The breakdown was a contest — but little else troubled the Springboks in their Test season opener against Italy yesterday.
Italy needs every bit of talent available for selection but as many as eight of their regulars were left at home to recover from the demands of a northern hemisphere club season that stretches closer to 30 matches than 25.
The result was never an issue. From the moment the tour itinerary was confirmed, and for Rassie Erasmus and his Springboks, the focus would have been on the evolution of the Boks in a new World Cup cycle, in which they will have the opportunity for an unprecedented third successive World Cup title in Australia in 2027.
The power of the current Springboks was on display in the stands at Loftus, as much as it was with the 15 on the field. Earlier in the week, I named a run-on XV not involved in yesterday’s Test. It read: Fassi, Moodie, Am, Esterhuizen, Mapimpi Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Williams, Roos, Du Toit, Kolisi, Moerat, Kleyn Du Toit, Grobberlaar and Steenkamp.
Best team in the world
There are nine World Cup winners in the 15 not playing, and there were 19 World Cup winners in the match 23 in Pretoria. One could pick another 15 that would have done the job against Italy. This is what makes South Africa the best team in the world, the current world champions and the No 1 ranked team in the world.
For every position there are three players equally capable of starting — with winger Cheslin Kolbe, South Africa’s most capped Test player Eben Etzebeth, and world player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit — the only three that would have some distance between themselves and the chasing pack in their positions.
Given this backdrop, yesterday’s win was closer to a C- for the Boks, in terms of accuracy, execution and translation of possession, field position and points.
The scrum was beautifully dominant, and it needs to be treasured. It is what makes rugby union unique, and not a more complicated version of rugby league.
The scrum functioned as per every pre-match belief. Wilco Louw, on the tighthead and Ox Nche, at loosehead, powered a Bok scrum that was massively effective at every engagement.
Bomb Squad impact
The rest of the Boks performance, in facets outside of the scrum, was a mix and match of decent, at best, and indifferent, at worst. The Bomb Squad impact, like the scrum, was a highlight. Not so much the rest.
The lineout was capable without being a weapon. The wobbles were unexpected, with Lood de Jager back in tandem with his lock mate Etzebeth.
The breakdown is an area that would have been a focus at half-time, and the conversation will continue into next week’s preparation in Durban.
This week will be far more interesting than the build-up to the season opener because there is a performance to measure, and not historic form.
Scrumhalf is the one position that doesn’t scream ownership for now. Faf de Klerk, the double World Cup winner, made his Test return in the second half, and Morne van den Berg, given a start yesterday and a week ago against the Barbarians in Cape Town, profited with a couple of first-half tries from the Bok scrumming power.
Best team in the world
Van den Berg was good, without owning the No 9 jersey with his performance.
Grant Williams is injured, Jaden Hendrikse was released back to the Sharks and veteran Cobus Reinarch will feature in the build-up to the Rugby Championship.
The All Blacks, earlier in the day, beat France 31-27 in Dunedin, having led 28-27 with six minutes to play.
The French match 23 included just one player from the match 23 that hammered Ireland in Dublin to set up the Six Nations title win.
The match showcased France’s depth and the strength of the Top 14, as much as it asked questions about the All Blacks rebuild under Scott Robertson.
The Boks are not a rebuild, but a reload, and in Pretoria they fired way too many blanks for the Sheriff of Bok town that is coach Rassie Erasmus.
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