Rugby World Cup: Just How Good Are The Springboks?

Just How Good Are South Africa?

There has been a lot written over the last few weeks about the South African rugby team being worthy contenders to the crown of Rugby World Cup champions. But is this a lot of hype or are the South Africans as good as many believe?

There is a lot of good, I must grudgingly admit. Victor Matfield and Bakkes Botha are two of the best locks in the world. Not far behind, in the great stakes comes Schalk Burger –his wild blonde hair crying out for world-wide attention. With Bryan Habana and Fourie du Preez, two who can no doubt carve up the attacking opposition as good as any Wallaby or All Black and Eddie Jones adding some fizz into the backline structure, the Boks finally can have an attack which isn’t all rush defense and intercepting passes off pacific basketball.

However, it could be argued that the Springbok front row is verging on the cusp as a creaking pack of aging baldies. And when John Smit is not around, the scrum particularly goes on the wane. Of course, the loosies are world class but when one gets behind the scrum (and leaves out Habana and du Preez, there doesn't seem much to write home about. With Jean de Villiers out and injured for the rest of the tournament, the backline took a major blow.

Sure, Franz Stein is a precocious youngster with a powerful boot, but as is all too often; it is easy to look classy against the minnows. Against the All Blacks in the first tri-nations test of 2007 (and yes, the Springboks were at full strength and playing on home turf) he was made to look inexperienced and ineffectual.

Ruggerblogger's Springbok weaklink? It has to be Percy Montgomery. Yes, he has great games but they’re normally against the likes of England (when the red rose army has been prescribed valium the night before to get over their depression of being coached by Andy Robinson). Percy hasn’t been tested at all in this tournament and when he will be tested, I'm picking that he will be the one to crumble.

South Africa to win the world Cup? Maybe. Or maybe not.

Rage against the All Black machine

In the meantime, the All Blacks Rugby World Cup campaign is gathering apace – that is, gathering critics left, right and centre apace. McQueen, Latham and Rob Andrew have all taken a pot shot at the men in black this week, criticising them for being one dimensional etc. Laporte is calling them cheats (yawn) and the latest comes from good old Phil Kearns. Apparently the All Blacks are ‘worried’. The great orator himself believes ‘they’ve peaked too soon’. Oooh, now THAT is breaking news.

The only question is – who will next emerge from the dressing room with arms swinging, taking aim at Richie and his hapless, one dimensional motley crew. No doubt Wales, Ireland, Argentina and Scotland will be getting their ducks in line. Eddie Jones, nestled in the bosom of the Springbok camp, has been quiet for about a whole three days and is also overdue for a rant. Odds are on too for Sir Clive to pop his little shiny head up through the parapet and make a few snivelling sounds. And that great pie eater of the UK Sunday Times, aka Stephen ‘the All Blacks are a bunch of meanies and nobody likes them’ Jones, will no doubt enjoy a few blats out soon at the boys in black.