Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Springboks dominate in 2024 despite ill-discipline

South Africa recieved 13 yellow cards in 2024. (Photo by Rodger Bosch / AFP) (Photo by RODGER BOSCH/AFP via Getty Images)

Getting on the right side of the referee has long been advocated as a quality all champion teams must possess but Opta data suggests the Springboks bucked the trend in 2024.

ADVERTISEMENT

Second-guessing how the referee will interpret the laws, and managing him or her throughout the game, can mean the difference between winning and losing.

However, the Springboks debunked this notion as they marched to The Rugby Championship title and completed their first European tour clean sweep in 11 years despite conceding the most yellow cards of the year.

South Africa incurred 13 sin-binnings at an average of exactly one per game, which was only ‘beaten’ by Georgia (a 1.1 average), who incidentally also overcame the handicap of being numerically challenged in most games to maintain their vice-like grip on the Rugby Europe Championship trophy.

yellow cards, 2024

In only four of their 13 Tests (11 wins and two defeats) did South Africa keep all 15 players on the field of play for the full 80 minutes: the second Test v Ireland, which they lost by a point,  and in wins against Australia and Argentina in The Rugby Championship (rounds two and six) and the final Test of the year against Wales.

Having never previously received three yellow cards in a match in 133 years of playing Test rugby, South Africa suffered that fate in back-to-back games in July and August, against Portugal and Australia. However, Andre Esterhuizen’s yellow against Os Lobos, in the Springboks’ final Rugby Championship warm-up fixture, was ultimately upgraded to a red.

ADVERTISEMENT

Interestingly, the finger of blame cannot be pointed to the big bruisers up front but rather to the back three contingent, who accounted for just over half of the tally of 13 yellow cards between them. Winger Kurt-Lee Arendse was the biggest culprit with three, while full-back options Willie le Roux and Aphelele Fassi accounted for two apiece.

Not that losing a man to the sin-bin was catastrophic for the Springboks, even with a new defensive system under Jerry Flannery. South Africa conceded an average of five points for every sin-bin period during The Rugby Championship, but in the Autumn Nations Series, the yellow cards to Makazole Mapimpi and Gerhard Steenekamp only cost them three points.

While they were not exactly whistled off the park, six teams conceded fewer penalties per match than the Springboks’ average of 10.1, with England leading the way on 9.25. Not that it did Steve Borthwick’s team much good.

South Africa’s biggest repeat offence was at the ruck, where their tally of 64 penalties was the second-highest of the year behind Scotland (69). One area where the Springboks reigned supreme, however, was at scrum time. The Springboks conceded a scrum penalty roughly every other game whereas the next-best team in that regard was New Zealand (1.07).

ADVERTISEMENT

As for the rest, if you combine the card count with penalties conceded, Fiji are the team with the most work to do going into 2025. Mick Byrne’s team conceded a 2024 high of 11.2 penalties per game, while also collecting nine yellow cards and two reds.

Fiji, red card, Waisea Nayacalevu
CARDIFF, WALES – NOVEMBER 10: Waisea Nayacalevu of Fiji reacts as Referee Luc Ramos shows a red card to Semi Radradra of Fiji (not pictured) following a Bunker Review (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images).

France and Japan had the best record in 2024 in terms of yellow cards, only losing a man to the sin-bin every three to four games (an average of 0.27). But their record was marred by two red cards and in the case of Les Bleus, disciplinary problems away from the field.

Eddie Jones’ decision to blood a load of uncapped front-row forwards will, hopefully, stand the Brave Blossoms in good stead for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027, but it came at a cost in terms of scrum penalties conceded in 2024, with 26 given away in their 10 games. Argentina and Wales were the only other teams to average two scrum penalties or more per match in 2024.

Samoa and England, meanwhile, were the ‘cleanest’ teams when it came to overall discipline. England’s penalty average per match was among those lower than Samoa’s 10.33 (ranked first with 9.25) but they received four yellows and a red – Charlie Ewels v Japan, as opposed to Samoa’s three yellow cards and one red. Even so, discipline is one positive that Steve Borthwick’s team can take from an otherwise forgettable 2024.

