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How good are the Boks?

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Sports Talk
springboks
147 Posts 36 Posters 5.2k Views 1 Watching
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  • W W32

    @OomPB said in How good are the Boks?:

    The Springboks havent played well against the All Blacks or Wallabies. The reason for this is the changing of players for every game. Which is fine as long as the win.

    Young players like Fassie, Moodie, SMZ, Louw, Nortje, Dixon, Willemse wont be discovered if he didnt gave them a chance to play on top level

    Nortje a great find. He's like 30 or something. Like how Rassie is an equal opportunity lifeline thrower

    OomPBO Offline
    OomPBO Offline
    OomPB
    wrote on last edited by
    #53

    @W32 he is still a spring chicken.

    Ruan Nortjé's birthdate is July 25, 1998. As of September 8, 2024, his age would be: 26 years old

    FrankF 1 Reply Last reply
    1
    • W W32

      @teachmetherugby said in How good are the Boks?:

      @booboo

      The springboks know how to build very well.
      From their school systems to their cultural story (they have a Hollywood movie based on it).
      And so they have the greatest depth that is never ending , as far as the eye can see. They got a dam movie based on their story.

      Unmatched. Greater than the haka if we are to compare . Invictus is mythological for all the people of the country . Uniting .

      they may not be the most gifted . But I can assure you that on average, their packs have a deeper bond player to player. They always deliver and peak properly for world cups .

      They are known for their set plays and they always have a very very reliable kicker . Points are always in their hand.

      I do honestly believe that they are the best rugby nation . Population 60million .

      Was this AI generated?

      T Offline
      T Offline
      teachmetherugby
      wrote on last edited by
      #54

      @W32

      So yeah . What you reckon about my commentary on greatest rugby nation .

      p.s I totally adored the Carter McCaw Conrad smith era so pipe down yeah.

      Let’s talk. Invictus baby. What you reckon a movie like that does to the grassroots of a country ? Aye.

      Talk to me

      1 Reply Last reply
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      • S SidBarret

        In think we're in a pretty good space. The team that played on saturday was missing the following guys from the strongest 23 -

        Kitshoff
        Snyman
        De Jager
        Mostert
        De Klerk
        Arendse
        Willemse

        I also think that the last couple of games have shown that some veterans are being played out of the by younger guys coming in rather old guys falling off (Mngomozulu v Pollard, Fassi v Le Roux and Louw vs Wiese).

        We have a kind schedule until the next two games in New Zealand in 2025. Frankly it would be a failure not to dominate for the next 18months or so.

        But the big elephant in the room is how we deal with an aging pack. Who do we keep in the side, who gets shifted out and who comes in. We have gotten used to having 10 to 15 world class tight forwards to pick from - that is not normal and you don't think we can just presume the next Etsebeth, Marx, Malherbe, whoever is just going to come out of nowhere.

        Thar said - there are some truly great players coming through in positions 7 (our seven) to 15.

        MN5M Offline
        MN5M Offline
        MN5
        wrote on last edited by
        #55

        @SidBarret said in How good are the Boks?:

        In think we're in a pretty good space. The team that played on saturday was missing the following guys from the strongest 23 -

        Kitshoff
        Snyman
        De Jager
        Mostert
        De Klerk
        Arendse
        Willemse

        I also think that the last couple of games have shown that some veterans are being played out of the by younger guys coming in rather old guys falling off (Mngomozulu v Pollard, Fassi v Le Roux and Louw vs Wiese).

        We have a kind schedule until the next two games in New Zealand in 2025. Frankly it would be a failure not to dominate for the next 18months or so.

        But the big elephant in the room is how we deal with an aging pack. Who do we keep in the side, who gets shifted out and who comes in. We have gotten used to having 10 to 15 world class tight forwards to pick from - that is not normal and you don't think we can just presume the next Etsebeth, Marx, Malherbe, whoever is just going to come out of nowhere.

        Thar said - there are some truly great players coming through in positions 7 (our seven) to 15.

        The fact someone as good as Andre Esterhuizen can’t get a game speaks volumes.

        SmutsS 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • S stodders

          Bok fans on here…do you think the Boks are 15-20 points better than the current ABs? Boks didn’t play perfectly, but I don’t think they were allowed to. They had to earn their wins.

