Northern Edition

Select Edition

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

Wallabies shock All Blacks, Springboks’ fall from grace: 10 bold predictions for 2024

Cheslin Kolbe of South Africa looks dejected after defeat to Ireland during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between South Africa and Ireland at Stade de France on September 23, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

‘New Year, new me’ is a phrase that we all hear every 12 months. The start of a new year presents us all with an opportunity to take a step back and start again if we need to.

ADVERTISEMENT

Fireworks, cheers and a general sense of optimism filled the air at midnight on the morning of January 1st. It’s the start of an exciting new chapter for us all – including us rugby fans.

While the memories of an incredible 2023 Rugby World Cup will never be forgotten, the start of 2024 has ushered in the beginning of a new era for teams around the world.

Video Spacer

Rugbypass TV

Watch rugby on demand, from exclusive shows and documentaries to extended highlights from RWC 2023. Anywhere. Anytime. All for free!

Join us

Video Spacer

Rugbypass TV

Watch rugby on demand, from exclusive shows and documentaries to extended highlights from RWC 2023. Anywhere. Anytime. All for free!

Join us

South Africa were worthy World Cup winners, but New Zealand and Australia are among the teams that will look a fair bit different next year. They all have a point to prove.

As fans begin to daydream in an all-too-familiar sense of optimism ahead of a new campaign, here are 10 bold predictions for what 2024 might have in store for some of the world’s best teams.

  1. Scott Robertson’s All Blacks finish the year as world No. 1

When referee Wayne Barnes brought an end to a thrilling Rugby World Cup final at Stade de France last year, the All Blacks and their fans were left heartbroken, dejected and sad.

New Zealand’s quest for what would’ve been a fourth men’s World Cup crown almost finished with a dreamlike conclusion at the Parisian venue, but it wasn’t to be.

Flyhalf Handre Pollard kicked the Springboks to glory, and their status as the world’s top-ranked side on the men’s ranking reflects that. Nobody should question whether they’re worthy champions.

ADVERTISEMENT

But hours turned into days and days into weeks as the fallout from the All Blacks’ agonising one-point defeat continued to sink in. But the dawn of a new era awaits, and that’s exciting.

Seven-time Super Rugby champion Scott Robertson will coach New Zealand in 2024, and if history has shown rugby fans anything it’s that ‘Razor’ knows how to win.

While there will be no World Cup up for grabs this year, the All Blacks have a responsibility to do the jersey justice and that will serve them well as they look to bounce back from that World Cup final.

The All Blacks will reportedly play England on home soil in July, and outside of their usual foes in The Rugby Championship, the Kiwis will face the best teams in the northern hemisphere.

ADVERTISEMENT

After playing two Tests away to the Springboks during The Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will reportedly take on Japan, England, Ireland and France during their end-of-season tour.

It doesn’t get much tougher than that.

But by channelling the hurt from that World Cup final, and learning the lessons on the back of it as well, the All Blacks will show the world that they’re the team to beat moving forward.

The All Blacks will return to the top of the rugby world in 2024 – a position they once held for a decade during an utterly dominant era.

Related

  1. Wallabies start new era under mystery coach with defeat

The Wallabies will play Warren Gatland’s Wales in their first Test of the year on home soil in 2024. With a new coach leading the way, the Aussies will be desperate to make amends.

Wales all but ended Australia’s hopes of making it past the pool stage at last year’s World Cup as they handed the Wallabies a record 40-6 defeat at Lyon’s OL Stadium.

The players looked shattered, and understandably so, but they’ll have a chance to make amends at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on the weekend after Friday 5th of July.

But that mountain will prove too tall to conquer. There’s just not enough time between now and then to turn the Wallabies’ woeful form around.

Wales will pile more misery onto the Wallabies and their fans as a golden sea of supporters will be kept quiet once again. Unfortunately, these fans will continue to ask themselves how Australian rugby got to this point.

Related

  1. Springboks’ fall from grace

The Springboks were worthy Rugby World Cup winners last year. Thrilling one-point wins over France, England and New Zealand saw the South Africans etch their names into history once again.

South Africa became just the second rugby team in history – behind New Zealand in 2011 and 2015 – to go back-to-back on the world stage after hoisting the World Cup four years earlier in Japan.

