The new-found confidence in the Springboks and their public is both well-founded and short-sighted.

Astute performances in the Super 14 led to two of their franchises making an occasionally dour, yet ultimately thrilling, final. They then combined to wipe out a third-rate England side. Not only did the South Africans look to move the ball wide frequently, they maintained pressure, showing superior fitness to previous years.

There are also three players who can be seen as potential number ones in their position internationally. Bryan Habana’s pace is as yet unmatched, as is Victor Matfield's lineout ability - and Schalk Burger's talents demand one side of any team's flank (the other taken by the slightly more superhuman All Blacks skipper,  Richie McCaw). All this makes one hell of a promising team - a team that look potential world champions.

'It is far too late now, but the appointment of Victor Matfield as skipper for the World Cup would have given many other teams cause to hesitate'


But . . .

The major obstacle that stands in the Boks' way just might be themselves. The emotions which power both this team and the country they represent can be just as harmful as helpful. The fire-and-brimstone approach that the South Africans tend to utilise is very intimidating. That is until it runs out, or as has happened in the past, turns nasty.

A tendency to make silly errors in pressure situations, or worse, ill-disciplined lashing out, have marred many a promising Springbok unit (former All Blacks hooker Sean Fitzpatrick is still wondering how Johan La Roux mistook his ear for a jelly doughnut).The most effective Springbok team of the modern era, though not the most exciting, was the one that whisked the World Cup away from a powerful All Black team in 1995. The fire was present and yet contained; it stoked and powered them, yet never overwhelmed the top two inches. Jake White and his men must emulate this spirit and attitude to continue their success.

Another hurdle is the Springboks'  depth. Although they have a considerably larger talent group than most, it is potentially not in the right areas. First five (fly-half) has turned out to be, arguably, the most crucial position in recent World Cup history. Stephen Larkham and Jonny Wilkinson's game control in 1999 and 2003 respectively, gave their teams the winning edge. Add Grant Fox in the 1987 tournament and you have three of the best pivots in the history of the game.

Can you really put Butch James in that category? And can anybody even in South Africa agree on who his back-up is? Didn’t think so.

Then there is the captaincy. Like Martin Johnston and John Eales before him, a champion captain must be both inspirational and, hopefully, the best in his position at the time. And although John Smit is a very good hooker, he tends to be more workmanlike than outstanding, and his inspirational qualities have yet to show themselves.

It is far too late now, but the appointment of Victor Matfield as skipper for the World Cup would have given many other teams cause to hesitate. His presence around the field is palpable, not to mention he is the captain of the only South African franchise to win a Super 14 trophy. He had the reins for the second Tri-Nations match against the All Blacks (one of the only two that counted, the B side which played the last two games doesn’t rate) due to Smit's injury. It would have been good to see whether the giant took the role in those massive mittens and made it his own down the track.

As we saw in the first two Tri-Nations games, the Boks still aren’t the powerhouse they want to be. They barely got out alive against Australia in game one, thanks mainly to Frans Steyn, a very talented young back who can snap-kick with the best of them. The tendency to go back to their roots of mace and broadsword rugby (bashing it up the middle) causes their rapiers out the back to follow instead and lose that swift cutting edge. It's time for the big boys to realise that giving the backs a little ball in space isn’t going to break the Springbok blade.

This old foe of the ABs has a right to be reasonably buoyant so far - they have earned it. But the potential threats to their rise aren’t just a bunch of guys in black, blue, gold or whatever. It’s the cracks in their own mirror which may just shatter any dreams they wish to achieve.

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