SA RUGBY January 2023

The Springboks lost once in 2019 en route to climbing to the top of world rugby in Tokyo, but they've since lost 10 of 26 Tests. It's not the kind of record that screams ‘world champions!’ and yet the general consensus, after bullying England at Twickenham, is that the Boks are on track to defend their title in France in 2023. Some of the credit for this optimism stems from the way in which the new bloods, forced into the Test arena by circumstance, ran with the opportunity in 2022. Mention Manie Libbok (his resurrected career is featured in this issue), Canan Moodie, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Evan Roos, and Bok fans' eyes light up. It's credited to the invaluable contribution of John Dobson and Jake White at the Stormers and…

ENGLAND 13 SPRINGBOKS 27 Kurt-Lee Arendse finishes off a scintillating try at Twickenham, which was sparked by Damian Willemse's counter-attack from inside the Springbok 22 late in the first half. The winger scored seven tries in seven Tests in 2022. ITALY 21 SPRINGBOKS 63 Eben Etzebeth secures the Springboks' lineout ball during the Test at Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa. The Bok lock was part of a potent Bomb Squad that helped blow the Azzurri away in the second half. STORMERS 36 SCARLETS 19 Dan du Plessis scores a fifth try for the defending URC champions, who showed their depth with a dominant performance against the Llanelli-based Scarlets. Both sides were missing players to international duty. BULLS 43 OSPREYS 26 David Kriel starred on the right wing for the Bulls…

WHO'S BEEN THE BREAKOUT SPRINGBOK STAR OF 2022? VS DYLAN JACK SAYS JADEN HENDRIKSE While there were hints of his immense potential in 2021, 2022 was the year that Hendrikse came to the fore as a Test player. He made his Springbok debut in 2021 as a replacement in the two Rugby Championship dashes against Argentina. After scoring a memorable try in his first appearance. Hendrikse suffered a knee injury in his second match that brought his season to a premature end. The 22-year-old has, however, come back far stronger this year. Hendrikse was among the best of the wider squad members who were given a run in the second Test against Wales in Bloemfontein. That was rewarded with a place on the bench in the series decider in Cape…

FORWARDS 1. HEINRICH ROGERS When I thought I had him, he lifted the whole scrum with one leg! It looks like his son Robbie is a chip off the old block. I also have lots of respect for Garry Pagel. He scrummed the hell out of me. 2. SEAN FITZPATRICK A fierce competitor and leader on the field. 3. OLO BROWN Scrummed lower than a lawnmower. 4. JOHAN ACKERMANN The enforcer. When he warned you, you tended to listen. 5. DODDIE WEIR A lineout specialist who towered over others. 6. RUBEN KRUGER There was no end to Ruben's determination ‘THERE WAS NO END TO RUBEN'S DETERMINATION’ 7. ANDRÉ VENTER The fittest rugby player I knew. Hard as nails too. 8. SÉBASTIEN CHABAL Intimidating and confrontational. BACKS 9. GARY ARMSTRONG Although…

5 THE NUMBER OF TRIES THE SPRINGBOKS SCORED, INCLUDING TWO BY GIO APLON A memorable weekend for South African sport was made epic when the Springboks, aided by an incredible performance by Gio Aplon, demolished France at Newlands in June 2010. While Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse have since made a smaller, scrum-capped Springbok winger a mere familiar sight, picking a backline player under 85kg in 2010 was seen as a massive risk. However, it was one that certainly paid off for coach Peter de Villiers when South Africa claimed a first win over Les Bleus in five years and handed them a first loss at Newlands. In just his second Test appearance, Aplon relished the occasion on his home ground, shrugging off a tackle from French midfielder Maxime Mermoz…

SIYA KOLISI ‘Great night in Paris, awesome meeting Neymar.’ – The Springbok captain exchanged jerseys with the Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain wing after a Ligue 1 match in the French capital. ANDRÉ-HUGO VENTER ‘Honoured to be a part of this team.’ – The Stormers hooker with Lions centre Henco van Wyk after playing for South Africa A against the Bristol Bears. DAMIAN WILLEMSE ‘Not our night in Marseille but very proud of all the boys for an incredible fight yesterday.’ – The Springbok flyhalf exchanged jerseys with France pivot Romain Ntamack. EVAN ROOS ‘One to remember. Awesome way to end off tour.’ – The Bok No 8 celebrated a memorable victory over England with fellow loose forwards Franco Mostert and Kwagga Smith. FAF DE KLERK ‘It's been an honour and…