Boks Back From The Brink

Rugby fans will be relieved by the Boks’ recent performance against the French.

- Richard Van Rensburg

IT WAS almost too painful to watch. Losing to the mighty All Blacks is one thing but you know something is very wrong when even minnows Italy are beating the Boks. With our national team losing to all and sundry, it’s little wonder fans were crying into their beer.

But the tide seems to be turning and – with the start of a new season bringing better news – supporters are breathing a sigh of relief.

The Springboks’ showing against the French team was impressive – but it’s not quite time to claim they will beat the Kiwis, says rugby commentator and retired Bok fly heaf Naas Botha.

“We’re coming back from a terrifying year for SA rugby,” he says. “You don’t just want to say we’re the best again. Let’s rather say what we’ve seen in these past few Test matches has been refreshing, a pleasure to watch . . . and once again you feel like there’s a lot to look forward to.”

Or as retired player and rugby analyst Gary Boshoff puts it: “Fans’ beers taste lekker to them again.”

We ask experts what was done to get the Boks back on track and how they can continue to build on their success.

BOK RESCUE PLAN

It was crunch time for Bok coach Allister Coetzee, especially when the French Test match series rolled around. Last year there was heated debate among rugby fund is about whether the Springboks needed a new coach.

Commentators reckon this was a real wake-up call for Coetzee.

“There was time for introspection and putting heads together with his new coaching team as well as with provincial coaches in the offseason,” Boshoff adds. “This year there was also no doubt who should be captain.”