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'If there's ever a bloke': The RWC three-peat may finally be within reach
By
Ned Lester
The Springboks became just the second team in history to win consecutive Rugby World Cups with their 12-11 victory over the All Blacks in Paris last month. A three-peat has never been achieved.
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Instrumental in both victories was South African coach – and recently Director of Rugby – Rassie Erasmus. The unconventional and influential rugby mind has just been reinstated as head coach for the team and will look to trailblaze a new kind of history in 2027’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
South Africa already have the highest success rate in Rugby World Cup history, winning four of the eight tournaments they have participated in. A win in 2027 would advance their claim as the best rugby nation of the modern era to an undeniable extent, and push Erasmus’ legacy to previously unscaled heights.
“I just think, man he loves what he does,” Former All Black James Parsons said of the Springbok coach on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod. “We’ve spoken at length about how he is his own man and I admire that about him.
“The exciting thing is the story that can be told over the next four years, of him looking to do a three-peat, whether he’s Director of Rugby or whatever, we all know he was a big part of both those World Cup wins and you wouldn’t put it past him.
“If there’s ever a bloke that could probably go three in a row, it would be him.”
With the bulk of the 2023 winning team also featuring in the 2019 final, age is not on many of the players’ side. Veteran loose forward Duane Vermeulen has already announced his retirement.
The Springboks were by far the oldest squad at the Rugby World Cup, entering the tournament as the only team with an average age of over 30.
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There is likely to be a significant amount of turnover within the national ranks between now and 2027, but with Erasmus on board to steer the ship, the young players will inherit a winning foundation and a progressive plan.
“The thing is, the best coaches do front load a lot of this so that when it comes to when you’re actually going and living through it, the plan’s there, it’s just then executing and staying on task,” Parsons added.
“He’s an innovator. He likes to be first, not just in winning but he likes to do things first. He likes to lead the way and be that step ahead.
“It’s an exciting time for South African rugby, and I think the public will be the happiest. We know that their fans are pretty passionate and they all love Rassie, so it’s a big win for them.”
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The Emperors New Clothes.
Go Rassie, you good thing!
Remember my words on this post we will win three times in a row it is our destiny to do so. Both Rassie and Sia is born for this, and it is already written, and they don’t even know it.
Nigel, if there was a WC for plonkers you would walk the QF, SF and
Final, which is more than Ireland did. And you would hold the title for 4 years, which is worthy of your personality. Congrats 😂
Someone should ask Bill Beaumont who will win.
4 more English referees on the 2027 panel and Tom Foley running the game from the stands, it will be up to Bill - again.
With Owens gone and now Barnes, WR will hopefully get rid of a few more multiple SA Man of the Match award winning officials by 2027. Here’s hoping.
As long as refs stay neutral SA are not winning RWC 2027.
Rassie got the double by scoring no points in the second half and outscored two tries to zero whilst shutting down numerous other opposition tries with professional fouls. Let's see if he can go the three peat with no points in either half or tries and nail the world championship with a penalty shootout 👌
Personally I think Rassie has bigger fish to fry than winning another RWC, our rugby team is so much more than just a rugby team. The country is constantly on the brink of collapse and we have so many problems from zama zamas to corrupt politicians, crime, electricity, illegal immigrants, racism, inequality etc etc etc. If Rassie can keep winning a few games against 1st world countries then he is already the best ever coach there ever was or will be. People really have no idea how hard it is in South Africa atm. The Springboks is pretty much the only sign of hope in the country for a long time, since Mandela and 1995.
Yes he can do it. Emphasis on can. As long as the Boks don’t become arrogant and stay grounded, there is no reason why they can't do it. Rassie will temper the egos. There is no place for egos in his teams.
Most of game drivers will still play in 2027. Hooker might be a challenge. There are enough high quality forwards to replace the old outgoing ones. Kwagga to start as 8 from now. Backs are young enough with Esterhuysen replacing De Allende. Pollard will be okay as long as he is injury free.
It will be a mighty challenge to do 3 in a row. The top sides have all improved and will do so in the next 4 years. we saw this year that there is nothing between the top 5/6 sides in the world. Wales and England will improve.
It's still a long way away, but 2027 might be even better than this year with many teams that can win it.