Big tour for Boks

THE Springboks play England in London at the hallowed Twickenham tomorrow in the first match of their European tour – but the result goes far beyond just tomorrow’s game.

The World Cup in Japan is less than a year away, and this is a big chance for the Boks to strike a strong blow against one of the top teams in the world – and, in fact, one of the top coaches in the world in Eddie Jones.

In this first year under coach Rassie Erasmus,there have been understandable teething problems along the way, but there has mostly been good cheer for Springbok supporters who recently witnessed the All Blacks fall in New Zealand to Siya Kolisi’s men in one of the most thrilling games of recent times, only to be beaten in Pretoria.

In their home series wins against England in Joburg and Bloemfontein, the Boks thrived before capacity crowds, but now it is England that will have a telling home-ground advantage. The 80 000-seater stadium has been sold out, and the challenge before the Boks is to silence the mighty Twickenham voice and to master the frosty and quite possibly wet conditions.

In their last two end-of-year tours, the Boks struggled, winning just two of seven matches in the UK. In fact, the South Africans have battled abroad full stop, winning just four of their last 18 away matches.

But the encouraging performances this year against England, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina suggest the tide is turning for the Springboks, and they now have to kick on and finish the year on a high.

This tour is a vital staging post for the Boks on the road to the World Cup. The psychological consequences of this tour could be massive.

If it is a failure, much of the good work will be undone, while success will mean the Boks start the World Cup year in high spirits.

It is going to be tough, but the character and enterprise the Boks have shown this year provide firm grounds for optimism.

We wish Captain Kolisi and his men every success.