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By Jacques van der Westhuyzen
Now that Friday night's match against Leicester is out of the way, attention will turn to the real thing: that is the three-Tests the Springboks will play in Europe this month.
While Bok assistant coach Dick Muir and some members of the management team, as well as the 22 men who featured last night, endured a wet east midlands in England this week, the Test XV were at home resting their tired bodies and preparing for the task ahead. Next Friday, the Boks play France in Toulouse, the following Saturday they'll be up against Italy and they'll face off with Ireland at Croke Park the weekend thereafter.
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Italy are unlikely to give the Boks a scare, even if Bok boss Peter de Villiers is likely to employ some of the players who featured in last night's match, but France next weekend and Ireland will sure be major tests.
While there is little doubt the Boks have been the best rugby union team in the world in 2009 - swiping aside the British and Irish Lions, New Zealand and Australia - the majority of the Boks' matches this year have been played in good, dry weather conditions. It made their task that much easier, with Smit's men losing just twice in nine outings - against the Lions in the third Test when a second-string side ran out and against Australia in Brisbane where the Boks have never done well.
The Boks were unbeatable at home and also showed they have turned the corner and can now also do the business away - they picked up wins in Perth and Hamilton in the Tri-Nations. Now add to these two victories the three they achieved in November last year against Wales, Scotland and England and one realises this Bok side are no longer a win-at-home-only team.
This new-found belief will stand the Boks in good stead in the coming weeks and they'll more than likely start all three Tests as favourites. But while they've learned how to win away from home, they face new challenges in the coming weeks.
The Boks have played non-stop rugby this season - and it hasn't just been rugby. They hosted the Lions and won the series and then they went on to also capture the Tri-Nations crown. Back home it was back to the Currie Cup where the Bulls, with many Boks in their ranks, won the title just last weekend. Along the way De Villiers' team became the No1 side in the world - so now they have to live up to that billing. That's why this tour to Europe is different: the pressure's on like never before.
Besides having to deal with factors beyond their control against France, Italy and Ireland - difficult weather conditions, little preparation time and tired bodies - Smit's men also have to deal with what's happening on the field and winning up north is certainly a different challenge than winning at Loftus.
The expected wet fields make scrum and line-out play crucial, tactical and goal kicking essential, hanging on to the ball is vital and just to make it a little more interesting, the Boks don't know their opponents as well as they do the men from New Zealand and Australia.
They may be missing Jean de Villiers, Frans Steyn, Juan Smith and Pierre Spies, but the Boks still look formidable. The next three Tests will reveal just how far they've come from those three victories picked up last year. Winning in Europe in November 2008 was special, and somewhat unexpected.
And just to raise the bar a bit - there is now an expectation to win every game; not a hope as has been the case before on year-end tours.
- This article was originally published on page 22 of The Star on November 07, 2009
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Debbie
Please remove the puerile comments from the cowardly anonymous person who does nopt have the courage of his/her convictions to use their real name and stand up for what they believe in.
Thanx