RWC rivals licking their lips seeing Boks return to embarrassing basics at camp
The sight of South Africa training in their latest camp must have left France, Ireland and the All Blacks giddy this week, as they saw the reigning world champions return to basics. And by basics we mean learning to count to five.
The players were filmed at the Sharks’ Kings Park Stadium this week learning how to count to five and then back again, and it was a struggle. Director of rugby Rassie Erasmus was seen overlooking the group with a look of sheer disbelief on his face.
This was part of their three day 15-man training camp in the build up to the international season, which begins with the Rugby Championship in July and will culminate with the the Springboks’ World Cup defence in France in September.
Another camp is scheduled for the end of the month, where the players will presumably be set the challenge of counting to ten, and if they succeed with that they might even learn to count to 15 to make a rugby team. The thought of reaching 23 seems a step too far for them at the moment though.
The Boks will play a truncated Rugby Championship in July, with home Tests against Australia and Argentina, and an away Test against the All Blacks. After that, they have three World Cup warm-up Tests against Argentina, Wales and the All Blacks, before their World Cup campaign starts against Scotland in Marseille on September 10. Who knows what number they’ll be able to count to by then?
Springboks squad: Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Jaden Hendrikse, Siya Kolisi (all Cell C Sharks), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz), Makazole Mapimpi, Bongi Mbonambi (both Cell C Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks).
Take a look at the Boks’ camp:
😏 “One, two, three, four, five!”
Now you know where those quick hands from the Springboks get perfected 👐 pic.twitter.com/GiSYM1kGDT
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) May 18, 2023
