Well, so much for all of that palaver about the 2009 Springboks being the best team in South Africa’s storied rugby history. The Springboks are certainly the best team in the world, but the desultory performance this past weekend that led to a thrashing at the hands of the Australians has given the All Blacks hope. Admittedly, New Zealand needs a great deal to go their way, and the Springboks can lose and sill win the Tri Nations. A win and the Springboks will bask in a triumph that will guarantee them their place at the top of the rugby hill in this non World Cup year. Another bad loss and Peter de Villiers’ seat, hot even in the midst of this run of success, will sizzle in some circles.
I think the Springboks will win. It will not be easy — facing the All Blacks in New Zealand never is – but last week’s setback aside, this really is a special Springbok squad, one of the best even if not the greatest of all time, and I can see a hard fought, and at times ugly, 18-15 Bok victory.