Innehållsförteckning för December 2023 från SA RUGBY

Back-to-back champions, baby! LET’S GOOOOO! Some victories transcend the pitch to leave an indelible mark on the hearts of a nation. Such was the case at Ellis Park in 1995, in Paris in 2007, in Yokohama four years ago and again in October at the Stade de France where the Springboks, led by inspirational captain Siya Kolisi, completed the most treacherous World Cup quest in the annals of Bok rugby, beating the old foe to clinch an unprecedented fourth Rugby World Cup title and inspire a nation of 60 million South Africans. The magnitude of this triumph cannot be overstated. Viewed through the lens of context, it is nothing short of mind-blowing. The Springboks’ path to glory was paved with challenges and tests of character that would have melted weaker…

FORWARDS 1. OS DU RANDT A great scrummager, real grafter in the tight-loose and a great ball-carrier. 2. SEAN FITZPATRICK My hooker, captain and the referee! A real streetwise player and well respected by everyone. 3. JASON LEONARD Mainly played at loosehead, but as a player and a leader he was a huge part of England’s team spirit. 4. MARTIN JOHNSON As hard as nails. Had an incredible work ethic and would be the enforcer in my pack. 5. JOHN EALES As athletic as any of the locks playing today. Brilliant in the lineout and a leader of men. 6. RICHIE McCAW The greatest player of all time. Peerless leader and dominant presence. 7. ANDRE VENTER A big, strong man, who performed every dirty job thrust upon him. 8. ZINZAN…

‘I ALWAYS JOKE THAT IF THERE’S A WHITE PLASTIC BAG THAT BLOWS OVER THE FIELD, HE WOULD PROBABLY CHASE THAT DOWN AS WELL THE “MALMESBURY MISSILE”, HE WAS LIKE A MACHINE’ JACQUES NIENABER ON PIETER-STEPH DU TOIT’S MAN OF THE MATCH PERFORMANCE IN THE WORLD CUP FINAL ‘I GUESS AS A TEAM WE LIKE DRAMA’ DU TOIT ON THE BOKS’ THIRD SUCCESSIVE ONE-POINT WIN IN THE WORLD CUP PLAYOFFS ‘SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO EAT S**T FOR OTHERS TO EAT CAVIAR FURTHER DOWN THE TRACK’ EDDIE JONES AFTER STEPPING DOWN FROM HIS POSITION AS WALLABIES HEAD COACH ‘I HATE ENGLAND. THEIR WHOLE GAME. I HONESTLY WOULD HAVE RATHER GONE DOWN TO MY LOCAL DOG PARK AND PICKED UP S**T’ FORMER ALL BLACKS SCRUMHALF STEVE DEVINE ‘OX IS THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE LOOSEHEAD…

BROUGHT TO YOU BY Under new captain Siya Kolisi, the Springboks had fought back from 24-3 down to beat England 42-39 at Ellis Park in the first Test of a three-match series in 2018. In the second Test at the Free State Stadium, the visitors again made a fast start, with tries from wingers Mike Brown and Jonny May giving them a 12-0 lead. However, the game changed in the 24th minute when Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira rampaged through the England midfield before a desperate tackle from scrumhalf Ben Youngs stopped the prop 10m short of the line. Good work at the breakdown saw the Boks secure the ball and RG Snyman’s pass from the base of the ruck found Duane Vermeulen. In a moment that would make any backline player…

This is an ode to two okes from Paarl, from very different schools, very different in appearance and very different in the positions they play. In rugby, if you have a tighthead and a flyhalf among the best in the world, you usually have a winning team. The tighthead is the piano mover and the flyhalf is the piano player. One scrums for the penalty and the other kicks the penalty. In Frans Malherbe, from Paarl Boys’ High, and Handré Pollard, from Paarl Gimnasium, the World Cupwinning Springboks had the ultimate piano mover and piano player. No team survives without a dominant tighthead and no team wins without a goal-kicker. Malherbe, as he has done since his professional debut in 2011 and his international start in 2013, buries opposing loosehead…

DAMIAN WILLEMSE ‘Good morning, South Africa,’ - The Springbok fullback in bed with the Webb Ellis Cup the morning after the World Cup final. COBUS REINACH ‘It’s coming home.’ - The two-time World Cup-winning Springbok scrumhalf, with RG Snyman, Jean Kleyn, Kwagga Smith and Marco van Staden, before their flight back to South Africa from France. MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI ‘x2.’ - The Springbok wing at the team’s victory photoshoot. MZWANDILE STICK ‘This is for you mama wam.’ The assistant coach dedicated the Boks’ World Cup triumph to his late mother. FRANCO MOSTERT ‘Thanks for all the support. Can’t wait to see you all back home.’ - The Bok lock celebrated with Eben Etzebeth. CANAN MOODIE ‘For Paarl’ - The Springbok utility back with Grant Williams and KurtLee Arendse. WILLIE LE ROUX…

