While the grounding of the ball in Van der Merwe’s score was dubious, you couldn’t say the Lions didn’t deserve to win. Sharks fans who complain about the try will also be well served to remember Lwazi Mvovo’s second score, which shouldn’t have been allowed.

Earlier the Lions suffered the worst possible start when Mvovo cantered over in the second minute, while in the same movement the hosts’ hooker Martin Bezuidenhout threw a punch and was yellow carded. Leading 5-0, playing against 14 men and exuding ultimate confidence in the try-scoring movement where they ran from their own 22, the odds were in the Sharks’ favour.

However, the Lions outscored the visitors 3-0 in that 10-minute period via an Elton Jantjies penalty. It’s been repeated throughout the season how different this Lions outfit is compared to the Super 14, but it can’t be emphasised enough. With the numerical advantage, on one occasion the Sharks pounded away for 19 phases at the Lions line and also exhibited brilliant offloading, but the Lions wouldn’t relent.

That theme continued for the rest of the half as the Sharks had all the possession, but the Lions’ cover defence and turning over ball at the breakdown was outstanding. After another multi-phase Sharks attack, a dropped pass fell into the hands of a Lions player 5m from their own line. The hosts countered rapidly, another feature of their play this season, and with Jannie Boshoff feeding Jaco Taute, the fullback finished off under the poles.

The Sharks replied through Mvovo’s brace, and even though the visitors had dominated possession, they were lucky to head into the shed level at 10-all. Mvovo again showed impressive pace and strength, but he had clearly placed a foot out in the build-up, but the assistant referee inexplicably missed the act.

Jantjies, who had been in exemplary goal-kicking form before last week’s match against the Bulls, also missed three penalties at goal, while Lambie hit the upright with an easy conversion for the first try.

In the first fixture between the sides at Kings Park the Sharks’ similar first half onslaught also didn’t yield results on the scoreboard, but eventually the defending took its toll on the Lions as they conceded 50 points. However, that didn’t look like repeating itself when they took a five-point lead when Waylon Murray scored against his former side after running an incisive angle to break the line.

But the impact of having to make 100 tackles in just 55 minutes eventually told when Odwa Ndungane benefited from quick ruck ball to score his side’s third try. Lambie nudged over his first kick of the match and then a penalty to hand the Sharks a five-point lead.

While the hosts had to defend in the opening half, the Sharks were forced into many tackles in the final quarter, while Ryan Kankowski’s ill-discipline for stomping on a player saw him miss the final four minutes.

Poetically the Lions’ inspirational captain scored in the final movement and while all his team-mates have showed improved resolve from earlier in the year, special mention must also be made of Josh Strauss, Jano Vermaak and Doppies la Grange.

The Lions face the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein and Pumas at home with their semi hopes still alive, while the Sharks versus Western Province match could prove vital in who tops the log.

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What has the move from Ireland to Port Elizabeth been like?
I’ve found myself coming full circle. I was born in Uitenhage and went to school at Grey PE. There’s a bunch of good people at EP, from the CEO Anele Pamba to president Cheeky Watson. Good people make a huge difference in a move like this. I still do the odd bit of consulting for the IRB, but it’s not a big thing.

How difficult was it luring back players who were earning big salaries overseas?
That’s the fantastic thing about guys like Darron Nell and Rory Duncan. They appreciate what we’re doing here. They want to be here at the start of the journey and they know there’s light at the end of the tunnel. For Darron, I think the whole experience of playing in a British & Irish Lions game made a big difference to him. He was here for 10 days for that game, and he could see he was a part of something good. In that regard it wasn’t difficult getting back guys who are from the region. In terms of general recruitment, we really need a Super Rugby franchise, because other good players with no previous links to the area want to play at that level. But that will be resolved, and we’ve been guaranteed Super Rugby entry in 2013 by Saru. As far as I’m concerned, we’ve been given unequivocal backing from the top. It’s got to happen now.

What’s your response to people who say the Kings’ Super Rugby inclusion won’t be a boost for transformation?
Against Boland we had four players of colour in the starting team, but Mpho Mbiyozo was still injured and for the first time this season, less than a third of the side was black. But that’s not what this team’s about. There’s no numbers game and everyone is picked on merit. There’s a relaxed atmosphere at training and guys speak English, Afrikaans and Xhosa. The black guys feel at home more than they do anywhere else. I’ve selected a leadership group of six players, and of those, only De Wet Barry isn’t from the Eastern Cape. We’ve also got Tiger Mangweni, Mzwandile Stick, Darron, Rory, and Mpho. De Wet’s committed himself to the region, proof of which is him learning to speak Xhosa. When we played the Valke the following week, we had six players of colour in the starting team and two on the bench. That isn’t an issue for us, and it shouldn’t be for the pessimists.

Will you be able to get black players to return to the Eastern Cape?
I’d love it if every black player who’s been developed in this region came back, because they get lost at some of the other unions. Without a Super Rugby franchise in the Eastern Cape they’ve had no aspirational pathway. It’s going to be tough, but we’ve started a process. You can see from all the players’ body language how happy they are to be back home. My motto is to bring them home and keep them home. They want to be part of something special.

How do you think Mbiyozo will make the transition from sevens back to the 15-a-side game?
I coached Mpho at UCT [University of Cape Town] in 2005 when they were part of a relegation scrap, and he was exceptional. I couldn’t understand why he hadn’t got any opportunities with WP and the Stormers. We saw when he played for the Kings against the Lions last year – he hadn’t played 15s for a while and he was adjudged Man of the Match. I don’t think he’ll battle with the adjustment. He’ll be back by the end of August after keyhole surgery on his shoulder which he injured while playing sevens.

What’s been the key to EP’s best Currie Cup campaign in years [they are top of the First Division log]?
It’s difficult to comment on the past few years as I wasn’t here, but hard work has been vital. Everyone here has been prepared to do it – from the administration, to the coaching staff, to the players. We’ve tried new things with the players, and they’ve been happy to embrace change. We made things difficult for ourselves against the Griffons but got  the result, and the win against Boland away from home was a big victory for us. Winning breeds confidence.

What was the thinking behind bringing backline coach David Maidza from the Border Bulldogs?
David worked with us against the Lions and I was very impressed. When we approached him, he could see a bright future. He’s a first-class coach and an outstanding guy. He’s looking to develop himself as a coach and we want to give him opportunities to travel. We’ve made a tentative approach to the Western Force for him to go there for two or three weeks in December to work with Richard Graham, who will be their coach once John Mitchell leaves. Rich is a brilliant skills and backs coach, and all coaches should want to up-skill themselves, which is what David wants to do. He is highly intelligent, articulate and he’s got a good manner with the players.

