The Springboks’ 45-0 victory over Italy this past weekend in the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) was a special event for more than one reason.

First of all, it once again put the spotlight on the elephant in the room in South Africa – the state of rugby in the Eastern Cape. With the spirit in the packed stadium the people of the Eastern Cape showed how hungry they are for top-level rugby.

They indeed made a very important statement with their appearance and performance in the stadium.

However, the way in which the game at provincial level at both the Border province in East London and the Eastern Province in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) has been ruined by political factors is a subject that is avoided at the highest level in SA Rugby. So too by other commentators who, through pressure groups and media talk, have a lot to say about how other provinces are run.

The second reason that made the test special is that Bulls fullback, Willie le Roux, played in his 100th test.

Of all the centurions in the Springbok jersey so far, Le Roux arguably stands out as the most unlikely player to achieve this feat.

Le Roux’s achievement of 100 tests as a Springbok has now established him as a rugby legend, regardless of what supporters and armchair “experts” think and say about him.

Although he was already an outstanding player at school rugby level and had people talking about his play at flyhalf as a schoolboy for Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch, Le Roux never had the profile of someone who would become a Springbok legend.

For example, he was quick enough to keep up with the pace of the game at any level, but he never had the speed of other wingers and full-backs who had played alongside him since his youth. In addition, his defence was not particularly weak, but he also never stood out as a fearless and exceptionally effective defender. He was also not particularly outstanding as an accurate goal kicker, like most other flyhalfs (the position he mainly played at school) and fullbacks. However, he stood out throughout his career as a very good tactical kicker.

Le Roux’s greatest talent – and the aspect of his game through which he has made the greatest contribution to all the teams he has been a part of – is probably his special ability to read the game, to see space in the heat of the battle and, as a so-called ‘try assist’ player, to create other opportunities for teammates to finish and score tries.

Rassie Erasmus admitted last week when announcing his team for the second test that it took him time to realize Le Roux’s unique value that he adds to any team.

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