The average age of the Boks I heard was 31.
The average age of the Boks I heard was 31.
Some of the 30 odd year olds will stay for a bit but most won’t make the next WC
Of the current squad it’s time to move on from Willie, Mapimpi, Reinach, Nyakane, Koch, Fourie, Orie, Mostert and Vermeulen
Heard Eben is retiring to start an acting career...hope he hangs around a bit longer though.
There are so many players that are over 31 in the springbok squad. We can't have every single player still playing in 4 years team. It is madness, some players are already dipping in athletic ability.
Duanne 4 years ago was much better and got man of the match performance. You could see he was hanging in there during the World Cup. He didn't have his big runs nor actually won balls on the deck for which he is well known.
Marx, Steph and Etzebeth are the only players that should stay in the team from the starting pack.
From the Bomb Squad, Kwagga can still be there, RG is 28 and Klein 29, so they can remain. Wiese is 27. Ox is 26
No Kolisi, Malherbe, Kittshoff or Bongi. Trevvvvaaa
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It is hard to tell how many players will actually retire or be retained if Rassie hangs around for 4 years until the next World Cup. We had some passengers in the team like the 4 scrumhalves with only 2 and then one being used in the final.
Don’t forget, Frans Steyn at 37 was still being considered and was playing test rugby last year. He could have been the first player to win 3 world cups or whitelock.
We had Deon Fourie getting his cap 36 and now 38. He might play at 42 and doesn’t look like he’ll be packing it in this season.
They only player we know that is retiring is Duanne Vermeulen. The guy looked like a spent force by the end of it. He did his job, but I also think we maybe held on to some players too long and we could have had more energy in the team.
The average pack age, excluding Vermeulen was 31. Kolisi is already 32. There is a chance that he’ll be around for another 4 years. But my real question will these guys last.
Pieter Steph, if he stays in Japan and managed correctly may still perform, but maybe move to lock.
But I’m not sure you should have the bulk of your team over 35. Some players are special and can do if. But we have the likes of RG, 28, hopefully his knees will last and some other players that didn’t make.
But 35 average is pushing it.
But I do hope we can keep Eben fit, Marx to recover, seems to have a year off with his knee and won’t play at all.
Wiese can fill the void with Roos getting an opportunity to claim the spot. We have some good young props, Ox can only get better. If Dweeb can find his jumpers. Not sure I want Kolisi around for much longer, absolutely show boat claiming glory for just pitching up and hardly having an impact. Kwagga way better, but who can claim that 6 jumper? Van Staaden is young enough.
Faf might be a step too far, but he is slurping noodles in Japan, so could be around.
Pollard will be there, 29 now and hopefully will last. Libbok has a bright future but need to learn to play in the wet. We got some good talent at 10.
Dud, please retire, don’t want a 36 year old Dud being side stepped by a prop. It is AE time. Willemse can shit to 12 too. Kriel and Am are both only 29, so could still be there.
Kolbe, will he have the pace and agility at 35. Arendse, Moodie are young enough and will be around.
Willie should retire. Great to see he didn’t mess up. That is his only contribution in the final.
Mpimpi had run his race. Maybe head to Japan and get some dough.
We probably see about 4 players depart from our pack.