Angus

South African Backline Depth Venn Diagram 🇿🇦 Versatility has become an expectation in modern rugby.

I don’t think people quite realise how impressive this start to the Sharks season is. Building on from the foundations made last season. With all of these players to return: Eben Etzebeth Andre Esterhuizen Phepsi Buthelezi Jurenzo Julius Vusi Moyo Makazole Mapimpi Jordan Hendrikse

A fair question to ask, and the answer is more nuanced than it looks 👇 Nel is 35. Realistically, Rassie isn't taking him to the 2027 World Cup, as there's already enough centre cover to get there. Muller is a pick for 2028 onwards. By then there's a good chance DDA, Kriel and possibly even Esterhuizen are gone. If no young centre spends time with those experienced heads now, 2028 leaves a vacuum. As for Adams, he and Muller are both 19, so it’s early days and minutes alone won’t do it. Rassie could believe Muller better fits the Bok #12 requirements, or the #13 ones, or is better across both on average. That could be his distribution, his out-the-back pass, how he suits the rush defence, or a number of other things. It's the same reason Evan Roos has been one of the best players in the URC for five seasons and is still rarely picked. Being one of the best players in club rugby and being the best fit for how the Boks want to play aren't always the same thing. I can't give you an exact answer on Muller, and I don't have time to go through every young centre's performances. But Rassie and co WILL HAVE reviewed everything, and at this stage their conclusion is Muller. But they may change their mind in time. Coaches pick the players they believe give their gameplan the best chance of winning Test matches. From the outside that won't always look right, but that's the job. Roos and Rassie don’t have “beef” like many people claim, Rassie just believes he has better options to execute his game-plan and WIN rugby matches.

Merry Squadmas to those who celebrate 🇿🇦

To set the record straight on possible Bok selections, the below list are players who are all unavailable due to injury 🇿🇦 Jurenzo Julius Cheswill Jooste Phepsi Buthelezi Vusi Moyo Andre Esterhuizen Eben Etzebeth Cheslin Kolbe Handre Pollard Deon Fourie Andre-Hugo Venter Embrose Papier RG Snyman Kwagga Smith Ben-Jason Dixon

The Springbok Squad for the Nations Championship in November 2026 🇿🇦

Guessed a player I thought would be a great reference point to start with, turned out to be more than that 😂 Bokdle 🏉 #7 1/10 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 bokdle.com/s

For those who don’t know Tristan Tedder 👇 He is a 10 & 15 who has played in France for the last decade. After leaving the Sharks. Schooled at Kearsney, 30 years old, kicks for posts well.

6 South Africans 🇿🇦 Representing clubs from 4 different nations 🇫🇷🇿🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 and 3 different leagues. With only one of them a capped Springbok. All while 40 other Springboks were away on national duty. The depth of SA Rugby is not an issue.

How you feel about the last 15 mins is how we feel about the first 65 mins mate.

About 4 cardable actions by the Wallabies in the build up to the Ox try but they couldn’t send another player off because it would end the game 🤣

Just a reminder the time on the Tv clock is miles off because each time Piardi has called “time off” the clock has continued for a period. Shambles in Australia.

Damian Willemse has been sorely missed today. Number one priority of a test fullback is to be safe. In that aspect, the gap between Willemse and Fassi/Horn is massive. Willemse saves 14 points from high-ball errors alone today.

I’m actually gobsmacked by some of these decisions. Will leave it there, because otherwise you are sour etc. Even there look how excited Piardi was to award the try before being overruled 😂 Like what is going on???

Wallabies stole this lineout 😂 They have been stealing the space all game but this one was too funny not to show… Grobbelaar at some point you’ve got to speak up 🗣️🗣️