Just How Good Are South Africa?
There has been a lot written over the last few weeks about the South African rugby team being worthy contenders to the crown of Rugby World Cup champions. But is this a lot of hype or are the South Africans as good as many believe?
There is a lot of good, I must grudgingly admit. Victor Matfield and Bakkes Botha are two of the best locks in the world. Not far behind, in the great stakes comes Schalk Burger –his wild blonde hair crying out for world-wide attention. With Bryan Habana and Fourie du Preez, two who can no doubt carve up the attacking opposition as good as any Wallaby or All Black and Eddie Jones adding some fizz into the backline structure, the Boks finally can have an attack which isn’t all rush defense and intercepting passes off pacific basketball.
However, it could be argued that the Springbok front row is verging on the cusp as a creaking pack of aging baldies. And when John Smit is not around, the scrum particularly goes on the wane. Of course, the loosies are world class but when one gets behind the scrum (and leaves out Habana and du Preez, there doesn't seem much to write home about. With Jean de Villiers out and injured for the rest of the tournament, the backline took a major blow.
Sure, Franz Stein is a precocious youngster with a powerful boot, but as is all too often; it is easy to look classy against the minnows. Against the All Blacks in the first tri-nations test of 2007 (and yes, the Springboks were at full strength and playing on home turf) he was made to look inexperienced and ineffectual.
Ruggerblogger's Springbok weaklink? It has to be Percy Montgomery. Yes, he has great games but they’re normally against the likes of England (when the red rose army has been prescribed valium the night before to get over their depression of being coached by Andy Robinson). Percy hasn’t been tested at all in this tournament and when he will be tested, I'm picking that he will be the one to crumble.
South Africa to win the world Cup? Maybe. Or maybe not.
2 comments:
Hi Ferdy, I guess another question is if Argentina is good enough to win this thing. I think they will get dumped in the Semifinals. But I would put out to you the question of when will Argentina be added to the 'Boks, Wallabys and All Blacks to create a quad nations series? All they did was win "the group of Death" in this World Cup. They looked tactically better against the French on a day when French backs probably had their worst day in living memory, but their 9 and 10 combination have looked really good in this tournament.
Hey nursedude - great to see you back here. How was France? Are you home now? what about that American winger burning off Habana eh?
Yes - I agree that the Pumas are looking really good and people still underestimate them. My pick is that they will take the Boks to the wire. (just like France will probably take us!)
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