Northern exposure

So after a great Currie Cup (always amazing to witness the transformation in the great cup when the Bokkies return) spirits are high in Bokland. And so too as — you’d expect — are expectations. After all, when it finally came together at the Fizzy Pop Dome, the Wallabies had no clue what hit them and more importantly, we got a glimpse of just what this side is capable of. And now we want more. We are the world champions are we not?

Of course a few things are a little different now; PdV has confirmed (in his own inimitable way) that he is in fact not the Messiah, CJ and BJ have moved on to the monetary spoils of the Northern mudfest, we have an untested fly-half, and accommodating The Bismarck means John Smit has to make do with a place at the side of the scrum.

Of the three challenges above only the uncertainty at pivot should really be worth fretting about. Even then Ruan Pienaar is a fine enough footballer to make the most of this chance and, with time, grow into a great fly-half. Granted three Tests in foreign conditions is a bit of a tough ask but when you consider his abilities, temperament and the company he’ll have around him (Fourie, Ricky, Jean and Adi) he’s not exactly going to be stumbling alone in the darkness. I for one salute PdV’s courage in giving the youngster a go.

John Smit at tighthead, certainly left field but again, understandable in the circumstances. Brian Mujati is hardly in the best form, our two other premier options at tighthead (BJ Botha and CJ v/de Linde) have gone and sought new challenges abroad (yes, they can be called up still but I understand why they weren’t called up). In addition to that Bismarck du Plessis has been in the form of his life and adds a rampaging dimension to our tight-loose play while his lineout throwing improves every week. John Smit has near irreplaceable leadership qualities and the pack scrums a LOT better when he is there. Not to mention that his interaction with match officials is somewhat more effective than Victor Matfield’s anguished protestations.

In addition to all of this Bakkies is back. I pity the fool who will try standing in his way.Einas galore coming through.

Wales should prove a tougher proposition to what we faced in June. The return of most of their first choice players, the relative freshness of their squad (‘tis early season for them yet) and 75 000 inebriated Welshmen in full cry should all combine to narrow the victory margin somewhat. I still back the Boks to win but a 10-15 point margin should be as good as it gets.

Scotland — ever brave, ever willing and ever short of the required standard. An easy walkover? No. A tough test of character? Not with the squad we have. Somewhere in between a regulation victory and a potential banana skin they are. We’ll certainly need to keep our wits about us but one suspects that’s all we need do for a certain victory. If there is a game for Ruan to fine hone his play and link-up with his 9, 12 and 13 this is it. He won’t get many chances like this. Maybe an extended second-half run for the mercurial Earl Rose to strut his extravagant stuff here too?

England will as ever prove to be the defining match of the tour. This result will go a long way to determining how this tour is viewed in retrospect. England are not the most settled unit, but will have had a couple of tough Tests to whip them into some discernable shape before they meet us and we may well run into a unit building up a good head of steam at the back-end of November. Add to that the Martin Johnson factor and this is one game we’ll need to give our all in. I still back the Boks to win this, but any margin above eight points will be a very good return.

I suppose of equal importance with the Lions tour looming next year is what impression we’ll leave behind on those muddy and misty shores. This is the best time to lay our first psychological markers and make sure Ian McGeechan realises the enormity of the task at his hands. We are the world champions. We deserve respect and we should go out there and remind our pasty-hued foes why.