The Evolution Of The Springboks | Squidge Rugby Special | For The Love Of Rugby Podcast

[@jayduplessis7698]

A huge reason why the Springboks have been so dominant for the last few years is the fact that Rassie convinced SA Rugby to select overseas players. Because it turned around one of the biggest threats to our rugby, which was overseas clubs (in England, France, Japan, etc.) continuously poaching our best players - and poaching them from lower and younger levels - and it turned this reality into a strength, because now we no longer have to rely on only the four top SA teams to develop our players.... now we have the top French, English, Irish, Japanese, etc. clubs helping us to develop our players... And when they show themselves to be good enough, we just take them back! Genius.

[@hopeaguero7460]

Wrong these countries have SA players physical and well coached and strong and that’s what attracted these countries to have South African rugby players with hope of thinking their own players can pick up skills and mentality that South African players have’ but it is all around SA learn this countries game and use it against them for SA is a win win as English fans SA is winning wages we pay them to learn our weaknesses and beat us..

[@cheekynative]

You've got it backwards mate

[@jayduplessis7698]

@@hopeaguero7460 sorry, what ? That makes no sense

[@Goisis88]

Well observed. With NZ and England still not adopting the global selection policy, they will stay a step or two behind the Springboks in the test arena

[@XolaKhalipha]

​@@hopeaguero7460What word salad are you on about?

[@sdewviljoen]

Squidge, I truly admire you but every time you say Naainaber I want to set Ox and PSdT on you!! Naai has a very specific meaning in every of SA 11 languages 😅😅😅Pls try Knee’na’ber? Maybe that helps? Your contribution to rugby deserves medals and I wish you the best tickets to every game you wish to attend!

[@Ravens1300]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Kid_Senekal]

I shouldn't laugh but 🤣🤣🤣

[@TheSkiers]

🤣🤣Yes Squidgy try “knee-na-ber”

[@colinwhite6904]

Naai-knobber? Good name for one's lightsabre... 😏

[@pietervanderriet9968]

And it’s RASSIE not RAZZIE! But hang in there Squidge we do love your contribution

[@jayduplessis7698]

Another big difference that Rassie made was with player identification and development, which caught players who would've previously slipped through the cracks, and which also meant the selection of players who would've usually NOT been selected for the Springboks (e.g. 'small' players, inexperienced players, etc.)... and he was able to give these players confidence (another element that seemed to be lacking in the past, when we were used to seeing players buckle under the pressure).

[@Ravens1300]

I'm eternally grateful for Dr Rassie

[@eugeneduplessis140]

Lovely to hear positive remarks about South Africa, Springboks and our impact on the URC. ❤

[@daviddempster8717]

Well done, circumstantially the timing is interesting. Always good to hear Squidge talk rugby.

[@mvumsiayo3214]

You can dress it up however you like, but the fact that SA are a multicultural team...drawing on the unique strengths of the different races...is a huge deal. Now, before you say this is racist. Cheslin and Arendse...smaller coloured guys with insane speed and dexterity. Eben and company, large white guys of Dutch origin. Ox, Bongi...black South Africans who are generally shorter but when they are "wider" there is no stronger group of people on the planet. And this is how rugby is proving to us that it truly is game a for everybody, of any race or size. Long live the greatest game on earth.

[@stuartwood9339]

Transformation has been achieved at the maximum level… so glad to see the entire team being selected on merit, because every single one of our lads are world class and are 100% meant to be there. And to see these gents coming from all walks of life, from Mapimpi and Kolisi being dirt poor and having nothing, to some of the lads who came through the private school system. It’s an amazing mixture of South Africans and it’s so awesome to see how far our country has come following its horrific past

[@KingKhyron]

​@@stuartwood9339Coulnt agree more. We truly deserve this... we had to go thru hell to get here

[@SNOK1986]

Reason why we getting such talent coming through is we are scouting them while they are in school. Putting them into youth camps that are nurtured through their High School career and then filtered into the provincial sides (U20 and then opens). This allows for players to not slip through the cracks. Where as before you would finish High School and then probably go to Uni or start a job and a lot of the times forget about rugby. This time the bridge from High School to Provincial teams is seamless. Sasha was one of these talents that went through this process.

[@Ravens1300]

And we're keeping some of our best talents instead of losing them to overseas scouts

[@toma411]

The drugs at an early age probably helps too.

[@Ravens1300]

@@toma411 whatever comforts you

[@MorkelErasmus]

@@toma411you sound like you are talking from experience?

[@toma411]

@@MorkelErasmus Yeah I can spot a fellow roid-head when I see one. Sharks are full of em

[@dimitardobrev3296]

What a refreshing show! New Sub from SA.

[@davesmith826]

It starts at the grassroots. Watch the Craven Week highlights on KZbin. SA produces hundreds of elite juniors every year, and by 'elite' I mean capable of earning a professional contract. It's from that wellspring that Rassie draws his talent. He brought Brown in to tap into it, and in particular to tap in to backline players and loose forwards with distribution skills. He's set up an alignment group to ensure that the coaches at a junior level are adopting the same systems and coaching the same fundamentals at the seniors level. If things get progressing as they are and the country does not fall off a cliff (it could), then SA will become even more difficult to beat.

