by Rob Cowie | While Springbok supporters have renewed hope that their team can retain the Rugby World Cup, any number of potential pitfalls – some avoidable and some not – could derail the campaign. The top ten:
1. Playing John Smit at prop
If Gary Gold persists with this folly, expect the Bok scrum to be back-pedalling all the way home to South Africa without any silverware.
2. Predetermined substitutions regardless of the situation
Look for Dick Muir to pull his trademark stunt once again in a crucial game. Someone please remove the batteries from his walkie-talkie!
3. An injury to Heinrich Brussow
Looking more and more like the lynchpin of the Bok side under the current law interpretations, Flo Louw will have to step up in a big way if we lose the Ratel.
4. Losing to Wales in the first game
This would make the Boks’ task exponentially harder – meaning they would face Australia in the quarters instead of Ireland – although Ireland is our bogey side so we might be screwed either way.
5. Bakkies not playing the best rugby of his career
The Aussies showed in beating New Zealand that the big men need to get to the breakdown in numbers and clean brutally – no-one does it better than Bakkies when he’s on song.
6. Fourie du Preez not playing to his potential
The former Best Scrumhalf in World Rugby Ever™ has looked a shadow of the 2007 player that singlehandedly destroyed England. Hopefully he will get back to something resembling his best form as the knockout stages loom.
6. Captain Victor irritating the referee
When things are not going the way of the Boks, Captain Victor tends to throw his toys and make an enemy of the ref, which just makes things worse. Some quiet diplomacy will be needed from the big man when he stands in for Smit.
7. Rassie not having enough time to do his thing
The longer Rassie is with the team, the better they will get. It will take time to get the rubbish that has come the way of Snor, Dick and Gold over the last four years erased. Hopefully the players are quick learners.
8. Habana being shown up in the rush defence
Habana shooting out of position in defence means easy tries for the opposition. Bryan, get on the blower to Cheryl Calder for a quick refresher course.
9. Peter de Villiers shooting his mouth off
Will the coach once again pile unneccesary pressure on his team by saying all the wrong things? Undoubtedly. Media manager Andy Colquhoun will have to be at the top of his game to keep the circus in check.
10. The injury-enforced exit of Jean de Villiers
Mainly for sentimental reasons – can one man be so unlucky? Frans Steyn stepped up last time and Juan de Jongh wouldn’t disappoint this time around.