England's World Cup final loss the most-watched UK TV moment this year

But the popularity of the game that has extended from a traditionally white and/or middle class supporter base in SA into new corners has unlocked a whole new gene pool.

It’s something I think SA rugby is going to grow from strength to strength from. Which should worry the rest of the tier ones, most of whom are losing player numbers.

Everyone writes off the Boks. Bizarrely about the quality of their players, present, incoming, outgoing.

It’s like nobody noticed the meat factory that is South Africa. And nobody has noticed the wealth of talent coming through - African, Coloured, Black and White.

So I think we’ll be fine.

But I do think France is going to pop your balloon tonight. Unfortunately.

His tactical kicking is also of the charts. It's only a matter of time before he is called up. The current 9's is just not where they should be compared to the rest of the team.

However, it's hard to prove yourself as a starter if you don't start. I like Grant Williams a lot and in the current Bok squad he is my number 1, but there is better choices available.

South Africa hasn't won in Ireland for fourteen years. Next year you'll probably have to play in Dublin and Paris and we'll actually have a bench for your two tests in Godzone.

Longer term, your best forwards are only getting older and the ones who came through the URC aren't as good as the ones who came through those character building tours to the Pacific. Sure you'll have better backs and you'll be right up there, but without the same level of forwards you won't dominate.

Our only real problem position is ten, which would look a lot different if Muntz, who is kiwi born and bred, hadn't chosen Fiji. Don't worry about the 12s we are producing, we've just chosen to go with an all rounder rather than a Tupaea or Aumua.

The reason why SA haven't dominated between World Cups is set out in my article I mentioned elsewhere on this thread. It's mainly down to the diaspora, also their low risk style of play is ideally suited to World Cup knockouts but is less sustainable through a long season.

Firstly, what works in the premiership doesn't work at international level and Borthwick has tried to take what worked for Saracens and paste it onto the England team.

Secondly, he has made terrible staff appointments. His attack coach is the guy who succeeded him as head coach of Leicester which precipitated a nose dive in their fortunes and who's idea of attack throughout his playing career was for the number 9 to kick it every time you win a ruck... Now his defence coach is his mate from university, who's never been a defence coach and is only doing the job part-time while he's the head coach of a second division French side. It's surreal.

Thirdly, I just don't think he has the imagination or charisma required for the job. I do like the bloke and I'm sure he is a very good coach in his own right, but he's clearly not the right man to be the coach of England.

Hence the need to try to become more kiwi. He knows that South Africa has failed to change its DNA before - he himself reversed it in 2018. But it's the only hope he has.

While the golden generation survives and Razor is inexperienced he's trying to scratch that itch by winning an RC, but two in seven years while the Boks are at their peak doesn't really hit the spot🥴