The irresistible blend of power, skill and intensity that blew away the Pumas in Mbombela has warned the world that the Boks have moved on from the relatively conservative game that won then two World Cups and a series against the British and Irish Lions.
It is frightening to think how good this Springbok team could be at Australia 2027 given how rapidly they have evolved under wily Kiwi Tony Brown, who has taught the South Africans how to attack space and use the width of the field.
Watching big fellows like Pieter-Steph du Toit and Siya Kolisi carve through defenders near the touchlines and set up play for the speedsters has been a pleasure.
The Boks have played ten matches this year and lost two by one-point margins, in Durban when two freakish drop goals late in the game got Ireland over the line; and in Santiago del Estero where Manie Libbok fluffed a late penalty.
How Rassie Erasmus handled the fallout from that loss was masterful. When the SA rugby public was demanding Libbok’s head and the selection of a reliable kicker, Erasmus calmly found a leftfield option — he kept LIbbok at flyhalf and gave the kicking duties to Jaden Hendrikse, who did a fair job until Handre Pollard came on and did his usual thing.
Keeping Libbok on the team sent a strong message to the Springbok players that the coach believed in them and would not discard them on a whim. Libbok responded by displaying some wonderful artistry with his passing and kicking out of hand.
Yes, Hendrikse missed a few kicks but when the Boks are playing a type of game that has them scoring tries almost at will, the odd missed kick is not a train smash.
It has been a profitable winter for Erasmus on several fronts. He has the team winning, evolving their attacking play and he has done this while changing up the team regularly to blood new players.
Erasmus has used 49 players so far this year as he keeps one eye on 2027. He knows that a number of his World Cup winners are on the wrong side of 30 and it would be folly to take an aged team to Australia.
Many an international coach has failed at the World Cup because he did not dare to retire star players who had become has-beens.
Some of the biggest names currently in the Springbok team will not go to the next World Cup. Even captain fantastic Siya Kolisi is a possible casualty given that he will be 36 going on 37 in 2027.
But what I enjoy about how Rassie is handling the player transition is his lack of haste to replace players. He has told the 30-somethings in the squad that as long as they are still producing their best rugby, he will keep picking them.
Bongi Mbonambi is also 33, as is Frans Malherbe while Vincent Koch is 34. Willie le Roux is 35 and his days in the green and gold are numbered. The fullback is on 97 caps and Erasmus has said he will get Le Roux to his ton. Le Roux’s current role in the squad is more about mentoring the emerging fullbacks and in this regard, he has done a fine job with Aphelele Fassi.
Again, Erasmus must be commended for the way he handled the unique talent that is the Weekend Special.
In 2022, Fassi was given a shot when Wales played the Boks in Bloemfontein. He did not take the chance as he was exposed on defence; his kicking was poor and his aerial game was deficient. Erasmus dropped Fassi from the squad but gave him a pile of homework.
He told Fassi that if he fixed his game, he could be back in contention. It took two years for Fassi tore turn.
Other players to be given decent game time to prove themselves are Elrigh Louw, Ruan Nortje, Gerhard Steenekamp and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
A big winner in that group is Nortje who by Erasmus’s admission was not on the list of second-rower possibilities at the start of the year. But with the Boks suffering a plague of injuries to their locks — Lood de Jager, Jean Kleyn, Franco Mostert and RG Snyman — Nortje was drafted in.
The gangly Blue Bull rolled up his sleeves and got stuck in. He has been a revelation with his lineout calling and his tireless covering of the pitch.
Speaking of high industry, Du Toit continues to astound and astonish. He was always a great player but somehow he went up a level in the World Cup final — famously making a mammoth 28 tackles — and this year he has kept the same impossibly high standards to the point that the Player of the Match award is a foregone conclusion.
It took some doing to be judged the best Bok on a day at Mbombela when every Bok raised the bar and it was interesting to hear Du Toit describe how he motivates himself.
“The main thing that I do after a game is look myself in the mirror and ask myself if I have emptied the tank,” Du Toit said.
“If I made mistakes, in our team it doesn’t matter as long as I give 100 percent.
“If you sit in the change room and think: ‘I could’ve done this, I could’ve done that, I could’ve run a bit harder or tackled a bit harder’, then you know it’s not what you want at the end of the day.”
Du Toit revealed that the will to win trophies has not been diminished by the glittering haul of silverware in the SA Rugby trophy cabinet.
“Naturally you want to do well constantly. We’ve lost two games this year but we have the opportunity to keep growing and bringing in new players and unearthing new talent.
“An injury happens so quickly and then you are not here anymore. It remains a team sport and if the team is not doing well, the individuals will not be doing well either.”
Du Toit and the Boks turn their attention to their November tour that will take in matches against Scotland, England and Wales.
“We would like to finish the season on a high. We have the opportunity to continue growing with the squad’s core and riding the winning momentum. We will do everything in our power to ride the wave as long as possible.”