Willie le Roux responded firmly to a critic on social media following the Vodacom Bulls’ emphatic win against the Lions at Ellis Park.
After the match, an X user posted: “Amazing how much better the Bulls look without Willie le Roux.”
The 36-year-old, who was rested for the match as per Springbok protocols, responded: “Cheers tjom … have a lekker weekend.”
That sparked further engagement, with the critic questioning Le Roux’s impact on the Bulls team environment in a now-deleted post.
“Thanks for this info again brother,” Le Roux wrote. “Message the guys in the Bulls team and ask them if I am good for the team environment please. I would also like to know.”
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The exchange continued when the critic told the double World Cup winner he would “love for you to prove me wrong”, but Le Roux was unmoved.
“Pal, I don’t have to prove anything to you,” he replied. “Ask the guys on the team and then you will know, buddy. Enjoy your brandy and the comfy couch that you are sitting on to watch rugby.”
Cheers tjom 🫡 have a lekker weekend
— Willie le roux (@wjjleroux) January 31, 2026
Le Roux is no stranger to public scrutiny and criticism. Few players have split opinion quite like the former World Cup winner, whose game influence and rugby intelligence have often been matched by sharp criticism from sections of the fan base.
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Yet his record speaks for itself. With 101 Test caps, Le Roux has been a central figure in the Springboks’ success over the past decade, after making his debut against Italy in 2013. He reached his century of Test caps – only the eighth Springbok to achieve the milestone – against the same opponents in July last year.
Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images
