Article By: Jan de Koning Tue, 04 Aug 2009 09:54 Jan de Koning goes back into the archives to find a team that compares with John Smit’s class of 2009. He has to go back a few decades to find it. John Smit’s victorious Springbok team has been described variously as ‘better than the World Cup-winning squad of 2007’ and by none other than Richie McCaw as ‘one of the best’ Bok teams he has faced. Those are great compliments, plaudits they thoroughly deserve. But it does raise a few interesting questions.
Exactly how good is the Class of 2009? Where do they rate on the all-time list of Springbok teams? Comparing teams from different eras is fraud with pitfalls. For one, the game and its rules have changed so dramatically that it now requires a different kind of athlete. A ‘monster’ forward from the 1937 team – still the only Bok team to win a series in New Zealand – could be dwarfed by some of the backs of today. Frik du Preez, a true legend of the game and still regarded as one of the all-time great South African lock forwards, stood a mere 188cm and weighed just 96.2kg Victor Matfield, the modern day equivalent, dwarfs him at 200cm and 115kg.
Du Preez played 38 Tests between January 1961 and August 1971 – a celebrate 10-year international career. That, 38 Tests, was a Bok record for almost three decades – till the post-isolation era when ‘internationals’ played by a country started running into double figures every year. Matfield made his debut in June 2001 and has played in 85 internationals in eight years. He is expected to reach his 100th Test cap before 2011. Those are just some of the variables. I also did not have the privilege to see in action the greats of 1937, or the 1949 team that whitewashed the All Blacks or the all-conquering 1951/52 touring team to the United Kingdom and Ireland.
My first recollection of major internationals were the 1970 All Black touring team to South Africa. Just more than a decade later I started my journalistic career – the office junior in helping with coverage of the 1981 Bok tour to New Zealand. Thus, my point of reference, in comparing John Smit’s current outfit with previous Boks teams, is all teams post 1970. And in my humble opinion the men from the 1980s were the closest we can come to a COLLECTION of players as talented as the Class of 2009. The current set of forwards may well be better as a unit, but the backs from the ’80s were simply awesome. I will, briefly, look at each position in the current team and list next to him the player/s from the 1980s I regard as the best I have seen. For the purpose of this exercise, I have taken the team that beat the All Blacks in the past fortnight, as that also closely resembles the side which played in the first two Tests against the British and Irish Lions and is thus the current first choice.
Only at flyhalf did the selection change between the first and second Test against the Kiwis. Where there could be debate over the best selection from the 1980s, I will give as many names as I deem to be in contention and then make my choice. If there’s only one name, it means I regard that player as undoubtedly the best in his position: Here goes:
Fullback: 2009 = Frans Steyn; 1980s = Johan Heunis/Gysie Pienaar (my choice; Heunis).
Right wing: 2009 = JP Pietersen; 1980s = Ray Mordt
Outside centre: 2009 = Jaque Fourie; 1980s = Danie Gerber
Inside centre: 2009 = Jean de Villiers; 1980s = Michael du Plessis
Left wing: 2009 = Bryan Habana; 1980s = Carel du Plessis
Flyhalf: 2009 = Morné Steyn/Ruan Pienaar; 1980s = Naas Botha
Scrumhalf: 2009 = Fourie du Preez; 1980s = Divan Serfontein
No.8: 2009 = Pierre Spies; 1980s = Jannie Breedt/Wynand Claassens/Morné du Plessis (my choice, Du Plessis – he is also my captain)
No.7 flank: 2009 = Juan Smith; 1980s = Gert Smal/Theuns Stoffberg (my choice, Stoffberg)
No.6 flank: 2009 = Heinrich Brüssow; 1980s = Rob Louw
No.5 lock: 2009 = Victor Matfield; 1980s = Louis Moolman/Kevin de Klerk (my choice, Moolman)
No.4 lock: 2009 = Bakkies Botha; 1980s = Moaner van Heerden/Schalk Burger (my choice, Van Heerden)
Tighthead prop: 2009 = John Smit (captain); 1980s = Flippie van der Merwe/Piet Kruger/Johan Strauss (my choice, Van der Merwe)
Hooker: 2009 = Bismarck du Plessis; 1980s = Uli Schmidt/Willie Kahts/Robert Cockerell (my choice, Cockerell)
Loosehead prop: 2009 = Tendai Mtawarira; 1980s = Henning van Aswegen/Frans Erasmus (my choice, Erasmus)
#RP
I am busy with the second one now, some nice twists in it, as you would have experienced the last few weeks! I must say since 2007 it has been a real fairytale for the Boks where it matters! The AB supporters will however experience my books as Horror stories 🙂
By the way, we are messing up Pete’s serious attempt at picking a team, should move the chit chat to old Jannie above…what he is there for!
