SA Schools side

I agree, it seems to go in cycles. England won the world cup back in 2003, the then coach went Power. Big forward pack and massive backline with Jonny kicking the points and Robertson counter from the back. Boks adopted that and we won in 2007, move to 20011 and NZ squeak by, then in 2015 it was 20-18 win to the ABs, trench warfare.

Along came Rassie and at the same time Eddie's England team was playing the best rugby ever on history by an English team. They knocked at NZ by completely outplaying them at their own game. What a spectacle for rugby, but then came the final, Rassie just put so much pressure, England couldn't repeat kr and was already mentally checked out, believing they won. Boks fed off counter attack from strong defence and errors. 4 years later, boks grind out 3 titanic 1 point wins. The french game being the most insane match. Couldn't say the boks constructed a attack, but rather individual brilliance. The final, was an arm wrestle and a red card. NZ had chances, missed penalty conversation, playing in their own half.

And here we are.

The only comp that combines attacking rugby with winning are the French Top 10, massive forwards but explosive backs, yet , here we are hoping we can unleash that french flair with the likes of Sasha and Williams at the base and launching the likes of Willemse, Kolbe and Arendse. But the truth is these players don't construct play, build up or draw player, it pure individual explosiveness that gets the try, not great hands and this is where Tony ball had become a gutter ball

Manpower

There is 1 thing that keeps bothering me and that is there are still too many under-performing veterans in the squad, Players like Etzebeth and Kolisi are more off-duty due to injuries, Even Pollard is a problem - he is not the player he used to be in 2019 anymore,

We will have to wait and see what happens in the remaining tests this year. The Springboks will not play in any tests next year before the team squads are to be submitted to World Rugby in May next year,

I can see what you are saying here. I think it might take another 4 years before we see the full SA brand. Rassies has put structures in the background at junior ranks, we see more U20 boks being fast tracked and getting exposure at test rugby. It falls into place because the guys have been in the system since they have been 16. Our juniors are winning trophies, we got some great coaches for the under 20. Before we had to suffer Bfana coach, if the name was a dead giveaway, the results were. They gave him a proper run and even allowed him to caoch the SA team, twice and we lost both games.

So with that in mind, I do expect to see a bit more enterprise as he is not starting from nothing

Dave

I do not know w hther you, saw the following article: so I am posting t for your info:-

The next step in Project 2029 has been taken, with some of the top schoolboy talent in the country set to join the Stormers Rugby Institute in 2027.

Following the revival of the institute this year, five of the players from the 2026 intake were named in the Junior Springbok squad for the upcoming Junior World Championship.

Markus Muller is one of the 12 players who have been based at the Stormers Rugby Institute this year, and he went on to make his DHL Stormers debut against Glasgow Warriors in April before being named in the Springbok squad and featuring for South Africa A against Zimbabwe in Gqeberha last weekend.

Of the 13 players that will be based at the institute in 2027, two played for SA Schools in 2025 and three more featured for SA Schools A while still in Grade 11.

Oakdale loose forward Jacobus de Villiers (brother of DHL Stormers flank Paul) and Grey College fullback Lamla Mgedezi will be looking to make it a second year representing SA Schools this year.

Paarl Gim scrumhalf Mickyle Booise and the Stellenberg pair of lock Juvan Burden and flyhalf/fullback Ethan van Biljon all played for SA Schools A last year, and will have a place in the SA Schools side in their sights this year.

Booise is joined by fellow Paarl Gim stars Hendre van Zyl (loose forward), Ethan Barker (centre) and Bernhardt Schulze (lock) in committing their futures to Stormers Rugby.

De Villiers is one of three players from Oakdale who will be based at the institute next year with front row forwards Kyle Burger (loosehead prop) and Adrian Smith (hooker) also relocating from Riversdale to Stellenbosch.

Paul Roos captain and centre Tiaan Basson and Wynberg Boys flyhalf Achmat Behardien will also take the first steps in their professional rugby journey under the watchful eye of Jacques Hanekom at the institute, which is based at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport.

Explosive Northwood wing Anesu Kuzonyei and the mercurial Mgedezi are the only two players on the 2027 list who were schooled outside of the Western Cape.

Director of Rugby John Dobson said that with talent like this joining the ranks at the institute next year, Project 2029 will take another leap forward.

“We’ve already seen the impact that the revival of the institute has had this year and once again, we have been able to attract the cream of the crop for 2027.

“This is a crucial building block in Project 2029 and we are very excited to see how these players develop and come through our system,” he said.

Dobson added that the intake for next year fits well within the Stormers Rugby contracting model and will help ensure that the right talent is developed in the right way to contribute to the future success of the club.

“There is so much talent in this region, and we have carefully selected this group, so we have full faith in these players who have decided to start their professional journey with us.

“We have also made some tactical acquisitions from outside of the Western Cape as we plan for the future and look to build a squad profile to help us compete with the best in the world and sustain the highest standards across the board,” he explained.

2027 Stormers Rugby Institute intake

Kyle Burger – Oakdale- (Loosehead prop)
Adrian Smith – Oakdale (Hooker)
Juvan Burden – Stellenberg – (Lock)
Bernhardt Schulze – Paarl Gim – (Lock)
Hendre van Zyl – Paarl Gim – (Loose forward)
Jacobus de Villiers – Oakdale – (Loose forward)
Mickyle Booise – Paarl Gim – (Scrumhalf)
Ethan van Biljon – Stellenberg – (Flyhalf/Fullback)
Achmat Behardien – WBHS – (Flyhalf)
Ethan Barker – Paarl Gim – (Centre)
Tiaan Basson – Paul Roos – (Centre)
Anesu Kuzonyei – Northwood – (Wing)
Lamla Mgedezi – Grey College – (Fullback)