THREAD on the @Springboks #RugbyChampionship dilemma

Should the Boks head Down Under in November? If they can – ie if travel is possible – they will, so Nienaber and Erasmus may have to pull off their biggest juggling act yet in managing a large & inexperienced squad (1/10)

SA Rugby, the franchises and the players themselves need to start generating income. Plans were put in place to see the players through the C-19 crisis, but I’ve heard this plan is no sustainable beyond December. Bottom line: rugby (domestic and Tests) has to resume ASAP. (2/10)

Can understand why so many, including some in the (virtual) corridors of SARU, believe it's a bad idea. Lack of preparation aside, questions remain about availability (hello Regulation 9 and those ever-complaining French/English clubs). Growing injury list another worry. (3/10)

NZ and Aus will go into the Rugby Champs with a clear advantage. The Kiwis have been back in action since June (via #SuperRugbyAotearoa and #MitreCup).

Meanwhile, the Saffas will restart via a domestic comp in early Oct – nearly seven months after the initial lockdown (4/10)

In Jan, Boks looked well stocked in each position. Following the restart in Europe in August, RG Snyman is crocked while Pollard, De Jager, Etzebeth are injury concerns.

How many more based in Europe will miss the RC? How many in SA will break down in the domestic comp? (5/10).

Even if Boks make it to the RC without further serious injuries, the coaches will have to strike a balance between backing rookies and managing veterans.

Wouldn't be surprised to see coaches favouring the A team /B team strategy that was instrumental to success in 2019. (6/10)

Chances are, however, that Nienaber may have to back a largely inexperienced side at some stage vs a NZ side that's settled and near peak match fitness. Can understand why world champs would want to avoid this scenario. Not like it's their fault though (C-19 etc). (7/10)

The upside is that Nienaber will have a chance to work with an extensive group of SA players well before the Lions series in 2021 and to experiment with new players and combos.

That was supposed to happen in Tests vs Scotland and Georgia this June. (8/10)

Boks unlikely to win the Rugby Champs, given the challenges they will face and given NZ and Aus's head start re return to play. But if they box clever, they may gain something valuable ahead of the all-important Lions series. (9/10)

Nienaber told me recently 'every time we clear a hurdle another is put in front of us'. Was referring to SA's success against the odds in 2018/19 and the new challenge in 2020. That said, Nienaber & Rassie are problem-solvers. Wouldn't bet against them to defy odds again (10/10)