What a world cup it has been! The results have been somewhat surprising with 2 of the 3 traditional superpowers being knocked out early and the rise of countries such as Argentina and Fiji.
Argentina deserve their glory for being commited and consistent over the last few years. They certainly deserve more top level exposure as South Africa have conistently promoted. The question is in which competition and can they still be competitive with a new coach and new players to replace some of their stalwarts like Augustin Pichot. The island countries are in the same boat and inevitably nothing will change and their rugby will suffer until the next world cup.
But the moment of glory belongs to the Boks. The whole country has been unified once more in scenes reminscent of 1995. Their victory started 4 years ago. When Jake White took over as coach after the despair of the 2003 world cup, the first thing he stated was “We will win the world cup in 2007″. From that moment, the focus has been on regaining our trophy. Whilst he identified the core of the team he wanted in 2004, injuries and form meant he had to continually tweak his squad.
Whilst I have been critical at times over the last 4 years, especially in 2006, who else would have had the balls to bring back Os Du Randt, Montgomery and Skinstad. Who else in Springbok rugby has had the courage to stick by their convictions and who else would have pulled in Rassie Erasmus and then Eddie Jones? For 4 years White has stated defence wins world cups. The All Blacks believed this was wrong and attacking rugby was the order of the day, so they built a 30 man squad capable of scoring tries. Who was right?? From the quarter finals we saw that the teams that won had strong defences, often with less possession and territory. The difference being that over 4 years the Boks worked on having a plan B with a squad that could score tries and gamebreakers who could change the game if need be.
As we have now won 2 World Cups out of 4 attempts this makes us the most successful nation in the history of the game. Australia have also won twice but have competed in 6 tournaments. Hopefully this lays to rest this debate once and for all!
Credit must go to the players for they have been magnificent. Os Du Randt at 35 years old is a legend. To last 80 mintues in a World Cup final shows surely makes him the best prop in the history of the game. Percy Montgomery at 33 was quite simply the best kicker, not missing a kick in 3 games at the Stade De France. To play on with torn knee ligaments show the character of a player who many have criticised for being too soft.
Smit has been captain courageous and a great leader when the team has needed to regain composure.
The lock pairing of Botha and Matfield was quite simply the best in the world for the last few years. They are magnificent.
The backrow of Burger, Smith and Rossouw was not the best combination in my book but they were head and shoulders above any other trio at the world cup. Indeed Smith was the player of the tournament.
Du Preez is regarded as the best halfback in the world, and took the pressure off Butch James who has matured immensely.
Frans Steyn and Jacque Fourie were magnificent in defence and at 20 years of age for Steyn to earn a world cup winners medal is amazing. He will be the next golden boy of SA rugby.
And to the wings…JP Pietersen at 21 has come a long way but will get much better. His defence was outstanding over the tournament whilst on the other wing, the man with jet shoes, Bryan Habana has become the most dangerous player in world rugby and deserves his IRB player of the year award!
And the players on the bench have done their job too…Du Plessis, Van Heerden, Pienaar, Pretorius, Skinstad, Olivier, Muller, Steenkamp, De Villiers, Botha…
However it has been off the field that this team has impressed me. This team has taken social responsiblity on their shoulders too. They have talked of uniting the nation. Of the effect it will have on the people of South Africa. This is what could not stop the Boks from being World Champions. A united South Africa is more powerful than any other force. We never lose when Madiba has a message for the Boks. We never lose when our President is at the game. And what a joy to see Thabo Mbeki lifted up with the World cup. This has continued on for a week in South Africa. It has been fantastic to see the players visit Soweto. To see an old woman come out to see Victor Matfield…to see young white children idolise Bryan Habana.
The players have taken their responsibility magnificently and are such fantastic Ambassadors for South Africa.
It will be a tragedy if Jake White doesn’t remain in Springbok rugby. He has achieved so much and has only just begun. He has learnt so much. South Africa now has a golden opportunity to build on this success. Post 1995 we got it wrong, this time sanity needs to prevail. This could initiate great change in SA rugby. With Smit, Monty, Matfield, James and other leaving the rules could be relaxed to enable them to remain as Boks.
If the core of our team is left intact with Jake White, we can become the first country to successfuly defend the world cup. Bring it on!…
