours in the gym
You do have a genetic propensity to be very big, strong men though….
...harsh environment...
And a lot of Braai meats growing up….
That’s true. Some of you blokes are massive !!
Boer seuns are big lads so yes there is a definite advantage there
Its why we also have so much tightforward depth
Big ? They’re ginormous !
That is true - I’m dwarfed back home
At 170 you dwarfed everywhere:)
Is that your attempt at humour?
Bet you are, Saffolk :)
Just pointing out that your 170 fits your little man complex that you exhibit here on Ruckers….Mr Tough Guy:)
Ah so now you are lying about my height as well
Is lying something you take pride in low life?
You said it yourself that you 170 ….
You pathetic liar - where did I say I was 1.7 you scumbag - prove it low life
Aah someone is so cross little man complex kicking in??
I can remember clearly that you said that you 170 something and under 6 feet.
I am 184 by the way little man …
Huff and puff is all you got shame man tough guy….
But maybe just maybe, if you nicer to people, and behave thru the year Father Christmas is your man:)
Dumb ass Dave Mud….LMAO
And how much do you Bench , M?
I have a funny story about height. I always thought I was 172cm. Literally filled out many forms stating that as my height. I don't know why but I seem to remember in my early 20s my height being measured at a gym for a BMI rating...and just always remembered that I was 172cm.
A few of years back we were messing around at the dinner table and there was a measuring tape and some tools around from some work I'd done in the house. At some point the conversation got to us measuring how tall we were. Before measuring one of the ladies she said there was no point, because she knew she was exactly 170cm. I was like "That's impossible, there is no way I'm only 2cm taller than you."
We ended up measuring me and I was 179 cm and some change. To this day, I swear that when I was measured in my early 20s I was 172cm. I maintain that I somehow grew an extra 7cm since then. There is no way a man could not know how tall he is for the majority of his adult life. Right?
LOL ....
Yeah plum that is interesting with your height…
You see like I told Mr. Mud last night, be nice to other people, on EVERY platform and you will be blessed…
What I Bench Press, I do not know…I surf so I paddle my board and I think Shark can relate, it’s strenuous to Paddle thru oncoming white water and duck dive, to eventually end up in the back line where you catch the waves.
I do lift heavy Lithium Iron Batteries and most of them are about 80 kg ( 5.1 KW)
Anycase I hope everyone has a nice Weekend.
Provide the evidence you lying waste of space
I have NEVER said I’m 1.7 anything you lying twat
But prove me wrong fuckwit
So if you didn’t say that you 170 something, under six feet, how tall are you then?
2,799 posts
When it comes to the age-old debate of raw, unbridled strength versus meticulously sculpted gym power, nothing quite beats the natural heft of our southern hemisphere heroes. Forget the protein shakes and mirror selfies—the Springboks and All Blacks are living proof that Mother Nature’s gym is way more effective than any land-based weight room.
Let’s face it: when you’re charging down the field like a bull in a stampede, you don’t have time to perfect your bicep curl. Take Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, whose natural strength is as legendary as his leadership. Alongside him, the fleet-footed Cheslin Kolbe and the indomitable Eben Etzebeth remind us that nature’s design is optimized for power, not just show. And who can forget the rugged prowess of Duane Vermeulen and Makazole Mapimpi? They are living examples that a lifetime of kicking up dirt in the wild beats endless hours of gym grunting any day.
Over in New Zealand, the All Blacks continue this tradition of brute, raw physicality. Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick tower over opponents with a kind of effortless muscle that seems to have been forged in volcanic fire. Ardie Savea and Beauden Barrett—with the occasional nod to the mythical exploits of the retired legend Richie McCaw—show that there’s an art to using nature as your personal coach. And even Jerome Kaino makes a case for natural strength that no pre-workout supplement can replicate.
Now, contrast this with the European teams—where every muscle is measured, every lift is logged, and every flex is Instagrammed. Players like Maro Itoje, Owen Farrell, Mako Vunipola, and Courtney Lawes might be able to bench-press a small car, but ask them to tackle a muddy, unpredictable pitch? They might break a sweat while adjusting their gym tights! In Ireland, Johnny Sexton and Tadhg Furlong are celebrated for their technique, yet even the best gym workouts can’t replicate the rugged outdoors training that our southern hemisphere stars enjoy. Over in Wales, Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric prove that while gym strength is all about precision, it sometimes lacks the raw, untamed quality that comes from living and breathing the elements. Not to be outdone, France’s Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, along with Scotland’s Stuart Hogg, flex their gym-forged muscles, but one can’t help wondering: what happens when the power of nature itself is pitted against a regimen of perfectly timed protein shakes?
At the end of the day, while the European gym warriors might sculpt impressive physiques under fluorescent lights, nothing beats the authenticity of natural strength. The Springboks and All Blacks don’t need to worry about perfect form or counting reps—they’ve got centuries of rugged evolution behind them. And frankly, watching Siya Kolisi, Cheslin Kolbe, Eben Etzebeth, Duane Vermeulen, Makazole Mapimpi, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Ardie Savea, Beauden Barrett, Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino, Maro Itoje, Owen Farrell, Mako Vunipola, Courtney Lawes, Johnny Sexton, Tadhg Furlong, Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric, Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, and Stuart Hogg in action is like watching Mother Nature herself pick up a trophy. In this battle of the bulging biceps, natural strength is not just muscle—it’s a lifestyle, a legacy, and, quite frankly, the ultimate flex!