Deans: Boks not one-dimensional

Heyneke Meyer may already have evolved the Springbok team much further than most haters would like to admit.

Robbie Deans, the most successful coach in Super Rugby history with five titles, believes the current "profile" of South Africa's national team makes them one of the favoured teams for the World Cup later this year.

Speaking after the Boks demolished the Deans-coached World XV 46-10 at the weekend, the former Wallaby mentor said they will take confidence into the Rugby Championship – which is a vital part of their build-up to the World Cup.

The Springboks arrived in Brisbane late on Monday, ahead of their tournament opener against Australia – a match Deans feels is far important to the Wallabies than SA.

Having asked some good questions of the Springboks and made them work "reasonably hard", Deans said Meyer's charges have managed to shake off the cobwebs.

"All-in-all South Africa got what they wanted out of it," he said of the weekend's Newlands hit-out.

"Obviously this coming week is important," Deans said, adding: "There are no second chances this year, as they only play each team once.

However, it is the way the Boks played, more than the scoreline, that Deans feels makes them more dangerous.

"They were positive, they were ambitious," Deans said of Meyer's team, adding that he was impressed at their versatility and ability to play to more than one game plan.

"If you look at the profile of the group he [Meyer] is putting together, he's clearly looking to play more than one way – which is important.

"I just think the days of being one dimensional are over, and to be frank in 2007 the Boks were one dimensional," he said of SA's World Cup win in France.

"They were so good at what they did [in 2007] and so imposing. The game was played in a way [that allowed it], the ruck height was a lot lower and blokes got away with a lot more at breakdown time.

"They [the Boks] essentially played without the ball and had a team that could do it effectively.

"That won't be the case at the World Cup this year.

"You need a little bit more. You need to ask more across the field in order to get that forward momentum."

Deans said the Boks now have some pretty "vibrant" players in the squad.

"Damian [De Allende] played great rugby," he said, adding: "He has been playing remarkable rugby all year. He just keeps doing the right things and things happen when he is involved. That is exciting and he can add another dimension to their game.

"It is also great to see Jean [de Villiers] out there, and he will be important at World Cup time. Those two together looked pretty potent."

Deans also spoke about the value of players like veteran lock Victor Matfield.

"He is a World Cup player. He's going to be an important player, you think back to 2007 – it [the World Cup] is in Northern Hemisphere again. There's a good mix in there," Deans said of the Boks – also praising the value of scrumhalf Ran Pienaar and the much-criticised front Bok row.

He said the Boks' encounter with the Wallabies this week is going to be "fascinating".

"Michael [Cheika] is clearly considering his combinations and how they are going to play the game.

"There are indicators that he sees a need to adapt and that in itself will be intriguing in terms of selections.

"It is probably more important for the Wallabies than the Springboks if you are thinking World Cup.

"They will need to come in with some momentum."

Meyer will name his matchday-23 on Wednesday.

It's a venue that has not been kind to the Springboks in recent years, although South Africa scored a brilliant 38-12 victory over the Wallabies in Brisbane in 2013.

"Before that match, the Springboks had never beaten Australia at the Suncorp Stadium and although the match was played two years ago, we'd like to build on that performance," said Meyer.

"They are always a tough opponent at home – since the start of the Tri-Nations in 1996 and later in the Rugby Championship, the Springboks have won only three out of 23 matches against the Wallabies in Australia, drawing one and losing 18.

"This was also clear last year when we played very well, but they managed to beat us with the last movement of the match in Perth."

By Jan de Koning

@King365ed

@rugby365com