          I ask because there are a lot of Bok posters on X saying they think the Boks would have walloped the ABs in both games if passes had stuck. Is this the true Bok fan view, or just the view of the few?

          T Offline
          T Offline
          teachmetherugby
          wrote on last edited by
          #56

          @stodders

          rugby attack has evolved. Points are through set plays now as opposed to line breaks and backline .

          SA have a style that don’t need to adapt much. Instead they are now experimenting with their attack.

          All blacks haven’t adapted their style of play. Teams defend better now with lateral play

          1 Reply Last reply
          1
          • OomPBO OomPB

            @W32 he is still a spring chicken.

            Ruan Nortjé's birthdate is July 25, 1998. As of September 8, 2024, his age would be: 26 years old

            FrankF Offline
            FrankF Offline
            Frank
            wrote on last edited by
            #57

            @OomPB said in How good are the Boks?:

            @W32 he is still a spring chicken.

            Ruan Nortjé's birthdate is July 25, 1998. As of September 8, 2024, his age would be: 26 years old

            Excellent math!

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • S Offline
              S Offline
              stodders
              wrote on last edited by
              #58

              It is official. Current Boks are the greatest (according to this Englishman):

              https://www.planetrugby.com/news/opinion-im-a-pom-and-even-i-am-beginning-to-like-the-springboks?__vfz=medium%3Dconversations_top_pages#viafoura-conversations-id

              I guess this is how the Welsh players from the 70s felt when ppl started forgetting about how their many generational talents changed the game.

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • BrandonB Offline
                BrandonB Offline
                Brandon
                wrote on last edited by
                #59

                I think down here in SAFFA land - bar being pretty happy - most of us are also pretty realistic and Rassie said as much post match. ABs have done far greater things in our history - we're still far behind on balance. And we are also fully aware that we've won a lot of tight games that could have gone the other way - then we'd have different conversations.

                Let's see where this team ends up - and then we can really shout. For now, we celebrate the status quo with hope to see a full 80 minute performance ... because we've not seen it, yet.

                1 Reply Last reply
                2
                • MN5M MN5

                  @SidBarret said in How good are the Boks?:

                  In think we're in a pretty good space. The team that played on saturday was missing the following guys from the strongest 23 -

                  Kitshoff
                  Snyman
                  De Jager
                  Mostert
                  De Klerk
                  Arendse
                  Willemse

                  I also think that the last couple of games have shown that some veterans are being played out of the by younger guys coming in rather old guys falling off (Mngomozulu v Pollard, Fassi v Le Roux and Louw vs Wiese).

                  We have a kind schedule until the next two games in New Zealand in 2025. Frankly it would be a failure not to dominate for the next 18months or so.

                  But the big elephant in the room is how we deal with an aging pack. Who do we keep in the side, who gets shifted out and who comes in. We have gotten used to having 10 to 15 world class tight forwards to pick from - that is not normal and you don't think we can just presume the next Etsebeth, Marx, Malherbe, whoever is just going to come out of nowhere.

                  Thar said - there are some truly great players coming through in positions 7 (our seven) to 15.

                  The fact someone as good as Andre Esterhuizen can’t get a game speaks volumes.

                  SmutsS Offline
                  SmutsS Offline
                  Smuts
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #60

                  @MN5 we tend to avoid picking players serving a ban.

                  MN5M 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • D Offline
                    D Offline
                    DaGrubster
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #61

                    Don’t think I have answered yet.

                    The Boks have their best squad ever with some all time greats in their side and can now be considered a generational team like their 2009 team, Eng 2003 and many AB sides.

                    Their potential is huge and I have said before that the influx of the black population into rugby will be as transformational as pasifika players in NZ in the 90’s.

                    I thought we did pretty well in the two tests against them but in order to get back on top we have to be pretty close to perfect in the AB squad with strategy/selections and player development in the test arena.

                    The Boks supporters should enjoy it as it’s great during these runs etc but as we know they are over without seeing it coming!

                    S S 2 Replies Last reply
                    3
                    • D DaGrubster

                      Don’t think I have answered yet.

                      The Boks have their best squad ever with some all time greats in their side and can now be considered a generational team like their 2009 team, Eng 2003 and many AB sides.

