Springboks Star Calls Out South Africans Playing for Scotland – Fans Dub Them 'Springboks B'

Today at 02:05 PM

Andre Esterhuizen has stirred the pot ahead of South Africa's highly anticipated clash with Scotland at Murrayfield, questioning the growing trend of players switching nations via residency.

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The Autumn Nations Showdown

Scotland kicked off their 2024 Autumn Nations Series with a convincing 57-17 win over Fiji at Murrayfield last weekend. Now, they're preparing to face off against the Springboks in what promises to be a fierce encounter.

The game, along with the entire Autumn Nations Test Series (which includes England, Ireland, and Wales), will be shown live and exclusively on TNT Sports in the UK, following their rebrand from BT Sport.

Where to Watch

Scotland v South Africa is set to air on TNT Sports 1 (Sky channel 410), with coverage starting at 3:45 pm, right after the Wales v Fiji game. If you're not already subscribed, you can sign up on TNT Sport's official site.

Esterhuizen's Bold Words

Ahead of the match, Esterhuizen made his feelings clear on players who have opted for other countries through residency: "I'd much rather have my 18 caps for the Springboks than 70 caps for a different country that I'm not actually born in."

Scotland's South African Connection

Interestingly, Scotland's squad features four South African-born players: Dylan Richardson and Nathan McBeth earned their spots through family connections, while Pierre Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe qualified through residency.

Fans jokes:

The question of players switching nations has set off a fiery debate among fans ahead of the Scotland-South Africa clash. Esterhuizen's comments sparked a flood of opinions online, with fans weighing in on Scotland's South African contingent.

One fan sarcastically wrote: "South Africa vs South Africa."

Another didn't hold back, saying: "I think Scotland would be a second-tier nation if they weren't affluent and able to entice foreign top players… imo!"

Adding to the mix, a third fan commented, "Must complement Scotland Rugby—they are the best welfare state adopting foreign players."

And perhaps the simplest jab came from another fan, who dubbed the Scots "Springboks B."

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Foreign-born players in the 2024 Autumn Nations Series breakdown by country

The 2024 Autumn Nations Series is underway, and each team brings not only skill and strategy but also a diverse array of players from around the world.

Here's a look at the foreign-born players representing the home nations – England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland – and the unique backgrounds they bring to their squads.

Scotland – 17 players

Scotland's foreign-born players come from a mix of rugby powerhouse nations, adding depth and versatility:

Ewan Ashman (Canada) – This hooker was born in Canada but moved to Scotland at an early age. Known for his dynamic carries, Ashman brings a Canadian spark to the Scottish front row.

Dylan Richardson (South Africa) – The South African-born Richardson is a hard-hitting back-rower who qualified for Scotland through his mother. He's known for his physical presence and adaptability on the field.

Will Hurd (England) – Although born in England, Hurd made his mark in Scotland's rugby system and earned his cap for the Scottish team.

Nathan McBeth (South Africa) – Originally from South Africa, McBeth brings strong scrummaging skills and qualified to represent Scotland, further strengthening their pack.

Elliot Millar-Mills (England) – Born in England but committed to Scottish rugby, Millar-Mills is another versatile prop adding depth to the front row.

Pierre Schoeman (South Africa) – Schoeman's powerful scrummaging and dynamic open play have quickly made him a fan favourite. The South African-born prop has fully embraced his Scottish allegiance.

Ewan Johnson (England) – A dependable lock, Johnson's English roots have helped balance out the squad with a variety of playing experiences.

Josh Bayliss (England) – A back-rower who qualifies through his Scottish heritage, Bayliss adds further English flair to the Scotland back row.

Jack Dempsey (Australia) – Formerly capped for Australia, Dempsey now dons Scottish colours, bringing experience and physicality to the Scottish pack.

Ali Price (England) – The scrum-half was born in England but developed his career in Scotland, becoming a critical component of their attacking play.