[@Larry-g7f]

South Africa!they don't know what we know

[@mariusgrobler]

Kudos, boys! Rassie makes a difference. It is hard enough to play against 15, but when synergy turns 15 into 16, it gets worse.

[@ronm4385]

The thing about Rassie, he is a great coach and all but his biggest attribute is that he is a genuinely good person as well. I have had the privilege of meeting him and he is just unbelievable without even trying.

[@alexanderjermaineabrahams1615]

his the evil genius in every comic book too. Dr Rassie is a mad scientist sometimes we never know what his going to pull out of his bag of tricks

[@mazibukomail]

2 things: Soccer, like in the UK, is the biggest sport in South Africa but another thing that has not been mentioned in assessing the strength of SA rugby is Varsity Cup competition. This is our university competition and has produced over 60 players, including 13 WC winners including Etzebeth, Nche, De Allende, Pollard, De Jager, Koch, Mostert, Mbonambi, Snyman, Nkosi, Libbok, Arendse.

[@kwedini1181]

We can add Edwill As well there😊😊

[@RafiqPhillips]

A third: Craven Week

[@liamward6649]

Rugby has overtaken soccer mate. No one watches it in SA. Stadiums are completely empty except for Soweto derby. No one watches on TV, literally no one. Springbok games and URC games have huge viewership and stadium attendances for URC is increasing now as well. Averaging about 30k excluding Lions. Rugby wins in every metric

[@mazibukomail]

@@liamward6649 This is simple. If you take a RANDOM cross-sample of 100 South Africans and asked them to rank their favourite sport, there is no doubt that soccer would be no 1. However, if you asked your friends, I'm sure it will be rugby. What rugby does is that is has the biggest cultural capital whereas its viewerbase is considerably more affluent than the decidedly working class soccer but that does not make it the most popular, just more commercial.

[@jean-pierreduven7234]

@@liamward6649 Soccer is still the most popular sport in SA

[@jksinorbit]

Football is by faaaaar the biggest sport in SA like 80/20 but as the black population is revelling in the success of the Boks it is changing fast, so yes rugby still has huge potential to grow

[@yandisakoko7621]

Springboks are still operating at 85% cause they are experimenting by playing A and B teams every game or two, and they are still the best team. 2026 for World Rugby will be interesting for the Rugby community heading to the Rugby World Cup in 2027.

[@Kull707]

Squidge is a freaking rugby genius, literally.

[@sibusisonogabe2220]

Good timing, lads. Good timing 😂😂. Just BTW, Football is bigger than rugby in SA. Biggest participation sport.

[@colinwhite6904]

Agreed... Way, way bigger in terms of participation!

[@christoduplessis8177]

At some point about 10 years ago cricket was also bigger but think those have swapped now, two RWCs on the bounce has exploded rugby in SA.

[@RicardoPaulsen-pq9rb]

I'm not a fan of Willie Leroux, but Rassie has so much faith in him, and with Rassie being the GOAT I need to trust that Rassie sees what our mere mortals are not seeing 😊

[@karlernstbuddenbrock371]

For now. It would have been far more dominant if the PSL weren’t as corrupt.

[@beejallison8283]

Same in NZ followed by for boys basketball but our high school rugby is very strong but amongst poly boys rugby league is huge too so many of NRL players are from kiwi school rugby

[@RoryDowd-o2q]

I live in South Africa. Football is bigger than Rugby. At my gym it's about 8-1 in favour of football shirts over rugby shirts. Maybe 6 out of those 8 are premier league shirts. That's in a middle class suburb of Cape Town, which is rugby central. At my uni it's about the same.

[@timgregory82]

Why is SA not good at football?

[@Arti-ficiallyChi]

​@@timgregory82 South Africa’s soccer scene is complex-while it’s the number one participation sport, factors like infrastructure, resources, and development programs also play a huge role in the national team’s performance.. uou have to remember that rugby was played by white people during apartheid and therefore the infrastructure and development programs stem from that time already...schools in rural areas or public schools still don't have that infrastructure for rugby or soccer just yet and it has a lot to do with the political structure.....hard to explain to anyone who isn't from SA when we say that soccer (football) is much larger than rugby and yet that team isn't as dominant as Springboks

[@rodwellchigome7567]

​@@timgregory82don't develop them properly at grassroots. Most of our top players can't use both feet. Things are changing slowly, but changing nonetheless.

[@oldman774]

@@timgregory82If they had a person like Rassie in charge our soccer will improve dramatically. The club owners aren't interested in developing players because for every player they have there are 1000 others waiting in line. Also the attitude and collective desire to achieve greatness as Bafanabafana is severely lacking

[@RoryDowd-o2q]

@@timgregory82 SA are okay at football, got to the semi finals of the AFCON this year. Reality is there are 150+ countries that play football, maybe 40 - 50 of them have more resources than SA do. There are far fewer countries that play rugby, and in the majority of those football would still be the number one sport as it is in SA (England, France, Ireland - which also has GAA). Main reason NZ and SA have been the most successful rugby nations is they are the two countries which value rugby the most relative to other nations. That doesn't mean that they value rugby more than other sports. However, it does seem to be the case that NZ values rugby more than it values other sports, that's not the case in SA.

