That question was emphatically answered by the All Blacks. Australia fielded their best possible squad, bar a couple of injuries, and they were still thrashed. The All Black defence was just something to admire. They dominated the Aussies with massive hits and when they had the ball they held onto it until they received some reward via a penalty a try or a drop goal.
History has shown that a team with a very strong pack of forwards and a good half-back pairing can win the World Cup, and that is exactly what New Zealand have got. Dan Carter must be one of the greatest fly-halves the World has ever seen. It will be interesting to see if New Zealand and Australia pick their best teams to come and play in South Africa. I have a feeling they will try to keep the momentum that they currently have and will bring a full-strength team to our shores. The world has some seen a glimpse of what the Springboks are capable of and now the real test lies ahead for Peter de Villiers.
P Divvy, as he is affectionately know by some members of the media, has to make sure that he wins the two home games in Durban and Port Elizabeth. His decision to rest his senior players will either bear fruit or it will pile the pressure on the beleaguered Bok coach. People might think I have a personal vendetta against him, but I want to make it clear that I don't. I just can't understand that he can get away with the things he says in the media. I know that English is not his first language, but then he must get a translator and speak Afrikaans.
In a Sunday paper he writes that Fourie du Preez is going to make a huge difference to the side and I agree with him totally. He goes on to say that even though he may not be 100 percent fit he will play him, because even at 60 percent he is 100 percent better than the next scrum-half in the country. How can he say that? How must the other scrum-halves who are in contention feel who he might have to rely on heavily if, heaven forbid, Fourie du Preez picks up an injury?
He also says that he deserves a medal! Any person brave enough to take on the Springbok job needs a medal because there will always be political interference. I think he hasn't had half the political interference that Jake White had and Jake never said he deserved a medal, he just went to France and won his own medal. I think it is time someone at SARU puts some serious measures in place to protect our coach and save a rugby-mad nation a lot of embarrassment. If the Boks win on Saturday and beat the All Blacks in PE, then we as a fanatical rugby-supporting nation can quietly start hoping again. Until then, I am afraid we will have to be on our knees praying.
