Old crocks or young bucks?
John Smit’s all-conquering team has silenced many critics, having won every conceivable trophy available to them in the last two years.
After their World Cup triumph in 2007, they have kicked on and now added the Tri-Nations, Mandela Challenge Plate, Freedom Cup, as well as a British and Irish Lions series to that list of accomplishments.
But the spiteful amongst the world media, who refuse to ever give even a good Bok team credit, have suggested Smit’s men won’t last till the next World Cup – in New Zealand in 2011.
Those very critics have suggested that these players will be just too old to become the first team to successfully defend a World Cup crown.
It is still two years out and much improvement can be expected from other contenders, not least the All Blacks, who will be absolutely desperate to break a 24-year World Cup drought on home soil?
But exactly how old are these Boks? More importantly, how old will they be in 2011?
Players like Victor Matfield, John Smit, Bakkies Botha, Juan Smith and Jean de Villiers (if he is back from Munster in time) will either be 30 or above.
Most of the team, however, will be in their prime.
Unbelievably, Francois Steyn (if he is back from France) will only be 24.
The oldest will be Matfield at 34.
If, as starting point, we use the team for the Boks’ last Tri-Nations Test and then list additional players for those who were injured or players who have departed to play abroad, then the stats/ages make for interesting reading.
The starting backline will have an average age of 27 in New Zealand in 2011 – perfect for a backline player, with Jean de Villiers, at 30, the oldest.
Up front the average age will be just under 29 (28.75 to be exact) and the over 30s club will include Matfield (34), Botha (31) and Smit (33).
Will they be ‘old crocks’ or ‘young bucks’? Decide for yourself!
Here is how old the players will be at the World Cup in 2011:
South Africa:
15 Frans Steyn 24 / Zane Kirchner 27
14 Odwa Ndungane 30 / JP Pietersen 25
13 Jaque Fourie 28
12 Jean de Villiers 30 / Wynand Olivier 27
11 Bryan Habana 28
10 Morné Steyn 27
9 Fourie du Preez 29
8 Pierre Spies 26
7 Schalk Burger 28 / Juan Smit 30
6 Heinrich Brüssow 25
5 Victor Matfield 34
4 Bakkies Botha 31
3 John Smit (captain) 33
2 Bismarck du Plessis 27
1 Tendai Mtawarira 26
Replacements:
16 Chiliboy Ralepelle 25
17 Jannie du Plessis 28
18 Danie Rossouw 33 / Andries Bekker 27
19 Ryan Kankowski 25
20 Ricky Januarie 29
21 Adi Jacobs 31
22 Ruan Pienaar 26
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