Springboks end 2024 international season on a high

Over the past weekend, the Boks faced Wales in their final 2024 match at the iconic Principality Stadium. Coach Rassie opted for a strong lineup, which proved successful as they led 26-5 at halftime. Franco Mostert opened the scoring, followed by Jordan Hendrickse, stepping in for Handré Pollard, successfully converting the try.

South Africa was very clinical in their attack during the first half, an aspect somewhat lacking in their previous matches against Scotland and England. In this game against Wales, they eliminated unnecessary mistakes and were also dominant in defense, conceding only two tries throughout the game.

Referee Karl Dickson's performance wasn't too poor regarding some of the calls he made. However, I believe he allowed the game to flow excessively, which led to him overlooking two critical late tackles that should have warranted a penalty each time. But overall, he maintained consistency in his decision-making for both sides.

Kudos to Cameron Hanekom for being the 52nd player selected by Rassie this year, making his debut from the bench. His debut was long overdue and thoroughly deserved. A big congratulations also goes to Jordan Hendrickse for scoring his first test try. The Boks performed exceptionally well on Saturday night, scoring eight tries.

Discussing the matches against England and Scotland, the Boks, while securing "comfortable" victories, faced challenges in gaining momentum, conceding numerous penalties and committing unforced errors that allowed the opposition to re-enter the contest. South Africa's diligent efforts during the week prior to the Wales match were evident in their improved performance.

It is noteworthy that South Africa has not remained unbeaten on a European tour since 2013, under the leadership of Heyneke Meyer. The last instance of such a triumphant year was in 1998 when they achieved an 11/12 record. Looking ahead, the prospects for the Springboks are promising, given the depth of talent in the current squad. Players like Jordan Hendrickse, who is versatile at both 10 and 15, Aphelele Fassi, who can cover both wing and fullback, and Cheslin Kolbe, who is adept at playing scrumhalf, fullback, flyhalf, and wing—and even hooker, as seen this year—illustrate the breadth of skills available. This versatility also reflects the confidence that Rassie Erasmus has in his players' abilities and his willingness to innovate.

On the other hand, Wales might be facing a lengthy journey towards improvement in securing results. It appears that for Warren Gatland, the focus may not solely be on immediate outcomes but rather on assembling his team for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Nevertheless, sympathy is due as they remained tenacious throughout the match, even though the Springboks proved to be overwhelmingly powerful on the day.

Only time will determine whether WG will continue in his role for the 2025 Six Nations tournament. Meanwhile, the Boks will be taking a well-deserved break before joining their respective franchises for the second half of the Vodacom URC.