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Ex-Wallaby on whether modern-day Springboks are greatest team ever
By Finn Morton
Following South Africaās stunningly dominant 33-7 win over Australia last weekend, former Wallaby Morgan Turinui has questioned whether any other side āthroughout history could beat this team.ā
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When Richie McCaw lifted the Webb Ellis Cup for the second time in as many Rugby World Cups in 2015, that class of champion All Blacks etched their names into the history books for all the right reasons.
That New Zealand side had long been spoken about as potentially the greatest rugby team to ever played the game, but that World Cup triumph proved the squad worthy of an unrivalled level of praise and admiration.
What a small rugby-mad nation at the bottom of the world managed to achieve on the world stage was the envy of every other team in the sport. Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Kieran Read are among those who will forever go down in history as all-time greats.
But a new team has entered the āGOATā conversation. South Africa won back-to-back Rugby World Cups in 2019 and 2023, and it doesnāt seem theyāve gone backwards at all as they begin their four-year journey for what they hope is more glory.
āItās really difficult to compare generations,ā Stephen Hoiles explained on Stan Sportsā Between Two Posts. āThat All Blacks side of ā11 and ā15 that had Conrad Smith in the midfield, (Dan) Carter.ā
āThey won a lot in between,ā Morgan Turinui interjected. āThis Boks team look like theyāre going to win a lot in between. Iām just trying to think of which teams throughout history could beat this team?ā
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In their first Test since the Rugby World Cup Final last October, South Africa beat Ireland on home soil. While they stumbled a week later with a late drop goal seeing the Irish emerge victorious, this is a team still very much deserving of the world No. 1 ranking.
The Springboks started The Rugby Championship with a masterful performance against the Wallabies at Brisbaneās Suncorp Stadium. They hadnāt won at the venue since 2013 but it soon became clear that that streak would end.
With thousands of Springboks fans watching on in the stands, Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kurt-Lee Arendse all scored first-half tries. South Africa ended up scoring 33 unanswered points before Hunter Paisami had the last laugh with a try for Australia.
It wasnāt a perfect performance, but it was a brilliant start, nonetheless. Whether this team is rugbyās āGOATā is up for debate, but it would be brave to suggest the Springboksā dynasty from 2019 through to now is not the greatest rugby era for the Rainbow Nation.
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āWeāre seeing South Africa, a team that is at the peak of their powers, two World Cups, amazing, all the same guys back. Tony Brown on board, connecting some nice things,ā former Australia captain Michael Hooper said.
ā(Sacha) Feinberg-Mngomezulu is a great player, seemingly, coming out. Itās pretty good stuff.ā
Then, Morgan Turinui added: āWell, thatās the chat we had before coming on air. Is this the best Springboks team of all time?ā
āSomething we observed on the sideline is Duane Vermeulen, who wasnāt playing on the weekend, heās got the water bib on, and heās doing a lot of talking in that group,ā Hooper discussed later on.
āTheir circle is just getting replenished by these guys who have been around them for so long. He wasnāt even in the team but he had real specific orders to have a presence within that team.
āYouāre coming on, youāre doing your job, youāre so focused and narrow-focused on what you need to deliver and credit to them, itās just a credit to watch.ā
Argentina could give them a proper scare, but I don't see the ABs losing at the Garden, so I'd say ABs by 12
Boks vs Aus should be a lot tighter & rain on the cards which evens everything out. Boks by 7 for me
SA and NZ tried their best in the Pool stages. As 3 times RWC champions the best time for SA and NZ to play knock out matches against their main challengers was in the QFs. I honestly don't see anyone stopping France in a semi or final...bar a mugging in a QF. As regards Ireland, a semi against NZ with both teams having a QF the week before. and Ireland with their QF block gone.... I like our odds a lot.
Should be good. Predictions?
NZ by more than a score.
Australia in a thriller.
Thks enjoy.
š¤š¤
Or you could say they were challengers when it mattered.
Enjoy your weekend Turlough and the rugga tomorrow
Anyone who is using the QF stick to beat Ireland for 2023 is frankly a bit of an asshole.
Ireland and France both beat a 3 time RWC champion to win their group then had to play another 3 time RWC champion in the quarter. That was our reward for advancing to be no1 and no2 in the world. Ireland and France get past the QF we are in the final. Were NZ a chellenger? France put 15 points on them in the same tournament. Were SA a chellenger? Ireland beat them in the pools. Thats the two finalists beaten by Ireland and France. How could they not be regarded as challengers while also at 1 and 2 in the world?
Just more condesention and disrespect from the arrogant assholes who are the SH 'giants'.
Being considered one of the greats wasn't the issue, but being called the GOAT with his very limited resume and only being halfway through his career wasš
I wouldn't consider it as "challenge (again)" if they only made it to the QFsš§
He's an individual not a team. The requirement that his International team had to win everything for him to be considered great was ludicrous. It literally would rule out greats such as Jonah Lomu etc.