A promising first entry into Europe came with its growing pains, but it was on the whole a success for South African teams, with all five of the Bulls, Cheetahs, Lions, Sharks and Stormers making it through the pool stage and into the knockouts. The Lions hunted as a pack to feast on French giants Racing 92 in the Challenge Cup playoffs, while the Stormers made home advantage count in a 60-point thriller with Harlequins, and a Springbok-powered Sharks proved too strong for Munster in Durban to make it through to the last eight of the Champions Cup. That was where the dream ended for South Africa, as the Sharks put up a brave fight but were simply overwhelmed by Toulouse at the Stade Ernest-Wallon, and the Stormers had little…

SHOULD THE WINNER OF THE SA SHIELD IN THE URC BE AWARDED THE CURRIE CUP TROPHY? VS SIMON BORCHAROT SAYS YES In 1891, the British Isles arrived in South Africa with a golden trophy given to them by Sir Donald Currie, the owner of the shipping company providing their transport. Sir Donald gave clear instructions for it to be presented to the best team they faced on tour, which they later deemed to be Griqualand West. The trophy was then handed over to the SA Rugby Board and used for a new provincial tournament, aptly named the Currie Cup, which began in 1892 and was won by Western Province. Apart from a few war-disrupted years, the Currie Cup continued to be lifted by the best provincial rugby team in South…

SA Rugby magazine The Springboks produced a defensive effort for the ages to retain their status as world champions by a single point against the All Blacks in Paris. Stephens Tertius Kleyn My hart, die blerrie een-punt wenne het my klaar gemaak… Wenkant! Thembalethu Timba Every player deserves a statue next to Mandela’s pha kula Pretoria. Peter Cox The ref and the TMO were obviously determined that South Africa were to win. It was disgraceful, totally biased throughout the same. Lwazi Khumalo I loved how they allowed a try by the All Blacks after the ball went forward from Telea. Steve Tutauha The Boks have the ideal temperament in big World Cup games, they seem to manage and absorb pressure a lot easier than other teams. The All Blacks were their…

How did you get given the nickname ‘Fudge’? It came tram primary school. I used to love sweets when I was younger and one of my friends saw me with fudge and the name stuck. What’s your favourite activity on a day off? Just sit at home, catch up with friends and maybe grab some lunch. Nothing rugby related and take the complete time off. Which former player have you modelled your game on? I’ve taken a bit of everything from everyone, but I’ve always loved Duane Vermeulen’s physicality and Siya Kolisi’s defensive prowess. Which teammate is best on the braai? You know, I’ve only had one of my teammates braai for me and that was Munier Hartzenberg, so I’m going to go with him. What’s the best stadium you’ve…

The Springboks have long been regarded as a World Cup team, with their physical, defencedriven game perfectly suited to the high-pressure knockout stage where winning is all that matters. By defending their title in France, the Boks became rugby’s greatest World Cup team, with their record four titles coming in eight tournament appearances. The All Blacks are next best, with three titles in 10 attempts. In the Bok change room after their epic 12-11 win at the Stacie de France, Eben Etzebeth told the team, ‘You guys are so special. You will go down as the greatest team in the history of rugby.’ LIFTING THE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY IN 2024 SHOULD BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE BACK-TO-BACK WORLD CUP WINNERS That sparked plenty of debate on social media, with…

ATTACK Attacking the seams A defensive line at a set piece has two main seams - weaker areas where one section of the defence joins another. These sections provide chances for an attack to exploit. By Dan Cottrell 1 SEAM BETWEEN THE SET PIECE AND FLYHALF The tackling ability of 10s varies enormously. Jonny Wilkinson was one of the game’s best tacklers, while others rely on their openside flanks or the lineout tailgunner to make good their deficiencies. But one problem always remains for the defending 10 - the gap on his inside shoulder as he moves forward to tackle. The gap can appear for two reasons: > The angle of defensive run from the 7 and 10 differ, so it requires good timing to join the defensive line without…

The Bristol Bears have provided a Premiership shake-up since winning promotion back into England’s top-flight competition in 2018. The dub was formed in 1888, when members of local club Carlton invited their two rivals - Redland Park and Westbury - to join them in forming one club representative of the city. Bristol’s first game was against Cardiff at Cardiff Arms Park, which ended in a 24-0 loss (80-0 by modern scoring values). In 1908, the club reached new heights, hosting the England vs Wales match at Ashton Gate, although fog obscured the spectacle from most spectators. In 1905, they suffered a 41-0 defeat to the formidable All Blacks. The inter-war years were marked by glory, with two luminaries, Len Corbett and Sam Tucker, captaining England. Tucker’s story - summoned to…