The Springboks have many leaders in the current elite crop of players.
The Springboks have a multitude of natural-born leaders.
The likes of Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Handre Pollard, Bongi Mbonambi, Pieter-Steph Du Toit and even Ruan Nortje all have leadership experience and traits of a captain. Namely, to lead from the front with consistant performances on the pitch. However, I feel that Salmaan Moerat is not at the same calibre as these men in terms of form and Springboks experience.
MOERAT FORM DOES NOT WARRANT BOK CAPTAINCY HONOUR
Playing in the green and gold, in itself, is an honour.
Therefore, to captain the Springboks is an even greater honour. An honour that deserves a man who puts in consistantly impactful performances that are head-and0-shoulders above his teammates. He must be a leader on and off the pitch.
Now, take nothing away from Moerat as a rugby player but he is simply not at the same calibre as the other leaders in the Bok squad.
HE IS NOT IN FORM AND LACKS THE INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF HIS TEAM MATES
Firstly, he has put in below-par performances for the Springboks when handed the captains armband. He was below-par against Italy in the second test and average last year against Portugal in Bloemfontein.
Furthermore, the Springboks have world-class locks in Etzebeth, RG Snyman, Lood de Jager, Franco Mostert and Ruan Nortje fit, ready and raring to go. So, Moerat will struggle to get into the 2027 Rugby World Cup squad.
Finally, he does not have the same leadership experience at national level or at club level as the likes of Kolisi, Etzebeth, Mbonambi, Du Toit or Pollard.
Moerat has 11 national caps. Meanwhile, the above players all have over 50 international caps and they are closing in on being centurians.
DO YOU THINK MOERAT IS GOOD ENOUGH TO CAPTAIN THE BOKS IN SO-CALLED SMALLER TEST MATCHES? IS HE GOOD ENOUGH TO PLAY FOR THE SPRINGBOKS?
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.