                      Their potential is huge and I have said before that the influx of the black population into rugby will be as transformational as pasifika players in NZ in the 90’s.

                      I thought we did pretty well in the two tests against them but in order to get back on top we have to be pretty close to perfect in the AB squad with strategy/selections and player development in the test arena.

                      The Boks supporters should enjoy it as it’s great during these runs etc but as we know they are over without seeing it coming!

                      S Offline
                      S Offline
                      stodders
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #62

                      @DaGrubster and they have Rassie. Love him or hate him, he is the patriarch of the Bok setup. He has his hand in everything that is good and deserves all the plaudits for reinvigorating them from their nadir in 2017.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • D DaGrubster

                        Don’t think I have answered yet.

                        The Boks have their best squad ever with some all time greats in their side and can now be considered a generational team like their 2009 team, Eng 2003 and many AB sides.

                        Their potential is huge and I have said before that the influx of the black population into rugby will be as transformational as pasifika players in NZ in the 90’s.

                        I thought we did pretty well in the two tests against them but in order to get back on top we have to be pretty close to perfect in the AB squad with strategy/selections and player development in the test arena.

                        The Boks supporters should enjoy it as it’s great during these runs etc but as we know they are over without seeing it coming!

                        S Offline
                        S Offline
                        SidBarret
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #63

                        @DaGrubster

                        Taking a 30000 foot view, I think there are echos (both good and bad) with where NZ were around 2012.

                        The good-

                        Stability of coaching structure
                        A stability of season structure and decent finances.
                        An experienced core with good young talent coming in.

                        The bad -

                        A slippage on the periphery- the sevens and u20 sides are behind where they were 5 years earlier.
                        Concerns around the age profile of certain position groups.

                        The challenge for Rassie in the next 18 months is to set the boks up for 2026 and 2027 because some great players are going to age out of the side in that period and others will be breaking down doors and finding out which is which is going be very tough.

                        D 1 Reply Last reply
                        3
                        • S SidBarret

                          @DaGrubster

                          Taking a 30000 foot view, I think there are echos (both good and bad) with where NZ were around 2012.

                          The good-

                          Stability of coaching structure
                          A stability of season structure and decent finances.
                          An experienced core with good young talent coming in.

                          The bad -

                          A slippage on the periphery- the sevens and u20 sides are behind where they were 5 years earlier.
                          Concerns around the age profile of certain position groups.

                          The challenge for Rassie in the next 18 months is to set the boks up for 2026 and 2027 because some great players are going to age out of the side in that period and others will be breaking down doors and finding out which is which is going be very tough.

                          D Offline
                          D Offline
                          DaGrubster
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #64

                          @SidBarret said in How good are the Boks?:

                          @DaGrubster

                          Taking a 30000 foot view, I think there are echos (both good and bad) with where NZ were around 2012.

                          The good-

                          Stability of coaching structure
                          A stability of season structure and decent finances.
                          An experienced core with good young talent coming in.

                          The bad -

                          A slippage on the periphery- the sevens and u20 sides are behind where they were 5 years earlier.
                          Concerns around the age profile of certain position groups.

                          The challenge for Rassie in the next 18 months is to set the boks up for 2026 and 2027 because some great players are going to age out of the side in that period and others will be breaking down doors and finding out which is which is going be very tough.

                          You mention season structure but I would have thought that was one of your biggest problems as your guys are playing almost all year round.

                          Losing lots of leaders from 2019/23 will be very difficult as there are some greats of the game that will be too old for 2027.

                          Balancing when to retire them and how long to keep them is an age old problem and one which will be hard to get completely right and you don’t know what you’ve lost until it’s gone sometimes.

                          Either way, the Boks are in rude health. The trick is keeping yourself in that state!

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          1
                          • SmutsS Smuts

                            @MN5 we tend to avoid picking players serving a ban.

                            MN5M Offline
                            MN5M Offline
                            MN5
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #65

                            @Smuts said in How good are the Boks?:

                            @MN5 we tend to avoid picking players serving a ban.

                            Good philosophy.

