Boks greater than sum of their parts
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THERE was much wailing and gnashing of teeth at the unveiling of the 2023 “supreme” side by the planet brains at World Rugby, not least among those many South Africans who could not for the life of them work out why the lock forward Eben Etzebeth was the only Springbok deemed worthy of selection. Hadn't their champion side just retained the Webb Ellis Trophy?
That they had, but these Springboks, rather like their forerunners in 1995, were far greater than the sum of their parts. And anyway, the non-governing governing body's judgement was based on a whole year of rugby, not merely the stuff played over the 50-day stretch in France. All those Siya Kolisis and Pieter-Steph du Toits peaked at the tournament, not in the 10 months leading up to it.
It is a discombobulating experience, praising the NGGB for getting something broadly right. It doesn't happen often in this corner of the paper. But fair's fair: give or take a Frans Malherbe or a Cheslin Kolbe, few Boks made much of a case for inclusion.
Which, in a funny way, should be a cause for celebration down Cape Town way. Rugby is a team sport – the ultimate team sport, in fact – and as such, requires us to focus on the collective. It shouldn't cost the champions or their followers a moment's shut-eye if someone at the NGGB thinks Richie Mo'unga had a better year than Handre Pollard (which he did), or considers Ardie Savea to be the best No.8 in the sport (which he is).
Mind you, the absence of the Ireland loose prop Andrew Porter from the front row takes some fathoming. The NGGB? What a bunch of know-nothings.
