Excelling in a climate of expectation
6 Jul 2010
There is an unprecedented level of expectation on the Springboks and a measure of how good this current generation is will be revealed in how they respond to that expectation.
The Springboks have been lavished with praise in recent weeks, from former Springbok coach Nick Mallett predicting that they would defend their Tri-Nations crown, to All Blacks legend Sean Fitzpatrick writing in his New Zealand Herald column that the Springboks’ form, depth and experience scares him.
The liberal outpouring of praise was evident in the Australian and New Zealand media was well. That the latter have generally tempered expectations, even though they play two home Tests against the Springboks in the tournament, is a testament to their opponents’ quality at present.
The New Zealand rugby fraternity will see assertions that their side have lost their invincible aura as Springbok arrogance. It is not. The Springboks still have a great deal of respect and a healthy fear of the Blacks, but recent successes, not least of all three victories in 2009, have eroded the aura that used to paralyse South African players.
Heightened expectation is a by-product of consistent success, and it’s under those circumstances that the Springboks must show their mettle.
The Springboks have in the past thrived when expectations were low, but that is no longer the case. The great sides have ridden that wave of expectation with consummate composure and skill. This will be the Springboks’ challenge in the coming months, beginning with the first of two Tests against the All Blacks in Auckland on Saturday.
The Springboks have earned the right to feel confident about a series victory over their traditional rivals, as have Springbok supporters, whose expectation has been fuelled by last year’s series win over the British & Irish Lions, a Tri-Nations campaign that saw their side lose just one of six matches, and recent victories over Wales, France and Italy.
To say the expectation has been high since after their World Cup triumph would be naive, and fails to take into account that many (mostly foreign) critics perceived the Springboks’ success in France as being a hallow one given that they hadn’t negotiated the challenge of Australia, New Zealand or France. To revisit the validity that line of criticism would be futile, but it remains a fact that the Springboks journey to the title was widely viewed as easy.
In 2008 Peter de Villiers was appointed and through his media offerings and Saru president Regan Hoskins’ ill-considered concession that De Villiers was not selected on rugby credentials alone, he was cast as the ultimate underdog. His appreciable success in his three-year tenure thus far means that is no longer a role he can assume. Like his players, De Villiers must now accept that that success has thrown a magnetic spotlight onto him.
He’ll be judged by an exceptionally high standard going forward, and this is justified given that he has at his disposal arguably the finest group of players in Springbok history, notwithstanding injuries to some exceptional players and the continued non-selection of the gifted Frans Steyn.
Ignoring their penchant for dramatic capitulations at World Cups, the All Blacks of the early and mid 2000s developed the habit of performing consistently under the weight of expectation. They embraced their status as favourites in every Test they entered into and generally played in a manner befitting that billing. In defeat, there were no complaints about the pressure that expectation created. They understood that champion teams elicit lofty, sometimes unrealistic, expectations.
This is where the Springboks find themselves. A measure of just how good this current generation is will be revealed in how they respond to that expectation.
By Ryan Vrede
316 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 [7] Show All
6 Jul 2010, 22:59 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-289: what ancestors do the ghanaians worship?
6 Jul 2010, 23:00 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-299: Good Van Bommel – no sympathy from me for the gatecrashers…!
6 Jul 2010, 23:02 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-297: Chewing fat as you and Puma have done…
6 Jul 2010, 23:03 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-301:
Theirs.
6 Jul 2010, 23:03 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-297:
Don’t hide away tomorrow. I was here at the time you asked where I was, but on the other thread where you and David were busy with your past teams.
It was an enjoyable semi today after all the to and fro parrying early on.
See you later. It has to be Holland vs. Germany and no other.
6 Jul 2010, 23:06 pm
@ET(ET)-305: Awesome. Apologies for vanishing…
Happy that one half of a final of note has come together…
Enjoy the double-tap of wines…
Wear the oranje in classes tomorrow!!
Cheers
6 Jul 2010, 23:08 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-298:
A Forlan free kick is edge of the seat stuff – you expect something to happen.
Schweinsteiger – the way he provides ball to the strikers Podolski and Klose – quite classic.
Listen to me, you’d swear i’d been watching soccer for years.
6 Jul 2010, 23:09 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-296: They’re African and so am I, how more do you want in common! Not withstanding they’re a group of gentlemen and I enjoy watching them play. They were excellent against those thugs and tonight’s match would’ve been much more exciting, One thing’s for sure I have fck all in common with you!!
6 Jul 2010, 23:24 pm
Outtahere
6 Jul 2010, 23:43 pm
Watched a bit of rugby game between ABs and Boks earlier tonite on ESPN Classic.
ABs won of course, back in 1997.
Im looking forward to this weekend’s match as I want to understand the mental strength of the current squad.
That’s why its called a “test”
7 Jul 2010, 00:08 am
“The AB’s have to b favourites. Boks only 2 sessions in nz before playing. Nz 2 win on sat. Boks to win 2 & 3 v NZ”
Keo, on Twitter.
He thinks the Boks are going to lose. And the Eden Park record will be intact since 1937.
That’s what Keo thinks.
7 Jul 2010, 00:37 am
Keo’s having a bob each way: one on his blog and the opposite on his Twitter.
(At least Paul the Predicting German Octopus makes unambiguous predictions. And an octopus is spineless!)
7 Jul 2010, 01:10 am
wow, there sure are one or two Saffa fans getting way ahead of themselves……… the game still has to be played boys, and I reckon it’s anyones game. Who wants/needs it more?
A little perspective is needed here….. please. The AB’s are our greatest rivals, on their home patch, with something to prove. This is gonna be a big challenge for da Boks!
7 Jul 2010, 02:30 am
Don’t care about the result, all that matters is how we play.
7 Jul 2010, 02:58 am
Despite the banter being thrown around here the talk coming out of the Bok squad sounds just right. They’re not getting too far ahead of themselves. It sounds about the same as the South African cricket side before taking a Test series in Australia. Right balance of intensity and perspective.
Going to be a cracking game, should be very close. The ABs will throw the kitchen sink.
7 Jul 2010, 03:14 am
Just wondering how many bok players will be “unfairly” targeted by the ref.
I can hear it already, “oh they are just picking on us cos we are saffa wankers”
Maybe not the last word…
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 [7] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.