Congratulations, coach Rassie! 2027 is just around the corner

AS I write this, it is 24 hours after the Springboks delivered arguably their best performance in a decade, perhaps even surpassing their 2023 Rugby World Cup victory of 12-11 as well as the nail-biting 2019 triumph over the English, where we came out victorious with a scintillating 32-12 win for Siya Kolisi to lay his hands on the William Webb Ellis trophy for the first time.

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This assertion is based on the sheer dominance and strength they displayed against the “Mighty All Blacks,” a feat few teams have managed to achieve. However, while celebrating this victory, my mind is firmly focused on the road ahead to Australia in 2027.

It is encouraging to see the Aussies peaking at just the right time to be competitive hosts when the World Cup arrives in a little over two years.

As a passionate rugby supporter, I am increasingly concerned about the workload management of our players.

The lack of adequate rest and consistent game time is worrying and a cause for concern, as it may hinder our ability to peak in time to defend our back-to-back triumph. Although it was promising to see a ployer like Eben Etzebeth rest, one game off may not be sufficient for proper recovery.

The reality is that many players currently in the Springbok setup might not be part of the squad when the 2027 World Cup arrives.

Perhaps it’s time to consider sending some players back to their respective unions to gain more consistent game time, which would enhance their skills and match fitness. This approach would also benefit their performances in competitions such as the United Rugpy Championship (URC), kicking off in just a few weeks.