Tomorrow could not be a bigger day for the Springboks. Their tour has been marred by sub-standard performances, failed drug tests, beleaguered coaches and lousy weather. If they were to go out onto the home of English rugby, show some of that infamous mettle and beat the poms it would send all the pessimists a distinct response. We love our Bokke and to see them wounded leaves us debilitated too.
It’s not as if the Springbok camp is unaware that their performances have been poor. Assistant coach Gary Gold offered a particularly genuine account of how the side feels after a dismal showing at Murrayfield last weekend.
“No, seriously, it was one of my worst experiences in rugby, it really was bitterly bitterly disappointing. It was just so disappointing to see what we had worked so hard towards just get thrown away like that. We had worked so hard in the previous two test matches,” he said.
“I am not saying we played well in those games, because we didn’t, but the determination was there and the attitude was there. We let ourselves down very badly in that game and we let the country down and our fans down. We know it wasn’t an acceptable performance.”
Now that we’re all on the same page, let’s look forward. Many pundits feel that a win against the old enemy this weekend will merely paper over the cracks. But I’m all for living in the moment and no matter how it is achieved, if the Springboks beat the English tomorrow I will revel in it. The World Cup preparations can take a back seat, just for tomorrow.
The poms have been talking up their chances in recent weeks. What with their cricket side having a chance down under in the Ashes and their rugby side having a couple of brilliant performances, they’ve every reason to feel sanguine. They have an enormous, cohesive pack of forwards and our front row will be targeted as a potential weakness, so Beast, Bismarck and Jannie will have to set the platform. If our scrum can hold it together where the Australians folded, then the rest of our side will play with freedom. Dan Cole, Dylan Hartley and Andrew Sheridan have been in tremendous form and will hammer the Boks into submission if they fail to match their physicality.
Similarly the English have some mature heads in their loose trio of Tom Croft, captain Lewis Moody and Nick Easter. I’ve said in recent weeks that the Springbok loosies have not played as a collegial force and this is the time for them to respond. Pierre Spies had his best game in the green and gold against the Welsh and I want to see that he can string a number of faultless performances together. Juan Smith is mister consistent and will manifest all the valour that is demanded tomorrow. Deon Stegman has another chance to prove himself in the absence of Heinrich Brussouw and Schalk Burger. If this group can dictate the breakdown and secure the ball for Ruan Pienaar from the burly poms, then our backs have the pace and skill to penetrate the English backline, where I believe South Africa has a clear advantage.
8/1 Springboks to win by a margin of 6-10
Martin Johnson has been smiling in the past few weeks, which is a rarity in itself. He couldn’t even muster a grin when they won the World Cup in 2003 and I’m sure I speak for all South Africans when I say that there is nothing better than beating the English on their own patch. Not only were the South Africans impotent against the Scots, but passionless, mopish in the drab weather and eventually capitulated to a Scottish side that believed in their limited ability. That attitude will surely change tomorrow.
This is by no means a phenomenal English team and many of the Springboks have experience of beating the best in New Zealand, Australia and the British & Irish Lions. Man-for-man the Springboks have more talent all over the park. I’m convinced they’ll prove that tomorrow and for all the defeatists scattered across South African shores I hope it’s a test match to remember. The English press are preparing their side for a Boklash – for once I’d like to say, let’s prove them right.
England: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Mike Tindall, 12 Shontayne Hape, 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Lewis Moody (captain), 6 Tom Croft, 5 Tom Palmer, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: 16 Steve Thompson, 17 David Wilson, 18 Simon Shaw, 19 Hendre Fourie, 20 Danny Care, 21 Charlie Hodgson, 22 Matt Banahan.
South Africa: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Frans Steyn, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 François Hougaard, 21 Patrick Lambie, 22 Adi Jacobs.
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Image via the Daily Mirror
