Springboks take Tri-Nations 2004
Brad Morgan
25 August 2004
A jam-packed Absa Stadium in Durban witnessed a remarkable turnaround in the fortunes of South African rugby on Saturday. Playing in front of a vibrant, expectant crowd, the Springboks defeated Australia 23-19 to win the Tri-Nations title for only the second time, making the bad memories of 2003 seem very distant.
2003 brought with it a huge upheaval in South African rugby. It brought plenty of unwanted negative press when details of Kamp Staaldraad, held before the World Cup, were released, and on the field the Springboks' play was characterised by unimaginative rugby, played with passion, but little in the way of structure and planning. The team's fire seemed driven by the fear of failure.
That was less than a year ago. Now, under new coach Jake White, the Springboks look capable of challenging any team and winning, and South African rugby supporters are again an optimistic bunch. The reversal of fortunes is close to miraculous. White, along
with captain John Smit, deserves plenty of credit.
Identifying the right players
His ability to identify players with skill and character helped lift the Springboks from possibly the worst season in the history of the green and gold to a season in which the team made the rest of the world sit up and take notice. Now South Africa is again respected as a rugby force.
White's choice of John Smit as captain was a master stroke. There are different types of leaders, but some are special and meant to be in charge. I believe Smit is one of those men.
When I was in school, I had the privilege of playing against and with former South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje, through the different age groups. I remember from under-15 level the boys who played with him saying that he would one day captain South Africa. It was that obvious. Smit, it seems, was much the same character at Pretoria Boys High.
A born
leader
Not to criticise former captains, who include some fine individuals like Andre Vos and Joost van der Westhuizen, but take a man like Joost, for instance. He was not a natural leader, and his players reacted to him more out of fear of a tongue-lashing than out of respect for his excellent play.
Those men who play under John Smit want to play well for him; he carries the aura of a born leader.
I have covered rugby matches at Durban's Absa Stadium for five years, so I have seen plenty of Smit in action, and I can say with certainty that he has raised his game as leader of the South African national team. That is the sign of a true leader: that his game improves when he is given the additional responsibility of leadership.
Youngsters shine
Then, White deserves praise for believing in the players he had seen deliver the goods at national age group level. Every one of the young players he showed faith in rewarded him
well.
Players like Fourie du Preez, Schalk Burger, and Jacques Cronje made the step up, while White recognised the ability of others to contribute who might otherwise have been discarded. He recalled Jaco van der Westhuysen and Percy Montgomery from club rugby in the UK, and they made telling contributions to the Springboks' transformation.
A player like AJ Venter might have found himself out in the cold under another coach. But White knew Venter had plenty to offer South African rugby, and when the Sharks' versatile forward was given his opportunity, he shone.
Os du Randt's Test career had been regarded as over by almost everyone, but not Jake White. Told that he was in the coach's plans, the powerful Free State prop responded to the challenge laid down to him by White, and memories of the man that dominated the front row back in the glory days of South Africa's 1995 World Cup triumph came flooding back.
'Os, Os, Os'
And how
South African fans responded to the phoenix-like return of Du Randt. Every time he put in a big tackle, or drove the ball up with power, a huge drawn-out roar would go up from the crowd: 'Os …'
The coach also showed faith in Marius Joubert, who had struggled for a long time with injuries. When he was given his chance he proved to be an absolute star, with his quality highlighted by a hat-trick of tries against the All Blacks in Johannesburg.
White played open cards with the players, and their commitment to him was clear on the field. The Springboks had played hard and with fire in 2003, but they lacked focus and a game plan. They didn't seem to enjoy their rugby because fear of defeat ruled their thinking.
Under White the Boks have played a more imaginative and expressive style, and this showed as they topped the Tri-Nations try-scoring charts with 13, four more than Australia and an astonishing nine better than New Zealand.
And speaking of the All Blacks, the
Springboks' 40-26 victory in Johannesburg brought to an emphatic end a run of eight losses in succession to New Zealand. That the win was achieved in such style made it all the sweeter.
High expectations
Early on in the Tri-Nations, after two narrow losses in Australasia - 23-21 to New Zealand and 30-26 to Australia - the appetite of the South African supporters had been whetted, with expectations and hopes soaring high. This was reflected in the sell-out crowds at Ellis Park and the Absa Stadium for the visits of the All Blacks and Australia respectively.
The stylish victory at Ellis Park, in which South Africa outscored New Zealand five tries to two, resulted in a festive atmosphere for the Durban decider against Australia, where the winner of the game would lift the Tri-Nations title. Ever since the Springboks won the title in 1998, South Africa had finished last, so it was a big day for the Boks and their supporters.
On the
morning of the match I took a walk on the Durban beachfront. I remember remarking that if I had R10 for every piece of Springboks supporters' paraphernalia I saw, I would have been a rich man.
It was incredible, the pride in South African rugby had returned in an unthinkably short time. People had arrived in the coastal city from far and wide across South Africa, driven on by the exploits of an exciting, "new" national team.
Electricity in the air
The electricity in the air at the game itself was vital, a living thing ready to explode into a massive outpouring of emotion should the Springboks deliver the hoped-for goods.
The first half of the match could be divided into two, with the Boks putting on the pressure in the opening 20 minutes, and Australia dominating territory in the second half. It was gripping without delivering much in the way of points.
The Wallabies led 7-3 at the break, thanks to a try set up by a clever
grubber by former SA under-21 captain Clyde Rathbone (who otherwise didn't have a good game), to which South Africa replied with a penalty on the stroke of halftime by Percy Montgomery.
Winning the contest
The next quarter of the game, however, produced points, all to South Africa, and it won the contest and the Tri-Nations for the Springboks. First Victor Matfield and then Joe van Niekerk crossed for tries, both converted by Montgomery, and then the fullback added two penalties as Australia seemed to lose shape and focus.
Suddenly, from 7-3 up, the Wallabies had fallen 23-7 behind.
They fought back furiously, launching wave after wave of attack on the Springbok line, and when Montgomery was sent off for 10 minutes for a dangerous tackle on Aussie fullback Chris Latham as he leapt up to field a high kick, South Africa was down to 14 men.
Straight away John Smit and company were made to pay as the Wallabies swept onto the attack,
driving the Springboks deep into their right-hand corner, before bringing the ball back the other way. Stirling Mortlock was freed up to run in a try from 22 metres out, and the conversion from Matt Giteau made the score 23-14.
Australia struck again shortly afterwards through George Smith, who drove over from a lineout. A successful conversion by substitute Matt Burke, playing in his final game for the Wallabies, would bring the Aussies to within two points of South Africa, which would set them up for victory with either a dropped goal or a penalty.
A huge roar went up from the crowd when his strike flew left of the uprights.
One off, one on
With the scoreboard showing just one minute left, Breyton Paulse, who played a huge game on defence, was given his marching orders for a professional foul. Thankfully for South Africa, as he left the field Percy Montgomery was summoned back into the action.
A couple of minutes of
tension-filled play followed. Then ... the final whistle sounded, setting off massive celebrations in the Absa Stadium.
The Springbok reserves and management raced onto the field to congratulate those players who finished the game. Everywhere men in green and gold embraced, whooping it up, faces creased with huge smiles, and the crowd went wild.
An improbable Tri-Nations' competition victory had been achieved, and South African rugby was back.
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