Much has been said about the relative strengths and weaknesses of the major forces of rugby union - South Africa, England, Australia, Wales, New Zealand, Ireland, France. But little attention is devoted to the ebb and flow of progress and regression in the game in general.

If a trophy is to be awarded to any union for innovation and development of the game, the Springboks earned it last year in France. The most dynamic team in rugby union won the World Cup in Paris displaying qualities that are typical of South Africa. Some call it their 'adapt or die' mentality.

In a world of staid regressive thinking, it is the South Africans who have forged ahead the fastest.

'While the flagging New Zealanders regress into rebuilding their old-school ties with Ireland, England and France, South Africa are pioneering and championing the new worlds of rugby union'


This was obvious to any untrained eye witnessing the Rugby World Cup 2007, and a lesson to those wishing to emulate the strength of the IRB world champions and No.1 ranked team in rugby union, the Springboks.

In 2008, a glimpse at the future Test programme of the above competitors displays this clearly. While the flagging New Zealanders regress into rebuilding their old-school ties with Ireland, England and France, South Africa are pioneering and championing the new worlds of rugby union.

They have turned the corner and their page includes strengthening links with the rest of Africa, Argentina (and three other South American developing nations), Japan, eastern Europe and Russia.

With progressive thinking and broader horizons in mind, it's taken South Africa to highlight the need to expand rather than to crawl back to Europe for re-affirmation of relative strength, as New Zealand have done this season with a classical European programme filled with only Ireland, England and France (plus Tri-nations).

As with the No.1 ranked South African Proteas cricket squad, the South African RFU has strategically allied itself with developing nations in a bid to bootstrap and fast-track their rugby development through association with the best. While both Australian and New Zealand increasingly are labelled as 'elitest' on and off the field for their elitest segregation, old-school ties re-enforcement strategy and top-of-the-log-hogging playlists, the South Africans are once again pioneering.

The champions of rugby union are championing the game along the road less travelled and the model for development of sport is being crafted in a non-aligned fashion similar to that of South African international diplomacy.

Africa I a major beneficiary of Springbok investment and Springbok legend Morne Du Plessis has been credited with development projects across not only South Africa, but extending as far north as Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan.

Not content with the role the IRB is playing in the development in South American rugby, an area which was originally founded by South African input and transplantation of rugby skills, the SARFU have committed to playing more series with South America and less with the old guard of rugby.

The blend of old and new is a fine line as New Zealand and Australia continue to pressure for increased professionalism and higher returns for their investors.

At the end of the day, win or lose, in the developing rugby world the Springboks are eternal champions!