2018 Rugby Championship
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There's a few other players they could do with as well, one SR team isn't enough to run an entire country's team! Interesting that all three of our SANZAAR partners have tried the only pick from home, and they've all given it up to one degree or another. Money, politics and social issues have played their part, but really the pull of the black jersey and the excellence of the NZR set up is amazing. Winning a lot helps too, I guess.
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Springbok squad for the Rugby Championship:
Forwards (20):
Cyle Brink (Loose forward, Emirates Lions, uncapped)
Jean-Luc du Preez (Loose forward, Cell C Sharks, 13, 10 - 2t)
Thomas du Toit (Prop, Cell C Sharks, 4, 0)
Pieter-Steph du Toit (Lock / Loose forward, DHL Stormers, 36, 20 - 4t)
Eben Etzebeth (Lock, DHL Stormers, 67, 15 - 3t)
Steven Kitshoff (Prop, DHL Stormers, 27, 5 - 1t)
Siya Kolisi (Captain - Loose forward, DHL Stormers, 31, 20 - 4t)
Francois Louw (Loose forward, Bath, England, 57, 45 - 9t)
Wilco Louw (Prop, DHL Stormers, 7, 0)
Frans Malherbe (Prop, DHL Stormers, 19, 0)
Malcolm Marx (Hooker, Emirates Lions, 14, 15 - 3t)
Bongi Mbonambi (Hooker, DHL Stormers, 16, 5 - 1t)
Franco Mostert (Lock, Emirates Lions, 21, 5 - 1t)
Tendai Mtawarira (Prop, Cell C Sharks, 101, 10 - 2t)
Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Loose forward, DHL Stormers, 4, 0)
Marvin Orie (Lock, Emirates Lions, 1, 0)
RG Snyman (Lock, Vodacom Bulls, 3, 0)
Akker van der Merwe (Hooker, Cell C Sharks, 3, 0)
Marco van Staden (Loose forward, Vodacom Bulls, uncapped)
Warren Whiteley (No 8, Emirates Lions, 17, 15 - 3t)Backs (15):
Lukhanyo Am (Centre, Cell C Sharks, 3, 0)
Ross Cronjé (Scrumhalf, Emirates Lions, 10, 10 - 2t)
Faf de Klerk (Scrumhalf, Sale Sharks, England, 14, 5 - 1t)
Aphiwe Dyantyi (Wing, Emirates Lions, 3, 5 - 1t)
André Esterhuizen (Centre, Cell C Sharks, 2, 0)
Elton Janjies (Flyhalf, Emirates Lions, 26, 215 - 2t, 41c, 41p)
Jesse Kriel (Centre, Vodacom Bulls, 32, 45 - 9t)
Willie le Roux (Fullback, Wasps, England, 44, 55 - 11t)
Makazole Mapimpi (Wing, Cell C Sharks, 1, 5 - 1t)
Lionel Mapoe (Centre, Emirates Lions, 12, 0)
Lwazi Mvovo (Wing, Cell C Sharks, 17, 30 - 6t)
Embrose Papier (Scrumhalf, Vodacom Bulls, 2, 0)
Handré Pollard (Flyhalf, Vodacom Bulls, 29, 246 - 3t, 42c, 46p, 3d)
Ivan van Zyl (Scrumhalf, Vodacom Bulls, 3, 0)
Damian Willemse (Flyhalf, DHL Stormers, uncapped).
SA Under-20 flyhalf Damian Willemse is one of three uncapped players included in the Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, with the Emirates Lions quartet of Malcolm Marx (hooker), Warren Whiteley (No 8), Ross Cronje (scrumhalf) and Lionel Mapoe (centre) also back in the Bok fold for the first time this season. Rassie Erasmus, SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby, announced a squad of 35 players on Monday, with two loose forwards, the Vodacom Bulls’ Marco van Staden and Cyle Brink of the Emirates Lions, joining Willemse, the 20-year-old DHL Stormers and Junior Springbok flyhalf, as the uncapped players in the group. Whiteley and the experienced Eben Etzebeth (lock) both return having recovered from long-term injuries, while Marx has shrugged off his hamstring troubles, which forced him to miss the June internationals. Also returning to the Springbok squad are Francois Louw, the experienced flanker who plays for English club side Bath, Lwazi Mvovo (outside back), as well Mapoe (centre) and Cronje (scrumhalf), both of whom missed the midyear Tests because of injury.Siya Kolisi retains the captaincyPlayers who were not considered because of injury include Damian de Allende (DHL Stormers), Warrick Gelant, Lood de Jager, Trevor Nyakane (all Vodacom Bulls), Coenie Oosthuizen and Sbu Nkosi (both Cell C Sharks) -
@stargazer Wow, no Kwagga Smith ...