[@TimothyHandley]

Great to see Squidge again. I watch his channel all the time. Now I'm watching yours. From Tim: a Saffa in Taipei.

[@JuicyJLee]

Where is Taipei?? Send love from rainy Durban 🇿🇦😎

[@JohnSmith-wo2fz]

@@JuicyJLee Capital of US occupied Chinese territory.

[@coryellcoryell1]

@@JuicyJLee Taiwan.

[@shafiekjacobs5284]

Being based in Cape town I'm blessed with school rugby derby's. At least 20 thousand in attendance at the Paarl schools derby.. Epic rivalry !!!!

[@SAPPERBRAVO]

A lot of people don't know that Rassie, has actually been working Rugbys evolution for years before he even took over the Springboks. He created OUTFOX a computer analytic system that's helped WORLD RUGBY from national sides to clubs with player stats to rebuilding SARU's rugby foundation from ground up, grassroots, males and females on merit and zero discrimination. His influence goes beyond what people see for the Springboks, to how we are run to where the players can play to learn how to be versatile from other leagues to bring that knowledge back to help the national side. On paper, he has accomplished more than the big wigs in world rugby ever has/had.

[@theroogie]

Everyone is singing Tony Browns praises but they forget the platform that has been set by Daan Human and Deon Davids

[@Dee-Dee-y2k]

They are integral to the team dynamic.

[@gideonjoubert7692]

The departure of Nienaber caused Rassie to rethink his approach with the staff he acquired

[@randomlyfactual1943]

I have a personal conspiracy theory that Nienaber coaching Leinster - who is basically the whole Irish team - is a move that is going to play into Rassie's hands. If I could bet on something, it would be on Nienaber rejoining the coaching unit a few months before the next world cup.

[@ciaranbrk]

It’s suspected that’s only for a few years before the next World Cup and that he may go back unless Leinster win no silverware this year in which case he may be made head coach .

[@khuzechristopherngebeza-re5yv]

​@@randomlyfactual1943spot on, Nienabers contract ends end of 2026,so we all know what's going to happen after

[@kelvinnkomo8124]

Rassie did this thing during the Ireland Tour where he compared the teams weight compared to Ireland. There was literally less than 5kg difference (Ireland weighed more). South Africans aren't big. We're just naturally strong, that's all

[@nicholausvanheerden3470]

Ek stem saam.

[@JohnSmith-wo2fz]

The avg. was brought down because SA wingers are small/lightweight.

[@daveharris1800]

The only reason there was a 5kg difference was because Eben got circumcised the week before

[@coatknight]

​​@JohnSmith-wo2fz he compared the forwards.

[@Ravens1300]

@@daveharris1800 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Stain-u9t]

Sounth Africa is still a soccer country btw

[@ukuthulakhumalo6288]

Now imagine Safa was as serious as Saru

[@Hiltok]

Hilariously, latest FIFA rankings has Australia at 25 and South Africa at 59. Meanwhile, WR has Australia at 11 after the wooden spoon in TRC with SA just 0.35 points behind Ireland. Looking forward to SA/NZ/Aus northern tours against NH teams. Maybe Australia and SA can move up a little.

[@ukuthulakhumalo6288]

@@Hiltok Sa needs a good win vs England and Scotland to be able to get a good points exchange for a decent gap ahead of Ireland. Wales are so far behind that there isn’t going to be a points exchange even with the +3 points home advantage

[@adrianpheiffer9960]

@@Hiltok The Fifa rankings make no sense to me. Don't pay it much attention. Australia probably benefits a bit by playing in the weakest football federation in the world.

[@RichardDeane-m8h]

How's the soccer team doing ?

[@SeanLarkan]

As others have said, soccer is by far RSAs biggest sport & other teams are just as physically big, if not ‘bigger’ than the Boks, but its head, heart & soul where they are probably stronger; and they’ve now become more innovative & creative. Interesting times ahead.

[@Ravens1300]

I can't wait.

[@andrejansevanrensburg7285]

Great show, thank you 👍🏻

[@CptRumcan]

They know how to get views 😅

[@brandonstclair898]

Will be great if the top teams experiment more to evolve the game. Even if it means a loss here and there. Springboks took a huge gamble and it paid off.

[@skellator4848]

Just FYI. Its mandatory to attend the 1st team game on a Saturday at noon. Even if you play u14 G team at 8am (yes we have that many teams at the big boys schools).

