Yes one could make the argument that winning the Rugby World Cup is enough to say this current crop of players is a championship team but any professional sportsperson will tell you it is far harder staying at the top then getting there. The ingredients for a championship team is harder to put your finger on because it isn’t just one element that results in consistently playing at the highest level but rather a whole series of a small pieces to make up the puzzle. This current Bok team looks completely relaxed in the big pressure moments and embraces it rather than running away. Not once during the past two matches did I feel that the game was out of reach for the Springboks after getting behind on the scoreboard. The composure shown by the team is credit to the management team who have equipped with the players with the skills and belief to handle each and every possible scenario.
The growth of some individual players in the team has been enormous and added to the depth that we already knew about. It is hard to believe that Ox Nche in the not so distant past was scampering around Bloemfontein for the Cheetahs looking like a Baabaas player scoring 50m tries. He has demolished two established tighthead props in a matter of weeks outside of his uncanny ability to get around the park for a big man. Fagerson looked bewildered at times in the scrums and he is considered a strong scrummager by all in the Northern Hemisphere. Kwagga Smith is another player who copped a fair bit of criticism for not being the right type of 7 to replace Pieter Steph du Toit but he put in a shift against Wales in the rain that was world class. The work behind the scenes on these players alone to get them ready to excel at this level must have been huge but they both look like world beaters at the moment.
The more established players in the squad have also excelled when needed with Eben Etzebeth a deserved recipient of the man of the match award. He looked like his youthful selves barrelling through would be tacklers and causing mayhem in the lineouts. Damian De Allende is an unsung hero in this team, after going through a dip in form a few years ago he looks energized playing to a game plan that suits his style. His strength is that he never overplays his hand with or without the ball which is vital in the 12 channel because any small mistake can result in points against you. He doesn’t have to make the defensive reads with Lukhanyo Am outside him calling the shots so he can focus on patrolling his channel like a Great White circling Seal Island. Siya Kolisi is playing the best rugby of his life and look very carefree on the field which is no easy task with the burden of being captain. His focus on getting fitter has paid dividends with him getting through mountains of work which often goes unseen.
This squad has risen above all the outside noise from analysts calling the Springboks game plan the dullest thing since watching Aussie Super Rugby derbies. The external pressure is one that you can never fully ignore but empowering the players to control the controllable is vital in empowering the players. Rassie is quite happy to take the barrage of blame, shielding his players and Coach Jacques Nienaber from as much of the spotlight as possible to let them focus on the game. The distractions off the field can easily affect the product on Saturdays (look no further than Australia without Quade Cooper and Sami Kerevi). From all accounts this is very happy squad with input from all the assistant coaches valued and appreciated. The skillset required from catching high balls is something Mzwandile Stick has taken over and the improvement in this department is marked. The hardnosed forwards look well drilled and perfectly aligned to the player next to them which is credit to Deon Davids polishing the details of the game plan. This management has a team effort approach and the Springboks are better for it. I can’t imagine Eddie Jones gives his assistants much rope to mould the players how they see fit which his overbearing autocratic approach well known.
So what next you ask? The be a true championship team you need to stay at the top of the mountain and that means beating England away, New Zealand away and putting away teams you are expected to win. This team is far from the polished article as we saw with gaps in the half backs depth when the starters are out of form or injured but all the tools are there to succeed. This squad is relatively young and has a great shot at defending the World Cup title which is what championship teams do. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves and just look forward to watching English props popping out of scrums like scared Meekats.
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