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@majorrage Kwagga Smith is off to Yamaha Jubilo in Japan, so not available.
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@stargazer said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@majorrage Kwagga Smith is off to Yamaha Jubilo in Japan, so not available.
Why does that make him not available? They're picking England player because they've given up on the 'no overseas' restriction. He's just not been picked I think
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There is a view that Kwagga is too small for a test flanker.
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@act-crusader said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
There is a view that Kwagga is too small for a test flanker.
Off the top of my head, I'd think he's bigger than Michael Hooper.
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@majorrage said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@act-crusader said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
There is a view that Kwagga is too small for a test flanker.
Off the top of my head, I'd think he's bigger than Michael Hooper.
Taller but lighter I think.
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@act-crusader said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
There is a view that Kwagga is too small for a test flanker.
But it's a stupid view.
The Saffers laughed at Cruden when he first turned up too, because he was "too small".
They'd get a lot better if they stopped worrying about size and worried more about skill.
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@nepia said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@majorrage said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@act-crusader said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
There is a view that Kwagga is too small for a test flanker.
Off the top of my head, I'd think he's bigger than Michael Hooper.
Taller but lighter I think.
One of those is fixable!
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@majorrage said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@nepia said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@majorrage said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@act-crusader said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
There is a view that Kwagga is too small for a test flanker.
Off the top of my head, I'd think he's bigger than Michael Hooper.
Taller but lighter I think.
One of those is fixable!
You'd think he'd be working on that by now.
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So I’ve seen him listed as 5’11, 5’11 1/2 and 6’0
Whichever is right is neither here nor there, but it would be a bit of a shock if the Boks picked a flanker that size. Don’t really have a view of it either way but it’s not unusual when it comes to the Boks that there are debates about size of loose forwards.
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@majorrage said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@act-crusader said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
There is a view that Kwagga is too small for a test flanker.
Off the top of my head, I'd think he's bigger than Michael Hooper.
The game plan, style and dare I say culture would dictate a lot around the selection of players in certain positions.
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@chester-draws said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@act-crusader said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
There is a view that Kwagga is too small for a test flanker.
But it's a stupid view.
The Saffers laughed at Cruden when he first turned up too, because he was "too small".
They'd get a lot better if they stopped worrying about size and worried more about skill.
There's a bit of a difference between a small 10 and a small flanker. Kwagga is listed at around 90kg. He certainly didnt press his claims on Saturday.
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@kiwimurph said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@chester-draws said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@act-crusader said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
There is a view that Kwagga is too small for a test flanker.
But it's a stupid view.
The Saffers laughed at Cruden when he first turned up too, because he was "too small".
They'd get a lot better if they stopped worrying about size and worried more about skill.
There's a bit of a difference between a small 10 and a small flanker. Kwagga is listed at around 90kg. He certainly didnt press his claims on Saturday.
Was certainly nullified and had very little impact over the ball which is seen as his strength.
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@kiwimurph said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@chester-draws said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@act-crusader said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
There is a view that Kwagga is too small for a test flanker.
But it's a stupid view.
The Saffers laughed at Cruden when he first turned up too, because he was "too small".
They'd get a lot better if they stopped worrying about size and worried more about skill.
There's a bit of a difference between a small 10 and a small flanker. Kwagga is listed at around 90kg.
Did someone tell him he's playing Super Rugby, not weight for age?
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@majorrage said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@nepia said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@majorrage said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@act-crusader said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
There is a view that Kwagga is too small for a test flanker.
Off the top of my head, I'd think he's bigger than Michael Hooper.
Taller but lighter I think.
One of those is fixable!
Both in the case of Savea (A)!
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@act-crusader said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
So I’ve seen him listed as 5’11, 5’11 1/2 and 6’0
Whichever is right is neither here nor there, but it would be a bit of a shock if the Boks picked a flanker that size. Don’t really have a view of it either way but it’s not unusual when it comes to the Boks that there are debates about size of loose forwards.
I think back to Heinrich Brussow, 5' 11" and never lost to ABs in his prime, having the wood on Ritchie. When selected in 2015 it was claimed that for a few years he had lost effectiveness because of too much muscle! Interesting article: https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/70470684/Springbok-flanker-Heinrich-Brussow-has-perfect-record-against-the-All-Blacks
I always did a little cheer after 2011 when the Yaapies overlooked HB for a 6' 5" 17 stoner.
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@tim said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
Looked a worthwhile exercise with a number stating their case.
Australia's ability to craft & create tries has never been in doubt.
Stopping them is going to be the challenge for this squad.
Oops! | SA Rugby
