by Rob Cowie | Allister Coetzee believes the Springboks are stronger than they were in 2007, when they won the World Cup in France. ‘There are a lot of guys in that side that know how to play winning rugby, that know how to get to a final. And there are more than enough leaders. Back then we had to develop leaders, whom are now hardened players. As long as all of them play in New Zealand, we should do well.’
While 18 of the 2007 World Cup winners have been retained in the 2011 team, are they as good as they were in 2007? Age seems to have caught up with a lot of them, but in a short once-off tournament surely they can lift themselves for one last hurrah? The biggest difference in class and skill is clearly to be found in the management staff where the 2007 team had a clear advantage, especially in the coaching, psych, space and attack departments. I have a feeling that this is the area where the 2011 tournamnet will be won and lost.
Check out the direct comparisons below. What do you think?
Springboks 2007 – v – Springboks 2011
Percy Montgomery – 15 – Francois Steyn
JP Pietersen – 14 – JP Pietersen
Jaque Fourie – 13 – Jaque Fourie
Francois Steyn – 12 – Jean De Villiers
Bryan Habana – 11 – Bryan Habana
Butch James – 10 – Morne Steyn
Fourie Du Preez – 09 – Fourie Du Preez
Danie Rossouw – 08 – Pierre Spies
Juan Smith – 07 – Heinrich Brüssow
Schalk Burger – 06 – Schalk Burger
Victor Matfield – 05 – Victor Matfield
Bakkies Botha – 04 – Bakkies Botha
CJ van der Linde – 03 – Jannie du Plessis
John Smit – 02 – Bismarck du Plessis
Os du Randt – 01 – Gurthro Steenkamp
Bismarck du Plessis – 16 – John Smit
Jannie du Plessis – 17 – CJ van der Linde
Johann Muller – 18 – Danie Rossouw
Wikus van Heerden – 19 – Willem Alberts
Ruan Pienaar – 20 – Francois Hougaard
Andre Pretorius – 21 – Butch James
Wynand Olivier – 22 – Ruan Pienaar
Jake White – Coach – Peter de Villiers
Allister Coetzee – Backs – Dick Muir
Gert Smal – Forwards – Gary Gold
Derik Coetzee – Fitness – Derik Coetzee
Henning Gericke – Psych – n/a
Cheryl Calder – Spacial – n/a
Rassie Erasmus – Spec Ops – Rassie Erasmus
Jake White – Defence – Jacques Nienaber
Eddie Jones – Attack – Dick Muir