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Ex-Wallaby on whether modern-day Springboks are greatest team ever
By Finn Morton
Following South Africa’s stunningly dominant 33-7 win over Australia last weekend, former Wallaby Morgan Turinui has questioned whether any other side “throughout history could beat this team.”
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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 ‘GOAT’ conversation. South Africa won back-to-back Rugby World Cups in 2019 and 2023, and it doesn’t seem they’ve gone backwards at all as they begin their four-year journey for what they hope is more glory.
“It’s really difficult to compare generations,” Stephen Hoiles explained on Stan Sports’ Between Two Posts. “That All Blacks side of ’11 and ’15 that had Conrad Smith in the midfield, (Dan) Carter.”
“They won a lot in between,” Morgan Turinui interjected. “This Boks team look like they’re going to win a lot in between. I’m just trying to think of which teams throughout history could beat this team?”
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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 Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium. They hadn’t 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 wasn’t a perfect performance, but it was a brilliant start, nonetheless. Whether this team is rugby’s ‘GOAT’ is up for debate, but it would be brave to suggest the Springboks’ dynasty from 2019 through to now is not the greatest rugby era for the Rainbow Nation.
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“We’re 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,” former Australia captain Michael Hooper said.
“(Sacha) Feinberg-Mngomezulu is a great player, seemingly, coming out. It’s pretty good stuff.”
Then, Morgan Turinui added: “Well, that’s the chat we had before coming on air. Is this the best Springboks team of all time?”
“Something we observed on the sideline is Duane Vermeulen, who wasn’t playing on the weekend, he’s got the water bib on, and he’s doing a lot of talking in that group,” Hooper discussed later on.
“Their circle is just getting replenished by these guys who have been around them for so long. He wasn’t even in the team but he had real specific orders to have a presence within that team.
“You’re coming on, you’re doing your job, you’re so focused and narrow-focused on what you need to deliver and credit to them, it’s just a credit to watch.”
In this episode of Walk the Talk, Jim Hamilton chats with double World Cup winner Damian de Allende about all things Springbok rugby, including RWC2023 and the upcoming Ireland series. Watch now for free on RugbyPass TV
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.
🤗🤗
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 was😉
I wouldn't consider it as "challenge (again)" if they only made it to the QFs🧐
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 😂😂
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 aren’t the GOATs yet.
But they could be the greatest Bok team ever.
Is what I think what the article was trying to say?