But the Springboks’ dynastic period of success is, at least for now, in the past. Whether they’re good enough to make it a hat-trick in 2027 remains to be seen, but they likely won’t.

Instead, the Boks’ fall from grace will begin in 2024.

With an aging squad and the loss of World Rugby Coach of the Year nominee Jacques Nienaber, the Boks will need to lift their game even higher as everyone else prepares to hunt for their crown.

But they just won’t be good enough to thwart off the pressure, intensity and desperation shown by other teams.

South Africa will reportedly host the New Zealanders twice next year – expected to be a Test in Cape Town and another in Johannesburg – and the All Blacks should be expected to win one at least.

But the Kiwis could do the double.

The Wallabies will also be desperate to lay down a marker after a disastrous Rugby World Cup campaign. Then there’s Argentina who are also capable of an upset or two.

When it’s all said and done, the Springboks will come third during the battle of the southern hemisphere heavyweights – which includes three World Cup semi-finalists.

Related

  1. Stephen Larkham named Australia’s third coach in as many years

In the middle of November, Brumbies boss Stephen Larkham revealed that he was “certainly interested” in filling the vacant head coach role with the Wallabies.

“However I can help in terms of improving our results and improving our growth within the sporting arena, I’d love to be involved,” Larkham told reporters.

The legendary Australia flyhalf was an assistant coach with the national team from 2015 to 2019, and has since enjoyed successful stints with Irish club Munster and now the ACT Brumbies.

But an opportunity to return to the Wallabies setup beckons, but Rugby Australia need to make the right decision by picking Larkham amidst rumours and links with other world-class coaches.

With former coach Eddie Jones resigning just 10 months into a five-year deal with the Wallabies, Rugby Australia are now looking for their third head coach in as many years.

Former All Blacks assistant coach Joe Schmidt has been mentioned as a popular choice to replace Jones, as has former Australia boss Michael Cheika.

Former Brumbies coach Dan McKellar was initially a fan favourite to join the Wallabies, but the Australian has since ruled himself out after making the move to England.

But Larkham is in Australia and interested.

Ahead of a defining four-year period for Australian rugby – the Lions tour in 2025 and a home World Cup in 2027 – RA simply have to get this coaching decision right.

They’ll do the right thing and pick Stephen Larkham as the right coach to lead the Wallabies.

Related

  1. Wallabies shock the All Blacks in Sydney Bledisloe Cup Test

Before playing the All Blacks at Perth’s Optus Stadium in 2019, nobody expected the Wallabies to cause an upset. But that’s exactly what happened.

Lock Scott Barrett was shown a red card and the rest was history. The Wallabies were relentless, but the All Blacks still retained the Bledisloe on the back of a big win a week later.

Five years later and the same can be said about this traditional Trans-Tasman matchup. The All Blacks are expected to win each and every time as nobody gives the Wallabies a chance.

Australia are coming off a disastrous year that saw them win just two of nine Tests under former coach Eddie Jones, but the dawn of a new era awaits.

Against all odds, the Wallabies will give their fans something to smile about by beating their arch-rivals at Sydney’s Accord Stadium on the weekend after Friday 20th September.

The All Blacks will still retain the Bledisloe Cup in the end, but this will be the type of win that’s talked about for many years to come.

Related

  1. Cortez Ratima and Ruben Love among All Blacks debutants

Following the All Blacks’ drought-breaking World Cup triumph on home soil in 2011, Aaron Smith, Brodie Retallick, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, Sam Cane and Dane Coles debuted at Test level the following year.

The start of a new Rugby World Cup cycle tends to offer youngsters a golden opportunity to force their way into the national team, and expect to see more of that during the year ahead.

With new coach Scott Robertson at the helm, there will be some Crusaders making their way into the playing group – that includes utility Dallas McLeod who played one Test in Dunedin last year.

But among the debutants, Chiefs halfback Cortez Ratima and Hurricanes playmaker Ruben Love will realise their childhood dreams by becoming All Blacks.

Both men have been included in the All Blacks XV’s plans, which shows that they’ve been on the cusp of national selection for quite some time.

