2017 was better — but a long way from good for the Boks
Two of their four losses were by such alarming margins the only conclusion is that their future does not look bright
Statistically, 2017 was an improvement for the Springboks after the previous season‚ which was the worst in the professional era‚ but it was still a long way off being a good season. Coach Allister Coetzee was given a stay of execution after his side won only four of its 12 Tests in 2016‚ and by the end of 2017‚ when the Boks trudged out of Cardiff after another defeat‚ his bosses were ruing their decision to keep him on. The Boks won seven of 13 Tests in 2017‚ drawing two and "only" losing four Tests. But of those four losses, two were by such alarming margins and came from such pathetic performances there was no way to escape the conclusion that the trajectory remains downwards. Losing 57-0 to the All Blacks in Albany‚ the heaviest defeat in 126-years of Springbok rugby‚ was a low point. But it was not as bad as the 38-3 loss to Ireland in Dublin two months later. At least during the All Blacks’ debacle you could argue that the world champions played their best game of the year an...
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