[@FrancoisSauer-ys3qc]

The success is totally because of Rassie,what keeps me excited is most coaches of teamsport get not foundout but like England in semi of W/C played the match the conditions perfect and they were stiff.Rassie is taking us in a direction with Brown appointment to be a very diffucult team to read and prepare for.If you going to beat boks in coming years you have to beat a team that will take you on, but also a team that can play you expansively,offloads running lines,big word is striving for total rugby.The size of the players is well documented,tallest Europeans the Dutch 60% of people under Afrikaners"who is rugby crazy"are Dutch who have been eating meet three times a day for 370 years most as 12 generation South Africans.These guy are naturally big,they gym what,what but also is naturally that size,not saying a smaller guy pumped up wont recover as easy after game,but food for thought.As far as expanding and getting better our coloured community although not the size these guy's can run are tuff people "who knows Wade v Niekerk" who beat Michael Johnsons world 400m reckort is Chestlin Kolbe cousin,sorry N.Z. you have had best wingers for years,but there is real speed masjine getting into rugby.I stay in N.K.Z.N. the local Zulu guys are Nquni from middle afrika"not sure countrys" but huge people.After two worldcup victorys there is motivated kids who is huge,and will soon be drafted into big rugby schools.Watch out we are comming.

[@MrCravendish]

Loving this collaboration with squidge rugby! I will never tire of Robbie's analysis and jokes, glad he's doing so well! I think it's unlikely that South Africa won't dip given how Rassie likes to rotate his squads and experiment (Argentina loss a potential example of that). About predicting a South Africa world cup threepeat do you not think think just age profile wise and U20 form might put a dent in them reaching peak in 2027?

[@Mikeup104]

It would break my heart as a South African but i wonder if Rassie would ever see success coaching a different country.

[@mtabrahams]

Based on his success at Munster I would probably say yes. But the thought of seeing Rassie with anything other than emerald green would be gut wrenching 😢

[@Hiltok]

Ebbs and flows in emphasis on building phases versus kicking early are related to trends reffing. When breakdown interpretations tighten up on what defenders are allowed to get away with, advantage phase play; when refs loosen up on the defenders or tighten up on the attacking teams cleaners, back to earlier kicks.

[@spencercourtis9371]

South Africa have always had expansive and highly skilled players. The problem was the one route physical minded coaches all the years who frustratingly inhibited our attacking ability. Finally, our brute force has merged with our skillset making SA near invincible.

[@rogerarnold6248]

To me the major change in rugby has been the 50-22 which now restricts defences more and makes phase play more of an option. And with the laws moving away from a lot of reset scrums there is more in play time which again makes phase play a better style. With England going down the defence/kick chase tactics. Do you think they will become more consistent in 6 nations?

[@seanbowman5614]

Great episode

[@peterjaffe8152]

Rassie has ensured that the players have bought into the fact that nobody is bigger than the game. The concept of “no d..heads” would never become an issue in SA rugby as Rassie would never allow a player to think he is bigger than the team. I agree there will be a dip at some point in this 4 year cycle and the other teams will strive to get better: Rassie’s ability to navigate this dip will be an interesting test of his ability. So far he has been able to stay one step ahead….the other key ingredient to the Teams success is absolute transparency with the players.

[@MeiA-h9r]

Damn the comments down here are so aggressive and I say that as a Saffa 🇿🇦 Great discussion gents - keep it up and love the podcast

[@nicodavids4604]

Great show guys Absolute English Legends

[@thembamadi]

Great to have acknowledgement from BRITS that SA rugby albeit has been at the very top... is still rising. RWC 2027 is likely gonna be nos 5 world cup win for the Boks and a triple win for the Rassie and Siya period. Clinching and sealing the debate on THE BEST TEAM OF ALL TIME once and for all.

[@superbowljoel01]

I don't think there's much of a size difference between the tier 1 teams anymore. In the amateur era, the boks would've been naturally larger but with modern strength and conditioning programs, everyone's big nowadays.

[@africanmamba1021]

There’s a difference between “ gym big “ and naturally thick and big with gym added to that . Huge difference … the boks especially the forward pack and even seen a lot in the backs are naturally big and thick … when you play the game … you will immediately see the guys that are truely built for this game and the guys who got their size from gym . Naturally big trumps gym big all day .

[@adrianincapetown7043]

Rassie often refers to the loss of two years after 2019, due to Covid, where he never had the opportunity to build the depth and develop the playing style. Following 2023, Rassie now has a full 4 year cycle to develop and grow the Boks.

[@Hrodwulf9]

South Africans are naturally competitive. We don't frown upon the spirit of competition and it's inculcated in us from a young age because of our rank in the world generally and resources being few and hard to come by.

[@kihara4244]

Craven week is the BEST youth tournament in the world.....Followed by the Varsity cup....and both these tournaments are in South Africa - hence the wealth of talent....some amazing players don't even make it. Add to that the inter school games where some matches have 10 000-15 000 spectators

[@mackyj7801]

I would say soccer is just as big a sport in SA, Bafana is only starting to get its groove back ……but SA rugby is yet to fully tap into that market which is scary …..Rugby outside Boland or PE is still mainly for the rich and middle class

[@alexanderjermaineabrahams1615]

Tata Madiba wanted transformation in the Springboks. Dr Rassie moved beyond transformation the South Africa we want the vision for our Country is this version of the Springboks.

[@oldman774]

Boks aren't dominating, the Irish have our number. There is still a lot more we have to do to dominate. I think the important thing now is the Boks are in every match, they don't get blown away. Whilst they have won 15 of their last 18 matches the ons they lost were by 5, 1 and 1 29:17

[@mtabrahams]

We still have the better head to head. But you right, they do have our number right now. I fully expect that to change.

