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Baby Boks are too B good for Italy, Ireland and France's best

South Africa's B-team can not only give Leicester Tigers a run at Welford Road tonight - they are also rugby's world champion reserve side.

by Greg Smith on 06 November 2009

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Chiliboy Ralepelle: Leads the South Africa B team against Leicester

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I'm a Springboks fan, there's no hiding that. However, I still believe it's fair and modestly unbiased (and factually accurate) to say that South Africa have the strongest B-team in international rugby union.

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Put more precisely, I think South Africa have more frequently fielded a B-team internationally and have thus gained a reputation of B-team depth and strength unmatched by fellow Southern Hemisphere strongholds like New Zealand or Australia.

In fact, I doubt any international team has a B-team to match the so-called Baby Boks.

These 'dirt trackers' are probably stronger than most national Test sides and I am left wondering whether Peter de Villiers shouldn't give them a go against France, Italy and Ireland this season.

Imagine the cheek of it! I think it's worth a go just for this, and for its obvious snub value.

While I'd be hesitant to bet the farm on the Baby Boks, I'd put a couple of shekels on them easily sorting out Italy. After that, with a good bit of Irish luck, they could sort out Ireland and use this tailwind along with their super-enthiusiasm to run through France.

Quite easily done (in theory), especially considering the current Baby Bok squad that will line up against Leicester Tigers tonight (Friday). Here it is:

Soputh Africa B - 1 Gurthro Steenkamp, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle (capt), 3 Jannie du Plessis, 4 Danie Rossouw, 5 Andries Bekker, 6 Dewald Potgieter, 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 8 Ashley Johnson, 9 Heini Adams, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 12 Wynand Olivier, 13 Juan de Jongh, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 15 Earl Rose.

Replacements - 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Riaan Viljoen.

Alternatively, a parallel B-side tour should be arranged. Just imagine, the Springboks world champions in both. Where would we stash all the silverware?

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Comments (6)

by Nik Knack on November 07, 2009

Haha, yeah right. You were only out by 105 points.

by Marty Bayveldt on November 07, 2009

They could handle Italy? They couldn't even handle one Italian prop. My goodness, Marco made an Italian meal of the Boks front row. He wouldn't have had an easier night if he'd been sitting in the stand eating a pie. Instead of being the best B team in the world, as you suggest, and being capable of beating Ireland and France, the Bok B side is the worst second-string outfit that has probably taken the park in rugby history. Don't forget, Leicester had 10 men missing from their squad so that was their B team too. The Boks were appalling, embarrassingly bad in the scrums, absolutely cringeworthy. Where have all the S African scrummage monsters gone because they aint in this side, that's for sure.

by Matthew Mann on November 07, 2009

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah ahahahahaha buuuuuuuuurrrrrrnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!

by Greg Smith on November 07, 2009

Ouch... a proper lesson from a Leicester Tigers B side ! I'm expecting more pain, this swing from top-dogs to underdogs is gonna hurt. Beyond the loss (all congrats to the Tigers)- the Boks 'behaviour' was very un-South Africa-like or not what I'd like a Springbok team to be remembered for ... lessons and questions aplenty. Leicester Tigers have a new fan - while South Africa ? pphhtt !

by Ethan Steele on November 08, 2009

Look before you leap Greg. Call yourself a fan. You can't even spell South Africa properly! Let this be a lesson to you not to crow to the extent that you do. Never mind Leicester B beating them, I bet even Stockwood park would have beaten them! In conclusion, South Africa have an outstanding top team but as for your B's. only one conclusion after that performance. Total rubbish!!

by Ethan Steele on November 14, 2009

And now the rot has set in even further. Your continual crowing has been your downfall and you have hexed the Boks. Tonight they lost miserably to the French. No where to hide Greg!