By Lucky Vince Pienaar
No matter how much we love hanging on to it, the World Cup is in the past. People keep talking about who had the most influence on the Rugby World Cup. Was it Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber? Was it Rassie and Siya Kolisi?
“We could not have done it without Siya,” is as senseless a statement as it is worthless.
Siya was there, and South Africa did win the World Cup. But Pieter-Steph du Toit was also there. And so were Handré Pollard, Bongi Mbonambi, Deon Fourie, Kwagga Smith and Cheslin Klobe and a full squad of great players and coaches.
The truth is, more than any other team at the World Cup, it was a total team effort.
What matters now is the next World Cup, which is a long way away in 2027, but the immediate question is, what about the test against Ireland in Pretoria, only 68 days away?
When Rassie hinted that Siya may not be the captain in 2027, tongues started wagging, however, it was not a revelation, it was merely stating the reality.
All the current Springbok forwards, without exception, are over 30. Siya will be 36 years old in 2027 and though that is not particularly old for a forward, he is not a spring chicken either.
Victor Matfield captained the Springboks in Argentina when he was 37 years old. As it happens, that is exactly how old Deon Fourie is now, and if anybody doubts his miraculous performance in the World Cup final, well, we weren’t watching the same match.
But Erasmus is not the kind of guy who shies away from reality, and the question is not if, but when, will he start ringing the changes.
Fortunately for South Africa, the young guys are surging forward, staking their claim on a spot in the Springbok team at every opportunity.
Bulls player David Kriel, 25, is ready to be a great centre. Sharks flyhalf Siya Masuku, 27, has been the man of the match three matches in a row and may be the answer to the Sharks’ problems at number 10. Just this last weekend players like Neethling Fouche, 31, Evan Roos, 25, Warrick Gelant, 28, and Sanele Nohamba, 25, were knocking very loudly at the Springbok door.
Rassie will not just dump the older players. It doesn’t work that way. But expect to see some surprising new faces at Loftus Versveld on 6 July.
Pictured above: David Kriel.
Image source: X