Why did EP change its name to the EP Kings this season?
Cheeky and Anele were behind the thinking and know more about the reasoning, but I think it’s great. Everything about the team is new; we’re moving into the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on 1 September, and wanted a fresh start. The Mighty Elephants belonged to the Boet Erasmus and things are changing with the Kings. This is a new beginning.

How do you plan to incorporate Border and SWD into the Kings franchise?
I don’t see it as a problem. When I coached the Stormers, we easily negotiated bringing in Boland and SWD. You always have an anchor union, which EP are here, and it makes sense as PE is the biggest city [compared to George and East London] and we have the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. With the Stormers, we had camps in George so that SWD felt part of the franchise, and we also played warm-ups against Boland and SWD.

How does your job as director of rugby branch into other areas?
We’re doing our best with the professional team, but it’s also about under-pinning that with high-performance teams. We’ve started working with the schools, age-group sides and universities in the region, which never happened in the past as there essentially hasn’t been any professional rugby here, and therefore none of the professional structures. We’re also taking a road trip to the top 27 schools in the region with guys like [former Bok centre] Danie Gerber and [ex-Bok prop] Robbie Kempson.

How long will it take to stop the excessive loss of players to other unions?
It will take two or three years to arrest the haemorrhaging. We’ve made inroads already and we’ll make academy signings this year. It’s all part of a process.

Some argue that even though the Cheetahs have a Super Rugby franchise they still loseplayers. Why will the Kings be any different?
It’s very simple. The Cheetahs lose players every year because for some or other reason they don’t perform at Super Rugby level. They aren’t as wealthy as the other unions and their players get poached, and therefore they’re unable to compete. But we’ll have the financial wherewithal that the Cheetahs don’t have and we’ll make a mark in Super Rugby. The consequence is that the players will stay.

How important is it to gain promotion to the Currie Cup Premier Division next season?
That’s the ideal scenario. Like everyone in the First Division, we’re looking to move up. We want to play a higher level of rugby. If we play in the Currie Cup Premier Division in 2011 it will facilitate our entry into Super Rugby two years later. But we’ve only played a few games and aren’t even halfway through the season, so it’s early days. Our ambition is to get to the Premier Division. At times we might go sideways or a little backwards, but ultimately we’re moving forward. People in the region have seen what’s happening and interest is rising. We must also remember that we had the most representative rugby crowd for the Kings’ match against the Lions last year, which shows the interest and hunger for sport across all racial groups. Although not every South African has links with the Eastern Cape, we should all be working together to support the union, not criticise it.

Is EP going to set up a rugby academy?
Our ideal model is to have players coming from high school to the academy while studying at varsity in PE, playing for EP U19, and also NMMU [Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University] in the Varsity Cup and the local league. NMMU will model themselves on our structures, and our academy players will be based at the stadium, along with all the senior players. The university and academy will play a central role in the development of the franchise.

How worrying is NMMU’s last-place position in the Varsity Cup?
We’ve got to tackle the problem of NMMU. We had our first meeting with their staff at the start of the season and have rekindled our involvement with them. We want them to be a success, not like the recent past. We’re determined to make them powerful, which they have to be for the sake of the province. NMMU have to be a pathway for players to the senior team; they must have the same approach as the professional side.

– This article first appeared in the September issue of SA Rugby magazine

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The Bok captain has been ruled out for three months after undergoing an operation to repair a chronic cervical disc.

‘The op will also ensure John’s availability for the Springboks and the Sharks for the 2011 season,’ said team doctor Craig Roberts. ‘The timing was right for John to undergo surgery as he will now have a prolonged period of recovery in advance of the new season.

‘This was not a career threatening injury.’

Solly Tyibilika’s descent from being a Springbok to playing for one of the poorest teams in the country has been rapid. At the start of 2007, he was thinking of a World Cup place. A year later he was preparing for the Vodacom Cup with what is essentially a semi-professional union, Border.

In 2007, Tyibilika was on a R700 000-a-year contract with the Lions. In 2009, the Border Rugby Union operated on a monthly budget of R200 000 for all their players. However, he doesn’t regret the move.

‘I had a two-year deal at the Lions,’ he says, ‘but I didn’t want to stay for the second one. Those guys like to change what they tell the media.’

Where did it go wrong for the 31-year-old? Capped eight times for the Boks – four of which were against New Zealand and Australia – he played his last Test in the calamitous 45-26 hammering at the hands of the All Blacks at Loftus in 2006. With Schalk Burger out with a neck injury, coach Jake White had called Tyibilika the best opensider in the country a week before the match, but axed him in the aftermath and he was never to play for the Boks again.

Ask Tyibilika where it went wrong, and he says a lack of game time afforded to him by his provincial coaches was the problem. But it’s a bit more complicated than that.

He left the Sharks at the end of 2006, as they had loose forwards Jacques Botes, Warren Britz, Keegan Daniel, Ryan Kankowski and Bob Skinstad on their books, and joined the Lions, a move he regrets to this day.

When I meet with Tyibilika in East London the day before South Africa are to play Italy, he says seeing the Boks walking around the team’s beachfront hotel made him think about what could have been.

‘There are a lot of regrets, my man,’ he says, shaking his head. ‘I’m not pointing fingers, but I shouldn’t have moved to the Lions. But the Sharks, they had many good players.

‘I didn’t get game time at the Lions. If I was to have had any chance of playing for the Springboks under Jake, who was still backing me, I had to get game time. I just wanted to play. The more you play, the more you learn. I was looking for game time anywhere.’

In the build-up to the 2007 World Cup, there was repeated talk about the make-up of the 30-man Springbok squad and how many black African players would have to be included. If Tyibilika had produced a decent run of form, he would probably have gone to France.

Tyibilika was used in a couple of warm-up games in the Lions’ 2007 pre-season, but didn’t play for them for the first half of the year. Baywatch Grobbelaar, Ernst Joubert and Willem Alberts were initially deemed better starting options, and Tyibilika couldn’t keep out of the headlines – for the wrong reasons.

‘Solly goes AWOL’, ‘Solly goes AWOL again’ was the general theme. Lions coach Loffie Eloff said Tyibilika missed training with the Super 14 side three times, so he was dropped to the Vodacom Cup team. He then went missing when he returned to his home town of Port Elizabeth, with Saru and the Lions left to track him down. He was later relegated to playing club rugby for Wits and at the time, Tyibilika issued a formal apology to the union for missing practices and admitted his attitude was not in the spirit of the game.

However, three years later Tyibilika is in no mood for apologies.

