Gareth Thomas settles HIV transmission case claim

Without Runa Nortje, the Boks line out struggles, and there is exceptional locks in SA still very young. The back row with Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom and some others from the other teams, very young and already world class.

The backline with players like SFM, AF, CM etc etc etc. I can name 2 young teams that can push for top honours easily. SA rugby is in excellent and very rude health. As a NZ you don't follow the URC not the Currie Cup as closely as the SA public.

The current schools rugby have some monster players too, but the speed and skills of the youngsters in the country is absolutely outstanding and what the current Boks have built, will be surpassed by them. Talent coming through, excluding school stars, is enough for another 20 years minimum.

What other country have that waiting in the wings? Waiting for the current generation to retire and thinking other teams will run over the Boks once they are gone is just wishful thinking.

Why do you think Rassie is giving so much young players opportunities? By the next WC, most of these youngsters will already have 30 - 40 Test caps. They will have faced the current best players over the world already. Experienced despite a tender young age. Saying the current players on the fringes is not up to snuff is just wrong.

The Boks beat the teams in the RC with experimental teams. Young and old. Lost 1 against the Argies by 1 point and what a game that was. Experimental squads, not the strongest squads.

The amount of injured Bok players alone could make a team. The Boks have 49 players Test games this year. Nope, you are definitely not knowing what you are talking about when it comes to the standards of SA rugby, just as little as others knows NZ rugby young talent.

I actually reckon that DMac is now a very good test fly half with plenty of upside as he gets more experience in the black ten jersey. Barrett is also playing at ten much better than under Foster. We're in a good position without RM and will be in a great position if he comes back.

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.