[@christoserfontein4621]

😂

[@RoryDowd-o2q]

@@mtabrahams If Ireland have won 4 of the last 5 I wouldn't say you have the better head to head. Matches over about 20 years ago don't matter much do they?

[@Narapoia1]

Watched the highlights from all the RC games last night. Apart from the last game we didn't really dominate against NZ, and Oz are so poor at the moment I'd have expected bigger margins. Plus we couldn't beat Ireland twice at home. That said, we are trying a new way of playing and have blooded a ton of new players, so to mostly win with those caveats is very positive but it's far from clinical & dominating at this stage.

[@Narapoia1]

If you are looking at the head to head numbers they do, by definition.

[@gavinross3743]

Rassie has done almost as much for SA as Mandela did for SA in general. The bokke have made us proud to be SAFRICAN, up until this time national pride in SA never existed. Dricus du Plessis has also made it cool to be proud of our imperfect country. It is much more than a game to us. Bokke❤

[@KiloPage777]

Let's not be dramatic

[@SA_PASF]

Mandela made sure that you kept your wealth, I don't know about Rassie

[@mthonyamampetsheni3420]

Slow down there, Gavin.. you got too dip on your chip my boy..🥴👀

[@designmanagementconsultanc4143]

Would love your opionion on how much Nienaber has impacted Leinster

[@designmanagementconsultanc4143]

Fair play to you squidge for remaining impartial

[@soidog659]

Some SA school rugby games between the top schools attract 10k plus spectators

[@petes9524]

The Springboks beat the team that beat the Irish in the RWC. Their SA tour ended in a one all draw. The Boks have four world cups, two back to back, the Irish have never got past the quarter finals. To claim they have the Boks' number may be a little one eye biased wishful thinking if you're Irish, and weirdly warped if you're a South African.

[@mallencolly]

The Irish have consistently beaten South Africa for a while now. Without question they are the most difficult team for the current Springboks to face. There is no wishful thinking or weird warping in that. In a head to head between SA and Ireland, Ireland is winning

[@mtabrahams]

@@mallencollyoverall head to head SA leads, with the exception of the 38 - 3 smashing. The matches we were extremely tight in the last 5 or so matches. But you right, the Irish is the toughest to breakdown and to beat. More questions should be asked about the Irish though, as in, with all the “dominance” why couldn’t it be translated into any WCs?

[@mallencolly]

@@mtabrahams I'm talking about the current Springboks, not the entire history. Their lack of world cup wins is irrelevant. Just SA vs Ireland.

[@mtabrahams]

@@mallencolly okay the last 4 matches then from 2018 to date as Rassie took over then. Played 4, won 1, lost 3. Those 3 losses could’ve gone either way and not straight out dominance by the Irish. But I say again, you are correct the Irish has our number for now

[@mallencolly]

@@mtabrahams that's all I'm arguing. I haven't said anything about dominance. Only winning against South Africa.

[@LuyandaPeters-f9i]

Hi from South Africa well soccer in south africa is huge rather is up.there but soccer is still No1 sport in SA

[@sikhothomas4746]

The Boks played the way they played, forwards based rugby and tactical kicking, because they knew with limited time, going back to basics was their best bet at being at least competitive. They won the 2019 final playing some good attacking rugby, even though it was individuals and not the entire team... COVID hit, so they still didn't have enough time to expand their game plan between 2019 and 2023... Now there are no more excuses... What I'm trying to say is, even without Tony Brown the Boks were going to play similar to how they are playing now. But yes I can see his effect on the team.

[@tymoses6043]

Soccer is huge in 🇿🇦 But.. the Springboks are the 2nd biggest thing in South Africa❤

[@drikuslourens1854]

just a correction it's not a 1000 people who come to watch a school derby , the Paul derby every year has an attendance of 20 000 people, craven week attracts over 2 million people a year

[@Jean-PierreBotha-qf9gu]

Squide saying he is not qualified is like Einstein saying he cant do math 😮

[@jacquesvanzyl5299]

I am so glad the Boks are such a force now but why does it feel like everyone forgets that Ireland just keep humbling us, they are the no:1 team in the world... yes SA keep rotating squads but in the end results are what determine success, indeed SA have the most potential and being either 1 or 2 in the world makes that scary (good scary because I am a Saffa), but Ireland are never mentioned any more, or is it just me?

[@NicoDuplessis-cn1tv]

Guys, please sort the sound out. It’s so quiet when you guys speak.

[@shaunbarnard6904]

Glad you said it thought I was going deaf trying to listen

[@SHUTUPNOWW9360]

BACK2BACK WC, AND 2021 BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS SERIES WIN, X2 RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP WINS...STILL MORE TO COME

[@marelizemeier]

What I would say. Is that my boks are experimenting. Because the literally can. Most folks have a 23 and can’t deviate or try things much. We have 40 plus top players to rotate.

[@nox6885]

There are still more to come. There are many more guys to unearth in SA.

[@Nkanyiso131]

Only way Springboks don’t win the three peat will be through injuries. Since we have an old squad, injuries are our biggest concern. If we can take a healthy fit group to Australia we will be very difficult to stop.