‘I was the fittest loose forward when I arrived at the Lions, but when the squad for the Super 14 overseas tour was announced, I wasn’t in it. I had to automatically go to the Vodacom Cup side – as you would do at any union – but when I went there, the coach [Ian McDonald] said he didn’t know anything about me having to play for him. I went to training, but wasn’t in his plans because Loffie didn’t tell him to play me.

‘I asked him to please just give me game time, because the senior coach [Eloff] had promised me that he would then play me when they came back. But it never happened.

‘I wasn’t playing and I didn’t know what to do. My former club in PE was up in Joburg for an Easter rugby tournament, so I thought maybe I should play for them. The last time I’d played before that was in January during the two warm-up games, when I was subbed midway through. That was a big thing for the Lions. They asked me why I was playing for a club from another province. It was because I didn’t have a club in Joburg – I’d just come from Durban – and I hadn’t been given an opportunity with the Vodacom Cup team. I just needed game time, but the Lions were more negative towards me after that.

‘The reason I eventually left the Lions was because of the coach [Eloff]. He wasn’t honest with me – he lied to me. I would be going to training, but he’d say through the media that I had gone AWOL – I just couldn’t understand it. I was there for rugby and to get opportunities because I wanted to go to the World Cup.

‘Loffie never explained to me why I didn’t get game time. He was never open with me. Coaches stick to their plan, and I wasn’t a part of his. But when he bought me from the Sharks, he said I was part of the plan.’

After a controversial start to 2007, Tyibilika then injured his shoulder in the Currie Cup – where he was given game time – and then with his World Cup dream over, he again failed to attend practices. When he was relegated to the Vodacom Cup squad at the beginning of 2008, Tyibilika was clearly disillusioned and decided he would cut short his contract with the Lions.

For many Springboks, 2007 was an unforgettable year. For Tyibilika, it was unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.

He is currently in his third season in East London and life is very different to playing for bigger unions like the Sharks or Lions. With no sponsors, Border are struggling off the field and things aren’t much better on it – they didn’t win a single game in the Vodacom Cup. For those players who live on the outskirts of East London, even travelling to practices is a challenge.

‘Only 13 or 14 members of our entire squad are contracted,’ says Tyibilika. ‘The rest – who have other jobs – only get a match fee. We can also only have our practices after they’ve finished work at 5pm, so we train in the dark.

‘The guys who live in the townships have difficulty getting home as the taxis don’t run at night. We really need a sponsor to bring about change.

‘At the end of every Currie Cup, we lose players because all the cream gets bought by other unions. There’s no money here. Either the players take other offers, or they stop playing. We do get money from Saru, but that grant isn’t as much as it used to be.

It isn’t possible for players to earn salaries of R25 000 or R30 000 a month, for example, which is what other provincial players are being paid.’

Tyibilika has since fleetingly shown his ability at the top level, the last example being when he played for the Southern Kings against the British & Irish Lions last year.

He was one of two Border players selected, along with reserve scrumhalf Josh Fowles, but says that while it was a memorable day for the region, Border haven’t reaped any of the rewards.

He also isn’t overly enthused by Saru’s promises that the region will have a Super Rugby franchise.

‘I’m not sure what goes on there in terms of the administration,’ he says. ‘Each day is a different story. After the Kings-Lions match, everyone said things would be better in terms of money, but we haven’t seen any of it and there’s been no change. We need sponsors to get quality players.’

Ironically, as the topic turns to the Kings, someone who is willing to comment on their future arrives at the table where we’re sitting. Dumile Mateza, a rugby commentator during the 1995 World Cup, greets Tyibilika with a handshake, a hug, and ‘Solly, you look exactly like your father’. Mateza then goes straight into his views on the Kings’ problems.

‘I was arguing with [Saru deputy president] Mark Alexander the other day about the Kings,’ Mateza says to Tyibilika. ‘They can’t be run by amateur organisations like the EP and Border unions, they must be driven by a group of businessmen in order to make it a viable organisation. There’s no way a president of an amateur rugby body can run it professionally. They must run the amateur side of things and then put in rugby structures, and we [the businessmen] must bring in the money and run it.

‘We are saying to Saru that the Kings must be run by a group of black businessmen if they’re serious about transformation. Saru will get more credibility if they do that rather than the way they’re pussy-footing around now.’

As for Tyibilika’s credibility, it took a dent in April this year. After captaining the side, he was dropped for Border’s match against Boland because he missed practices. Border coach David Maidza axed Tyibilika for that game and took the captaincy away because he felt he wasn’t setting a good enough example for the younger players.

‘Missing that practice was down to miscommunication,’ says Tyibilika. ‘I had sent our manager an SMS telling him I was away for the Easter weekend and that I’d only be back on the Monday afternoon. No one told me we were practising on Monday morning, and I couldn’t get back as I was using public transport. The manager only told the coach in the afternoon.

‘They told me they were going to drop me but they’d play me again as long as I went to training. I played the following week.’

When I ask Tyibilika what advice he would give to black players trying to make the step up to professional rugby, he seems oblivious to the irony of his response.

‘I think there are many talented black guys, but if you’re not completely disciplined, that’s another thing.’

– This article first appeared in the September issue of SA Rugby magazine

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De Villiers believes all the structures are in place to mount a World Cup title defence and to deflect attention from their poor results over the past year. He’s said his side must be judged on that tournament. But on live television on Thursday, on Boots and All‘s celebratory episode of one year until the global showpiece starts, De Villiers said the Boks were expecting tough games from Tonga and Fiji, with the former not even in their group.

Ignorance and arrogance have been two of the trademarks of the De Villiers tenure, and this remark is the latest to highlight how confident Bok supporters should be regarding the knowledge of their coach. Forget about the crass political and racist remarks he’s uttered over the last two and half years, but here was a chance to talk rugby and inspire some confidence. Unforgivably for the national coach, he doesn’t know that the Boks are playing Samoa in their final group match, and not Tonga (who will play in the World Cup opener against the All Blacks).

Even though De Villiers spends little time preparing the side, all he has to do is remember that the Boks are playing four countries at next year’s World Cup – Wales, Fiji, Samoa and Namibia. We wonder why he says so many silly things, such as being mystified as to why the Boks lost five of six Tri-Nations matches this year and prefers to blame the refs for those defeats, but it all comes down to one thing: he doesn’t know enough about the game to comment articulately.

Some blame his media mistakes on him not speaking Afrikaans, but confusing Tonga and Samoa isn’t a language issue. Other supporters may blame Thursday’s gaffe on him being nervous, but if it was an honest mistake he could’ve corrected himself. Later this month Saru will conduct a review of the Boks’ poor results and De Villiers’ comments, and this latest remark should also be brought up.