SA playing Scotland, England, Wales in Autumn. They could win all 3, good results but that won't prove anything. Ireland might scrape 6N in 2025 (home v England, France), lose it in 2026 and then win in 2027 (hopefully) in a position to challenge (again) for the RWC.
SH circle jerk yet ADP was anointed the GOAT having only won 1 x 6Ns, Olympic gold in 7s, couple domestics trophies and 24mins outside the NH šš
You back to assuming again lol....anyway lets see how it all plays out over the next cycle
You can only speak for yourself Bull Shite.
How can there even be a debate about SA being the GOAT when they can't beat Ireland?
A weakened Irish team bet your most experienced team ever in Durban. If you're not the current best team how can you be the GOAT?
I know you wish that wasn't the case but it is. Also surely a GOAT should be able to travel north and do a grand slam against the top Northern teams. Results of the series in SA imply you'd lose to Ireland and France are even stronger so you'd lose to them too.
Surely a GOAT contender should be able to come up North and beat the top two?
As far as I can see SH results have beene extremly poor for a long time. In 2016 NZ Won 2/3 against Ireland and France (played Ireland twice, lost 1) was the last good result.
SH can't beat Ireland in a home series. They have not won in Dublin since 2012. Surely they have to come North and beat Ireland in Dublin and take England and/or France too? I see SA only winning one of those now at best. With NZ diminished winning a RC is not what it was either.
Let's put the GOAT argument to bed and appreciate the great rugby on display. There are several strong teams who could all be number 1 if things click:
Boks
All Blacks
England are improving and pushed NZ close, so are becoming a real threat.
Ireland
France
Scotland on the day can beat anyone.
Now we need Wales and Aus to get back to where they can be and we'll have a cracker of a 2027 RWC.
As a Bok fan I was sad we lost the 2nd test, yet at the same time the Irish fans I chatted to before and after the game were amazing. There was such great respect and camaraderie between both sets of fans. That's what rugby is about.
Not blaming the ref and putting teams down for what happened months or years ago. So to all those who can't let go, grow up and become a real rugby fan. It's a game for everyone based on respect.
The boks arenāt the GOATs yet.
But they could be the greatest Bok team ever.
Is what I think what the article was trying to say?
Utterly laughable. The Boks are currently the third best team in the world (after Ireland and France) gmand only have the RWC title because of the incompetence of Barnes and O'Keeffe.
Hell they needed Whitehouse and Pearce to directly intervene on their behalf. so they didn't get swept at home by Ireland
Stop writing š© articles given SH rugby is even barely relevant thee days - and try questioning what World Rugby is going to do about the refs. It is killing the sport.
You forget even on the World Rankings list, the Boks are also ranked first. This is the best Boks team of all time for me personally, but the best team, the G.O.A.T. is harder to decide as there were great teams in the past from different countries and the rules were different, playing styles and tactics were different. Rules were different etc etc etc. The Boks are a great team with great depth and great young talent coming through, and not only those that got chosen recently for the Boks. There is many others, so with all of the changes, and various tactics that coach Rassie is implementing, I think that all Saffas trusts his vision. He got us 2 WC. He got credit with us. I'm glad the Irish and French are good teams. I'm glad the Pumas gave the ABs a shock, what a game. I'm glad other teams are getting better. It's good for the sport. Stop being so petty
You, sir, are what one in the Top 14 might call ātransparentā.
Others might refer to you as a troll. Or even a bot.
Where Iām from, youāre a doos.
Listen to this fragile little petal flapping his lipsš.
Did you know that Ireland have lost more Rugby Test Matches than they have won? Google it mate. Pathetic dont you think?
Also, did you know that France have only beaten the Boks 1 time in the last 10 years? Thats pretty pathetic dont you think?
You talk like youre an educated rugby man but your arguments fall flat. Just like Ireland and France at major tournaments.
We laughing at you bruh.
SA have not won the Rugby Championship since world class coach Ian Foster took over the ABs. But with a lesser coach this year and two home games v NZ you might have a chance to correct this anomaly? About time too for the No 1 side on world rankings.
I thought "the lesser" coach was "the Superstar" coach? He lost one game and from star he became... Less. Sadly the Boks used the RC to build for WC in the past. Now they seem intent on winning it. I hope they will each year. The RC is just not a great competition like it should be. Unfortunately for all SH fans
Is that the excuse already? That when a the team (not yours) wins something itās a lesser achievement.
Doos.
SA are a great team. Show them respect. Unless Argentina stop them they will win the RC. It's not going to be the arrogant (yet sh1t) NZ team to stop them is it?
I just cannot understand why Irish fans keep on harping on the flawed draw when SA was in the same group. Flawed logic is more to the point - oh sorry I mean Irish logic.
To be fair - itās one person. Not all the Irish.
Yes. And Ireland beat the Boks that day in the pool stages. So clearly SA is inferior in every regard.