The reason that I am telling you all this is because I had a 9.30 tee off and the rugby started at 12.05. I begged the organisers to try to get me an earlier tee off time, but that wasn't possible. I then relied on friends to send me updates via Blackberry messenger. When I got the score of 39-6 to Australia I thought they were making a joke. When I heard it was the truth I became very despondent. I had a feeling that the Wallabies might beat us, but I really thought that our young players would put up a bigger fight. I then had to watch the recording of the game and, therefore, I am qualified to give you my opinion today.
Let me start by saying that it is incredibly difficult for any team to play without their 15 most experienced players and I feel sorry for John Smit who had to lead an under-strength team onto the field. Having said that, I looked at the team on paper before the game and felt that it was a very talented side, and that they could push the Wallabies if they played well as a unit. I still believe I am right on the first count as it is a very talented bunch of players who donned the Springbok jersey on Saturday.
What Saturday showed us is that there is a massive step up from Super Rugby to Test Match rugby. Some players manage to take that step-up quite easily, such as Patrick Lambie. Other players eventually get there, but you have to back them for a couple of matches. Some players never get there and that rise in intensity and skill level is just too much for them. I really believe that Wynand Olivier is one of those players. He is unbelievable when he plays for the Bulls, but I have never seen him play an outstanding Test Match. Deon Stegmann is another one of those players and I hope Peter de Villiers realises that and makes the right decisions when he announces his World Cup squad.
There was always a risk for P Divvy in picking a very young squad for the Tri-Nations and that has in some way backfired on him. Prior to the World Cup in 2007, Jake White also picked a young team to play the Aussies and they put up a big fight before finally losing narrowly. This gave the youngsters confidence and it put pressure on the senior players to play well to make sure they made the World Cup squad. What happened on Saturday is demoralising for the team and management. It will put added pressure on P Divvy and his coaching staff, and we all know that pressure often forces us to make the wrong decisions. The quicker the older more experienced players get back playing the better.
The only way to get match fit for the World Cup is to play some rugby. In my mind the senior players who don't have injuries should still have been in the squad and they should have managed their game time. It is too late to take players out of rugby now, as they needed to be managed during Super Rugby. I am sure the All Blacks will continue to play the likes of Carter, McCaw and Sonny Bill, but manage the amount of time they spend on the park. Life doesn't get any easier for the Boks as they now travel to Wellington for another bruising match against the All Blacks. Another heavy defeat will really pile on the pressure and it will cause a lot of soul searching for P Divvy and his team less than 50 days before the World Cup kicks off. Let's hope and pray the youngsters and the one or two senior players can play out of their boots this weekend and at least put up a brave fight.
