‘Recipe for disaster’: fear grows among Springbok fans that a team poorly prepared for test rugby will tarnish the brilliance of the World Cup

The announcement that Australia would host the 2020 Rugby Championship over New Zealand left a growing number of Springbok fans uneasy about the prospect of playing test rugby this year.

Before the announcement, the guesswork around which hemisphere they would play this year gave them an opportunity to explore the option that best suited the Springboks.

The confirmation that the Rugby Championship would take place in Australia put the Springboks on the path to overcoming perhaps the greatest challenge yet, preparing for test rugby with extremely limited preparation against the All Blacks and Wallabies, who have played individual iterations of Super Rugby.

There is nothing scarier than a wounded side All Black

The prospect of a poorly cooked Springbok team playing an entire tournament in a foreign country was labeled a ‘recipe for disaster’, with one fan saying they don’t ‘want the Boks to be slaughtered’ in their first tournament as world champions. .

A poor result could ruin the momentum created by the World Cup, tarnish the shine of the world champion tag and “ruin team morale for the Lions tour.” Combined with a growing number of key injuries, the Springboks would face off to defend their Rugby Championship crown.

I want to have a RC, but I also don’t want the boks to be slaughtered, plus a lot of our World Cup holders in Europe are injured so it will be difficult. If we go, we might as well send some guys over.

– Bob the Builder (@BryceAllies) September 12, 2020

I’d like to know what Rassie thinks is best for springboks. I agree that sending a poorly prepared squad to face the All Blacks is a recipe for disaster and I would rather see our players play locally. But money talks.

– Stephen Marsden (@ StephenMarsden2) September 11, 2020

We already have a good number of injured players + the rest have not played a game since March. Competing with guys who will have a 3 month advantage in form / playing time is not smart at all. As well as being illogical, it will ruin team morale for the Lions tour. Currie Cup only.

– This is life…. (@EnslinMavunga) September 12, 2020

I say the local bok players haven’t played a single match since March. The foreigners started a month ago. Playing RC with NZ, Aussie, who will have 3 months of form / play time in October, is not smart. Lack of aptitude for the game. Rather focus only on CC

– This is life…. (@EnslinMavunga) September 12, 2020

RG now Handre. And the local competition hasn’t even started. I don’t think we can go defend the championship. Oak trees must be fit for that.

– Jimmy (@ JHDW2017) September 12, 2020

Most people will remember how the Boks performed in their first competition as champions. I also want to see the Boks playing, but not at the expense of putting a slaughter-ready team against NZ.

– Jason Gilbey (@JasonGilbs) September 11, 2020

Both AU and NZ had full Super rugby campaigns. If we play in the champions, we will enter without being fit and we will probably return with 7 or 8 injuries. Most of our locks are also marginalized. I can’t see a positive result to be honest.

– Rate the Ref (@RugbyMrRef) September 11, 2020

The news that Springbok midfielder Handre Pollard suffered a long-term knee injury playing for Montpellier added to the growing number of injuries to Springbok’s key players, with RG Snyman and Lood de Jager all recently injured playing in Europe. Several fans await a second side of the rope full of enthusiasm and the attendees would have to be sent to Australia.

This sentiment was shared by former Springbok captain Wynand Claassen, who said it “doesn’t make any sense” to play the games.

“I honestly think they shouldn’t play in the Championship; It just doesn’t make any sense to me, ”Claassen told The Citizen.

“If you think that New Zealand and Australia have been playing their domestic rugby for the past two months and our rugby hasn’t even restarted yet, we would definitely be ill-prepared.”

Not all Springboks fans were averse to playing despite the dangers posed, and Twitter polls suggested there is a lot of appetite to see the Springboks play this year in any state to ensure some test rugby is played. before the Lions tour.

Should Boks play Test this year? Priority to gain strength before the Lions? but the rugby test is not a joke if you are not prepared .. do you do more harm than good? Is it better to let the boys grow up in local and European competitions?

– Uncle Rugby (@Oom_Rugby) September 10, 2020

Boks must go to defend his rugby championship in Sydney and people must stop giving us convincing arguments. https://t.co/TySGNa8EHB

– Drake? (@MvusiTroc) September 11, 2020

The mandatory 14-day quarantine period in Aus before Rugby Champs basically gives the Boks a 2-week camp. He is not known about him outside of the World Cup years. Sure, some bumps to overcome, but I say the World Champions must play! #BoksMustPlay

– Front Row Grunt (@FrontRowGrunt) September 11, 2020

How will we prepare for the Lions if we don’t play now? This could be the only international window for our local and foreign players to play together ahead of the biggest series in 12 years.

– Thala Msutu (@ ThalaMsutu77) September 11, 2020

Whether Argentina and South Africa can participate in the Rugby Championship remains to be seen, while reports suggest that some of the best All Blacks might choose not to participate in the tournament, leaving New Zealand with little strength as well.

With potentially up to eight weeks away from their families, NZR said it would support those players who choose to stay home.

“This challenge of what they are about to undertake will be significant and we will support them and their families in whatever we need to do to make sure they are well cared for,” said NZR CEO Mark Robinson.

With national rugby under their belt, New Zealand and Australia would still be in a stronger position to line up a team despite not having top stars, while the Springboks and Pumas have the odds against them.