Excelling in a climate of expectation

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

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  • 201.Jack Parow: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 21:42 pm

    Caught this article on the break. Good read, this sure is the time for this legendary bok era! Just pisses me off no Fransie though, I mean c’mon div??? Now lets go Holland!

  • 202.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 21:44 pm

    @Remember when Teichman was dropped before ‘99 RWC?(Paper Tiger with Nuclear Teeth)-199: Tac backs the La Celeste with the powder blue if the Bulle…plus he knows his forefathers were probably peasants in Holland. :D

  • 203.Remember when Teichman was dropped before '99 RWC?: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 21:47 pm

    Boks can’t be ‘great’ until they beat Ireland and France away from home and consistently win 90%+ of all games in the NH.

  • 204.Remember when Teichman was dropped before '99 RWC?: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 21:48 pm

    Uruguay are looking the better team now.

  • 205.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 21:49 pm

    Sorry chaps was waylaid for a half – how good were those goals!!!

    Holland is struggling here…

  • 206.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 21:51 pm

    @ET(ET)-185: Hope you aren’t biting the tongue too much – skidmarks today… Very strange, Holland are subdued…

  • 207.Remember when Teichman was dropped before '99 RWC?: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 21:51 pm

    why is there a box in the right hand corner? What purpose does it achieve?

    It’s dumb. Please remove it Roy.

  • 208.Remember when Teichman was dropped before '99 RWC?: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 21:53 pm

    Spain will beat Germany tomorrow. Paul the Oracle Octopus has spoken.

  • 209.Jack Parow: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 21:54 pm

    @Remember when Teichman was dropped before ‘99 RWC?(Paper Tiger with Nuclear Teeth)-203: Haebo! Last i checked they must great then. No?,

  • 210.Remember when Teichman was dropped before '99 RWC?: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 21:55 pm

    @Jack Parow(Jack Parow)-209: your post makes no sense.

    When last did SA win in France or Ireland?

  • 211.Remember when Teichman was dropped before '99 RWC?: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 21:56 pm

    How many of the current Boks have won in France and Ireland?

  • 212.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 21:57 pm

    good passage of play from Holland

  • 213.Remember when Teichman was dropped before '99 RWC?: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 21:58 pm

    Are we going to have penalties?

  • 214.Remember when Teichman was dropped before '99 RWC?: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 21:59 pm

    Robben should have passed inside. Glory boy.

  • 215.Remember when Teichman was dropped before '99 RWC?: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:01 pm

    GOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL!

    To Tacitus’ cousins.

  • 216.I am a stormer: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:01 pm

    Viva Oranje viva!!

  • 217.Jack Parow: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:01 pm

    I beg your pardon. Had a moment. Back to the footies then. Keep to watching.

  • 218.ET: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:02 pm

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-212:

    Yes, yes ,yes. GOAL 2-1 go ‘Oranje’.

  • 219.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:02 pm

    the game has come alive – near goals for both sides

  • 220.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:03 pm

    @ET(ET)-218: Goal…?

  • 221.Remember when Teichman was dropped before '99 RWC?: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:04 pm

    GGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!

  • 222.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:04 pm

    @ET(ET)-218: OMG… ITV must have a lag this side… p.isspoor!!!

  • 223.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:04 pm

    @ET(ET)-218: You must be happy…

  • 224.ET: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:05 pm

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-212:

    Where have you been hiding?

    Been getting very irrittated but it is all over bar the shouting now

    The Oranje are marching with aplnb to the WORLD CUP

    Transie where is you team? Mine is there already.

  • 225.Remember when Teichman was dropped before '99 RWC?: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:05 pm

    And out go the cheats.

    until the world cup in 2030… Uruguay only do well in world cups ending in zero.

  • 226.I am a stormer: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:05 pm

    Justice.

    Cheaters on the first plane outta here.

    Koebaai.