                            I meant before then though

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            1
                            • nostrildamusN nostrildamus

                              @W32 said in How good are the Boks?:

                              @teachmetherugby said in How good are the Boks?:

                              @booboo

                              The springboks know how to build very well.
                              From their school systems to their cultural story (they have a Hollywood movie based on it).
                              And so they have the greatest depth that is never ending , as far as the eye can see. They got a dam movie based on their story.

                              Unmatched. Greater than the haka if we are to compare . Invictus is mythological for all the people of the country . Uniting .

                              they may not be the most gifted . But I can assure you that on average, their packs have a deeper bond player to player. They always deliver and peak properly for world cups .

                              They are known for their set plays and they always have a very very reliable kicker . Points are always in their hand.

                              I do honestly believe that they are the best rugby nation . Population 60million .

                              Was this AI generated?

                              Yes, artificially inflammatory.

                              KruseK Offline
                              KruseK Offline
                              Kruse
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #66

                              @nostrildamus said in How good are the Boks?:

                              @W32 said in How good are the Boks?:

                              @teachmetherugby said in How good are the Boks?:

                              @booboo

                              The springboks know how to build very well.
                              From their school systems to their cultural story (they have a Hollywood movie based on it).
                              And so they have the greatest depth that is never ending , as far as the eye can see. They got a dam movie based on their story.

                              Unmatched. Greater than the haka if we are to compare . Invictus is mythological for all the people of the country . Uniting .

                              they may not be the most gifted . But I can assure you that on average, their packs have a deeper bond player to player. They always deliver and peak properly for world cups .

                              They are known for their set plays and they always have a very very reliable kicker . Points are always in their hand.

                              I do honestly believe that they are the best rugby nation . Population 60million .

                              Was this AI generated?

                              Yes, artificially inflammatory.

                              Well the "I" definitely isn't "Intelligence".

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              2
                              • W W32

                                @stodders said in How good are the Boks?:

                                Bok fans on here…do you think the Boks are 15-20 points better than the current ABs? Boks didn’t play perfectly, but I don’t think they were allowed to. They had to earn their wins.

                                I ask because there are a lot of Bok posters on X saying they think the Boks would have walloped the ABs in both games if passes had stuck. Is this the true Bok fan view, or just the view of the few?

                                Stupid thing for X fans to say. The games have been close. woulda coulda shoulda

                                BerniesCornerB Offline
                                BerniesCornerB Offline
                                BerniesCorner
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #67

                                @W32 said in How good are the Boks?:

                                @stodders said in How good are the Boks?:

                                Bok fans on here…do you think the Boks are 15-20 points better than the current ABs? Boks didn’t play perfectly, but I don’t think they were allowed to. They had to earn their wins.

                                I ask because there are a lot of Bok posters on X saying they think the Boks would have walloped the ABs in both games if passes had stuck. Is this the true Bok fan view, or just the view of the few?

                                Stupid thing for X fans to say. The games have been close. woulda coulda shoulda

                                TBH this is an outstanding South African side and I am surprised we got so close on both occasions. Probably strongest SA side I've seen.
                                Our subbings were poor and we screwed up our wing selections.
                                Super proud of Williams Lomax Vaai and Sititi.
                                Ratima/ Roigard combo is going to be potent.
                                We need to commit to Proctor and Love

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                2
                                • BerniesCornerB Offline
                                  BerniesCornerB Offline
                                  BerniesCorner
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #68

                                  Oh we lacked leadership which aided SA

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  1
                                  • boobooB Offline
                                    boobooB Offline
                                    booboo
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #69

                                    Let's pose this question again.

                                    Any change in your opinion after this week?

                                    Dan54D W 2 Replies Last reply
                                    0
                                    • canefanC Offline
                                      canefanC Offline
                                      canefan
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #70

                                      Did they send their full strength side to Argentina?

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • boobooB booboo

                                        Let's pose this question again.

                                        Any change in your opinion after this week?

                                        Dan54D Offline
                                        Dan54D Offline
                                        Dan54
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #71

                                        @booboo said in How good are the Boks?:

                                        Let's pose this question again.

                                        Any change in your opinion after this week?

                                        I still think they great team, one result in isolation doesn't really change it.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • nostrildamusN Offline
                                          nostrildamusN Offline
                                          nostrildamus
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #72

                                          Hang on, commit to Love? Can we see him play for the ABs first?

                                          canefanC 1 Reply Last reply
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