Rassie’s got all bases covered, says Breyton
WE asked some top names in rugby yesterday what they think of the Springbok squad for the 2019 World Cup in Japan...
Corne Krige (former Bok
captain): “I think it’s a great squad, there’s a lot of experience in that group and I think Rassie (Erasmus) has done really well to get that experience in the last few months.
“I wouldn’t necessarily want anybody there at the expense of anybody else, but I’d love to have seen Damian Willemse in the group, he’s an extremely exciting player, and he showed it again at the weekend in the Currie Cup.
“It’s just he was injured and he didn’t have time to get in the squad.”
Breyton Paulse (Former Bok wing): “There weren’t too many surprises, but it must have been a tough choice with Kwagga (Smith) and Rynhardt (Elstadt), but I think Rassie’s got all bases covered.
“There’s always going to be the unlucky ones, in every World Cup year. I really feel for guys like Lizo Gqoboka and Dillyn Leyds, those are two guys I think can consider themselves very unlucky.
“For me, Dillyn is a very good football player, and this just goes to show how strong the competition is.”
Ian McIntosh (Former Bok coach): “This is a squad that has been building nicely for two seasons. Rassie has done his homework. This is a very strong pack of forwards, especially the tight forwards. It is a really solid Springbok pack that will allow the halfbacks to perform well at the World Cup, as they already have been this year.”
Dick Muir (Former Springbok/Bok assistant coach): “It has been amazing to see the change in sentiment around the Springboks on all fronts – the players, coaching staff and the supporters. And it’s because Rassie has made the right decisions and been upfront with all parties which has allowed him to pick a settled squad. This certainly bodes well for the World Cup.”
Stefan Terblanche: (Chief executive of SA Rugby Legends and former Bok): “I think this is the best squad available to us, bearing in mind the injury to Warren Whiteley. I don’t think Elstadt did anything wrong, but I agree with Kwagga’s inclusion. It is good to see so much quality depth as this is vital at World Cups. All in all, it is a very good squad.”