If Samoa do well at the coming World Cup, they will probably acknowledge the debt they owe to South Africa for the help they received along the way writes Gavin Rich for SuperRugby.
The Samoans have been in the country a couple of times in the past few years, mainly playing against provincial opposition as they built up experience and their coaching staff busied themselves with the task of uncovering the talent needed to perform at the world showpiece event in France.
A word of warning though to the young Springbok team that faces them on Saturday: This is a very different Samoan team to the one that some of the provincial sides thrashed in the pre-season and on some of their visits here in previous years.
With the European season now over, the Samoans have been strengthened by the return of players who were previously unavailable to them, and a glance through the team list also reveals a number of players who we should know quite well from their appearances in the Super 14. Names such as Loki Crichton, Semo Sititi and Fliipo Levi, to name just a few, should need no introduction.
Indeed, far from Samoa being part of a one-way export business in which their players go to New Zealand and never return, it does seem they might be profiting from their relationship with the Kiwis. Players who don’t make the All Blacks but have some Samoa blood in them and are good enough to play international rugby are making themselves available to the island nation.
It may be too early to say for sure, but in time this could see the Samoans climb the ladder back to the position they held in the early 1990s, and indeed through to after 1995, when they made the World Cup quarterfinals.
Their performances so far on tour would not suggest they are that good yet. They got outplayed last week by Australia A, and it is not exactly as if Australian rugby is that strong at the moment. At the same time, however, it needs to be remembered that the match at Ellis Park is the one the Samoans have been building up towards, this will be the one where they will go all out.
Against a full-strength Springbok team, that would not be a problem. There is enough experience and individual talent in the first-choice South African combination to see off almost any challenge at the moment.
But the Bok side for Saturday is an inexperienced one, and they could just be in trouble if they underestimate the Samoans and allow the visitors to get under their skin. There is certainly enough talent in the Samoan backline to give the young Bok backs problems if they receive ball to play with, so it is going to be up to the Bok pack, led by John Smit, to deny them possession, and to Derick Hougaard to keep the game tight, at least initially, and turn the opposition backs at every opportunity.
They may lack experience, but there is no lack of talent in this Springbok side. Debutant Waylon Murray is the real deal at centre, and while the manner of Luke Watson’s selection was despicable, he is good enough at least for this level.
Bob Skinstad though could well be the man to shine on Saturday. The Sharks player looked sharp when he came on as a substitute last weekend, and he may well be the one to watch as Jake White considers his options for the Tri-Nations.