First and foremost, I’d like to congratulate the Springboks for winning their first Rugby Championship title, formerly known as the Tri-Nations when Argentina was not in the mix.
The last time the Boks won the competition, it was still called the Tri-Nations.
The timing of the victory couldn’t have been better with us being in a World Cup year, it would’ve helped a lot with team unity, confidence-building and generating momentum heading to Japan to compete for the William Webb Ellis Trophy, which the Boks have lifted twice (1995 and 2007).
Perhaps what’s more important than winning the Rugby Championship for the first time since its reform is that it’s helped coach Rassie Erasmus and his management team answer all the unanswered questions before the Rugby Championship kicked off.
The Boks have been rebuilding since the end of a golden generation era led by John Smit. Erasmus has done a commendable job in helping the Green and Gold get back to their glory days.
One key assignment Erasmus had to tackle was to give the Boks their identity back by picking deserving Springboks. The Green and Gold jersey was entering a cheap stage where it seemed every professional rugby player had a very good chance in making the nation’s rugby team.
Let’s be honest, the shortened championship this year was designed to help teams prepare for the big one more than anything and, if results are anything to go by, the Boks emerged as the best beneficiaries.
The impressive win against the Wallabies at Loftus showed that Erasmus’ men are in a very good space and an even better team than yesteryears. The 16-all draw against the All Blacks confirmed that the Boks are back. The cherry on top in Buenos Aires didn’t only confirm that the team is ready for the World Cup, but it offered clarity on who should be part of Erasmus’ strongest XV.
The Boks are two for two in World Cup finals, it’s a record that would prove difficult to maintain considering the journey to get to a final – these Boks would have to get to the final first of course before even thinking about emulating Francois Pienaar’s and Smit’s teams – but at least the light at the end of the tunnel is shining as bright at the Rugby Championship trophy.
Springboks strongest XV on merit:
1 Tendai Mtawarira, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Duane Vermeulen; 9 Herschel Jantjies, 10 Handré Pollard, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 15 Willie le Roux – @SabeloBoksburg
