Back the Boks Big Five to roar

The Boks are No 1 in the world for a reason. They are back to back World Cup winners for a reason. They are the Rugby Championship title holders for a reason. Back them to be themselves and deal with the 6th ranked Wallabies, writes Mark Keohane.

On this platform is is always ‘BOKS BY 10‘, which means I am always backing them to get the job done.

On Saturday, at Ellis Park, the Boks will start their Castle Rugby Championship defence with a victory against a group of players who know that every one of their predecessors has failed to win at Ellis Park since the game turned professional in 1996.

The visitors could not have got a more intimidating venue than Ellis Park and a Bok group that screams Kruger Park because no matter who starts, there is a Big Five in there.

On Saturday it is Kolisi, Etzebeth, Marx, Pieter-Steph and Jesse Kriel.

These are five of the biggest players, in legacy, to have ever worn the Bok jersey.

And there is another Big Five sitting in the stands, waiting to roar in Cape Town, against the same Wallabies, on the 23rd August.

Don’t doubt the Boks or their build-up to the Rugby Championship in playing the Barbarians, Italy (twice) and Georgia.

The July Tests were won comfortably but they were physical and bruising. Italy and Georgia play that way.

The most bruising preparation has been within the camp. The second best pack in international rugby is the pack Saturday’s Boks would have scrummed against for the past fortnight. They are battle hardened and refreshed.

I don’t subscribe to the view that the Wallabies are the more prepared because of a three-Test series against the British & Irish Lions.

And the more confident because of a win in the third Test when the series had already been lost.

Rassie Erasmus’s Boks have beaten the Wallabies in their last four outings, three of them in Australia.

THE SCIENCE IN RASSIE’S BOK SELECTIONS

The Boks have the set piece players, the best pack in the sport as a collective and a halfback pairing that is more Mozart than Metalica when performing.

For those South Africans who love the underdog story, embrace the truth: the Boks are favourites — and they know how to win as favourites.