Other players to keep an eye out for include Quinten Strange, Fergus Burke and Levi Aumua – all Crusaders players.

Related

  1. Michael Hooper joins Wallabies for end-of-season tour

With the Paris Olympics just a matter of months away, former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper is training the house down with the Australian sevens team.

Rugby Australia confirmed last month that Hooper will pursue his Olympic dream with the sevens team, with the four-time John Eales medallist officially joining the group in the New Year.

Whether Hooper makes the Olympics squad or even walks away with a medal remains to be seen, as does what happens next for the genuine Australian rugby great.

Hooper, 32, has not publicly retired from Test rugby. It just seems that the international centurion has hung the boots up, but there’s been no word from the man himself.

With a new coach coming into the Wallabies setup, Hooper could hypothetically return to a Super Rugby franchise in 2025, which would make him eligible for the end-of-season tour.

Hooper’s stunning omission from Eddie Jones’ World Cup squad doesn’t have to be the end of his storied Test career. With the Lions touring next year, Hooper will be back in Wallaby gold.

Related

  1. New Zealand Sevens fail in quest for Olympic gold

Both New Zealand’s women’s and men’s teams were crowned world champions at the end of the 2022/23 sevens season, but that feels like a long time ago now. Other teams have caught up.

With the Olympics just a matter of months away, the new-look SVNS Series got underway in Dubai and Cape Town last month. It became frighteningly clear that New Zealand had fallen away.

Led by captain Charlotte Caslick and try-scoring phenom Maddison Levi, Australia dominated the women’s competition to win the Cup final at both events.

The women in gold have shown no signs of slowing down, either, as they appear lightyears ahead of any other team in the competition at the moment.

They’re Olympic gold favourites for a reason.

South Africa and Argentina tasted Cup final glory in the men’s draw, with the All Blacks Sevens falling to a third-place finish in pool play at the Western Cape venue.

For a team that has never won Olympic gold since sevens was introduced to the Games in 2016, the New Zealanders will fail to overcome the pressure, hype and scrutiny of the event once again.

Unless things change, both New Zealand Sevens sides will be made to wait four more years.

Related

  1. Marcus Smith thrives in Owen Farrell’s absence

England captain Owen Farrell will take a break from the international game “in order to prioritise his and his family’s mental well-being.”

Farrell, who has played 112 Test matches for England, will not be available for the upcoming Six Nations campaign. This is incredibly unfortunate and it’s sad to see.

But Farrell’s absence does give rising star Marcus Smith an opportunity to make some headline-grabbing progress as a playmaker at the international level.

Smith has been simply phenomenal for Harlequins in the English Premiership for a number of years. With an elite understanding of the game and the skills to match, the 24-year-old is the type of player that every team would love to have.

Coach Steve Borthwick will hand Smith the keys to England’s attack for the Six Nations, and while it’s a sink-or-swim situation, there’s no reason why Smith won’t thrive as England’s go-to man.

Related

  1. Scott Barrett will be named the All Blacks’ next captain

World Cup captain Sam Cane is eligible for the All Blacks in 2024, and the flanker will almost certainly play a part in Scott Roberton’s plans moving forward.

But with Robertson coming into the All Blacks as the team’s new coach, it seems like the right time to make a bold call in the captaincy department. It’s time for change.

Backrower Ardie Savea captained the All Blacks in Cane’s absence last year, and the World Rugby Player of the Year would widely be seen as the fan favourite to replace Cane moving forward.

But if Cane did decide to vacate his role as the captain of the national team, the best option under coach ‘Razor’ is clear.

Scott Roberton is a Crusader. Scott Barrett is also a Crusader.

No, there’s no conspiracy here or deeper meaning to that. The two just share an incredible rugby bond, and if you don’t believe that just look at the Crusaders’ trophy cabinet.

While Barrett has had some disciplinary issues in the past – becoming the first All Black to be sent off twice in Test matches – there’s no denying how important he is to this team.

With no Brodie Retallick or Sam Whitelock to call upon, Barrett is New Zealand’s best lock – and there’s some daylight to second.

But Barrett’s leadership under Robertson at Super Rugby level speaks volumes about the connection that have and the respect that the lock has amongst his peers. It makes too much sense.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

65 Comments
R
RW 346 days ago

Journalists, or muppets, I know which side I land on.

