Right down to the understanding that Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer’s biggest challenge doesn’t come at Newlands later today, but in Mendoza next weekend.

Having coached in Argentina, I can offer first hand experience that the Pumas are a very different, more potent, combination on their home soil.

And all the teams have to make the trip to South America, giving rise to the thought that the draw is going to play a massive role.

You can win or lose it in the first two games of the seven-week schedule which ends on October 6. It all depends whether you win and gain momentum, or lose and are left lagging.

Richard Loe, who earned 49 caps for the All Blacks as a totally uncompromising prop and has brought the same head-on attitude to his job as a Sky Sports commentator, has predicted Australia will win only one of their six games because of their schedule.

And when you see they have back-to-back Tests against the All Blacks, you see the task ahead of the Wallabies. If Australia lose in Sydney, they face a Test  at the Eden Park home of All Black rugby.

A second loss there gives the All Blacks the Bledisloe Cup again – New Zealand have held it since 2003 – and the Wallabies will then have to win all the rest of their matches and rely on the the other sides being beaten somewhere along the line, to have any chance.

South Africa look to have got the best of the draw. And there is no doubt in my mind that  Meyer would have wanted a home Test against the Pumas to start the inaugural campaign.

But with only four teams, there are basically only three options on who and where you play.

And the Springboks, even with the late withdrawals through injury of Pierre Spies, JP Pietersen and  Chiliboy Ralepelle, have had a couple of weeks together to practice and plan, a luxury they didn’t have during the incoming Tests against England in June.

The problem that faces the Bok coach –  Robbie Deans and his Wallabies and All Black coach Steve Hansen for that matter – is none of them really know what to expect. Except for one important fact that is: Argentina will set the benchmark for this competition.

They’ve waited a long time to get regular international competition, going to the Six Nations who said “no” and then to the Tri-Nations who also said “no” because the television rights and schedules had already been wrapped up.

The Pumas now know that their immediate challenge is going to be show everyone they are good enough to be in the company they find themselves.

What has surprised me about the build-up is South African coaches talking about the threat of Argentina running the ball at us. I find that somewhat hard to believe.

The Pumas have never run the ball to any great extent. Their game is the pick and drive, the  scrum and a kicking flyhalf to keep the ball ahead of the forwards.

I can’t remember any Pumas outside back in the past 20 years you would seriously consider including in a World XV.

But in Hugo Porta, who virtually beat the Boks on his own playing for the 1982 South American Jaguars in the 21-12 win in Bloemfontein back in 1982 – scoring in every way possible – the Pumas had a genius in the No 10 jersey and were a side to be reckoned with.

And in 2007 they finished third in the World Cup with another fine kicking flyhalf,  Juan Martín Hernandez, in the pale blue and white jersey.

Their glory days have definitely been with a kicking flyhalf, and will almost certainly stick to the style of rugby they have become known for. In fact, I think the sides who stick to their knitting and keep  to their own distinct style, will be the most difficult to beat. And all four of those styles are different.

The All Blacks depend on getting to the breakdown and running it back at you from the counter kick.

The Australians are the best running side in the competition with a really exciting backline, but for them to operate at full pace, the Wallabies need to win set piece ball, that’s where the Australian second row of Nathan Sharpe and Sitaleki Timani come in, adding a bit of bulk to the pack.

At this level, with the top three teams in the world in the mix, you don’t expect dominance. But you certainly want parity.

Heyneke has said the Boks will base their strategy on playing “winning rugby”. I, for one, certainly hope that is the case.


-  Jake White coaches the Brumbies and is South Africa’s World Cup-winning coach of 2007.

Check out Jake’s website www.rugbyxv.co.za, where readers can get the latest insights and trends in rugby.