[@coatknight]

Soccer is the #1 sport. In terms of people following it. Rugby is the most successful and has a good support following and foundation. However, there are a lot of schoolboys that fall through the cracks due to lack of opportunities or poor coaching.

[@pierre2898]

Can anybody outside of SA please learn to pronounce Mngomezulu

[@Jesus_is_Lord_316]

Tim Coetzee does a good job!!

[@danielcillie1856]

​@@Jesus_is_Lord_316Ahh the Eggchaser himself

[@Badgah619]

Big up Squidge

[@jacquie212]

If you went to a traditional rugby powerhouse school in SA, you, and all your friends, will know how your season is going wherever you are in the world. If your school loses to a rival, it will be brought up by guys from the other school. Watch boks office episodes from about 1-2 months ago, and a good chunk of every show is spent slagging off the the other hosts schools, or that of their guests. It is like that IRL

[@JPF468]

English packs often outweigh the boks so it’s not a size thing. The bok forwards are just technically better

[@petrusvanderMerwe-o9k]

a healy take note forwards has brains cole and others

[@quikgrow4095]

Hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie. Daar is net een plek vir ons en dit is bo die berg. Ons in daar en ons gaan bly. 5000 spectators or more at 30 school derby's a year. Televised schoolboy rugby where professional scouts from around the world look. 500 ranked schools where rugby positions updated after every week.Varsity cup Televised. The Currie cup is the oldest provincial rugby tournament in the world. URC/ Challenge Investec Cups. Participants in best franchise rugby comp in the world. Different conditions/ref styles/ travel/ great competition the norm. Leinster being built at the Sharks where your 20 of your squad of 50 are Springboks first choice players playing week in and week out together. All 4 South African franchises building towards Leinster size squads to be competitive in all club competitions. Best national coaches and club coaches in the world to replace Russie one day. Rugby is the DNA of the new South Africa. The Springboks are the ideal and true North of what we all want to strive for as a country. Rugby is the national identity of 60 000 people. To complete, you have to build the structure and depth and inculcate your population with the belief that they can. It will be hard to replace.

[@coutsoulis]

Football is the national sport

[@JanGreyAndSoOn]

Got to mention this: Soccer is bigger than rugby in South Africa. Not as well organised though. And not a school sport. South Africa has a well established school rugby structure.

[@TheMarketSniper1]

The usual trope, Boks are just Big. Sharks vs EDINBURGH. PACK WEIGHTS 900KGS TO 944 KGS. LIGHTER PACK DESTROYED Edinburgh every scrum.

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

After National team the the most passionately followed rugby is high school rugby. Willie le Roux is not the future 15, unless Willemse and Fassi injured. But he stay as advisor.

[@mackyj7801]

Agreeed Willie is already mentoring Fassi in bok squad would love to see Willemse at 12 he had cracker at 10 for stormers

[@pietervanderriet9968]

I think Rassie is trying to get ahead of the law changes that are designed to encourage this kind of running rugby

[@jayduplessis7698]

But if New Zealand can learn from SA and start selecting foreign-based players, they will become the best team in the world again. For the same reasons that the Springboks did, mentioned below.

[@christoduplessis8177]

Not so sure about that, the only shoe in from the foreign players in NZ is Muanga, no one else playing overseas will get into the NZ team.

[@jayduplessis7698]

@@christoduplessis8177 1) Are you sure? and 2) It's not about how many players are currently playing overseas, it's about having more of your players go play overseas while you develop more players in your own country, which enlarges the player pool that you can select from (e.g. instead of only having the 5 Super Rugby teams to select from, they can now select from the NZ players in the best Top 14 / English P / URC sides). This is why SA has the depth that it has - and NZ can have the same depth if they do the same thing.

[@pixelpotato4874]

​@@jayduplessis7698The NZRFU should change the rules,bad enough we have only Australia as sparring partners in Super Rugby....not exactly sharpening our skills in comparison to playing South African provinces 😩

[@christoduplessis8177]

@@jayduplessis7698 you are welcome to say who other than Richie they would pick today, I can't think of anyone. Maybe Aaron Smith, but he is old. Also on your second point, South Africa has by a factor more players playing overseas than any other country, so if our best stayed back in SA wouldn't that make a massive difference too?

[@truthandjustice6838]

I disagree that SA has size advantage. England almost always heavier than the Springboks upfront. And so are many other teams. If anything it is possibly just the joy South Africans get from being physical.

[@thenomad47]

Ah, ngl, there's nothing quite as fun as just getting in a scrum, or just quite frankly tackling the hell out of someone (or getting the hell tackled out of you), it's just the best feeling ever

[@Pack-ManT-B-Told]

I think the URC has lifted RSA and UK/Ireland rugby. NZ and AUS kind off stayed behind.

[@mickeymouse-xr9gy]

Boks are wining but they are not dominant. Rugby has never been as competitive as it is now. Any of the top 6 teams in the world can beat each other on any given day. Coming from a Bok supporter.

