I read an article of a journalist who spoke to Allister after the loss to Italy a few years ago. He was apparently so dejected and defiant that nothing is wrong with the coaching after that loss, but that the loss was simply down to SA not having the quality players all of a sudden anymore (to not even be able to beat Italy,come on seriously?). He suggested that that was about as good as it will get for SA from now on.

What a miserable, egotistic, out-of-his-depth and short sighted "coach" that guy was. He always had a million excuses and no solutions. No wonder all he ever achieved was a CC win (as head coach). Even with 2007, Jake had to get Eddie in to come and do Allister's job.

Fair enough and I am probably (aka definitely) biased when speaking about the Lions and Springboks. But for the firat time in years I am excited again for the Springboks. Since Rassie took over, it has been growing with every game, that expectation of success and knowing no matter what we will at least not disgrace ourselves and it will be a good game.

One can only imagine where we would have been had Meyer never left (he got a lot of flak, but there was a year or two under him where we scored the most tries for that specific year) or a quality coach (aka not Allister Coetsee) had taken over in 2016. This proves SA rugby just needs good coaching as we do have the players, just like the Lions proved with Ackermann.

We might not be "as bad", but we are definitely not the 1st or 2nd best team in the world.

I still rate our defense is the best. so number one. 

Our attack, actually when we get going, we could be top 4.

Our kicking , execution not always spot on. So probably 4th/5th.

Our set piece, probably the best in the world.

Our individual skill set, catching , passing accuracy. I would say we are probbaly 6th.

So what does that give you for an overall mark ? 

If we end 3rd , then we played to our potential . If we win , we exceeded our potential!

It will be a tough test, Wales are a bogey side, but we haven't played a full strength Bok team against wales in a long time either. We've played them outside the international window , often with a "B team".

Looking forward to a titanic battle on Sunday, but the Saturday game will be the game of the weekend. 

If the world was fair then England and NZ should have been in the final... 

Onthou, Plumtree kyk na die situasie vanuit 'n heeltemal ander oogpunt as ons SA'ners. Hy sal spelers kies op grond van vorm en wat hy soek in die span alleenlik. Rassie MOET Kolisi kies as kaptein, want die afrigter wat hom gaan drop gaan beskuldig word van rassisme. Duane is daar op reputasie. Ja hier en daar sit hy monster tackles in, maar is dit genoeg om sy plek te regverdig? PSDT was nog altyd goed, maar effe stil hierdie WC.