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David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner
By Liam Heagney
Legendary Wallabies winger David Campese has predicted which of the three nominated Springboks will win the World Rugby men’s player of the year award this Sunday. South African trio Eben Etzebeth, Cheslin Kolbe and Pieter-Steph du Toit have been included on the four-strong shortlist completed by Ireland’s Caelan Doris.
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It’s the second year in succession and the third time in his career that Etzebeth has been a nominee and Campese believe the lock will be named winner when the announcement is made this weekend in Monaco.
First introduced in 2001, when Ireland’s Keith Wood was the winner, there have been just three previous South African winners – Schalk Burger in 2007, Bryan Habana in 2007 and du Toit in 2019.
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Speaking to Vision4Sport, who offer hospitality packages for rugby’s most iconic events, Campese said about the player of the year award shortlist: “That just shows how dominant South Africa are in the game.
“The player of the year has got to come from the best team. They are by far the best in the world. So good that they could put out five teams which could hold their own against anyone.
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“To my mind it has to be Etzebeth. As a forward in the middle of the scrum to do what he does week in week out is phenomenal.”
Campese did have a word of praise for Etzebeth’s fellow nominee, Kolbe. “What a player, what a great player. He is just getting better. He is a great entertainer and the best thing about him is that he is not 120 kilograms! He provides such flair and excitement.
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“It means young kids can look at him and realise that they too could still play rugby. That’s what is most inspiring about him, the impact he has on the next generation.”
Next up for the Springboks are winless Wales, who suffered a record 11th successive Test loss last weekend. Campese suggested a hammering is in store while he also criticised the Welsh Rugby Union for their handling of the situation.
“It could be a horror show. The Springboks could easily put another 50 points on them and batter them. It is not going to be pretty,” he feared. “Warren Gatland made clear he was going to start again when he came in and wipe the slate clean. The WRU board should come out and say, ‘We support you’.
“They bought into his vision when he started again for a second time. He told them he would have to rebuild and everyone knows it takes time. But the WRU is sitting in silence. They can’t sit on the fence. They have to back him.
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“Who knows who would replace Gatland. That’s the same problem as Australia had. They haven’t got any coaches. There is no succession plan. Where are the new Welsh coaches? Is Sam Warburton the answer? Who knows.”
Why is Joe Schmidt the best option for Australia? (LONG READ)
An essay for@OJohn with love from South Africa.
OJohn keeps banging on about kiwis and Saffers and everyone else seeking to undermine and bring down Australian rugby… Blah, Blah, Blah. It’s boring and not worth responding too 99 days out of 100.
He misses the point completely that Australians either are or are not the masters of their own destiny. So to blame anyone else but themselves for what the state of Australian rugby is in - is hypocritical.
But recently, Australia has shown signs of life. Personally, I always believed they would be back at some point. At the beginning of this year I predicted that the wallabies would bounce back this year. I predicted that they would overtake England in the world rankings. I am predicting that they could finish second in the RC, could win the Lions series and could make it to a RWC final at home.
I tend to get ahead of myself when I’m excited... Ask my wife. But forgive me for getting excited about the Wallabies looking good! Is it so bad?
Like OJohn, I believe that Australia’s lands abound with natures gifts, including athletic specimens across any sporting code the Aussies compete in. It’s one of the reasons most of us don’t like Aussies. They win sh1t. Regularly. And look smug when they do...
But back to OJohn. And his banging on about the need for Australia to have an Australian coach. Here are a few highlights of his argument:
And then finally – the list of 6 🥴:
Plus, a special request:
Right. I don’t care about the tinfoil hat theories. I want to assess OJohn’s list and determine whether any of them fit the mold of a Rod Macqueen.
Like Rod Macqueen the following world cup winning coaches never won a Super Rugby Title:
· David Kirk, 1987 (17 appearances for New Zealand)
· Kitch Kristie, 1995
· Rod Macqueen, 1999
· Clive Woodward, 2003 (21 Appearance for England)
· Jake White, 2007 (School Teacher)
· Graham Henry, 2011 (School Teacher)
· Steve Hansen, 2015 (Policeman)
· Rassie Erasmus, 2019 (36 Appearances for South Africa)
· Jacques Nienaber, 2023 (Physiotherapist).
I couldn't find out what Rod or Kitch did other than coach.
The only coach who has won a Super title and a World Cup?
· Bob Dwyer, 1991 (A Tahs man wouldn’t you know!)
In fact coaches that have won super rugby titles have not won world cups. Robbie Deans. Heyneke Meyer to name just two.
I know I’m being childish, but I needed to bring this list in somehow because it’s quite obvious that whatever these coaches did before they became international level coaches is largely immaterial. Or is it?
