Is South Africa’s Rugby World Cup 2023 Squad Stronger Than the Reigning Champions of 2019?

The Challenge Awaiting England in Rugby World Cup Semi-Final

England’s journey to become back-to-back champions faces a formidable obstacle as they prepare for a semi-final clash with South Africa, the team that soundly defeated them in the 2019 final. The Springboks have evolved into one of the best rugby teams ever and are now aiming to win their fourth title, which would make them the most successful nation in World Cup history.

A Formidable Opponent

Richard Wigglesworth, England’s attack coach, acknowledges the development of the Springboks since their previous encounter. He emphasizes that South Africa has added quality to their core group of players and has transformed into an impressive outfit. Their ability to move the ball and execute exits has improved significantly, showcasing more variety and multiple threats on offense.

In terms of lineup personnel, six out of eight forwards from the 2019 final started against France in their quarter-final victory. The likes of Bongi Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Duane Vermeulen continue to serve as key components within this dominant forward pack. Furthermore,
Steven Kitshoff replaced Tendai Mtawarira at prop while Franco Mostert substituted Lood de Jager at lock.

A Dominant Forward Pack

South Africa boasts a well-drilled forward pack renowned for its physicality and defensive prowess. Their commitment is evident with their high tackle count throughout this tournament – only Wales and Japan have made more tackles than them so far.

Notably, in the match against France, the Springboks showcased their physical edge as they confidently opted for a scrum instead of returning a high kick or kicking for touch. This unexpected move caught their opponents off guard and resulted in South Africa winning a penalty.

Mbonambi emphasizes that the scrum will be crucial in their upcoming clash with England. While proud of their scrummaging and mauling abilities, he acknowledges mistakes made against France and affirms the need to address them.

A Dynamic Springboks’ Team

In addition to retaining their set-piece power from 2019, the current Springboks’ team has also embraced greater dynamism after learning from their defeat by France in November 2022. Rassie Erasmus, South Africa’s director of rugby, expressed the importance of adapting and scoring tries rather than solely relying on “mauling, scrumming and close-contact work”.

The depth within South Africa’s forward pack is even stronger now compared to 2019. In previous matches, they have deployed six forwards on the bench; however,
it remains uncertain whether they will opt for this seven-one split strategy once again against England.

To summarize,
England faces an immense challenge as they confront an evolved South African team determined to claim its fourth Rugby World Cup title. The battle between these two titans promises intensity as both sides display formidable strength upfront while incorporating dynamic aspects into their gameplay.