The Silver Fern

The SA20 series is a plus for us. Few Black Caps also playing in the series. Not sure if the are included in your team.

Jansen and Markram with good performances. Still waiting for Miller and specially Brevis to hit top form.

SA franchises in the middle of the local derbies. The closest you get to trials like in the old days. Some good young talent coming through. Pretty sure Rassie will pull in a few of them in 2026. The standouts so far are Jaco Jooste (Sharks), Haashim Pead (Lions) , Paul de Villiers (Stormers), Bathobele Hlekani (Lions)

If I have to select a younger Springbok team it will be Fassi/Willemse, Jooste, Moodie, AE, Hooker, SMZ, Pead, Roos/Elrich Louw/Hanekoms, Hlekani/BJD, Escom/de Villiers, RG, Nortje, Wilco Louw/Portchen, Grobbies, Steenekamp/Mchunu

Intesting series on the way the Bok coaches see the game.

@sparky Good to see the Welsch still have passion for rugby.

@Dodge The teams from the same competition dont play each other in the Round robins.

@MiketheSnow true. For the NH competitions you need two squads. The Stormers played Quins on the Sunday and Leicester on the next saturday. No way you can play week after week your strongest match XV. This is a massive shift from Super Rugby and the SA franchises still are in a work in process. The Stormers have done great this year because they contracted their best schoolboy talent in the last 4 years.

@Dodge Its quite easy to understand. Basic is to get as high as possible in your pool. Winners of pools are rank 1-4. 2nd in pools ranked 5-8, 3rd ranked 9-12, 4th ranked 13-16. Ranked is based on logpoints, point different if equal.

The English clubs look in great shape. Harlequins played some great rugby against the Stormers and specially LaR.

The Stormers would hope for a home playoffs but ended in the URC side of the draw. Their target was to get to the business end, so going forward will be a bonus. Toulon away will be a challenge. The other side of the draw is hectic.

The URC have a great mix of the countries in the top 8.

The Stormers show the way to deal with a Springbok tight 5. No current Springbok in their pack but they man up. Rassie already have two great packs, he can add the Stormers pack to them.

There were 53 682 official. Maybe a few thousand didn't pitch up to the stadium. Babelas after the new year celebrations.

The SA derbies were tough and close. Lions and Stormers got their wins with last minute tries.

Summer rugby is a big success in South Africa. Even Durban had a sold out last week and a big one yesterday.

@Catogrande

https://x.com/i/status/2007547291654308237

Stormers vs Bulls sold out for 2nd year in a row. Just show the success of summer rugby in South Africa.

https://x.com/THESTORMERS/status/2006734368639988201?s=20

@OomPB Kolisi coming back, joining Wilco Louw

https://rugby365.com/tournaments/european-cup/john-dobson-reveals-siya-kolisis-role-at-stormers/

Stormers sign de Villiers, SMZ until 2029

https://rugby365.com/tournaments/european-cup/stormers-release-statement-on-sachas-playing-future/

@Bones the Stormers have SMZ, Willemse and Gelant. Had Libbok aswell. To many cooks spoiled whatever. SMZ is good enough.

The Stormers are still unbeaten heading into the Saffer derbies. Dobson investing in local talent start paying dividends. And it look good if you look in what's waiting to come through the pipeline.

https://rugby365.com/tournaments/european-cup/dobsons-smart-management-puts-stormers-in-pole/

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https://rugby365.com/countries/south-africa/sacha-wins-top-players-award-after-brilliant-year/