  • 227.ET: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:06 pm

    @ET(ET)-224:

    aplnb should read APLOMB

  • 228.Remember when Teichman was dropped before '99 RWC?: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:07 pm

    Holland haven’t been great tonight. Reckon Spain will take them in the final.

  • 229.Puma: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:07 pm

    HUP HOLLAND HUP HOLLAND HUP THE MEN IN ORANJE…………..YEBO.

    3/1 NOW. Had to blow my vuvu a bit there…….hehehehe.

    GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOLLAND.

  • 230.ET: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:08 pm

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-223:

    Over the ******* I N G MOON with delight.

    I have waited for forty years for this. Ever since the advent of those superstars Cruyff, Johnny Rep and Karel Neeskens.

  • 231.Puma: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:08 pm

    @Remember when Teichman was dropped before ‘99 RWC?(Paper Tiger with Nuclear Teeth)-228: They without their two mid-fielders. Back for the finals if they make it.

    GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ORANJE. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOLLAND.

  • 232.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:09 pm

    @ET(ET)-224: Goal, your team is through!

    Was waylaid, Banshee locked her keys in the car – had to go take the spares…

  • 233.ET: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:10 pm

    @Puma(Puma)-229:

    We’re there Puma the ‘Oranje’ are there. Die Kaap is weer regtig Hollands vanaand.

  • 234.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:10 pm

    @I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-226: koebaai :lol:

  • 235.Puma: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:10 pm

    @ET(ET)-230: :D :D

    GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ORANJE!!

    Damn Amsterdam must be going crazy. Can almost feel the vibe there.

  • 236.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:11 pm

    @ET(ET)-230: funny how the steady eddies might go one better than the superstars…

  • 237.Remember when Teichman was dropped before '99 RWC?: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:11 pm

    Cruyff
    Van Basten
    Gullit
    Bergkamp
    Overmars
    Cocu
    Davids
    Van Nistelrooy

    Some good players there.

  • 238.ET: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:12 pm

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-232:

    Then freedom of Cape Town is bestowed on the Dutch once more as it was on 6th April 1652. Jan Van Riebeeck se Dag.

  • 239.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:12 pm

    This game should be Holland vs Ghana. Not these gatecrashers!

  • 240.Puma: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:12 pm

    @ET(ET)-233: Yebo……..hehehehe. We are there ET. Damn can almost feel the vibe in Amsterdam and The Hague. Really loved my time in Holland. Great people and the best party ever will go on there tonight if they win.

    HUP HOLLAND HUP HOLLAND……………..GO THE ORANJE.

  • 241.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:13 pm

    @ET(ET)-238: Its gonna be Wesley Sjneider day :wink:

  • 242.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:14 pm

    haha, out you go you dirty cheats.

  • 243.Puma: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:14 pm

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-239:We know HG. Think everyone is supporting the men in Orange tonight cause of that. For me I lived there for quite sometime. Loved it there. The Hollanders are superb and huge, huge fun.

    GO ORANJE.

  • 244.Puma: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:15 pm

    @rangerman(rangerman)-242: :D :D :D For sure. Hoping like crazy.

    GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ORANJE.

  • 245.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:16 pm

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-239:

    Nah. The ancestor worshippers got what they deserved.

  • 246.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:16 pm

    @Puma(Puma)-243: Its good stuff. I can feel the vibe from hear. Sounds like 95% of the stadium are behind Oranje

  • 247.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:17 pm

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-246: hear = here

  • 248.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:18 pm

    @Tacitus(Tacitus)-245: No-one deserved Suarez…

  • 249.Remember when Teichman was dropped before '99 RWC?: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:18 pm

    Knew it. Tacitus was against Ghana. Not a surprise really…

  • 250.ET: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2010, 22:19 pm

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-241:

    Where is our poor Buddy Transie?

    I hope he is not pep talking his Spaniards because that is a forlorn case as the Germans are needed for WW3 after tomorrow.

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