How we’ll win the Rugby World Cup

If you’re a red-blooded, sport-obsessed South African then I probably don’t need to remind you that the 2015 Rugby World Cup is but two months away.

With the start of the Rugby Championships tomorrow and our beloved Springboks taking on the Aussies in Brisbane, rugby fever is building and there is no scale that can measure the pure excitement that is oozing from fans of the oval-shaped ball.

So, let’s take a look at how coach Heyneke Meyer’s team can win the Webb Ellis Trophy in England in September and October.

Running rugby

Yep, running rugby.

If the Boks are to win in England they are going to need to tweak that one-dimensional, forward-centred approach that admittedly worked wonders in France in 2007.

With the Boks playing at stadiums that are mostly used for football matches the thin grass surface beneath their feet is going to make rolling mauls and forward momentum tricky.

The smaller backs (particularly the number nines) are certainly going to love the open, running game on English pitches.

Meyer, whose success in the past has come from a forward-dominated approach, has admitted that the 2015 World Cup will be played at a much faster pace.

The ball should stay in play for longer periods of time than days gone by and this is where the backline will be crucial in providing attacking impetus.

Offloading will be crucial and if the recent Super Rugby final is anything to go by then Meyer is going to need to select players that can keep up with the pace of this flowing game.

Fitness will certainly be key.

The number 10s

It’s the most important position in rugby and Meyer is fortunate to have two differing options in the flyhalf role.

Lambie or Pollard?

That is the question on everyone’s mind and personally I think that Meyer will stick with the gap-finding, game-controlling Handre Pollard in England.

Pat Lambie has probably been a little bit punished for his utility as a flyhalf or fullback and perhaps he can change Meyer’s thinking with some good displays in the Rugby Championship.

Every team that has won the World Cup has had a flyhalf who has made his imprint on their respective teams and Meyer knows that his destiny lies in the selection of the right number 10 for the right conditions.

Getting lucky

In 2011 the Boks were dealt a cruel and ultimately tournament-ending decision by referee Bryce Lawrence in that quarter final versus Australia and we’re going to need Lady Luck to be on our side this time round.

You can’t predict what will happen from the men with the whistles, but if the decisions go the way of the Boks then it’s up to us to capitalise on them and play the rugby that will back up the luck.

Dwelling on the past

The Springboks have a remarkable World Cup record.

Of 29 World Cup matches that South Africa has played we have only lost four (86.2 percent).

In 13 World Cup clashes in the northern hemisphere our lads have lost just one match, so history is certainly on our side up north.

This will certainly not hurt our confidence going into the tournament.

Support

With the huge number of expats living in the UK the Springboks will be right up there with the British teams in terms of supporters.

The 24^th player will be crucial if the Boks are going to get through those matches where their backs are against the wall.

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