Erstwhile Springbok consultant Les Kiss believes South Africa could potentially catch Ireland cold in the first test of their end-of-year European tour in Dublin next Saturday.
Kiss, who was one of Harry Viljoen's consultants back in 2001, says the Boks will be tough and it will take a lot to beat them.
Last year Ireland, at the end of their season, caught the under-prepared Springboks with their pants down by winning a first-ever test on South African soil.
The roles may now be reversed.
"You can see the improvements they've made," said the Australian. "Ireland would have had one week to prepare."
As director of rugby at Ulster, Kiss has an intimate knowledge of the Irish game and he was quick to stress that Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt "will not take anything for granted" and that "Ireland prides itself on physicality".
Similarities with Wallabies
Kiss believes the Springboks are in a similar developmental phase as the Wallabies and that they, in some areas, are evenly matched.
"The Springboks drew twice against them [Australia], didn't they?" he asked. "It will be interesting because, like Australia, South Africa have embarked on a rebuilding phase, trying to get some consistency. It will be an interesting challenge.
"South Africa over the last year or so have introduced some players who can make an impact. [No2] Malcolm Marx is one of them. Yes, they've got a few injuries but it has also given the opportunity to build their depth."
It, however, comes at a price and Bok head coach Allister Coetzee has had to strap himself in for a roller-coaster ride this year. Clashes against New Zealand have infuriated and tantalised. He is hoping his players can again summon the commitment and passion from their clash at Newlands in their matches with Ireland, France, Italy and Wales.
"That is the challenge. We cannot accept that is just going to happen," he conceded.
What helped lift the Bok performance at Newlands was the desire to atone for their 57-0 humiliation earlier in the Rugby Championship in Albany.
They should have similar incentive on this European tour. They were winless on their end-of-year tour in Europe last year.
For the Springboks, however, to emerge from this tour with their collective reputation enhanced, they will have to deliver more than the frenzied passion that saw them snap at the All Blacks' heels. They will also have to be composed.
Cool, composed leadership needed
Team captain Eben Etzebeth will need to rise above what the opposing agent provocateurs throw at him and his team.
Coetzee this week sought to set the record straight about the leadership debate that has grown in dimension since Warren Whiteley was forced to the sidelines because of injury.
"I want to make this point clearly. I'm not just going to give Siya [Kolisi] the captaincy because he's black. I want Siya to earn it.
I'm not just going to give Siya [Kolisi] the captaincy because he's black. I want Siya to earn it.
— Allister Coetzee
When he is emotionally matured with a lot of things in this environment," Coetzee said.
"First Siya has to prove himself as an opensider and he has done that. He is playing really great rugby. Why must I burden Siya with the captaincy now? Why must I give Siya that role when I know Eben has his support?
Eben did really well in his psychometric testing. He is a starting lock forward and he has the respect of the group. Siya also has the respect but his chance will come.
"The way they are gelling is unbelievable. Siya will grow into it when the time is right. Does he have that support around him on and off the field? When that has happened I'm sure Siya will become the next leader."
Coetzee will hope to find similar clarity elsewhere in his squad. Jan Serfontein's defection to French club rugby has left him in a quandary.
Coetzee is hoping Damian de Allende can fill that void, but for that to happen the sturdy centre will have to find form that has eluded him for the better part of this year.
Francois Venter provides an alternative, but whoever fills that jersey will have to play a significant hand in the restoration of Jesse Kriel's test credentials. It's a big task.
Kriel is a player with immense promise but has only sporadically shown his worth.
Similarly, the back three will come under scrutiny when they are put through the aerial wringer. That, in a twisted way, may give Warrick Gelant's test career a lift off.
Elsewhere, aerially speaking, the Bok lineout, with Marx as key component, needs to get a grip. In European conditions a functioning lineout and resultant marauding maul can prove compelling. In that regard, Pieter Steph du Toit's presence at the tail of the lineout is reassuring.
Some will say the return of the fit-again Handre Pollard will have a similar effect on the Bok midfield. This European tour will likely determine whether Coetzee prefers to have an artist or an artisan as his pivot.
