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Habana: What Boks beating All Blacks means for Autumn Nations Series

By PA
(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)

Bryan Habana believes that the thrilling Rugby Championship victory by the Springboks over the All Blacks earlier this month has provided a perfect springboard for the Autumn Nations Series. South Africa open up against Wales on November 6, then tackle Scotland before facing England for the first time since brushing aside Eddie Jones’ team in the 2019 World Cup final.

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Although the Springboks finished third in the Rugby Championship, losing three games out of six, a 31-29 win against New Zealand underlined their quality. After resuming international action this summer with a 2-1 Test series victory over the British and Irish Lions, South Africa will now look to leave another pre-2023 World Cup calling card.

There were a lot of questions asked during that Lions series, but the way the Springboks came out of the rugby wilderness, the mental resilience that team showed was paramount,” Habana said at the Autumn Nations Series media launch.

Video Spacer

An All Black, a France squad and a disappearing act

Benji and Johnnie are back to dissect Fabien Galthie’s France squad for the autumn internationals and give their view on who will make the first choice XV and who will captain the side in Charles Ollivon’s absence. Plus, we’re joined by former All Black Francis Saili to fill us in on everything going on in Biarritz from whether the club is moving to Lille to naked plane rides and six-figure sums spent on yachts in Ibiza amid their celebrations at the end of last season! Oh and we end the show a man down in mysterious circumstances…

Video Spacer

An All Black, a France squad and a disappearing act

Benji and Johnnie are back to dissect Fabien Galthie’s France squad for the autumn internationals and give their view on who will make the first choice XV and who will captain the side in Charles Ollivon’s absence. Plus, we’re joined by former All Black Francis Saili to fill us in on everything going on in Biarritz from whether the club is moving to Lille to naked plane rides and six-figure sums spent on yachts in Ibiza amid their celebrations at the end of last season! Oh and we end the show a man down in mysterious circumstances…

“They got found wanting against Australia in the countries’ second Test of the Rugby Championship, but they proved in the last game against the All Blacks that they are worthy world champions. We saw the Test quality of the Springboks team in that last game.

“As world champions, the expectations and standards they set are really high. They will be looking to continue the form they showed in the last game against New Zealand. There will definitely be a three (wins) from three goal in place next month and they will be focusing on the first game against Wales, where they haven’t had much success over the last half a decade.”

Wales have won four games on the bounce against South Africa in Cardiff, and Habana added: “Go back over the last four or five years and the titanic battles against Wales, it has been physically won up-front and I can’t see this game being much different. It is always a nail-biter. Wales definitely have had the upper hand in Cardiff over the last six or seven years – but the Springboks will be raring to go.”

Habana, who scored 67 tries in 124 Tests for the Springboks, also believes England boss Jones has got it spot on in calling up exciting prospects like Harlequins pair Marcus Smith and Alex Dombrandt to his autumn squad. “In the mid-World Cup cycle, Eddie knows he potentially needs an opportunity to blood young new talent within the set-up,” Habana said.

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“Marcus Smith has had a dream twelve months, to be honest, and is justly rewarded, and then you look at players like Alex Dombrandt, who was also instrumental in Quins winning the Premiership last season. It has been a bit of a master-stroke by Eddie.

“It is a series when you can potentially give opportunities – mix that experience with youth – and hopefully get a better insight to what he needs to really look forward to in terms of the next World Cup in 2023.”

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J
JW 40 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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