2015 Rugby World Cup Preview: South Africa

Pool B: South Africa

Since Head Coach, Heyneke Meyer, named his final 31-man squad for this year’s Rugby World Cup, it has been met with some resistance and criticism as many question whether the squad has the necessary 30% of non white players required by law.

By the terms of the SARU’s “strategic transformation plan” there should be at least nine players of color in all domestic and national squads. This does not seem to be the case with the 2015 RWC squad, and going into the world’s largest rugby tournament with controversial “racism” accusations is not exactly what SARU and Heyneke Meyer would like.

The 1995 and 2007 World Cup winners have been plagued with injury in this final year of build up as they battle their recent form to be fit and ready to tackle Japan in their first pool game.

Recent outings in the Rugby Championship have been somewhat disappointing as they failed to beat both the Wallabies and All Blacks and Argentina in what has been a failed tournament for those who were hoping to build on form over the past three years.

Poised to finish in the top three by most rugby pundits, the Springboks hope to get through their pool unscathed. If they are in great form, they will most likely face either Australia or England in the quarter finals.

The one thing I do see working for the Springboks’favour is the fact that half the selected squad plies their trade in Europe having built successful careers from the Super Rugby competition.

This will prove meaningful and beneficial against the top European sides, and being placed in Pool B with Samoa, Japan, Scotland and USA may seem as an easy ride for the Boks. Yet Samoa and Scotland may prove to be tough opponents and if SA knocks them out, it will give them great confidence for the knockout stages.

My World Cup Prediction

South Africa will ease through the pool stages and will finish at the top, but will surely find out how good they are when they play either England or Australia; I see them making the quarterfinal stage only. There are too many factors facing their unlikely bid to win a third championship.

South Africa’s Rugby World Cup Squad

Willem Alberts, Schalk Brits, Schalk Burger, Marcell Coetzee, Damian De Allende, Faf de Klerk, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Elton Jantjies, Bryan Habana, Cornal Hendricks, Zane Kirchner, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Jesse Kriel, Willie le Roux, Francois Louw, Frans Malherbe, Victor Matfield, Teboho “Oupa” Mohoje, Franco Mostert, Tendai Mtawarira, Lwazi Mvovo, Scarra Ntubeni, Trevor Nyakane, Rudy Paige, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Handré Pollard, Morné Steyn, Adriaan Strauss, Heinke van der Merwe, Marcel van der Merwe, Warren Whiteley

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