As is the case with every successful team or personal in sport, the Springboks will have their critics and many of them.
From being told the 7-1 bench is not “morally correct” to being told that they don’t play the game the “right way” - whatever that means - to some evening saying they “cheated” their way to their fourth title.
But the fact of the matter is, they are the most successful rugby team in the history of Rugby World Cups. Played 8, won 4. That’s a 50% tournament success rate, no other team comes close to that.
Jamie Wall said on the @RugbyBits podcast this week that the Springboks and All Blacks are rugby’s most successful teams and they dictate how the game should be played and not be told by the rest. It’s bullish, but he is right, the winning teams in any sport set the bar and the rest attempt to rise to it.
There are those who have tried to discredit the past World Cups wins because the “All Blacks had food poisoning (because of Tannie Suzie)”, or that the Boks had an easy route (in 2007 & 2019), now it’s the officials. Despite having the toughest route to a final ever, they still conquered.
My suggestion is this. Don’t get angry or upset with some of these opinions - they are like arseholes, everyone has one. Instead embrace it.
@threeredkings calls Munster the ‘Bad Guys’ and for club rugby, it’s probably true. But for Test rugby, it is very clearly the Springboks. Let’s not shy away from it. Embrace it. The Bad Boks keep on winning. 😎
Four RWC titles in the bag. gone Back to back. And a Lions Series victory in between. Champions. 🇿🇦🏆
#RWC2023#RWCFinal
@rugbyworldcup Got through clicked to enter and then got booted back to the start of the queue. Seems to be the case for most.
Anyone actually get tickets? @rugbyworldcup can you even buy tickets on this thing?