The Springboks have roared to three comfortable victories at the start of the 2025 season, and another one is expected against Georgia this Saturday.
However, based on the quality of the opposition (the Barbarians and Italy), the Springboks have still not escaped some criticism and scepticism.
Speaking on The Rivals podcast, All Blacks legend John Kirwan – admittedly a well-known critic of the Springboks – suggested he wasn’t overly impressed by the Springboks’ latest 45-0 win over Italy.
“I thought it was the worst and most frustrating performance I’ve seen from South Africa in a long time,” said Kirwan. “I know they scored six or seven tries, I just didn’t feel that they got into the real rhythm of their game.
“A few of the [Springbok] guys on the weekend, I don’t feel they were up to the level of the older guys. So it was really revealing. You’re always looking for a fault or a way to beat the world champions.”
The Springboks are focused on a big performance against Georgia
“Georgia are a tough outfit, and they pride themselves on their physicality and brute force in the collisions, so the set pieces, mauls, and breakdowns will be key areas,” said Rassie Erasmus.
“They also have quality backline players to round off their team, so we need to be sharp in all the departments of our game to ensure that we continue to lift our standards, build momentum, and get the desired result.”
The match kicks off at 17:10 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE COMMENTS FROM KIRWAN?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
