Boks can leap up to next level and shine in decider

For those that put any faith in the old maxim that semi-finals often serve up more entertaining fare than the showpiece that is to follow, Sunday’s last-four clash between the Springboks and Wales would leave you wondering whether it was worth setting the alarm this weekend.

South Africa advanced to face England in the World Cup final on Saturday (9am UK time) off the back of one of the most one-dimensional last-four performances in the tournament’s short history.

While the likes of England v Scotland in 1991 were hardly classics, the sight of neutrals voting with their feet and heading for the exits from half-time onwards was hard to ignore. The stat du jour — more than one kick from hand per minute — told it’s own tale.

But it is not for nothing that South Africa came to Japan regarded as one of the three best teams in the world, their performances in the Rugby Championship showing there is a more enthralling brand in their arsenal, if only they would break it out more often.

While their title-sealing victory over Argentina in August was certainly attritional, and indeed cost them the services of Ulster’s Marcell Coetzee who injured an ankle, it was the 16-16 draw against the All Blacks one round prior that drew deserved plaudits for its ambition.

Then, in a similar fashion to the game in Yokohama that opened their campaign, their defence was high-risk, high reward, playing narrow and with linespeed designed to force their vaunted opposition into turnovers. The difference in tempo from that to what we saw last weekend is startling to review.

“Honestly, I know we’re all feeling the same way, it was a painful watch, wasn’t it?” reflected All Black Justin Marshall who, in his role as a commentator, has witnessed many of the Boks’ better days first hand.

“I don’t know why they don’t play the way they do when they play New Zealand.

“When they play New Zealand they play completely different, the only team they play differently against and yet they get success in it.

“They drew against the All Blacks, they beat them in the last calendar year and pushed them really hard in cracking games where they’ve not played like they did against Wales.

“It’s like, ‘why is your mindset reversed back against the rest of the teams in the world?’

“Simple, they feel they can play that way and beat the rest of the world. They feel like they can’t play that way and beat the All Blacks. But, hey, we’re (New Zealand) not in the final. South Africa will say ‘we are’.”

Indeed, that was essentially the point made by Rassie Erasmus in Tokyo yesterday.

The former Munster boss took over at the start of 2018 with the side at a low ebb after the reign of Allister Coetzee — remember, it’s not so long ago that a presumed quarter-final was viewed as a favourable draw for Ireland — and has had to reinvent and reinvigorate his squad in dou