Interestingly Ewan McKenzie (A Tah Man!) has won a Super title. And despite being a Tah Man made it into OJohn’s list. That’s two strikes for Ewan Mckenzie based on OJohn’s criteria so far. Not to mention his 50% win rate as head coach of the Wallabies between 2013 and 2014 (and the laundry list of off the field fcuk ups that swirled around the team at the time).
So Ewan is out.
I find it interesting that, as we speak, eight out of the ten top ranked men’s teams are coached by former international players:
1. South Africa, Rassie Erasmus (36 appearances for South Africa)
2. Ireland, Andy Farrell (8 appearances for England)
3. New Zealand, Scott Robertson (23 appearances for New Zealan)
4. France, Fabien Galthie (64 appearances for France)
5. Argentina, Felipe Contemponi (87 appearances for Argentina)
6. Scotland, Gregor Townsend (82 appearances for Scotland)
7. England, Steve Borthwick (57 appearances for England)
8. Australia, Joe Schmidt (School Teacher)
9. Fiji, Michael Byrne (Aussie Rules Player)
10. Italy, Gonzalo Quesada (38 appearances for Argentina).
It would appear as though we have entered an era where successful international coaches, largely, have played rugby at international level in the professional era. Or are ex school teachers. Much like Jake White and Graham Henry! Or a policeman.
Back to OJohn’s List. That leaves us with:
· Less Kiss, (I like the look of)
· Stephen Larkham, (I like the look of)
· Jim McKay, (Very little to write home about)
· David Nucifora, (Too old)
· Scott Wisenthal, (I literally can’t find anything on him on the Google).
· Ben Mowen, (Too young, no coaching experience)
· Rod Kafer, (No coaching experience)
· Mick Byrne, (He’s coaching the Fijians, Aussie rules!)
· John Manetti, (Can’t find him on the google)
· Jason Gilmore, (Seems to be working through the ranks, coaching Wallabies A)
· Dan McKellar, (Not much to write home about, but could be an option).
Applying some logic, I would say the following are viable options based on age, experience in coaching AND the fact that they have played rugby for Australia in the professional era:
· Less Kiss, (I like the look of)
· Stephen Larkham, (I like the look of)
· Jason Gilmore, (Seems to be working through the ranks, coaching Wallabies A)
After having done all this research, I think it’s fair to say that none of these three have the same pedigree as Joe Schmidt, the teacher. Who took a sh1tty Ireland team to no.1. Won a few 6 Nations and helped get the All Blacks to a world cup final in 2023.
Joe’s the best option for now. But if Kiss, Larkham and Gilmore are the business for the future for Australia get them in now as assistants to Joe and stop moaning!!
And, for the record, NONE of the above are good enough to coach the All Blacks. The All Blacks have the guy that hasn’t won a single Super title. He’s won 6.
Errors and Ommissions Excepted. Mispelling of names is OJohn's fault.
And Scott Robertson not going so well is he.
Not a bad effort but a correction. McKenzie was not born in NSW so is not a Tah. He was born in Victoria. Played for the Brumbies and coached Qld and also played and then later coached NSW, until the self entitled Tah players decided to stab him in the back. And who was the captain of the Tahs at the time leading the back stabbing. Well, well it was none other than Phil Waugh, current Rugby Australia CEO. Who recently tried to deny he had met Suallii at Hamish McLennan's house pre signing, until McLennan outed him recently as a bald faced liar as he was in fact there.
I doubt very much if McKenzie, who was also assistant coach to Eddie Jones in Jones first stint coaching Australia, would appreciate being labelled a Tah, given it was the Tahs Hooper and Beale and Cheika who stabbed him in the back again when he walked away thru lack of support from Hooper and Rugby Australia.
Schmidt might have theoretically better credentials, even tho he dumped Ireland in the brink but he had to start somewhere. You can't argue if you think he is great that Schmidt should never have been given an opportunity.
Schmidt lacks a crucial ingredient. He's not Australian. It does matter, which as a Bokke you would well know.
An afterthought...
Get Kiss, Larkham or McKellar in to coach Wales when Gatland gets bombed. A stint in Wales worked for the two great coaches of the All Blacks!
A teacher. And a policeman.
Old school.
In many ways it doesn't really matter, much like the daft team rankings that they keep going on about. The very fact that 3 out of the 4 are Boks is great (and fully justified) and a bit like the Academy Awards - being nominated is the important thing.
I tend to agree with Campese. This is probably the last chance Eben has of winning the award. But man, Cheslin and PSDT have been sublime.
True, but the Boks could also spend the first 60 minutes not clicking at all. The selected pack and halfbacks are really inexperienced by Bok standards, and may need to be bailed out by the bench. The centers and outside backs are world class but they may not get the platform they need to click.
Possibly. But this welsh team is no better than a good URC team at this point.
But a tough match is what is needed for the inexperienced in the group. Building depth etc.
Nobody learns anything pumping a team by 50.
They can share it