COLUMN: Bok inspiration from arch-foes NZ

By Trevor Cramer

 

The All Blacks have a simple theory which formed the basis of their pre-Rugby World Cup marketing campaign.

 

In a recent RWC2015 promotional video they stated: "The way to defend a legacy is to start again each day."

 

Yes, last weekend's utterly humiliating loss to Japan in Brighton was certainly the height of embarrassment as far as Springbok rugby is concerned, and has undoubtedly done damage to one of the strongest brands in the game and the faith of a nation.

 

Thankfully, as New Zealand’s influential captain Richie McCaw suggested and as the World Cup format would have it, all is not lost yet for the men in green and gold.

 

Heyneke Meyer's men will probably count their blessings that they harvested two bonus points from the Japanese humiliation because, based on the present standings in Pool B, it could be a tie-break factor, assuming of course there will be no more banana peels lining their path ahead.

 

Japan's victory over the Boks in the only Test ever played between the two nations was put even more into perspective when the Brave Blossoms couldn't summon the same kind of passion and drive on Wednesday, going down 45-10 to Scotland.

 

From being singled out initially as the most predictable pool of the tournament, Pool B has now become the most open group, with Scotland topping the log following their comprehensive dismantling of the Japanese.

 

Both Japan and Samoa are in the mix now and from being rank outsiders initially, suddenly they are both on the same race track as their more illustrious opponents.

 

The South Africans have never lost to Samoa in eight previous meetings, but the South Pacific islanders did give the Boks a torrid time the last time they met in a Rugby World Cup clash, with the Boks squeezing out a 13-5 win in New Zealand in 2011.

 

That result four years ago, tells me that for the so-called World Cup minnows, every match is like their own final and the Samoan attitude is expected to be no different in Birmingham on Saturday.

 

Samoa coach Stephen Betham probably best summed up his team's approach when he commented at the team's press conference earlier this week:  "We are expecting massive warfare."

 

Before any further engagement with the media present, Bethan added: " But in saying that, we can't come to war with our hands and a pocket knife, we have to bring all we've got and face up."

 

Samoa have declared war and it's up to the Boks to respond to the challenge, not necessarily with brute force, but with intelligent rugby.

 

I don't for one moment doubt the Boks' physical ability to man up, but the Samoans would love to be drawn into a brutal war, because that's their brand of rugby. The Boks will have to get on top physically from the outset and just play to their strengths.

 

Although coach Heyneke Meyer has made eight changes to the match day 22, there is still an element of enduring faith in a band of tried and tested veterans and in some cases, rusty, out of form players.

 

There are reports that the usually mild-mannered Meyer blew a fuse in the aftermath of the Japan defeat in Brighton -- and rightfully so -- and reports suggest he blasted the senior players who had not followed his instructions.

 

Meyer's decision to load the side with these experienced veterans also seemed to blow up in his face. The age factor seemed to override the experience factor and many of the old hands were overshadowed by their less illustrious, and lesser experienced, opponents.

 

Too many of the senior campaigners just simply underperformed, despite coach Meyer's undying faith in them. Let's hope a similar scenario is not emerging with senior players where the ‘dog walks the man’ and not the other way around.

 

I feel Heyneke has sharpened his talons now and realised that certain players cannot be carried on reputation alone. It's quite simply about delivery on the field of play.

 

There are some really talented young guns itching to prove their mettle at top level and the healthy competition for places they bring, must surely ignite a firecracker under the pants of the misfiring Jean de Villiers, Victor Matfield, Schalk Burger and Bismarck du Plessis.

 

Those old hands desperately need to repay Meyer's faith in them now by turning in a performance worthy of a Springbok jersey in Birmingham on Saturday.

 

While a convincing victory over Samoa will go a long way towards redemption from their mugging by Japan, that humiliating loss will never be erased from the memory.

 

Assuming the Boks beat Samoa, they could still advance as pool winners, providing they manage to get by Scotland in Newcastle next week and rake up a truck load of points against the USA the following week.

 

The Boks should simply heed the message of one of the greatest leaders in the game, Richie McCaw and keep telling themselves " The game starts here".

Kick-Off in Birmingham is at 17h45 SA time

Trevor Cramer/Jacasport