If you’re a Springbok fan, you should have more than enough reason to be happy with the team’s progress under the tutelage of Rassie Erasmus with the 2019 World Cup in Japan a little under a year away.
Following a punishing period under Erasmus’ predecessor Allister Coetzee where the Boks were losing their identity and world renown fear factor in exponential fashion, which resulted in lost games and drowning in the world rankings, it all looked bleak for the future of Springbok rugby.
As a matter of fact, the Boks entered the record books for all the wrong reasons under Coetzee, including the worst ranking in the world (seventh) in Springbok rugby history and the worst defeat (57-0) to the All Blacks in September 2017.
But the Green and Gold have since taken a 360-degree turn under Erasmus.
I think what he has done with the group thus far is well known and needs not to be repeated.
Erasmus has helped regain some respect back from the rugby world and the squad looks like they know what they’re doing on the field again.
He has also brought a mental shift which is visible when one is watching Bok games where the players trust and are playing for each other.
So it’s fair to say that if you feel positive about Springbok rugby and that the Boks stand a fairly good chance to lift the Webb Ellis Cup for the third time, then your optimism is not misplaced.
In addition, the Bok mentor seems to be getting close to his strongest XV with the team he’s named for the clash against Scotland all but consistent to the team who did one helluva job in the Rugby Championship.
Erasmus’ strongest run-on team should be known when he enters his second season next year – which happens to be the World Cup year.
That being said, the Green and Gold are well on their way to peak at just the right time.
My expected XV for the World Cup (barring injury):
15 Willie le Roux, 14 S’bu Nkosi, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff
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