Ben White (England) – Born in England, White offers a fresh scrum-half option, helping Scotland maintain momentum in open play.

Tom Jordan (New Zealand) – A New Zealand-born fly-half, Jordan represents Scotland, bringing tactical insight and calm playmaking to the squad.

Rory Hutchinson (England) – Known for his speed and footwork, Hutchinson brings a dynamic English background to the Scottish backline.

Sione Tuipulotu (Australia) – Born in Australia with Tongan heritage, Tuipulotu brings strength and flair to Scotland's midfield options.

Arron Reed (England) – Reed's English roots add depth to Scotland's wing options, known for his acceleration and finishing abilities.

Kyle Rowe (England) – Another English-born wing, Rowe's explosive pace is a significant asset for Scotland in attack.

Duhan van der Merwe (South Africa) – A South African powerhouse wing, van der Merwe is known for his destructive running and finishing prowess, making him a standout in the Scottish squad.

England – Three players

England's squad features several players born outside the country who bring a variety of rugby influences to the field:

Sam Underhill (USA) – A tackling machine, Underhill was born in the USA but moved to England as a child. Known for his defensive prowess, he's a mainstay in the England back row.

Marcus Smith (Philippines) – Born in Manila, Philippines, Smith moved to the UK at a young age. His creative playmaking and agility make him a standout in England's backline.

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Wales) – Born in Wales, Feyi-Waboso's dynamic abilities as a centre have earned him a spot in the English squad, adding a youthful edge to their lineup.

Wales – Seven players

Wales features a handful of foreign-born players, each contributing to the team's physicality and skill:

Taine Plumtree (New Zealand) – A versatile back-rower, Plumtree was born in New Zealand and has quickly made an impact with his athleticism.

Tommy Reffell (England) – Born in England, Reffell has shown impressive breakdown skills, adding depth to the Welsh back row.

Will Rowlands (England) – The towering lock was born in England and brings experience and power to the Welsh pack.

Henry Thomas (England) – A prop with experience playing for England, Thomas strengthens the Welsh front row.

Christ Tshiunza (Democratic Republic of Congo) – Tshiunza moved to Wales as a child and has brought his athletic frame and work rate to the Welsh team.

Gareth Anscombe (New Zealand) – Originally from New Zealand, Anscombe's playmaking experience is a major asset for Wales at fly-half.

Nick Tompkins (England) – An English-born centre, Tompkins brings versatility to the Welsh midfield.

Ireland – Eight players

Ireland's foreign-born players come from various rugby nations, enriching the team with international experience:

Finlay Bealham (Australia) – Born in Australia, Bealham's scrummaging skills and versatility have made him a key player in Ireland's front row.

Rob Herring (South Africa) – Originally from South Africa, Herring's lineout accuracy and strength make him a reliable hooker for Ireland.

Cormac Izuchukwu (Nigeria) – Izuchukwu was born in Nigeria but moved to Ireland young, and his athleticism brings added energy to the Irish pack.

Tom O’Toole (Australia) – An Australian-born prop, O’Toole's physical style bolsters Ireland's front row.

Bundee Aki (New Zealand) – A key playmaker in the Irish midfield, Aki's New Zealand roots add hard-running and defensive strength to the squad.

Jamison Gibson-Park (New Zealand) – Born in New Zealand, Gibson-Park's quick passing and dynamic presence add flair to Ireland's attack.

Mack Hansen (Australia) – Australian-born, Hansen brings versatility and finishing ability to the Irish wing.

James Lowe (New Zealand) – Another New Zealand-born player, Lowe's powerful running and kicking ability have added a distinct dimension to Ireland's backline.

Can you name the 20 most capped rugby players for England? 

Test your knowledge and see if you can name the top 20 players who hold the record for the most international caps for England. Get ready to dive into England rugby history—let’s see if you have what it takes to remember the legends who've played the most matches!

Caps are correct on 31st October 2024.

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