There’s no way any of the assessors can confidently say that De Villiers is the correct man for the job. From a rugby perspective he’s out of his league, and from a public relations perspective there will be some more disastrous moments if De Villiers makes it to the World Cup, which is looking increasingly likely. The British, Australian and New Zealand media, who have shared heated exchanges with De Villiers in the past, will be eager to give him a grilling this time next year. With De Villiers failing to handle them in the past, expect that to continue.

De Villiers’ latest gaffe is also sure to be remembered by the Samoans, and their coaching staff will have some extra ammunition to fire up the players before next year’s 30 September clash.

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In a World Cup year the tournament is shortened compared to what it will be from 2012, with the league stage completed on 18 June, and the final played on 9 July. That said, the increase in the number of matches and the length of the tournament ensures that squad depth will be vital. There is more uniformity in that each South African side will tour Down Under for four matches, where in the past some sides had five-match Australasian trips.

All the South African sides play eight matches home and away against teams from their own conference (in this case, the other South African teams). They also each play four away games against Australasian opposition, and four home matches against other Australian and Kiwi teams. That results in a total of 16 league matches for each side and two bye weekends for the respective teams, with South African sides not playing one Australian or New Zealand franchise each year.

For example, the Lions will be happy to avoid playing the Crusaders in 2011, but conversely they also miss out on a fixture against the new side, the Rebels. All the South African outfits travel overseas for four matches, with the Lions having a tough away trip late in the league stages against the Brumbies, Tahs, Highlanders and Hurricanes. If the Lions don’t make the play-offs by being one of the top six sides, their season will end before the completion of the league stages as they have the last of their two byes in the final week.

The defending champion Bulls don’t play the Blues – who beat them this year – and the Brumbies, and travel to play two tough Kiwi franchises, the Hurricanes and Saders, and the Reds and Force overseas. They’ll also host the Rebels, Landers, Chiefs and Tahs at Loftus.

The Stormers are in the strange position where they won’t play on the opening weekend as they have a bye in week one. They don’t meet the Canes and this year’s semi-finalists the Tahs, who they beat twice in 2010. They face the Saders at home and their four-week tour includes matches against the Chiefs and Blues, two sides who they’ve done well against in the past away from home. They finish with matches against the Brumbies and the Rebels in an unfamiliar venue in Melbourne.

The Sharks won’t play the Highlanders and Reds next year and have some tricky matches at home, including the Blues, Canes, Brumbies and Tahs. Their tour, which they undertake from week three, starts off nicely against the Force and Rebels, but they have to travel to play the Chiefs and finally the Crusaders.

The Cheetahs don’t play the Chiefs and Force in 2011. Their first taste of Australasian opposition will be on the road, and with their poor overseas record they’ll face the Tahs, Reds, Blues and Landers away from home.

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With both sides level on the log before kick-off, the result was always going to have a big say in the play-off race.  With the Lions and  Western Province’s victories on the same day, the Bulls now remain out of a play-off spot, and with only four rounds remaining the pressure is increasing on their title defence. They sneaked into the semis last year, and will have to rely on a late charge similar to that.

The contest got off to a frantic start with a try after 38 seconds through Philip van der Walt. The Cheetahs flank finished off a deep attack from their own try-line off the first kick-off, slick inter-passing and good vision leading to the 90m try.

The Bulls replied through a Jaco van der Westhuyzen score five minutes later, and had the better of the first half as they led 11-10 at the break. After the frantic opening, both sides’ defence tightened up, while they also showed that tactical versatility is a must, even with the new law interpretations.

Francois Hougaard, back in the Bulls No 9 jersey, continued his development in the scrumhalf position and was a constant threat around the fringes. The problem for the Bulls in the second half was the amount of ball they had. In the second stanza, the home side dominated possession, but the Bulls’ defensive system and commitment were outstanding. It was reminiscent of their display against WP at Newlands, where despite what was handed to them, they wouldn’t relent.

Eventually they had to, Hendro Scholtz diving over after 32 phases and two movements of concerted pressure. Heading into the final quarter, the Cheetahs led 20-14.

Coenie Oosthuizen was instrumental in that period and throughout, as he continued his form that’s made him the best ball-carrying prop in the country. The 21-year-old was, as usual, outstanding with ball in hand and in the loose, but his scrummaging prowess repeatedly disrupted Bulls ball and also forced a tighthead at a vital stage in the second half. One of the Springboks’ few positives after a disastrous year has been Gurthro Steenkamp, but Oosthuizen is a must addition for the Grand Slam tour.

Scholtz’s try handed his side a nine-point buffer after they’d trailed at the break, but typically the Bulls refused to hand their opponents victory. Jacques-Louis Potgieter’s first penalty narrowed the gap, and Van der Westhuyzen was denied a late try by some committed cover defence. As strong as the Cheetah’s scrum had been early in the game, with WP Nel on they felt the pressure as the Bulls had all the momentum in the closing stages.

The Bulls nearly stole a win despite their repeated mistakes, but the Cheetahs also showed the resolve their opponents had done earlier.

By Grant Ball

Last Monday De Villiers said the Boks support murder accused Bees Roux 100%, a comment that has caused an uproar. Saru has said little on the matter, apart from president Regan Hoskins saying there will be formal discussions later this month with De Villiers on the matter.

If Hoskins backs De Villiers’ comments, he’ll come under fire from the government, while if he doesn’t, Stofile called on him to take action.

‘I am angry,’ Stofile told reporters after attending a sports portfolio committee meeting on Tuesday. ‘I did not hear him make the comments, but I received the message that he said we are wholeheartedly behind this chap who killed the policeman, 100%. That is disgraceful. It doesn’t matter what the circumstances were. I can’t believe he said this.

‘I have written a letter to the president of rugby (sic) to seek an explanation of whether the coach’s comments were reflecting the attitude of South African rugby on this murder, and if not, what are they doing about it.’

Stofile rightly added that South African rugby’s already tarnished reputation is being further tainted by De Villiers’ repeated public gaffes.

‘I think that Saru, if that happened the way I am told it did, they must follow the due process and deal with it. It is a serious matter of dragging the organisation into total disrepute. They must deal with that matter. It is totally unacceptable,’ he said.

‘I know Peter from when he was still a young scrumhalf for the Boland Rugby Union. I was the deputy president of the South African Rugby Union at that time. I advised Peter after a function in Paarl [in 2008] to find himself a spokesperson and not expose himself to you guys.

‘Remember what he said about the British Lions and their eyes, and the lions of the Kruger National Park, and then about Hamilton and their hotels? These are the sort of things I was trying to protect him from saying.

‘Dealing with the media needs a special skill and special acumen. He likes to talk, and I asked him to talk to a spokesperson. Now he didn’t do that. He said in one interview that nobody tells him what to do, and I agree with him. He doesn’t listen.’

