Time to get over the inferiority complex

The world has stood up and taken notice. The Springboks are back and again a force in world rugby. Not because they have won three on the trot - for they have lost many more away from home. Not because they have a promising new centre pairing - for last year Marius Joubert won international awards. Not even because they have the best lock pairing in world rugby - although the benefits of this are clear to see throughout the Bok game.

The world has taken notice because there is a growing self belief. The Springboks might thank circumstance that their Tri-Nations has started with home matches. While they pushed the Aussies and the All Blacks away last year, they lost those close matches they should have won. The Wallabies and New Zealand were better teams this year, and hungry for victory against the Tri-Nations champions. Perhaps they were even indignant that bonus points separated 1st from 3rd in last year's competition, and sought to right unfortunate wrongs. But fortune continued to favour the Boks as they breathed deep from the aura of Mr Mandela. That win reawoke a pride again. A pride the Springboks have paid scant regard to over most of the post-isolation period. It also awoke a belief - a belief that a Springbok match is theirs to lose rather than their opponent's to take away. Perhaps that view was confined to their home matches, but it seems apparent now that the Boks belief has extended to a hunger for the overseas leg of the Tri-Nations. A hunger to improve on past efforts.

Jake White mentioned the importance of the event after the Newlands win. For many of his team who had played the All Blacks multiple times, this was a first win. It spoke of possibilities.

The world has greeted the win with enthusiasm too. Richie McCaw was moved to comment that this is the way Test Rugby should be. Wynne Gray wrote in the New Zealand Herald, that "The Springboks had no cerebral clutter at Newlands. They played with an unerring search-and-destroy purpose in defence. They were not mesmerised by the All Blacks' razzle-dazzle which flummoxed the Lions." He goes on to state that excuses that were raised for last year's away defeats do not wash this time round. Credit has been given where credit is due.

John Drake writes, also in the New Zealand Herald, that "For the second consecutive year, the Boks proved that a simple game plan, sound set pieces and ferocious defence is still enough to win test matches."

"Congratulations to Jake White for the tactics employed. Nothing much has changed from last year, except the South Africans seem to be growing depth in crucial positions."

The beauty of beating the All Blacks is that New Zealanders relish the contest. They sense the old foe is rising and are excited about test series with venom, substance and consequence. There is no whining, but instead acknowledgement (again John Drake): "In the loose, South Africa were fast and physical. Special attention was made of Richie McCaw, and his ability at the breakdown to force turnovers was largely negated. This was achieved by means foul and fair - but I've got no problem here. You get away with what you can. Again, take a bow Mr White. So the Springboks played a smart game and executed the coach's instructions to the letter."

By and large South Africans have grown confident behind their team. However, a few ascribe the renaissance purely to heart and passion. For sure, heart and passion have marked the South African efforts, but Jake White has based his team's success on more than this. Jake has built a game plan based on those old strategic foundations: exploit your own strengths and your opponents' weaknesses. The Boks have made a success of a plan based on brutal physicality, tight forward nous and unnerving pressure. This backed up by a reliable goal kicker. This is no inferior strategy - it is what has always won test match rugby. Peter Bills of the Independent News and Media clearly enjoyed a glorious test match - as did we all. His write up for the New Zealand Herald waxes lyrical over the Boks passion and the All Black's skill: "The wonderful invention and creativity in the New Zealand game was in a class of its own, hard as the Springboks tried to shut them down. They operated at pace and under the severest pressure, yet still they found space. Players spun, twisted and forced their way out of tackles and, joy of joys, the New Zealanders subscribed to that oldest of traditional values, namely, making the ball do the work. It was a delight to see. So, too, was their willingness to open up and attack even from their own line. Such a philosophy will serve them nobly in future."

I believe the Springboks' development will be based on responding to the contra-indication of these statements. Far too many people are implying the Boks have won (perhaps stated simply) because of brawn and despite lack of brains. Furthermore, they have directly indicated that the Springboks lack the skill of their more fancied opponents. Greg Growden of the Sydney Morning Herald simplifies the Springbok success: "The prime reason for the Springboks' third consecutive and important Test triumph is that their defence is so good."

It also seems that the Aussie media's fondness for their own is again on the increase as they remarkably begin to debase the South African success: (With regard to the Boks' defence) "But it is made even better by referees allowing them to get away with offside play. It is marginal, but too often the whistleblowers and touch judges give South Africa the benefit of the doubt." This will rile South African supporters who have felt that the Boks have received more than their fair share of referees' attention over the past few years.

The Boks must continue to play to their strengths. But to under-develop their attacking skills is to overstate a weakness. A visit to any of the top South African rugby schools and indeed, viewing the performance of the South African under-19 and under-21 world cup teams will draw your attention to the fact that South Africans can be mesmerising with the ball in hand. No one expects the Boks to suddenly take on the characteristics of Carlos Spencer and his magic back three. But the individual skills of Andre Petorius, Jean de Villiers, Jacque Fourie, Brian Habana, Breyton Paulse and Percy Montgomery speak volumes about the potential potency of the Springboks on attack.

Confidence is a wonderful thing, and I believe winning might ignite an offensive momentum that opponents will struggle to contain. Of course that will be built on the consistency of the Boks’ basic rugby skills.