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South African pundit puts the Springboks above Ireland and France on form
By Kim Ekin
Former South African hooker Hanyani Shimange, also known as Shimmi, says that the Springboks demolition of Wales puts them now as one of top form teams in the world.
South Africa put Wales to the sword by 52-16 whilst in the other warm-up fixtures, France was less than impressive in their 34-17 win over Fiji and Ireland coasted through 29-10 over England.
Shimmi highlighted the lacklustre form of the other teams, including former World Cup favourites France who lost their standing with the bookies after losing key players to injury against Scotland.
"Which team is consistent now? France? The first game they played away against Scotland, lost that," he told SuperSport's Final Whistle.
"They came back, they weren't really good in France against Fiji.
"England, you don't really know what to expect from England to be honest. They play better with less men."
The former Springbok even questioned the form of the All Blacks who were nearly upset in Dunedin by the Wallabies.
That display added doubt as to how good New Zealand really are.
"New Zealand had a good game against us, beat Australia then they almost lose against Australia at home."
However, Shimmi did give Ian Foster's side the benefit of the doubt and put the All Blacks at the top of his pecking order before ranking the Springboks second close in behind them.
Ireland was 'probably' third while France had dropped down after looking 'very average'.
"If you asked me what are the form teams now, and you do a pecking order in world rugby," he said.
"It's difficult to pick. You'd say maybe New Zealand, you say after our performance maybe we are there.
"Definitely not England, definitely not Wales, definitely not Australia and probably Ireland.
"France, what I've seen from France now without Dupont and the main guys there, very average."
The Springboks play New Zealand at Twickenham this weekend in what would be a clash between the world's top two teams according to Shimange.
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I reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
Go to commentsHaha did he always say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
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