R
Rugby 347 days ago

Just too much erroneous matter in this opinion piece. I will gladly click on to the next article. Waste of time reading it

P
Pecos 347 days ago

I hate “let it rip” “hit & miss” articles like these which have zero accountability at the end of the day other than “I was wrong”.

B
Bob Marler 347 days ago

Good points. SA has more registered rugby players, according to WR, than any other country. So the quantum is greater.

f
fl 347 days ago

1) South Africa’s under 20s side have been pretty mediocre for a number of years now. Last summer they were in the easiest pool at the u20 world cup and had home advantage, but still only just scraped through to the knockouts after losing to Italy.


2) South Africa’s provincial sides have been poor since joining the URC. Even if you allow for the fact that south africans play for clubs outside of south africa too, there are still fewer south africans playing for high-achieving club sides than there are english, french, or new zealanders.


3) Rassie has capped very few young players. Since the 2019 world cup he has only capped 18 new players, and only 4 of them have been 24 or younger. England have capped 45, of whom 18 have been 24 or younger.

b
by 347 days ago

Based on their record and watching URC etc the Springboks will always be serious contenders if their rugby administrators retain coaches like Erasmus and co.

f
fl 346 days ago

But the south African sides are performing really poorly in the URC?

B
Bob Marler 348 days ago

How do you figure that?

J
Jmann 348 days ago

‘worthy winners’?? In what universe was that a worthy final win?

O
OJohn 347 days ago

Where an All Black win would have been unworthy

H
Head high tackle 348 days ago

Barnes wins world cup!!!!!

H
HU 348 days ago

maybe any universe but your’s

B
Brendan 348 days ago

The complete and utter biasness of these Rugby pass writers is beyond me. To say that the All Blacks will dominate 2024 and that the Springboks will fall away somehow is just frankly ridiculous. Have any of you on this chat and seen the depth of the Springboks? They have got atleast 2 or 3 world class players in all positions. Yes some are a bit older but their are so many amazing young players coming through its frightening. I predict another golden age for the Boks and this time they are going to completely dominate the 4 year cycle and cap it off with their 5th title. As for the All Blacks they are a dying force in rugby and they will never achieve the heights of yester year again. Yes Scott Robinson is a good coach and probably developed the greatest provincial team of all time however international rugby is far different and it doesn't mean it will be replicated at international level. As for the Aussies for God's sakes they are finished never to return, Rugby is dead down under and its along way back for them unfortunately. I think Irealnd will slip up and battle along but will not reach the heights of the last 2 or 3 years. France on the other hand will remain strong and push for titles in all fronts. England will be there or there abouts but will not match the Boks, NZ or the French. Watch this space!

A
A 345 days ago

😂 The AB’s won every cup in 2023 and an incorrect and incompetent decision was the difference for a 1 point loss at the RWC. A dying force? You don’t know anything about the modern rugby era.

f
fl 348 days ago

haha!

v
victor 348 days ago

So tired of reading articles on NZrugbypass about how NZ are the best and will stay the best.

J
Jonty 348 days ago

Honestly, it would be sad if it weren’t hilarious how much jealousy and hatred exists amongst so many supporters of the Springboks’ opponents - irrespective of where in the world they find themselves.


I am certainly not going to enter into any kind of debate with these miserable losers whose jealousy and frustration with the inability of their own teams to find a way to beat the world champions has turned them into extremely bitter and twisted hate-filled individuals who clearly cannot see reality they are so blinded by their envy and hatred.

One commenter is so delirious he/she actually went as far as to suggest that World Rugby “protects” the Springboks. What a load of unadulterated hogwash!!! One can only laugh at such a ridiculous comment.

Sir or Madam - just WHERE have you been over the past few decades, let alone years?????

The irony of your drivel shines through with the strength of 100 stadium floodlights.

Everybody who is not mesmerized or enslaved by that governing rugby body that calls itself “World Rugby”, if they are totally honest, will tell you VERY PLAINLY that the Soringboks are without any shadow of doubt the absolute favourite whipping boys of World Rugby.

That they have done so well - especially in RWC tournaments is DESPITE World Rugby, not BECAUSE of them.

