Springboks old guard are still tops, say former players
Ackermann, Krige, Mallett and Steyn all see good value in picking more experienced players for next year's World Cup.
Four senior Springbok players, including Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Damian de Allende, performed exceptionally well during the four-Test series against the All Blacks, according to former Bok stars. Coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed his team for the upcoming Rugby World Cup, recognizing the continued performance of his older players, many over 30 years old.
Former Bok star Morné Steyn attributed the team's success to Erasmus' trust in these seasoned players, many with over 50 or even 100 Test appearances. Johan Ackermann, who played his last Test at 37, believed that older players bring experience, calmness, and maturity to the team. Former Bok captain Corne Krige expressed relief at seeing Erasmus continue to support the older players, noting that better conditioning and rest periods have improved their longevity. The Boks will next face Australia on Sunday in Perth in a one-off Test.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
