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'I don't think Ireland poses any threat to us, neither does France': Bok legend dismisses RWC threats

(Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Former Springbok legend Schalk Burger is confident that South Africa can defend their Rugby World Cup crown after what he has seen on this year’s European tour.

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The Springboks lost their first two clashes in tight fashion to the world’s top two ranked sides, Ireland and France, before blowing out Italy and finishing with a dominant win over England at Twickenham.

Despite a 50 per cent return from the four tests Burger was buoyed by how South Africa played when assessing what to take from the the tour overall.

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“We want the Springboks to win every test, don’t we? But I think it’s more the way they played,” Burger told the SuperSport panel on the post-match show.

“Yes, this was sort of a tour defining game today, getting the result and shutting out England was what we wanted to see, and we did that.

“If we lost and played well, we would be disappointed.”

After seeing the way the Springboks dismantled England, Burger went as far as saying that Ireland and France don’t ‘pose any threat’ to South Africa at next year’s Rugby World Cup despite losing to them over the past month.

France completed a perfect season with 10 wins from 10 tests in 2022, capturing a Grand Slam title in March while Ireland similarly had an impressive year after beating the All Blacks at home in a historic series win.

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“If you look ahead to next year, I don’t think Ireland poses any threat to us really, neither does France,” Burger claimed.

“They are great sides, the games can go either way, we are not going to be blown out of the water.

“This team is not [going to get blown away]. So a massive positive tour.”

“We’ve been negative about referees, we’ve had some bizarre refereeing displays, but I thought Angus Gardner and his team today put up a normal refereeing display.”

The Springboks showed over the final two games of the tour a more adventurous game with more emphasis on ball movement.

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With more appetite to take on more risk, they had many wide movements from deep inside their own half against England to get the ball into the hands of Kurt-Lee Arendse, who dazzled with a stunning try on a kick return sparked by Damian Willemse.

Speaking pitch side after the win, captain Siya Kolisi said they had talked about changing and said the team decided to ‘risk it all’ before the game and try new things before next year’s World Cup.

“We said ‘we’ll risk it all, because you know it’s worth it’,” he said.

“We need to find answers before the World Cup, but at the same time, respecting them and playing in the right areas of the field.

“It’s not that much of a difference but we are seeing a lot more opportunities than we have in the past.”

On whether they can defend the World Cup title next year, Kolisi hoped that they had seen everything that will face so won’t be ‘shocked’ at the tournament.

“We’ve tried a few things but there is still a lot more we can do,”

“We are going flat out for it as a group. We wouldn’t be going if we didn’t think we were able to defend it.

“It’s going to be tough and face a lot of challenges this time, but I really think we’ve learnt so much about our team, got a lot of answers for questions.

“So going forward next year, I’m hoping there is not a lot that can shock us as a team because of all the challenges we have faced.”

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Comments

3 Comments
j
jakkie 708 days ago

England's bombsqaud what a joke Eddie!!

M
Michael Röbbins (academic and writer extraordinair 709 days ago

Aw, BS, no commentary of your own? Just pusillanimous quoting of others: we need your cleverness...

B
Brian 709 days ago

The arrogant English humbled by South Africa B ?

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R
RedWarrior 31 minutes ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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G
GS 1 hour ago
Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

The key is realising this AB side is not what they are now but what they will be in 2025/26.


You can already see a Power bench forming, and I would highlight that people watch the AB XV game vs Munster and watch Fabian Holland - he, in the next 24 months, will be WC and bring some huge physicality to the team.


Then, aligned with Peter Lakai, probably at 7, another WC talent, the AB pack by 2026 will probably both be starting and on the bench - be rated as No 1 or 2 packs in the world.


Then, there is the usual WC talent around the backline, and the missing link is Mo'unga. Unlike in last year's WC, the coming forward pack for the ABs, is similar to the Bok pack, It will be packed full of power, and the key to this is a realitively young pack.


So I think we will lose to Ireland and France in the coming weeks, but watch out as this pack builds into - I mean, look at the tight five and loose forwards that are coming for the ABs - De Groot, Lomax, Williams, Tosi, Taylor, Ofa T, Samson T, Aumua, Patrick T, Barrett, Vai, Fabian H, Setiti, Lakai, Savea, Frizzell (understand they are attempting to get him and Mo'unga back), Blackadder, Papalii and bar Barrett, Savea, Patrick T, Taylor - pretty young in international terms.


Huge front row starting and on bench, Power locks and usual class in loose forwards - only missing ingredient is a WC 10 and with Mo'unga back probably in 2026, these ABs are trending in a very healthy direction.

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