From a deep dark pit comes belief
Like the proverbial phoenix the Sharks and Springbok front row has risen from the ashes to dominate against one of the most feared teams on the planet.
Veteran Bok prop Jannie du Plessis – speaking of the bitter disappointment after yet another painful loss to the arch enemy, New Zealand, last weekend – admitted some of the media criticism over his and his fellow front row forwards' form this year stung badly.
However, they have picked themselves up and are starting to regain their best form "when it matters most" – in the international arena.
"It is not that you ever doubt yourself, but you do start to ask the same questions over and over," Du Plessis said, when asked about yet another close loss to the All Blacks – the sixth defeat in their last seven encounters.
"You play the game over in your mind and ask: 'What could I have done better? How can I improve?'
"However, if you play rugby long enough and you read in the papers often enough that you are s*** – you know you have to pick yourself up."
Du Plessis said players can never afford to believe the last defeat is how good or how bad you are.
"That will be like believing the media, who keeps telling you that when you are good you are actually not that good and when you are bad you are actually not that bad."
He said the two Rugby Championship defeats – 20-24 to Australia in Brisbane and 20-27 to New Zealand in Johannesburg – will make their resolve even stronger ahead of the World Cup in September and October.
"Using disappointments like these can push you to higher levels," the 32-year-old prop said.
He admitted the front row was a "very lonely place" during the Sharks' Super Rugby horror season, which saw then finish outside the top 10 for the first time in a decade.
"If you don't have a successful season, it is easy to find mistakes," the 64-times capped Bok said, adding: "If you give me one player who says he isn't affected by criticism, I will show you a liar.
"The thing about being a [senior] player is that you've had enough criticism in your life to know how to deal with it and to know who's opinion matters.
"However, the worst thing about criticism is that it hurts your family and people confront them – like my mom at school – and people saying stuff.
"I never doubted whether I still had the desire or skills.
"Maybe our season at the Sharks didn't go as planned, but that was never for a lack of trying.
"I am really happy we can play better when it matters most," he said of their improved form in the international season.
He admitted their solid set-piece showings against the Wallabies and All Blacks have reaffirmed the belief they had in their ability.
"Sometimes you just need one or two performances to make you believe again.
"The desire has always been there.
"Once you have one or two good games your form improves dramatically."
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
