SA RUGBY November 2023

If social media clips of Springbok fans in South African speedos tackling Ireland fans on the cobbled streets of Paris are any indication, the 2023 Rugby World Cup has lived up to its reputation as rugby’s biggest party. The on-field vibe hasn’t always lived up to the hype - the quality of matches ranging in wow-factor from a lukewarm beer to a round of flaming martinis - but those in attendance are visibly having a blast at a tournament that celebrates the sport like no other. Damian Willemse is finally being celebrated for his immense value to the cause, the talented playmaker having starred for the Springboks in the pool stage to (at least at the time of writing) claim the No 15 jersey from Willie le Roux. Basking in…

SPRINGBOKS 49 TONGA 18 Canan Moodie scores the third of seven Springbok tries at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille. The bonus-point win took the world champions to the top of Pool B, with Ireland still to play Scotland a week later. ALL BLACKS 96 ITALY 17 Will Jordan dots down for his 24th try in 22 Tests after collecting Jordie Barrett’s pin-point cross-kick. The All Blacks would score another 13 tries in a ruthless display of running rugby. WALES 40 WALLABIES 6 Samu Kerevi’s face says it all after the Wallabies suffered their heaviest World Cup loss, in Lyon. Wales’ biggest win against Australia (bettering a 25-point margin in 1975) booked their place in the quarter-finals. PORTUGAL 24 FIJI 23 Portugal celebrated their first World Cup win after winger Rodrigo…

WOULD THE BOMB SQUAD WORK IN THE URC? VS DYLAN JACK SAYS YES The Stormers are a living, breathing example that employing something similar to the Springboks’ Bomb Squad works away from the international stage. Heavy underdogs in the inaugural URC campaign in 2021-22, the Stormers utilised six replacement forwards to great effect in recovering from a shaky start to go all the way and win the title. In the final against the Bulls, John Dobson was able to call on two replacement loose forwards from the bench in Junior Pokomela and Nama Xaba. Meanwhile, veteran scrumhalf Godlen Masimla and wunderkind Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who only made his debut in the quarter-finals, provided utility value as backline replacements. Dobson also had one of the best replacement front rows in the competition…

FORWARDS 1. OS DU RANDT Solid at the scrum, but also very good at carrying the ball over the advantage line. 2. JOHN SMIT One of the best captains I played alongside. 3. OWEN FRANKS Helps his team get a solid base from scrums from which to attack. Also a solid defender. 4. BAKKIES BOTHA An enforcer. With Bakkies in your team, you knew you would get quick ruck ball. 5. VICTOR MATFIELD There was no one better than Victor in the world when it came to lineouts. 6. RICHIE McCAW McCaw was devastating on the ground, knowing when to go for the ball and when to leave it. He was also a great leader. 7. JUAN SMITH One of Juan’s strengths was carrying the ball over the advantage line…

RG SNYMAN ‘Tough battle last night but a good win. Also an honour to swap jerseys with Pierre Schoeman.’ - The Bok lock with his former Affies 1st XV captain after the World Cup clash against Scotland in Marseille. WAYDE VAN NIEKERK ‘Good energy.’ - The 400m world and Olympic record holder snapped a photo with Bok legends Schalk Burger and Jean de Villiers in Marseille. DAMIAN WILLEMSE ‘Stormers for life.’ - The Boks were visited by La Rocheiie stars Raymond Rhule and Dillyn Leyds after their World Cup victory over Romania in Bordeaux. MZWANDILE STICK ‘Can’t be in Bordeaux without a wine tour.’ - The Springbok assistant coach at the Château Capet-Guillier vineyard in Saint-Émilion. DEON FOURIE ‘Once upon a dream…’ - The Bok utility forward with his World…

SA Rugby magazine The Springboks missed 11 potential points through goal kicks as Ireland held out to claim a 13-8 World Cup pool victory at the Stade de France. Evan Brent Stephens I’m all for Manie, his game play is exceptional, his kicking for lineouts was brilliant. He needs to work on his kicking off the tee. But why kick for goal when you have chosen majority forwards? If Manie plays again, kick for lineouts. Trust your forwards. If Pollard plays, you might have better options to kick for goal. Malcolm Vincent That is sport. If Ireland did not mess up their first five Lineouts they probably would have scored more points. It was a great game and both sides have a great chance of winning the World Cup. Jan-Hendrik…