Durban – While South African rugby has been reduced to spectatorstatus for the latter part of the Super Rugby competition, this shouldn’t serve as an ominous sign for the Springboks and their World Cup ambitions, says former coach and current Bok selector Ian McIntosh.
“We are still ranked number two in the world, hey. As (Bok coach) Heyneke Meyer said recently, the form of our franchises was disappointing but you cannot take that as a yardstick for our World Cup chances,” Mac insisted.
“We are still number two in the world. We earned that, and some people seem to forget that. Remember, we beat the All Blacks the last time we played them,” he continued.
McIntosh, a legend in Sharks country and one of the most respected authorities in the game, said it was premature to start labelling the Boks as underdogs, adding that this wasn’t the first time a Springbok team had gone into a World Cup season looking a little underdone.
“Remember 2007? People were saying the same thing, that the team was a bit undercooked. We all know what happened that year, and I think this crop will be fine,” McIntosh enthused, excited at the looming international window.
“It becomes a bit more real now, I would imagine. Once the team starts getting together for the internationals, the dream becomes a lot bigger.
“This is the World Cup. This is these guys’ version of the Olympics. Four years is a long time to wait, so believe me, when that final squad gets chosen, it will ignite something in the squad, knowing that they are in, and going over,” McIntosh roared.
Certainly, there have been intense discussions around many a braai in South Africa over the last few months, debating the merits of players and playing styles that Meyer will take to the UK, but McIntosh is adamant that the Boks will be formidable opponents.
“You cannot label South Africa as underdogs,” he said.
“Test rugby is a different animal, and while the Super Rugby competition has been a bit disappointing, a heck of a lot of work has been going on in the background, making sure that the team we take is in the best possible shape come September.”
There are some crucial players coming back from injury, and other notable stars who have been limbering up for a final flourish across the world.
While the South African franchises have fallen short of expectation, the Boks, at full strength, will certainly ask different questions of any opposition that comes their way.
As things stand, Meyer’s men are poised to meet one of England, Wales or Australia in a Twickenham quarter-final, and then the All Blacks in a last four clash in Cardiff.
The portents are there for an almighty scrap as many of the anticipated 2015 squad look to wipe off the memory of a bitter 2011 campaign, when one Bryce Lawrence played a huge role in their quarter-final loss to Australia.
Then, the Boks were accused of not converting a surfeit of possession into tries, crippled by a game plan that leaned too heavily on the boot.
Now, Meyer is blessed with two young pivots who have the ability to run at the opposition and spark a backline that still has some of the game’s finest finishers.
That running game, that unpredictability, was the cornerstone of the Boks’ successes over the All Blacks – where Handré Pollard stole the show – and then at Twickenham, against England, when Pat Lambie pulled the strings with aplomb.
In those two, Meyer has a happy conundrum in trying to pick the best horse for each particular course.
Pollard has the inside lane, having played much of this season, while Lambie has missed a large chunk of the season with injury.
But he has proved his ability under pressure, nailing a last-gasp penalty to hold off the All Blacks last year, and then playing a masterful role of midfield general against England.
For Meyer, these are good problems and he will no doubt use the upcoming international season – starting with a match against the World XV on July 11 – to sort out any nagging doubts.
The Boks are also expected to welcome back talismanic skipper Jean de Villiers in July, and his personal, often brutal association with World Cup years will provide plenty of motivation for those who may still need it.
McIntosh, for one, sincerely doubts that any of the Springboks will be found wanting for excitement.
“Pal, once you pull on that jersey, you can’t help but get pumped up. We’ll be fine come the World Cup, don’t you worry,” he grunted.