South on top – for now

“You are the weakest link, goodbye.” This memorable sound bite, ‘authored’ by Fiona Coyne, provided television watchers with a bit of humour - and certain contestants in the game with some heartbreaking memories. But the weakest links of another kind have been on display during the past weekend’s international rugby matches. And the northern hemisphere’s lack of intensity and speed were the most brutally exposed aspects of some of those matches.

New Zealand prevailed 66-28 against an overwhelmed Ireland in a lopsided encounter, and made an emphatic statement about the former's strength as well as the premature verdict by critics that the All Blacks may be easy pickings for Australia and South Africa.

Australia, fielding an extremely inexperienced front row, claimed a 27-17 victory against England. It won handsomely, despite being mesmerised and outclassed in the scrums, suffering the humiliation of two penalty tries. Yet, it underlined the Wallabies' class and game-breaking prowess in Sydney.

Springboks

The Springboks looked in ominous form against the undisputed Six Nations champion France, a team that lost only three of its previous nine encounters against the Boks.

But the Springboks won in superb fashion, and the 42-17 score line could have been even larger, had Victor Matfield decided to run from the penalty close to the French try line after the siren went off. The hosts took to the Newlands pitch without nine of the men who started in the triumphant Tri-Nations campaign in 2009.

We are talking about Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Bakkies Botha, Heinrich Brüssouw, Juan Smith, Fourie du Preez, Jean de Villiers, JP Pietersen and Francois Steyn.

Their substitutes, and notably Francois Louw, Gio Aplon and Danie Rossouw, were in sublime form against the French team.

South Africa was surprisingly dominant in the scrums, completely outmanoeuvring the French team in the lineouts, and clinical when it was gifted with turnover opportunities.

Southern hemisphere dominance

The common denominators in the performances by the southern hemisphere sides were their agility, speed, high intensity and clinical finishing.

The northern hemisphere lacked the same intensity and high-octane attacking. England coach Martin Johnson acknowledged that the touring northern  hemisphere sides needed to lift their intensity.

“The step-up in intensity and quality of the game on Saturday (in England’s loss to Australia in Perth) was definite, we saw what the other two (northern hemisphere) teams (France and Ireland) did in the southern hemisphere.

“The way the game is being played down here is a little bit different right now and we need to get with it pretty quick,” he told AAP.

All Black coach Graham Henry was impressed by the Springboks’ performance against the Six Nations champion. “I thought they played with a huge physicality and a lot of confidence. The French struggled to compete in the physical contest.

"Obviously they’re not used to these laws, so that made them a bit apprehensive.

“They [Springboks] beat us three times last year. Their two Super 14 sides were in the final and they played particularly well. I think that’s a fair comment [that they are the benchmark side],” he told NZPA.

All Blacks

There were some "work-ons” for the All Blacks in Dunedin, particularly the set piece, Henry told NZPA.

“We didn’t create a great platform yesterday; we only had three scrums in the entire game and only about two-three lineouts on attack.

“We got beaten on territory, we got beaten on possession, but we didn’t get beaten on the scoreboard, so they (Wales) might have learned a lot from that,” he added.

What are the “work-ons” for the Springbok team before contesting two Tests against Italy in Witbank and East London?

The Boks will encounter a scrumming machine able to dismantle some of the best tight fives in the business.

The performances of Gurthro Steenkamp, Jannie du Plessis, BJ Botha and possibly CJ van der Linde in Witbank will show whether the Boks are on the right track in this facet of the game.

Secondly, some of the senior Boks of 2007 to 2009 will have to demonstrate their class to the national selectors. They includes Jean de Villiers, Butch James and Botha.

On the subject of enforcer Botha: Danie Rossouw has been in irresistible form, and Botha will have his work cut out to get back that coveted number-4 jersey.

Even Schalk Burger and Smith will have to regain some lost ground to make the starting line-up against the All Blacks in the first Tri-Nations encounter in July.

And what about Petersen? The diminutive Aplon was simply magnificent against the giants of France, and played with enormous focus and flair. So when Petersen returns, he will have to play extremely well to remove the gifted Aplon.

Peter de Villiers, the Bok coach, was scathing in his criticism of the Super 14 finalists and the way in which they managed, or mismanaged, Du Preez and Andries Bekker. He believed they were overplayed and were not given ample opportunity to recuperate.

However, there is an ever present danger that De Villiers is doing the same thing with Matfield, as the Bok giant hardly had any resting time in the Super 14 competition and is destined to play four successive Tests, when he could have been rested against Italy.

Apart from that small ‘infringement’ by De Villiers, there are many things to crow about, and little reason for complaint.

South Africa has an embarrassment of rugby riches during a time in which nation building on the sporting field is gaining ground.

Hopefully it will not be spoilt soon by silly political infighting or an untimely ‘classic’ Butana Komphela statement.