RP
Go to : “Jannie se garing vir die dag”
# 29 Koos
This is a matter of He said – He said … but he was smart & got in first & you were outsmarted by a WeePee … how 😳 for you !
# 31 AB
All this talk of “annus horribilis” … Where is Trupisero when we need better Latin ? All I can say is – better they are awful this year than in 18 months ! 😉
Ted said at the begining of the year it was going to be a k*k year – he was right. Somebody really does need to feed Rokoccoko a pink slip & have the DCM chat – he is not only k*k but he is a lazy sh*t as well 😡
To all the folk who want Ted’s head on a pike – “Who then ? Robbie is not available & there as never a clear 3rd in the running ! So who ?”
#32 & #33
No ! You two are not the boss of me 😡
#35 Maybe not the boss of you,but your team is our Bitch! LOL
27# Hello Princess!
Nice to se you here.
30# Thx Fern, much appreciated 🙂
Ok, now for some fun.
Who can name the worst Bok team ever?
C’mon, be honest, Transportation and Lilith aren’t watching ….
#36 AB
Oohh 😥 that is not nice ! Have I ever made fun of yours ? Even after the ‘New;ands Incient” ? I did not !
#37
Hey Piet 😀 How do I turn off the thing that sends me emails every times someone posts something ? Got dire things happening at work & have 100s of inbound serious emails already that need attention – don’t need more pls !
Nice site by the way 😀
393 RP
Dunno, sorry.
I am the wrong guy to ask.
Ask Koos, he is comp wise.
#39
I apologise profusely, never thought I would be able to utter those words! We have now been your bitches for soooooo long, but now I have said it it felt nice at the moment! Hehe
RP
Goto your profile settings and turn it off!
1.
2. Dale Santon
3.
4. Davids
5.
6. Theo Oosthuizen
7. Corne Krige
8. Pierre Spies
9. Gerrie Sonnekus
10. Braam van Straaten
11. Nokwe
12.
13.
14.
15. Theo van Rensburg
Fill in the gaps…
43# Nooit!
Ek kan n baaaaie slegter span kies:
Ricardo Laubscher
Kaya Molatana
Jorrie Muller
Franco Smith
McNeil Hendricks (sou Dollie Ntaka wou kies, maar geen toetse nie,)
Boeta Wessels
Norman Jordaan
Ettiene Fynn
Dale Santon
Eddie Andrews
Theo Oosthuizen
Hilton Lobberts
Quinton Davids (sou Tando Monana wou kies, maar hy het nie toetsrugby gespeel nie.)
gerrie Sonnekus
#41
You Saffas got a mean streak 😥 Ought to be careful in case you get mistaken for a Convict ! Anyway, lots of things that felt “felt nice at the moment” could see you endign up in jail …
#42
Where ? I tried HTML or TX format but no “off” choice 🙁
Go to subscriptions on your profile(at the top) dont subscribe to any of the main headings as given.
# 46 AB
I checked – I am not subscribed to receive anything but everytime someone post a new article I get an email.
I need this to STOP I am having a seriously sh*tty week & being inundated by blog stuff is a bridge too far !
#47 I will phone GBS and let him see if he can help, ok?
#48 Done you have just been removed from the list by GBS. Peace sista!
# 49 AB
You being cruel about the ABs *AND* me being unable to stop that was just too much.
Things just so very ugly here right now … is soul destroying 😥
Tks 2 U & GBS for the help 🙂
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