[@philbotherobot]

Dr Rassie is the reason

[@mrm1884]

Keep hearing that SAn players are big and giants, and all that, but that does not match the stats. Because if you're big, your average team weight and/or height needs to be bigger than the opposition. That's not the case with SA, especially if you focus more on the top teams at the moment. I've seen teams where you can't differentiate between prop and winger based on just a look/sight. I think people just look at the likes of Eben, RG Snayman & PSDT and just label the whole team as big, because they are just an illusion to the rest of the team considering that they don't even have height as an intimidation factor. Like (Chelsin kolbe, bongi, kurt lee, ox, faf etc) they are all about the same height. They are literally short athletes. And that might be the reason why they don't usually get cards for head contact in collisions. Because in their nature, they are lower than the opposition.

[@lzb1363]

Ageeed. Not that dominant. Dominance might be starting now. Until NZ adopt incl overseas players with some years to catch up. But Rassie have OCD re the world cup and we are here for it. So he was quite willing to sacrifice games along the way to get a team he thinks can win the next one. People were very angry when they lost games along the way. Quote proud to say I stood behind them all the way. You could see they were building. Now that he has a pool of players, maybe some dominance. If they can get the Brownball down. Theya re struggling with those sho4rt passes. Getting better though. We hope he works as hard to train the next Springbok coaches though. Because tactically, he is a genius in pre emtively training towards where the game is going. I dont know what we'll do without him. I dont see any other coach even close to him. We need a coaches academy. Maybe call it RasRugby Academy.😂

[@ronshsh9781]

No doubt they’re amazing and the best team in the world at the moment and have been for a long time but find it so odd all the English commentary (same on BBC and rugbypod) never mention the fact they have lost to Ireland and Argentina in the last 4 months. Like Cole talks about them only having a close games against NZ recently, when they lost to Ireland (with their most experienced side ever caps wise) and Argentina in the tri nations (with a slightly weaker team) by a point! It’s baffling that this isn’t mentioned given the fact it’s a 30 min video.

[@timgregory82]

cause SA get up for NZ games. For Argentina not so much. Though probably were for Ireland, although not as much as they could be after 1st game.

[@RoryDowd-o2q]

I agree with this. I find it really interesting and am wondering if there's an attempt by a lot of media to hype up SA as there's a perception that they only win as underdogs, not as favorites. This SA team has shown a lot of know-how and guts to get over the line. But overall I would say the defining characteristic of the team is winning games even when they're second best. That characteristic doesn't scream 'dominance' to me.

[@jacquescoetzee47]

Three losses in 21 games is pretty comprehensive. Even more comprehensive when you realise the combined points deficit in those three losses was just 7 points. And the team that played Argentina wasn’t just “slightly weaker”, they were playing without 14 of their main players. Look who they were missing: - Cheslin Kolbe - Pieter-Steph du Toit - Siya Kolisi - Faf de Klerk - Bongi Mbonambi - Frans Malherbe - Steven Kisthoff - Trevor Nyakane - RG Snyman - Lood de Jager - Franco Mostert - Willie le Roux - Damian de Allende - Damian Willemse

[@RoryDowd-o2q]

@@jacquescoetzee47 Ah of course, SA rotated a lot vs Argentina to see their squad, but a lot of those names you have mentioned are quite old aren't they? I think only Willemse is in his 20s. That would mean that the rotation isn't just by choice, it's 100% necessary to rotate most of those names because many of them wont make the next world cup. Of course, they played the most experience bok team of all time vs Ireland and lost, whereas Ireland were missing 5 or 6 players (Sheehan, Gibson-Park, Casey, Aki, Conan, Keenan). But then that was only by 1 point. Of course when SA lose it's only by narrow margins, when SA win the world cup by single point margins to point that out is being a sore loser. It's an interesting doublethink that's quite difficult for outsiders to get their head around.

[@michellerobertson3268]

​@RoryDowd-o2q South African rugby is at the moment fascinating, exciting and entertaining, no matter which way you look at it. No getting around it.

[@at7512]

Soccer far bigger than rugby in SA.. in addition far more funding in Soccer here..

[@Stormer-Europa]

yeah but soccer is a doos game.

[@randomlyfactual1943]

Obviously youve got Saffas crowding the comments section. So lemme say this as briefly as I can: - Rassie's achievement is not winning the world cup, his biggest achievement is giving us our pride back. We were ashamed of the Boks in 2016/17 and he came and changed that. To us, he is a God. If he ran for office tomorrow, I will absolutely vote for him. The trust runs that deep. - Although he is a great tactician, it pales in comparison to his ability to motivate. No amount of coaching would have made PSDT a better player; all it took was the right words. - Rassie wanted to play a more expansive game for ages now, but COVID threw him off. When we were able to play again, we were halfway to the world cup and he had to work with what he had. - Our depth is impressive, but our Tightheads are old. There will be a massive drop off the day that Malherbe and Koch retires. - we do play football as well, but we aren't a force in the world. - Danny Care and Dan Cole is quickly turning into my favourite rugby podcasters. Still want to hear about scrums from Coley!!

[@spencercourtis9371]

Rassie is NOT a god to us South Africans. God remains the Lord Jesus to us in spite of us not necessarily honouring or serving Him. On Rassie, yes, he has brought in the expansive and winning mindset ...eventually. ;)

[@theroogie]

It all starts at schoolboy level. That’s for love alone, no professionalism at all. It’s tribal.

