Boks are raising the bar
The doubting Thomases remain, but a visible lift in intensity suggests South Africa are raising the bar ahead of the first Test against Wales.
The Springboks and Welsh Dragons go head-to-head in Durban on Saturday and then against in Nelspruit a week later.
Following a slow start against a World XV last week, in which the Boks held a slender 18-13 half-time lead, the South Africans produced a more assured performance after the break to not only keep the star-studded visitors scoreless, but also produced 29 points – including four great tries.
Bok defence coach John McFarland admitted this week, against a settled team like Wales, will be a completely different kettle of fish.
"It takes time for everyone to get used to each other again," McFarland told a media briefing at he team's base in Durban.
"We haven't been together for six months and we had one less camp than we had last year," he said, adding: "It took time to gel and everyone to get on the same page, but I was really pleased with the way we finished [in Cape Town last Saturday]."
The Bok defence guru said it was a "bonus" to have a game like that, especially with the quality of the players in the World XV.
And against a 'world class' Welsh backline, the Boks will face a much tougher test – both on attack and defence.
"For us the pleasing thing was the combinations gelled quite well," he said of the outing at Newlands, adding: "However, this week we have to be at the same level where we finished last Saturday."
The Bok defence coach said he was satisfied with the way the much-talked about centre pairing of JP Pietersen and Frans Steyn coped in their first Test outing together.
"I thought they did really well," McFarland said.
"You've got to remember they were up against some top quality players – like Wynand Olivier, Matt Giteau and Rene Ranger. So we were pleased, especially with someone like Frans [Steyn], who hadn't played for the Boks for over a year. He fitted in very well."
McFarland also pointed out that Wales seem to be doing something different to what they normally do on a tour.
"They have had full on Welsh trials, with matches between a probables and possibles team, for the first time in 20 years," he said.
"They have also added on a midweek game [against the Eastern Province Kings in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday].
"It seems they are following the same structure as a [British and Irish] Lions tour, which so many of the Welsh coaches were involved in [in Australia last year].
"It does appear they are trying to replicate that.
"In short, they are showing us the mindset of a team that knows how to win on tour. And the mindset of a team that is here to win."
* Meanwhile the Bok team doctor, Craig Roberts, played down the significance of the heavy playing schedule of some of the players and the questions raised over whether they could have been managed better during the season.
"I'm not surprised [that its being talked about]," he said of the heavy workload of some players – who appear to be fatigued..
"The schedule is what it is and Super Rugby what it is, you want to play your strongest team for every game.
"So I can understand the franchises picking them, they want to win every game and so do we.
"If you talk about games to get match-fit then they are definitely match-fit.
"That being said, we do need to manage the guys a bit during the week because of the amount of rugby they have played. But I'm happy with where the guys are."