The review will take place later this month and covers all aspects of the Boks and De Villiers’ performances. Saru president Regan Hoskins said that there will also be formal discussions regarding De Villiers’ comments that the Boks supported murder accused Bees Roux 100%.

In an attempt to clean up De Villiers’ mess, Hoskins said that he had written a letter to the family of dead policeman Johannes Mogale to show the union’s support and send their condolences.

‘All rugby followers are extremely disappointed with results in the Tri-Nations, as are the Springbok team and management, of course,’ said Hoskins. ‘We take the situation very seriously but there is a process in place and we will follow that through.’

Saru won’t comment further until the review is complete.

Another week,  and another Peter de Villiers controversy. It would be tiring if it weren’t so entertaining watching him bury himself and further tarnish what is already a tainted reputation. Those comments about the Boks backing Bees Roux 100% rightfully received most of the attention in the media, but his admission that he selected his side according to perceived public sentiment also raised some eyebrows.

This from the coach who said he wouldn’t listen to public opinion in calling up new players to the squad. De Villiers said he selected over-played individuals to give the Bloemfontein public value for money, but the crowd showed what they thought of that decision when Bryan Habana, and a few other Boks, were embarrassingly booed inside the first 30 minutes. One vocal supporter (double Brandy & Coke in hand, obviously) even shouted to the press, tell Saru I’m going to sue them over Habana. I’m still not sure how that would work, but his point was taken.

Needless to say after Monday’s self-inflicted drama-filled day for De Villiers, before Tuesday’s press conference, his response was to mutter under his breath about some of the members of the press (those that he probably classifies in the ‘against us’ category). You stay classy, P Divvy.

While the Australians were shark-cage diving off the Durban coast on their day off, some of the Boks went hunting on one of Bloem’s nearby farms. Morne Steyn proved the most successful and transferred his kicking accuracy to the hunting, shooting a buck in the head.

From Thursday our moods were perking up as we realised there were no more De Villiers pressers. The way assistant coaches Gary Gold and Dick Muir – who were rolled out for the first time this year in response to an SA Rugby magazine article that stated how much influence they have in the squad – provided honest, rugby answers was refreshing.

Cardinelli and I decided to celebrate that evening with a visit to the famed Barbas on Bloem’s Second Avenue. The fact that there aren’t many other options to go out to in Bloem didn’t get us down, and I responded by claiming the Barbas hat-trick of three nights in a row. JC is getting old before his time so he missed out on the weekend’s happenings, but Gavin Rich was back in town by Saturday after his Durban sojourn to follow the Aussies.

JC and I had forgotten there was a post match presser with PdV, and again it wasn’t surprising to hear him blame a refereeing decision late in the game as the reason for the defeat. Delusional.

After their promising performance on the pitch in Bloem, Rich and I were interested spectators in the way the Australians also out-played the Boks on their night out, with Quade Cooper, James O’Connor and Anthony Fainga’a especially popular with the ladies. The trio had two to three girls on their arm throughout the night, and you could see in the eyes of the young ladies they saw this as their ticket out of Bloem.

Personally, my favourite moment of the week came when Griquas scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius was asked by a fan whether he thinks he’s better than Ricky Januarie. Pretorius’ simple response: he smiled broadly and just rubbed his stomach. Classic.

Bloem has its detractors, but I’m not one of them. The City of Rose in Spring, there’s nothing like it.

By Grant Ball, in Bloemfontein

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Smith has highlighted his value to the Springboks over the last three weeks after missing the Boks’ forgettable overseas leg. With the side again looking disjointed and disorganised, especially on defence, they required individuals to provide some impetus, and Smith was one of those who responded.

Although Francois Louw was unfairly dropped and the back row balance with Smith and Schalk Burger playing alongside one another has rightfully been questioned, Smith’s all-round game and Burger’s work-rate means they are invaluable to the side.

After an enforced break that meant he missed the majority of the Boks’ season due to injury and personal reasons, Smith has provided some understated leadership. The break has left him refreshed, and the side and Smith are the better for it.

While others in the squad will go down as ‘greats’ and receive most of the plaudits, Smith’s silent nature but consistent performances ensures he’s the perfect example for his team-mates.

With Peter de Villiers disregarding the need to pick a specialist fetcher, Smith and Burger have more of a role in setting the tone at the breakdowns when the Boks have ball in hand. Much of Smith’s clearing at ruck-time goes unnoticed, but he’s a valuable role player in lifting the Boks’ intensity in this area and is more often than not the first player present to clear out players such as pilferer David Pocock.

Although Smith knocked on in the 19th minute with the line beckoning and unmarked players on the outside, it was a rare mistake from one of the most under-rated players in the side. Along with Jean de Villiers and Gurthro Steenkamp, the trio were far and away the best Boks on display on Saturday.

Smith made two carries in the build up to the Boks’ first penalty, and that set the trend for the remainder of the evening as he was tireless in attack and defence. The angles he runs means he virtually always gets over the advantage line, and even though the Bok attack is predictable with one-off runners from the breakdowns, Smith still breaks tackles the majority of the time or draws in two defenders.

The Boks rarely contested at lineout time, but Smith was the main threat at the tail when they did, while his ability in the air set up the possession for Steenkamp’s try.

On a day when the Bok defence was again so porous that it was embarrassing, Smith refused to be effected by that tackling disease as his tackle count was high. Smith made tackles on behalf of many of his team-mates, which included a great covering tackle on Matt Giteau in the lead up to Stephen Moore’s try. His communication was vital, and he was one of a few Boks who made all his tackles.

There has been talk of Smith taking over the captaincy later this year with John Smit and Victor Matfield possibly being rested for the Grand Slam, but that would be an unnecessary burden for Smith. The way he’s going at the moment, you just want him playing as he is and not having to worry about leading the team.

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After a Tri-Nations campaign that saw five losses out of six after winning five from six last year, the Boks blew many opportunities to strike a mental blow to their Australasian opponents. Winning in Auckland – the venue for next year’s final – would have been a major blow to the Kiwis, but all the Boks can reflect on is three losses to New Zealand.

They also failed to beat them at home, while a young Australian side’s confidence will soar after breaking their Highveld drought of 47 years.

‘I don’t think there will be any mental scars,’ Steenkamp told keo.co.za regarding the second home loss. ‘We must give Australia their dues, they scored some great tries in the first half and cut us to pieces. But there’s no mental effect. We know what we can do when we put it together.’

Although Peter de Villiers sent a message to the public that you’re either for or against his squad, the Bok loosehead feels the criticism is justified. The Bloemfontein crowd began booing after 25 minutes when the Boks had already conceded the bonus point for four tries, but Steenkamp said he didn’t hear the jeers.