Beaumont and most of his predecessors at World Rugby have been hellbent over several decades trying g to destroy and bring down Springbok and South African Rugby.

They have tried every trick in the book to nail and to discredit and even disadvantage Bok teams throughout the modern era.

BUT they gave NEVER and WILL NEVER get their way.


The Springboks and by extension SA Rugby Union will never allow themselves to be bullied or cheated or f&$@%- ed over by the likes of World Rugby or by people like you bitter and twisted losers whose teams are just not good enough to defeat them and as a result you turn to the only thing you know - vilifying them.

Shame, your teams must be so bereft of top class rugby players and playing ability, that you’ll resort to the sick and pathetically cowardly act of vilifying others in an effort to hide or mask the huge inadequacies that you know only too well your teams have in bucketloads.

How arrogant and idiotic must one be to believe the crap that you are vomiting up.

Gross man….extremely gross.

Best wishes on your team's continued downward spiral.

Soon you’ll be joinin the Tier 2 nations- stop fooling yourself that it’s everybody else’s fault.

C
Chris 347 days ago

If you’re referring to Nigel, just laugh , he’s a really funny character

B
BG 348 days ago

Jonty I am glad you got that off your chest. As an All Black fan I love the rivalry that we have with you, and the games we play are usually the highlight of the year.

I don’t know about this supposed World Rugby conspiracy but I have to say I don’t like the way Rassie goes about his business. His vilification of refs and the way he exploits the rules is a big turn off for me. The sooner he goes the better in my mind.

Well done on winning the cup, we blew it! We had that game and were the better side but didn’t take our chances.

k
karin 348 days ago

The corrupt anc paid for your world cup .. Wayne Barnes ran for his life. Truth will eventually come out . The springbox will see their backsides . Perhaps when the anc are voted in again . Your crime riddled , gbv, corrupt , broken country will have a team without a white face . Than let’s see how much you support the boxes. . . Enjoy . 😉

N
NE 348 days ago

Does the author know something that all true supporters of the game have been waiting for for three decades ….. that WR has finally withdrawn its mandate for all its officials to protect and favour SA rugby (at all levels involving international opposition)? Hopefully this becomes a reality and SA will then wallow in the lower half of the tier one rankings where they deserve to be. Personally I can’t see that happening, WR's aim of being a global body is just too entrenched and without the protection and favour SA enjoys Africa will be a blank in their stable. Simple as that, hardly rocket science.

A
Ace 346 days ago

My goodness Naaijill, it’s still January 2024 and you’re already getting your excuses in for 2027!?


What a sad little wanker you are. But good for comedy relief. We, the rugby loving supporters, enjoy your delusional rants from time to time. It’s just so lame that you don’t seem to have any variation on your incessant bleating.


But hey, on occasion you’re still good for a hearty guffaw 🤣

k
karin 348 days ago

Well said . . What you left out was that the buying of the world cup won’t be tolerated . They were caught out ..

B
Bob Marler 348 days ago

The only blanks in a stable around here is between your ears (and legs).

B
Bob Marler 348 days ago

Interesting that Ireland isn’t mentioned. Or France for that matter.


If anyone sees a fall from grace in 2024, I reckon it would be Ireland/France. For starters, the ABs pipping both of them to no.1 (if this article is to be believed).


Will either of them bounce back from the disappointment of the WC they were supposed to win?


The boks beating Ireland soundly here in SA won’t help.


England winning the 6N in 2024 won’t either.


And the negativity one can read between the lines in the French management team doesn’t bode well either imho. I don’t see Galthie making it to 2027 if the French don’t do well in 2024.


I see the boks doing well. I don’t see the ABs finishing no.1 in 2024 - but they will turn heads. I see a drop off from Ireland and France.


And I see a tenacious England grinding out good results in 2024.

P
PDV 348 days ago

The impact of age in the Bok squad is overstated. Yes, the Boks have an ageing team but that will only be an issue in 2027. In the short term they are fine - only losing Vermeulen and possibly Fourie. Pollard is only 29 for goodness sake. Libbok is 26. Faf is 32. Kolbe is 30. Arendse is 27. Eben and Siya are 32. Ox is 28 and Marx 29. The core of the Bok squad are at the peak of their powers so why would they suddenly drop off the pace in 2024? Players like Sexton and Fourie have shown that you can play some of your best rugby after 35 anyway so the whole argument just seems premature.


