These Boks have more than a wing and a prayer
This year has been an immensely trying and painful one for South African sports, meaning all eyes now focus on the Springboks as they attempt to annex the Webb Ellis Cup for the third time. Unlike the other tournaments this year in which South African teams failed to cover themselves in glory, this is doable for Johan “Rassie” Erasmus and his 31-man crew. In the second year of his unprecedented six-year term, he’s laid a solid foundation along with some serious squad depth. The acid test of the Boks’ impressive 2019 progress will be Saturday’s banger against the All Blacks in Yokohama. In their past four games against the New Zealand side, the Boks have asked uncomfortable questions of the defending champions. A single match shouldn’t define a tournament, but no team has won the World Cup after losing their opening game. With the All Blacks not as convincing as in previous years, and northern hemisphere teams prone to inconsistency, it’s anybody’s World Cup.
Under Erasmus, the Boks are confident but grounded. They have the squad, the experience and the tactical nous to emulate the storied classes of 1995 and 2007. What has stood out about this group is the level of preparation and attention to detail. They were the first team to arrive in Japan and are already getting to grips with the wild, wacky September weather. Should the Boks make it to the November 2 final, theirs would have been a seven-week route from Yokohama back to Yokohama. Add the two-week head start and that’s nine long but worthy weeks in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Should they triumph, as we hope they do, it’ll be the culmination of two years of diligence by Erasmus, his coaching group and the players. Considering the Boks were the runts of the rugby litter as recently as 2017, the fact they’re one of the favourites is an achievement on its own. Having not lost a game so far this year, the Boks have momentum, but they need to make it count. It’s not the teams with the perfect records that are remembered, but those that bring home the cup bacon. The Boks are well equipped in every way for this assault and bringing home the cup would be the perfect way to honour James Small and Chester Williams’s memory. Go for it, Bokke!