‘The country is disappointed with the results, and that’s fair. From the players’ perspective, we back the coaches and one another. Now we have to reflect. Only time will tell what effect these results will have on the us. We have to work out what went wrong and be critical on ourselves as individuals.’

The Boks’ complacency told as they trailed 31-13 at the break, and Steenkamp said there were some harsh words at the interval and after the final whistle.

‘At half-time the coach said show what you feel for one another and the guy standing next to you. Show the respect you have for one another.I think we can take a lot from that fighting spirit we showed.

‘Afterwards there was a definite mood of disappointment in the changing room. You don’t deserve to wear the Bok jersey if you’re happy after a loss at home. The message from John [Smit] was that each individual has to go back, look in the mirror and reflect on the Tri-Nations and their performances.’

While many individuals such as Smit and Bryan Habana are off form, Steenkamp has been one of the most consistent and hard working players through a forgettable campaign.

‘It would have been a great feeling to win today’s game. I’m not sure how well I’m playing, that’s for others to judge, but no personal success counts if you lose. You want the team to do well, so it’s bittersweet, playing well but not getting the results.’

By Grant Ball, In Bloemfontein

The contest to avoid the wooden spoon produced a loose affair last week, a game that suited the visitors in their quest to break a 47-year losing streak at altitude. They dominated possession in the last half hour, especially, but still botched it.

The tourists have spoken about the self-belief gained from their start, but it’s more likely that lost opportunity will haunt them and only serve up more mental demons. Reversing the result this Saturday after the nature of the Loftus blowout will take massive character from this Aussie unit, but they don’t appear to have the necessary mental fortitude to win in tough conditions, or when they’ve got themselves into commanding positions (for example, 21-7).

If the Boks allow the Wallabies a similar buffer in Bloem it will only highlight their defensive and tactical frailties, but as poor as the Boks have been throughout the competition, you can’t see that happening again.

Robbie Deans’ response has been to make three changes to his pack, two of them clear acts of desperation. Ben McCalman is selected to bring some physicality, but picking a lock at No 8 for his first Test start is a gamble at altitude. The Boks will adopt their kick-chase approach, and McCalman’s tactical nous at the back and his covering skills will be tested to the limit. Mark Chisholm displaces Dean Mumm in the second row, but whether Chisholm is the answer is highly debatable – he’ll play his first Tri-Nations Test this year after last featuring in Australia’s unconvincing win over Ireland in June.

The elevation of  hooker Stephen Moore is no surprise, but it again highlights how big an opportunity the Wallabies wasted in Pretoria. Saia Fainga’a's lineout throwing faltered and he didn’t offer much in the loose, but Deans failed to bring on Moore and other substitutes when individuals were tiring.

The Boks have neglected the opportunity to blood new players and have made just one change – promoting Danie Rossouw – before the majority of the players undergo a conditioning camp. Whether their minds are on the break or what will be the final Test of the year for some will go a long way to determining the performance.

The standard of their showing is important in gauging whether the Boks have stagnated or regressed over the past six internationals, while their competitors have advanced. If the Boks can re-produce a similar set piece display as Loftus, and then replicate the team breakdown performance, they’ll have the quality possession needed to dominate the fragile Aussie defence.

It’s no surprise Morne Steyn had his best Test of the year, as did Jean de Villiers, against an Aussie midfield of Quade Cooper, Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley-Cooper. As dangerous as that trio are with ball in hand, if the Boks get front foot ball, they should look no further than attacking No’s 10, 12, and 13.

A possible second win out of six will get De Villiers crowing once more (who knows what he could say post-match), but it may just serve to lead to complacency and unfounded confidence that the Boks are on the right track under their eccentric coach.

Prediction: Boks by 10

Springboks – 15 Frans Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.
Subs: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Gio Aplon.

Australia – 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O’Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (c), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Mark Chisholm, 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Subs: 16 Saia Fainga’a, 17 James Slipper, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 Richard Brown, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Berrick Barnes, 22 Anthony Fainga’a.

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When contacted by keo.co.za for his reaction to De Villiers’ latest media embarrassment, Hoskins said he wasn’t available for comment and wouldn’t be in future. This from the president of Saru.

Reports suggest Hoskins has been told by the government – who are already upset with De Villiers for not picking more black players during his tenure as originally promised -  to deal with the Bok coach. The official line is that the pending meeting between Hoskins and De Villiers won’t be a disciplinary hearing, but a less formal ‘heart to heart’.

It’s a similar scenario to what happened after last year’s British & Irish Lions series, where the pair had a discussion over De Villiers’s embarrassing media utterances including the racist analogy about Ricky Januarie and the ‘black mechanic/white mechanic’. After that ‘heart to heart’, Hoskins assured Saru’s stakeholders that De Villiers would refrain from this kind of discourse.

However, De Villiers’ first press conference of the 2009 Tri-Nations suggested not much had changed. De Villiers said he wouldn’t be muzzled, he said he was the boss, an outburst that showed what he thought of Hoskins and their previous discussion.

De Villiers must take responsibility for his own actions, but the Saru president is also culpable for the current situation. It should never have got to this point. A strong leader would have set De Villiers straight.

Throughout the 2009 Lions series, De Villiers was out of control. After just one success in the 2010 Tri-Nations, and De Villiers is his own worst enemy again. No other coach would still have a job, yet Saru has allowed De Villiers to continue.

There have been double standards in the handling of De Villiers when it comes to results as well. In 2006, four consecutive Tri-Nations defeats saw Jake White summoned to a meeting in Johannesburg from the Bok camp in Rustenburg, where they were preparing for an All Blacks Test.

White had to listen to all the Bok coaches since Ian McIntosh, with the exception of Kitch Christie (who had passed away) and Andre Markgraaff. The plan was to ‘plot the way forward’ for the Boks. Conversely, De Villiers wasn’t summoned to any meeting with former Bok coaches after the Soccer City fixture, which was also his side’s fourth Tri-Nations loss in a row.

Before the final Test of the 2006 European tour, White was brought home for an emergency meeting with his employers. This is the kind of treatment White had to endure, while De Villiers hasn’t been as controlled.

On his reappointment, Hoskins boasted how his tenure as president produced little controversy. Has no one in the passages of Saru been listening to De Villiers’s rants over the past three years? What must the new sponsors Absa think? Are they happy to be associated with such a loose cannon?

Hoskins has had the chance before, but this is a defining moment. He needs to show some proper leadership and actually make a decision. He cannot condone De Villiers’s public backing of a man up for murder, and after repeated offences, the disciplinary action for De Villiers should be dismissal. If Hoskins decides on any other course of action, then he’s failed South African rugby again.