The coaching issues are also overblown. The Boks are all about a system and how coaches fit into that system. The new defence and attack coach might tweak things but will stay within the broader system Rassie has put in place. In fact, pretty sure knowledge has already been passed on to whoever is taking over so they can hit the ground running.

k
karin 348 days ago

The sori gbox are over . Bye .

B
Bob Marler 348 days ago

Felix Jones and Jacques Nienaber leave the team in the hands of the head coach who recruited and/or developed them - and won the 2019 WC. So yes, the loss of coaching capability is a weak argument.


Factor in that Duane Vermeulen played with JN and Rassie in various places since 2005 - set to move into a defence role. And the continuity that has been locked in by extending Stick and Human’s contracts. I think we can avoid hitting panic stations at this time.


Besides it won’t be that difficult to find great attacking/defence coaches to fill any voids that may exist.

S
SL 348 days ago

This writer lost me when he said NZ will test themselves against the best of the Northern Hemisphere by including England with Ireland and France!! Didn’t bother reading the rest of the article as he clearly is out of touch with current rugby form!

H
Head high tackle 348 days ago

I think England, Ireland and France are definately the best 3 teams in the NH for sure. 100% in fact.

k
karin 348 days ago

Have you been hit with a booo hook stick . Why did you read it than ???

N
NE 348 days ago

Remind us all again where England finished in the last RWC and where France and Ireland finished? Granted, it was only the standard embarrassing bias of the WR officials that saw France drop out in the quarters and there’s nothing to say they would have beaten England in the semi's.

J
JE 348 days ago

@finn Do you see them going 2016/17 or just lose tough games against quality opposition? I think you are correct, but still back us to be around 3/4th in the world.

f
fl 348 days ago

its really hard to say, given that we don’t know what Rassie’s approach to selection will be, or who the coaches will be.


If I was Rassie, I would actually be pretty tempted to stick with the group of players who did so well last year, because I’m not convinced there is as much strenght in depth among possible replacements as many south africans seem to think. If Rassie does that then I think south africa will remain a top 4 side for another season or two at least, but it will also leave them needing a complete squad overhaul in 2025 or 2026 and probably rule them out as contenders for the 2027 world cup. On the other hand if he limits himself from the off to only picking players who will still be in their prime in 2027 then I think we could be talking about a repeat of 16/17.


In terms of coaching, I’m sure there are top level coaches in south africa, but who are they? None of the URC sides are excelling as of late, and while Human, Stick, and Davids are presumably all very competent, we don’t know if any of them are capable of filling the void left by Nienaber and Jones.

C
Chris 348 days ago

Bring it on. In Rassie we trust

C
CP 348 days ago

Wishful thinking writing of he most successful team in World Cup history.

f
fl 348 days ago

Next year isn’t a world cup year; South Africa have recently performed poorly outside of world cups; have just lost two of their most important coaches; and have the oldest squad in international rugby. Literally all the available evidence points to them having a major drop off in form.

W
WK 348 days ago

After the 2019 RWC Rassie said he wanted to get the Springboks to a place where they were as consistent as the All Blacks. Unfortunately, they weren’t, but I think Covid-19, the B&I Lions Series and prepping for the 2023 RWC all had an impact. I would expect Rassie to make 2024 the year where things ‘click’ for the Springboks.

f
fl 348 days ago

I think that definitely won’t happen. In 2021 South Africa had continuity in their coaching set up and in their selections. In 2024 they have lost their head coach and their attack coach, and most of their players are too old to remain internationals for much longer.


South Africa are the best side in history at peaking for world cups, but they haven’t consistently been the best side in the world since the 1970s. Everything we have seen suggests that things aren’t going to change anytime soon as far as that is concerned.

S
Shaylen 348 days ago

Hardly any bold predictions here

C
CK 348 days ago

Enjoyable article. A bit short on actual analysis, but there’s a place for gut feel now and again. For me I see 2024 as the year there is no dynasty. The beginning of a new cycle, lots of individuals trying to stake claims in fresh ground, and no international team with the wood over any other.

