Solid start
A34-21 victory over Argentina and five log points (including a sought-after bonus point) represents, on paper at least, a perfect start to the 2018 Rugby Championship for the Springboks.
Of course, Bok captain Siya Kolisi and coach Rassie Erasmus were quick to point out after the match that there was still much room for improvement. And they are quite right.
But let’s also not be overly negative or mean-spirited – the Boks scored six good tries and there were some outstanding performances from individual players like Eben Etzebeth and the two wings, Aphiwe Dyanti and Makazole Mapimpi.
Etzebeth missed most of this year’s rugby because of injury, and on Thursday he told the media that he was worried the rugby world had forgotten about him.
No worries on that score, Eben, especially after that barnstorming display. Etzebeth was in the thick of things from the first minute, and the Pumas needed more than one man at a time to stop the Bok lock from making metres downfield.
As for Dyanti and Mapimpi, they both scored two tries, and what a joy it was to see the two Bok wings being involved in so much play. Their passion and exuberance, not to mention their power and skill, could be huge factors for the Boks – not just for the rest of this season, but also with an eye on next year’s World Cup.
Now that the five points have been banked, the Boks face a difficult return fixture against Argentina in Mendoza. The Pumas will be a different beast in front of their bellowing home fans, so the Boks will have to keep their wits about them.
On the other side of the world, the All Blacks sent out yet another ominous warning with a brilliant secondhalf demolition of Australia. The Wallabies must have felt happy with their 6-5 lead at half-time, but New Zealand just turned on the heat to run out comfortable winners.
Yes, the All Blacks are clearly the favourites to lift the title, but the Boks showed us enough good signs to feel optimistic that they can give the men in black at least a run for their money. We look forward to an exciting Rugby Championship.