Opportunity beckons for Boks
rugby365.com columnist Grant Ball believes that after recent events, Peter de Villiers can’t have any excuses for the Springboks not winning the World Cup.
The only problems with the Boks stem from their own doing, but after recent occurrences, this is such an open World Cup that the Boks can only blame themselves if they don’t win it. In 2007, many discredited the Bok win because of who they didn’t have to play and the way the Boks played – which was supposedly negative – but they still did the job and brought the trophy back home.
In 2011, events have conspired against other sides, but the Boks haven’t been as unfortunate and have rode their luck to top their pool (the luck on South Africa’s part has been Wales missing a drop kick and a penalty in the final five minutes, which would have seen them top the group).
Many bemoan the Boks’ route to a possible final, which will have to see them play Australia and New Zealand before. But they always knew they’d have to beat the pair to win the trophy, all that’s changed is the sequence.
What has favoured the Boks’ chances is Ireland’s win over Australia and Dan Carter’s injury. The Irish and especially forwards coach Gert Smal gave the Boks the perfect blueprint of how to strangle the Aussies. Peter de Villiers and his coaching staff couldn’t have been provided with a more apt prototype of how to beat a side who are vulnerable upfront.
If the Boks get through, they’ll face an All Blacks side without Dan Carter. Carter was on top form against France and is the one player more than any other that Graham Henry didn’t want to lose. The All Blacks still managed to carve up the Boks in Port Elizabeth with Colin Slade, but he’s shown his frailties there and in ensuing weeks. If the Boks reach the semis with Slade in the No.10 jersey, they’ll never have a better opportunity of beating the Kiwis in Auckland.
If they beat the All Blacks, they’ll then face a northern hemisphere side who they’ve beaten in Europe consistently over the last eight years. France won’t reach the final (they’ve only got possibly one upset in them), while the Boks should back themselves to dispose of England, Wales or Ireland.
The Boks also have minimal injury concerns compared to other countries. De Villiers has claimed Frans Steyn’s loss is bigger than Carter’s, but that’s just another one of his strange comments. Yes, Steyn has been on top form, but De Villiers didn’t even want to pick him until recently. The Kiwis built their entire game around Carter for eight years, the Bok coach has consistently criticised Steyn in the media.
The only other injury concern has been Bakkies Botha, but that has also aided the Boks. Incidentally, this has led the Boks to start Danie Rossouw, who has filled the role admirably, while having Willem Alberts off the bench provides the Boks with an extra ball-carrier, plus they can have an extra fetcher on the bench in Francois Louw.
Another factor favouring De Villiers is that he’s had no selection issues or political interruptions throughout his tenure, which other Bok coaches have had. He also has the bulk of the squad who won the tournament four years ago.
A week is a long time in sport, but the way matters stand now, it’s our tournament to lose. Everything is in our favour, and there should be no excuse for De Villiers if the Boks don’t capitalise. If reports are to be believed that De Villiers will continue to be paid until the end of January, he’ll have to earn that salary in the next three weeks.
The Boks have a great chance to defend their title and can’t claim fate being against them after their run in the pool stages. If they don’t win, it will only be down to their own doing over the last four years, which has seen them arrive with a decrepit game plan and not enough younger players to aid the experienced ones.
If the Boks don’t win the tournament from here, De Villiers must take responsibility and must be accountable for the results.
By Grant Ball