The business side of rugby will be interesting also, and I wonder if a draft system might emerge?

S
SJ 349 days ago

Look, to say complete fall from grace is a long call, With good game management, I am sure Kolisi and Etzabeth could get another world cup, but in the long run, do you not think Rassie has a plan for players leaving and him needing some young guns coming in?, remember all the experimenting and player rotation in the last four years, this is all likely due to this. Moodie, only like 20, Willemse won 2 world cups, he is 25, Jaden Hendrikse and Grant williams have more world cups, Pollard and Labbok can do another world cup, I wont jump the gun, but I dont see us having a “fall from Grace.” Look, the all blacks are the all blacks, south Africans will always respect them, but allow Scott time to get into things, its going to be a new playing style, new management and so on, they will alwayd be a dominant force, but I dont see them being undeafeted this year, I do see things coming together in their autumn series, and will likely be dominating next year. I do see Rassie having some tricks up his sleeve though, never count that out, but yes, I do see some experimenting with players and game plans and maybe some losses leading up to the 2026/2027 season, I also feel that he will stick to the south African DNA, but changing allot, because I am sure he will be expecting teams to know our structure and how to neutrolise it. As a south African, I am calling a very strong france at the next world cup, remember, they had a very young team this past world cup, only thing that could play against them at the world cup 2027 is the conditions in australia

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 5 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

I rated Lowe well enough to be an AB. Remember we were picking the likes of George Bridge above such players so theres no disputing a lot of bad decisions have been made by those last two coaches. Does a team like the ABs need a finicky winger who you have to adapt and change a lot of your style with to get benefit from? No, not really. But he still would have been a basic improvement on players like even Savea at the tail of his career, Bridge, and could even have converted into the answer of replacing Beauden at the back. Instead we persisted with NMS, Naholo, Havili, Reece, all players we would have cared even less about losing and all because Rieko had Lowe's number 11 jersey nailed down.


He was of course only 23 when he decided to leave, it was back in the beggining of the period they had started retaining players (from 2018 onwards I think, they came out saying theyre going to be more aggressive at some point). So he might, all of them, only just missed out.


The main point that Ed made is that situations like Lowe's, Aki's, JGP's, aren't going to happen in future. That's a bit of a "NZ" only problem, because those players need to reach such a high standard to be chosen by the All Blacks, were as a country like Ireland wants them a lot earlier like that. This is basically the 'ready in 3 years' concept Ireland relied on, versus the '5 years and they've left' concept' were that player is now ready to be chosen by the All Blacks (given a contract to play Super, ala SBW, and hopefully Manu).


The 'mercenary' thing that will take longer to expire, and which I was referring to, is the grandparents rule. The new kids coming through now aren't going to have as many gp born overseas, so the amount of players that can leave with a prospect of International rugby offer are going to drop dramatically at some point. All these kiwi fellas playing for a PI, is going to stop sadly.


The new era problem that will replace those old concerns is now French and Japanese clubs (doing the same as NRL teams have done for decades by) picking kids out of school. The problem here is not so much a national identity one, than it is a farm system where 9 in 10 players are left with nothing. A stunted education and no support in a foreign country (well they'll get kicked out of those countries were they don't in Australia).


It's the same sort of situation were NZ would be the big guy, but there weren't many downsides with it. The only one I can think was brought up but a poster on this site, I can't recall who it was, but he seemed to know a lot of kids coming from the Islands weren't really given the capability to fly back home during school xms holidays etc. That is probably something that should be fixed by the union. Otherwise getting someone like Fakatava over here for his last year of school definitely results in NZ being able to pick the cherries off the top but it also allows that player to develop and be able to represent Tonga and under age and possibly even later in his career. Where as a kid being taken from NZ is arguably going to be worse off in every respect other than perhaps money. Not going to develop as a person, not going to develop as a player as much, so I have a lotof sympathy for NZs case that I don't include them in that group but I certainly see where you're coming from and it encourages other countries to think they can do the same while not realising they're making a much worse experience/situation.

144 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Return of 30-something brigade provides welcome tonic for Wales Return of 30-something brigade provides welcome tonic for Wales
Search