Related

Go behind the scenes of both camps during the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021. Binge watch exclusively on RugbyPass TV now 

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

England A vs Ireland A

Boks Office | Episode 35 | Six Nations Round 2 Review

O2 Inside Line: This Rose | Episode 3 | France Week

Second round of the Men's Six Nations | Whistle Watch

Harlequins vs Bristol Bears | PWR 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Yokohama Canon Eagles vs Saitama Wildknights | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Watch now: Lomu - The Lost Tapes

The Dupont Ploy: How France went from underdogs to Olympic gods | The Report

Former rugby player is truly an NFL superstar | Walk the Talk | Jordan Mailata

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

23 Comments
N
NE 59 days ago

Anybody still in doubt about WR's blatant protection and favoritism of SA now knows the truth. SA would be ranked 7th or 8th with neutral officiating.

Y
YeowNotEven 58 days ago

That’s what they said about the all blacks when they were at #1.

No matter who the top dog is, there will always be a theory about how they are treated special by referees.

A
Ace 59 days ago

Rugby is a wonderful game that is enjoyed by millions of people the world over.


It is such a pity that your twisted hatred of South Africa precludes you from sharing in our pleasure. You could have been one of our world-wide community of rugby lovers and afficionados. Instead you have turned yourself into an object of ridicule, laughed at and scorned by all of us.

J
JW 60 days ago

This data won't stop some posters

One area where the Springboks reigned supreme, however, was at scrum time. The Springboks conceded a scrum penalty roughly every other game whereas the next-best team in that regard was New Zealand (1.07).

Wow from one every second game to the next team one every game. That is some dominance at the scrum.

f
fl 62 days ago

What these stats actually seem to show is that there isn't a massive about of variation in the number of cards/penalties conceded by the top teams.


South Africa received 13 yellow cards in 13 matches; Ireland received 11 in 12; New Zealand received 11 in 14. The difference is pretty immaterial.


In terms of penalties, SA conceded 131 in 13 matches; England conceded 111 in 12. Considering England had the best record of anyone, SA are hardly far off the pace.

J
JW 60 days ago

Was the data available somehwere else?


What it shows is that refs have caught with what people had misconstrued as very disciplined teams.

J
Jon 61 days ago

Yes I was surprised at how close the pen count was - the spread between best and worst being just 2. The number of yellow cards though will surely be something the Boks will look to address

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

H
Hindi Urdu 1 hour ago
Reds name 10 Wallabies in starting side for team’s season-opener

In the early months of 2025, I made a decision that would haunt me for weeks—a decision born out of greed and the allure of quick wealth. I invested 95,000 Bitcoin into an online platform that promised exponential returns. The website looked legitimate, the testimonials seemed convincing, and the numbers they presented were irresistible. But as the days passed, the platform went silent. My investment vanished, and I realized I had fallen victim to a sophisticated scam. I was devastated, feeling like I had lost everything.Desperate for help, I began searching for solutions online. That’s when I discovered *Galaxy Ethical Tech*, a company renowned for its expertise in blockchain forensics and digital asset recovery. Known for their ethical approach and cutting-edge technology, they had a track record of helping people like me recover lost funds. With nothing left to lose, I reached out to them, hoping for a miracle.The team at Galaxy Ethical Tech, led by a brilliant blockchain analyst named *Dr. Elena Voss*, responded immediately. Dr. Voss listened to my story with empathy and assured me they would do everything in their power to help. She explained that while the process would be complex and time-consuming, their advanced tools and expertise gave them a fighting chance.

The recovery process began with a deep dive into the blockchain. Using sophisticated algorithms, Galaxy Ethical Tech traced the movement of my Bitcoin. They identified the wallets where my funds had been transferred and uncovered a network of interconnected accounts designed to obscure the trail. The scammers had used multiple layers of transactions to launder the funds, but Dr. Voss and her team were relentless.Weeks turned into months, and the team kept me updated every step of the way. They worked tirelessly, navigating the labyrinth of the blockchain and collaborating with international authorities to freeze suspicious accounts. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I received the news I had been praying for: Galaxy Ethical Tech had successfully recovered *85,000 Bitcoin* of my lost funds. The remaining amount had been irretrievably laundered, but recovering the majority felt like a miracle.When the funds were securely returned to my wallet, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. Dr. Voss and her team didn’t just recover my Bitcoin—they restored my faith in the possibility of justice in the digital world. They also provided me with invaluable advice on how to protect my assets in the future, emphasizing the importance of due diligence and secure storage solutions.Galaxy Ethical Tech didn’t just save me from financial ruin; they gave me a second chance. Their commitment to ethical practices, combined with their unparalleled expertise, made them true heroes in my eyes. From that day forward, I became an advocate for their work, sharing my story as a cautionary tale and a testament to the power of technology used for good. Thanks to Galaxy Ethical Tech, what began as a nightmare ended with hope and a renewed sense of security. contact them via Email: galaxyethicaltech@mail.com Whatsapp: +15072712442 Telegram: Galaxy_ethical_tech