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In the build-up to the Loftus Test, the visitors didn’t hide their intent to adopt a blueprint that brought them success in Brisbane. Although playing wide immediately worked to a large extent in Pretoria, costly mistakes towards the end of the match meant they didn’t secure what would have been a famous win.

While their width-based approach succeeded at Suncorp as the Boks didn’t employ a fetcher, the hosts’ change of mindset and intensity at the breakdowns also helped thwart the Australians’ wide attacks in the return match. The influence of Juan Smith instead of Ryan Kankowski must also be noted.

Coach Robbie Deans has responded to the Loftus defeat by making three changes to the team, in promoting forwards Stephen Moore, Mark Chisholm and Ben McCalman. Quade Cooper and Will Genia are the play-makers in the Australian line-up, and their attacking the advantage line will suit these forward runners.

‘We’re expecting them to be a bit more direct,’ said the Bok backline coach. ‘If you look at their selection changes, they’ll try muscle up to us and be more physical.’

Many critics have questioned the intensity of the Loftus Test, where missed tackles and the frantic nature of the match led to a loose contest, but Muir felt otherwise. As the Australian approach last week aided in the helter skelter match, Muir suggested it could be different in Bloem if Australia try keep the match tighter, although it’s unlikely they’ll change their ball in hand game.

‘Last week the opportunities lent themselves to that type of play. You can also only play as your opponents allow you to. It was a great festival of rugby.’

In response to Bryan Habana’s waning form, Muir spoke some sense compared to Peter de Villiers. The Bok coach was on the defensive regarding Habana’s continued selection and chose to make sarcastic comments, while Muir gave a rugby answer. He said for a player of Habana’s stature, criticism is expected and that they were trying their best to find ways to break the try-scoring drought (his last three Test tries have come in 10 Tests and have all been against Italy).

‘All great players have these spells where they lose form. Bryan has set the bar very high, so we probably notice it more. He’s one of the most dedicated players and he’s working hard to get back to his best, so I’m not overly concerned about his form.

‘I don’t think breaking the try-scoring record [Habana is equal with Joost van der Westhuizen's mark of 38] is having any effect on him. He’s bigger than that and he plays for the team.

‘I’ve encouraged Bryan to come off his wing and look for work, and he’ll be rewarded. If he makes one glaring mistake, everyone jumps to conclusions that he’s off form.

‘That’s the business we’re in, we get criticised. It’s about being bigger than that and working hard to rectify it.’

By Grant Ball, in Bloemfontein

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James was ruled out of the Boks’ final Tri-Nations fixture with a shoulder injury, but it’s not clear how long he’ll be out for. That concludes an international season where there was little planning for the Bath flyhalf, who started his only Test of the year at inside centre and was used sparingly at No 10.

De Villiers may not have been sure of how to use him effectively off the bench – also a trend with other players throughout the De Villiers tenure – but some senior players wanted him in the squad, with reports suggesting they pushed for James to start ahead of Morne Steyn at Loftus.

That was all on the back of a season where he was in the Bok 22 in seven Tests, but started just one – in his unfavoured position of inside centre. He played a total of 138 minutes out of a possible 560, 52 of which were at No 12 against Italy in Witbank. He played just 49 minutes out of a possible 400 in the Tri-Nations in three cameos off the bench, while he wasn’t used off the wood in Wellington and at Soccer City.

These figures could be understandable if Steyn was on similar match-winning form as last year, but De Villiers didn’t have the courage or conviction to make any brave calls regarding James and Steyn. If James was so highly valued to be one of just a few overseas-based Boks in the squad, why not give him a chance to start in a Tri-Nations Test? That would have provided some evidence to finding out whether James still has it in him to start in a World Cup fixture in a year.

With the Tri-Nations title lost by the time the Boks returned home, the opportunity was there to experiment and rest over-played individuals, one of whom is Steyn. That never occurred and De Villiers said James understood the situation, but what else was the player supposed to say. Earlier in the international window during the Italian series, De Villiers already said Steyn needed a rest, but then continued to play him.

When James did get a chance to play at flyhalf, the Boks immediately looked more dangerous with ball in hand (think of the eight minutes he and Jean de Villiers formed the 10-12 combination in Auckland). He also showed his defensive ability in the closing stages at Loftus, and while he’s a vastly different alternative to Steyn, he can add value to a Bok squad.

As is the case with Frans Steyn – but for different reasons – there hasn’t been a 2010 plan with James, and therefore his potential hasn’t been maximised.

The question is what does the future hold for James? De Villiers has no grounds, barring injury, not to select him for the Grand Slam tour as he hasn’t done anything wrong, and neither has he had sufficient time to excel.

De Villiers said after the Loftus win that Steyn had been grossly over-played already this year. Selecting him for the year-end tour would be counter-productive, especially when De Villiers has players such as James and Pat Lambie at his disposal.

Whether James is good enough – and I believe he is – to be in the national squad should have been answered by now. But with De Villiers not granting him decent opportunities, the topic is still up for debate.

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Deans has retained the same backline from the Loftus defeat, but has brought in three players to his pack who he deems are more physical. Hooker Fainga’a struggled with his lineout throws, gave away penalties and generally wasn’t a factor in the loose, and is replaced by Stephen Moore – who will win his 50th cap.

Mark Chisholm, who wasn’t on the bench last week and hasn’t been selected by Deans since Australia’s narrow win over Ireland in June, replaces Mumm. At No 8, Ben McCalman, who usually plays lock for the Force, ousts team-mate Brown.

Rob Simmons drops out of the 22, while Scott Higginbotham hasn’t recovered from a back injury. Drew Mitchell will also lead the team out in his 50th Test.

Australia – 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O’Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (c), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Mark Chisholm, 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Subs: 16 Saia Fainga’a, 17 James Slipper, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 Richard Brown, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Berrick Barnes, 22 Anthony Fainga’a.

Peter de Villiers said on Monday that every step from now on must be for the good of the World Cup, and you would assume that would mean seeing the top players reach the event in the best possible form and in good physical condition. Mentally, the players have highlighted the difficulty in getting up for big matches consistently, and this seems the likely scenario with Habana, who will be expected to play another Test in Bloemfontein.

His confidence hit new lows at Loftus as he gifted James O’Connor a try and was caught in possession in the build-up to Dean Mumm’s. In between those two examples it was clear he tried too hard to make up for O’Connor’s score by running from behind his own line after Kurtley Beale’s missed long-range penalty, and then he hacked the ball into touch, which resulted in a net gain for the Wallabies. That example more than any other showed what state of mind Habana is in: he felt he should counter-attack, but then didn’t believe he could break through the defence when confronted by would-be tacklers.

