Winning on a wing and a prayer

“Fame is a vapour, popularity an accident. Money takes wings. People who cheer you today will curse you tomorrow. “The only thing that endures is character,” is a quote attributed to a former American newspaper editor Horace Greeley. His quote is most applicable to the Springboks, who ground out a 29-25 victory against the Welsh Dragons on Saturday.

It was not an emphatic victory and the Welsh team might feel they have a realistic chance of reversing the score-line when they play against South Africa in the group stages of the Rugby World Cup in 2011.

If ever there was a match reflecting what is good and bad about Springbok rugby, this was it. It was a condensed version of the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde-nature of South African rugby.

The first 40 minutes were full of tactical naivety, characterised by several aimless kicks by Ruan Pienaar. It was an approach that worked spectacularly against a sluggish back three of New Zealand in 2009 as well as an out-of-sorts Australian team. It backfired against the All Blacks in 2010, was exposed and abused by the Wallabies and it almost carried the Welsh to a famous victory, their first since 1999.

The great escape

The introduction of Willem Alberts and Francois Hougaard early in the second half allowed South Africa to escape.

They found a way to win. The term ‘Winning Ugly’ inspired a book, authored by Brad Gilbert, who acknowledged that he looked more like caveman than  a classical tennis player, yet he carved out some great victories during his career.

Perhaps South Africa also looked suspiciously like cavemen and might have won ugly on Saturday, but it was not altogether unattractive.

It was a victory that appealed to many South Africans because of the guts and determination as well as bloody-mindedness in the Springboks’approach.  Deprived of ball possession late in the second half, they stuck it out under enormous pressure.

But it was the manner in which they carried the ball early in that second half that must have been a revelation for the Springbok management. Recycling possession and pressurising the Welsh, paid off as South Africa scored two tries in three minutes of constant offensive play.

South Africa did it against a team considered by many to be almost as physical and aggressive as the Boks.

On a wing and a prayer

This SA team have the ability to complete the Grand Slam, yet they might still have to do it on a ‘wing and a prayer’. Bjorn Basson, holder of the historical record for the most Currie Cup tries in 2010, was injured on Saturday and will have to be replaced for the rest of the tour.

The problem is that Basson’s wing partner, Bryan Habana, made two blunders on attack which might have cost South Africa victory if it were not for the cohesion and singular focus displayed by  Victor Matfield’s team.

Who will replace Habana? If South Africa could find capable back-ups for these players and decide to continue their refreshingly attacking tactical approach against Scotland and England, the English team might come under enormous pressure.

The Scottish team looked out of sorts against the revitalised All Blacks, while England mastered the Wallabies with contemptuous ease.

Should South Africa be under the cosh for their tactical shortcomings when they take the field against England?

If the Boks simply back themselves and adopt a brave approach to attack from deep against Scotland and England and cut away their dead wood of lackadaisical and overplayed senior  players, a Grand Slam is within their grasp.

Go Bokke!

This tour has also underlined why John Smit’s position will be scrutinized when the touring team returns from the Northern Hemisphere trip. Smit will have to play with refreshed vigour and determination, improve the quality of his tackling and the ability to rip away possession from opposition players on the ground, or risk being side lined for 2011 and the World Cup trip.

Bismarck du Plessis has been immense in this position on the tour.

There might also be a few concerns about the offensive ability of Jean de Villiers. A racehorse by nature and a workaholic and a crash ball-specialist by design, he has lost a yard of pace. His number-12 jersey will be occupied by Juan de Jongh soon, unless he refs up his speed on the attack and improve his ability to evade would-be tacklers.

It is in South Africa’s favour to consider resting some of the senior players for the test against Scotland. The Scots were woeful against the All Blacks, and new blood in the Springbok-team will give them fresh legs for the vital clash against the Scots.

A victory against Scotland might be within the grasp of the so-called Springbok dirt-trackers, unless there is such a lack of cohesion and focus there that the SA team blows it against the Scottish team.

That would be real tragedy, as the England team, is not unbeatable and their backline battles to convert point opportunities in spite of the majority of possession.

Expect Alberts to start against Scotland, and a new pack of forwards as well as a few changes at wing might be the way to go for Peter de Villiers and his troops