The Springboks have built a winning culture on balance. For years, they blended youth and experience to dominate rugby. Young players brought energy, while veterans provided composure.
This mix has kept South Africa competitive across different eras. Coaches often trusted the fearless youth alongside hardened World Cup winners. It created a squad that could adapt to any challenge.
However, maintaining this balance is becoming harder. Some veterans are nearing the end of their careers. At the same time, young talents are still finding their feet. The Springboks now face a tough task: securing their future while defending their legacy.
Eddie Jones on the Springboks ageing team
Jones raised eyebrows with his recent comments on the Springboks. He claimed their young players are still not ready. Referring to Rassie Erasmus, Jones said, “Rassie went to the young guys in the first test… they’ve still got some development to do.” He added that Rassie returned to veterans, comparing them to “an older boxer in the ring.”
Jones suggested experience won them the game. But the reality is clear: South Africa’s winning core is ageing fast. Handré Pollard, now 30, still controls matches, yet no youngster has matched his authority. Similarly, players like Eben Etzebeth and Duane Vermeulen carried enormous loads. Younger replacements are still learning the craft.
Jones hinted that this heavy reliance on veterans could be risky. Without sharper development, the Springboks may struggle in future tournaments. The older boxer still fights hard, but time waits for no one.
What fans say
After Eddie Jones spoke about the Springboks sgeing team, some fans also had a lot to say.
@G.van Staaden “Why is anyone still talking to him!”
@Dirk Kotze “The only problem is that a lot of the young guys is not coming along fast enough. Take Manie. He has been developing for a couple of years now. Just as it seems that he is coming through he falls back into his old losing way. We have a lot of potensialin the current u20 group but lets be honest. Most of them will not be ready for another year or two. We must also take into account that many of the younger guys that showed real promise to unsettle the old gaurd is ztruggling to come back from injury or currently injured. Some of them also is having trouble makingthe step up to urc let alone springbok level. We risk deztrouing them if we promote them up to higher levels to early. Lets face it. Some of the old guys is still streets ahead of the young guns. They should just be rotated to rest more in lower competitions. Take Eben. The sharks nearly destroyed him last year by over playing him. He was the one constant performing player in the sqaud in thd end he was sidelined for extended periods with concussion.”
@Goodstuff “I love the way Manie plays, but what bothers me is that he seems to lack a fighting spirit. In the tough games he either makes mistakes or cannot kick. He lacks the steel we have been spoiled with Pollard.”
@Reece “Everyone except rassie can see that his team is old, still playing mostert come on, if it wasn’t for injury malherbe would he there”
@Sweet Chariot 
“The old guys look bored and decrepit. The young guys need to spend more time doping. Still too fresh and clean. All in all, SA have been found out.”
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The post ‘An older boxer in the ring’: Eddie Jones on the Springboks ageing team appeared first on iHarare News.
