Another easy win in Mendoza will not be doing the Boks any favours

Saturday Comment

HERE’S a lot that is better about the Springbok pack to take the field in Mendoza this evening in comparison to the corresponding game last year, so I’m not expecting a repeat of the performance which saw the South Africans only just snatch an undeserved draw.

The most significant change has come at looseforward. Coach Heyneke Meyer infuriated a lot of people when he excluded Heinrich Brüssow from his plans at the start of last season, and it would probably be fair to say his decision was shown up in the third Test against England in Port Elizabeth, as well as during the away leg of the Rugby Championship.

And when the tight five was destroyed in Mendoza, the loose-forwards faced an even greater uphill battle in the absence of a breakdown specialist who could take command of that aspect of the game.

It was one of the reasons why that Mendoza game 12 months ago looked such a messy affair.

Francois Louw, formerly of the Stormers but now playing for Bath – with whom he has just signed a long extension to his contract – is not a specialist in the sense that he has the size and bulk to contribute as a ball carrier and in other areas.

But he did bring greater technical accuracy to the breakdowns when he was introduced to the mix, and Duane Vermeulen, when he was selected at No 8, completed a “playing to the ball” partnership that has transformed the effectiveness of the Bok pack.

The tight forwards haven’t changed as much in terms of personnel from their last visit to Argentina, and I would say that Andries Bekker, who had a miserable night in Mendoza and is now in Japan, is at least the equal of Juandré Kruger when he plays to his ability.

However, what has changed is the experience boasted by some of the key players.

Eben Etzebeth was only just starting out on his international career last time the Boks were in Argentina and Flip van der Merwe was also green at that level.

Adriaan Strauss was taking up the role as the first choice hooker for the first time following the long-term injury suffered by Bismarck du Plessis in Cape Town the week before.

Subsequent to then, Etzebeth has established himself as one of the best locks in international rugby, while I completely agree with Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske’s assertion that Strauss could be the next Bok captain.

At least, I would if it weren’t for the small fact that Du Plessis is playing again and was once regarded as the best hooker in world rugby.

The point, though, is that the Bok pack now has the bases covered, and has gained experience and the hard edge

Tthat may have been lacking last August.

We should expect the forwards to more consistently produce the type of power display that should have seen the Boks win against the All Blacks in Dunedin last year were it not for the poor field and place-kicking display that tripped them up.

But here’s the thing, the sting in the tail if you like – even though I am a proud South African, I’m not entirely sure that the sort of forward dominance that the Boks enjoyed against the Pumas last week, when they systematically suffocated their opponents out of the contest, would be a good thing tonight.

I’m no military historian, but would imagine the army that marches through a land where all the opposing forces just hold up their hands meekly in surrender, and without offering any kind of fight, might find itself questioning its readiness for battle when the real crunch arrives in the form of a mightier and more determined opponent.

There has been an element of surrender in the performances of some of the most recent Bok opponents.

Of course, the South Africans forced the Samoans and Argentinians into surrender by suffocating them with their first-half physicality and solid set-piece play, but the way in which both teams lay down after half-time might have brought a false perspective.

Indeed, last week’s big win closely mirrored an equally emphatic 63-9 annihilation of Argentina in Johannesburg in 2008, Peter de Villiers’ first season as coach.

Most of those points were scored in the second-half, so the Bok dominance was as emphatic then as it was last week. And yet, when the Boks next played, they lost 19-0 to the All Blacks at Newlands.

The Boks have done well so far and their seven consecutive victories have established a winning habit that brings confidence.

That confidence can quickly be burst by Australia or New Zealand, though, if they go in unprepared for the tighter and tougher games those undoubtedly will be.

It explains why I hope the Boks have to do it the hard way today.

Yes, I want them to win, and they probably need a fourtry bonus point to keep pace with New Zealand, but they also need to feel they were in a tough game.

The All Blacks and Wallabies don’t just surrender.