The question is how can he – like so many other Boks this season – look so different a player to the one who succeeded in the Super 14? Habana, and for that matter any Bok back and especially wing, hasn’t been helped by the Boks’ limited and one-dimensional attacking game. Habana’s last three Test tries have come against Italy – a side ranked outside the top 10 – while he’s also had little constructed for him. At the Stormers, Habana is used as a strike runner, but with the Boks he’s merely a finisher on the end of a backline who’ve lacked creativity.

Habana’s best moment in the last two years was scoring the series-turning try against the British & Irish Lions at Loftus. With the exception of his tries against Australia in Perth, he’s looked largely ineffectual since. The worrying factor from the Bok management’s perspective is why similar opportunities haven’t been created for him.

Telling statistics since De Villiers took over as Bok coach show that Habana has scored just eight tries in 29 Tests, compared to 30 in 36, pre-2008. During the same time-frame against the top five nations, including the Lions, Habana’s record has slumped to five tries in 21 Tests under De Villiers, compared to 15 in 23 between 2004 and the end of 2007.

It may seem harsh to drop or rest a player who’s been susceptible to the team and coaching staff’s failings, but a break at times like these is often the best medicine to refresh the mind and body.

Habana is set to be announced in the Bok side named on Tuesday where he’ll benefit from a midfield combo of Jaque Fourie and Jean de Villiers, but he would’ve been aided more by a complete break from the game, with Gio Aplon starting. In two interviews with keo.co.za in the last three months, Habana has been one individual to speak openly about not being over-played, as before the Tri-Nations started, he was already nearing the recommended game-time of 1400-1600 minutes per year.

Habana talked about the value of being rested at the right times, and this week was just that. De Villiers explained his re-selection of players such as Habana due to the local fans wanting to see them, but bowing to perceived public sentiment isn’t in a Springbok coach’s job description.

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The Wallaby loosehead tormented the Boks last year, out-scrumming captain John Smit in Cape Town, Perth and Brisbane. His short and awkward build meant he got under the Bok captain, who played tighthead last year, but in two Tests this year he’s had less of an influence against specialist No 3s BJ Botha (in Brisbane) and Du Plessis (at Loftus).

It’s rare that a loosehead is viewed as one of the Wallabies’ danger men, but that was the case with Robinson last year. Tighthead Du Plessis – who missed training on Monday and Tuesday after taking a knock to the shin – said they’d have to produce a similar showing to Pretoria to negate his influence once more.

‘There’s no doubt that he’s a good player, he’s proved it over and over,’ Du Plessis told keo.co.za. ‘We knew we had to play well to neutralise him at scrum-time.

‘There was a bit more pressure knowing his reputation, but I thought we handled it. There was talk of both sides jumping the gun at the scrums, but there was too much of a hoo-ha made about it.’

Once the helter-skelter nature of the match in the first quarter subsided and the Boks slowed down the frantic pace and forced more set pieces, they clawed their way back into the game. Du Plessis believes the slack start, where they trailed 21-7, could’ve been down to a hangover from the Soccer City Test against the All Blacks.

‘We really gave 150% in Soweto and put our bodies on the line. Emotionally, it took its toll and although you don’t want it to affect your start a week later, it could have been a contributing factor to it. When we were 14-0 down I was thinking I haven’t even had time to hit a ruck or make a tackle.’

Du Plessis may have aided in shoring up the Bok scrum, but only made one tackle and had one ball-carry in 54 minutes. The tighthead dismissed claims from many critics that the intensity of the Test wasn’t on a par to previous Tri-Nations matches.

‘That really is something to say. We scored 70 points in total, I didn’t see much kicking from either side and there was lots of running. We don’t care about what other people think, it was a great game to be a part of.’

On a personal level, Du Plessis will make his first Test start in Bloemfontein – where he was schooled and went to university. Other former Shimlas who are in the 22 include Juan Smith, Flip van der Merwe, CJ van der Linde and Du Plessis’ prop partner, Gurthro Steenkamp.

‘It’s great to know we all sweated blood here, did fitness and contact on these fields,’ Du Plessis said from the Shimlas clubhouse. ‘Juan even worked behind the bar and earned his pocket money here. When I came to the club as a first year, I wanted to get my picture on the wall like the former Boks.

‘We have a new generation of Shimlas in the Bok squad. There are so many memories. Gurthro’s res was 20m down the road from mine, and the night before matches we’d watch a movie and talk about how we’re going to pump the opposition in the scrums.’

By Grant Ball, in Bloemfontein

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After Saturday’s 44-31 win over Australia at Loftus, De Villiers was at pains to highlight how John Smit, Victor Matfield and Bryan Habana have already well exceeded the optimum playing time of between 1 400 and 1 600 minutes per season. Matfield and Smit were never going to be rested with all the fanfare of their 100th Tests over the past two weekends, but another dead-rubber Test in Bloemfontein provided a chance to grant them a deserved break.

The trio were again at Bok training on Monday however, and even though Smit and Habana especially are off form and look mentally and physically jaded, they are set to add to their playing time.

‘There was no temptation to rest players,’ said De Villiers. ‘I have to weigh up two things and I have to look for the perfect balance. I look at what the people want, and what they want to pay for when watching a Test. These are their heroes and they deserve to watch them. We also have to question when we will come back to Bloemfontein before the World Cup for a Test and when they’ll see them again.

‘The main point is, what are the little things I can do during the week to freshen them up so that they can go for 60 minutes on Saturday and make an impact. It’s not just about selecting a side and letting them play. It’s about considering the team’s role-players, and I consider the fans to be one of the most important of those.’

De Villiers’ ploy to freshen up the players since last year’s November tour and also during this year’s Tri-Nations has been to give the players additional rest days or have low-intensity training sessions. Monday’s practice fell into the latter category as it lasted one hour and consisted of some skills drills, lineouts and kicking between the backs.

De Villiers’ comments that the public want to watch players who are off-form and are not at their peak must also be questioned, as there were still gaping holes in the stands at Loftus even though he selected his strongest side of the year. Smit’s form has been spiralling since the start of the international season, and his waning playing ability was highlighted by Chiliboy Ralepelle’s influence in the final quarter.

Matfield lived up to expectations in his 100th Test, but Habana’s return to Pretoria saw his confidence dip to new lows as he played a full 80 minutes.

Despite De Villiers missing the opportunity to use the home-leg of the Tri-Nations to inject fresh life into the team via on-form Currie Cup players, he believes his plan is working.

‘If you take these past two games together, they provided a good platform for what we’re trying to achieve. If you add each stone on top of the other, it must be about reaching our goals until next year’s World Cup.’

By Grant Ball, in Bloemfontein

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