All is set for the Springboks’ World Cup course, and all that is left is execution on the field of play.
Bok captain Siya Kolisi has recently said that the willingness of his teammates to play for each other makes this Bok team special.
Rassie Erasmus’ men, however, are special in more ways than one.
Unlike the previous golden generation which won pretty much everything there is to win in Test rugby, the current Boks go into the tournament as somewhat of a dark horse, which will undoubtedly keep high pressure from high expectations at bay.
Another advantage the current squad has is that the majority of the squad specialises in their respective positions – great and versatile players who are near impossible to drop can give the best of coaches a headache, a la the Beauden Barrett-Richie Mo’unga situation at the All Blacks.
Taking a look at the team that Erasmus named for the final warm-up match against the host nation on Friday, all of the players on paper, from the loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff to full back Willie le Roux specialise in their respective positions, making every player happy and giving Erasmus less selection headaches.
There’s no dilemma like the John Smit-Bismarck du Plessis in yesteryears, for example, where captain fantastic Smit, although inferior talent wise compared to du Plessis, was near impossible to drop because of his priceless leadership skills – this writer dubs the former Bok skipper the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the Bok golden generation.
Furthermore, Erasmus has been efficient with his preparations for the rugby jamboree, it’s evident in how the coach has identified his starting XV, whether it’s the strongest leaves space for debate.
The squad, unlike before the Erasmus era, looked lost on the field and lacked an identity – another indication, in hindsight, of the work put in by the coach in a short space of time since assuming the Green and Gold hot seat.
The current squad indeed has all the makings to make it three wins in three World Cup finals: the respect and hunger among the players is there, they’ve apparently figured out how to beat the All Blacks, preparation was done thoroughly and expectations aren’t as high compared to previous years in Springbok rugby. There’s just one remaining piece: execution.