1 Go to comments
H
Hindi Urdu 1 hour ago
England explain their backing for Marcus Smith to stay on the kicks

In the early months of 2025, I made a decision that would haunt me for weeks—a decision born out of greed and the allure of quick wealth. I invested 95,000 Bitcoin into an online platform that promised exponential returns. The website looked legitimate, the testimonials seemed convincing, and the numbers they presented were irresistible. But as the days passed, the platform went silent. My investment vanished, and I realized I had fallen victim to a sophisticated scam. I was devastated, feeling like I had lost everything.Desperate for help, I began searching for solutions online. That’s when I discovered *Galaxy Ethical Tech*, a company renowned for its expertise in blockchain forensics and digital asset recovery. Known for their ethical approach and cutting-edge technology, they had a track record of helping people like me recover lost funds. With nothing left to lose, I reached out to them, hoping for a miracle.The team at Galaxy Ethical Tech, led by a brilliant blockchain analyst named *Dr. Elena Voss*, responded immediately. Dr. Voss listened to my story with empathy and assured me they would do everything in their power to help. She explained that while the process would be complex and time-consuming, their advanced tools and expertise gave them a fighting chance.

The recovery process began with a deep dive into the blockchain. Using sophisticated algorithms, Galaxy Ethical Tech traced the movement of my Bitcoin. They identified the wallets where my funds had been transferred and uncovered a network of interconnected accounts designed to obscure the trail. The scammers had used multiple layers of transactions to launder the funds, but Dr. Voss and her team were relentless.Weeks turned into months, and the team kept me updated every step of the way. They worked tirelessly, navigating the labyrinth of the blockchain and collaborating with international authorities to freeze suspicious accounts. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I received the news I had been praying for: Galaxy Ethical Tech had successfully recovered *85,000 Bitcoin* of my lost funds. The remaining amount had been irretrievably laundered, but recovering the majority felt like a miracle.When the funds were securely returned to my wallet, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. Dr. Voss and her team didn’t just recover my Bitcoin—they restored my faith in the possibility of justice in the digital world. They also provided me with invaluable advice on how to protect my assets in the future, emphasizing the importance of due diligence and secure storage solutions.Galaxy Ethical Tech didn’t just save me from financial ruin; they gave me a second chance. Their commitment to ethical practices, combined with their unparalleled expertise, made them true heroes in my eyes. From that day forward, I became an advocate for their work, sharing my story as a cautionary tale and a testament to the power of technology used for good. Thanks to Galaxy Ethical Tech, what began as a nightmare ended with hope and a renewed sense of security. contact them via Email: galaxyethicaltech@mail.com Whatsapp: +15072712442 Telegram: Galaxy_ethical_tech

0 Go to comments
C
CV 2 hours ago
Where is the new breed of All Black 10?

Yeah I know. Holland is from the area I live in. Him and his brother were at the rugby academy North West over here. You enter an academy here as soon as you go to high school (12) where you train 8 to 10 hours per week. They keep playing for their club on the weekends though, rugby is too small for club academies. Not enough players and money. Good thing is that you stay with your club so they don’t lose players. Top talent usually gets picked up by French clubs. The best of the rest go to the national training centre in Amsterdam where they have a professional set up.


Like everywhere in Europe, seasons run August to May and it’s all club driven. School sports don’t really exist like in NZ or the UK. Even the U7s and us oldies playing walking rugby play a full season. We just have more weeks off because of school holidays, or when the pitch is frozen. Like elsewhere in Europe, the league is a pyramid, so every club can make it to the top tier. Top clubs are semi-pro. Some clubs are part of the development programmes of French pro clubs, next to the six academies (for boys and girls) the union runs. It won’t surprise you that of the Dutch rep teams, about half of those groups play in France. It raised the bar. Players that don’t make it improve the level of the local league when they come back and the ones that do improve the national team. They beat Chile last November and are still in with a chance to make it to the WC in Australia. Women are in the WXV. Still tough because other REC countries, like Spain, Portugal and Belgium are getting better because they have similar setups as Holland does. Look up the REC game highlights on youtube, the level is pretty good.

114 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Super Rugby rolls back the years but challenges lie ahead Super Rugby rolls back the years but challenges lie ahead
Search