[@marelizemeier]

Ps we have two world class squads and still provide many other nations. Scary.

[@shaunswart9857]

Rugby is the national sport in SA. Year on year Rugby participation has outgrown Soccer for almost the last decade

[@lebo5281]

Do not lie Shaun.

[@yourmomskitchen3236]

​@@lebo5281 its true, lebo

[@ezozoconnexion8407]

Not so sure about that one

[@wernerfolscher6909]

BS

[@mtabrahams]

While this might not be true, rugby in SA has seen a huge increase in participation. Soccer is still the number one sport in SA though (regardless how k@k we are at it) 😂

[@DarceG-jh1ik]

If they has a second team I think they’d struggle in TRC. Ultimately if you take PSDT, Kolbe, Etzebeth and de Allende out of the team they are severely weakened. The team is excellent all-round but take out those 4 and you have a “world class” team but not the force that is unbeatable.

[@sinenhlanhlamlondo8013]

PROFESSIONAL Athlete, they shouldn't be punished just because they're earnings a better pay cheque overseas

[@YesHeIsCool]

Football is bigger than Rugby in South Africa. The difference is that Rugby is run more professionally that Football and there's not much political influence is Rugby as there is is Football. There's more freedom there.

[@petes9524]

Here is some text as quoted by great men surrounding the south African Afrikaners or BOERS "Give me 20 divisions American soldiers and I will breach Europe. Give me 15 consisting of Englishmen, and I will advance to the borders of Berlin. Give me two divisions of those marvellous fighting Boers (Meaning Farmer, originating from the Boer War) and I will remove Germany from the face of the earth." Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery, Commander of the Allled forces during WWII. "The Americans fight for a free world, the English mostly for honour and glory and medals, the French and Canadians decide too late that they have to participate. The Italians are too scared to fight; the Russians have no choice. The Germans for the Fatherland. The Boers? Those sons of bitches fight for the hell of it." American General, George "Guts and Glory" Patton "Take a community of Dutchmen of the type of those who defended themselves for fifty years against all the power of Spain at a time when Spain was the greatest power in the world. Intermix with them a strain of those inflexible French Huguenots, who gave up their name and left their country forever at the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. The product must obviously be one of the most rugged, virile, unconquerable races ever seen upon the face of the earth. Take these formidable people and train them for seven generations in constant warfare against savage men and ferocious beasts, in circumstances in which no weakling could survive; place them so that they acquire skill with weapons and in horsemanship, give them a country which is eminently suited to the tactics of the huntsman, the marksman and the rider. Then, finally, put a fine temper upon their military qualities by a dour fatalistic Old Testament religion and an ardent and consuming patriotism. Combine all these qualities and all these impulses in one individual and you have the modern Boer." Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Add Zulu, Xhosa, Basotho, Venda, fearless warriors, Khoisan, Griqua Malay, Indonesian relentless hunters, thanks to Madiba, and you have the world champion Springboks. My Saffa jingo hubris learnt from my ex colonial masters, before the sun set on their "mighty empire". ;-)

[@tobolee6385]

That's all gone now ..they sold out there own people ...selfish ..pakiboere I call them now . Support cheap foreign buisnesses instead of there own peoples ...thousands of them now in squatter camps .there people do nothing ..that aura is long gone. Become sneaky selfish naaiers . Vir die volk 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@lzb1363]

When pundits speak on the supposedly "ginormous humans", it would be helpful to compare it to e.g. NZ, Samoa etc. who have had just such enormous players in the past and also talk about the Dutch herritage of many of these SA players (tallest in the world). Because the wet-blanket jealout type fans, love to dismiss that as steroids. Ignoring the fact that steroids cant make bones grow. Also over almost 400 years in Africa most have become accustomed to eat much more red meats vs Europeans. Added to much higher sunlight aka Vit D exposure. All of that means calcium gets better absorbed and abundance of minerals to make the humans with such DNA naturally larger. Facts re mineral absorption that the more recent science surrounding the Keto craze have cemented. I fully expect the sarcastic laughing emojis, so dont dissapoint me haters.

[@JuicyJLee]

Springboks only win when it matters these Inbetween games not so important being number 1 in the world means nothing

[@lanceduplessis791]

gain

[@hannesbornman1045]

To 'dominate' implies that they are well ahead of anyone else. That is simply not true. In the top 5 nations the differences are marginal at best.

[@nicholausvanheerden3470]

As jy so sê Hannes.

[@hannesbornman1045]

@@nicholausvanheerden3470 As die bokke kan kom op n plek waar hulle speel tot hulle volle potensiaal dan sal ons domineerend wees. Maar ons is nog nie daar nie.

[@tiaanbezuidenhout8131]

Rugby is NOT our national sport. FFS.

[@nawrik123]

I'm tired of other countries obsession with the Springboks, leave us alone! Go talk about Ireland they are the number one team.

[@zulfabassadien5167]

😂❤

[@thembamadi]

Nos 1 by default. Didn't play one minute more to earn that spot. Not deserved for Ireland.

[@keithfinch1053]

Bokke