Begging the world champion Boks to pitch up in Cape Town
The Springboks, at home, should beat Wales, but I just want the world champions to actually arrive at the DHL Stadium and give Capetonians a display befitting the tag of best in the world, writes Mark Keohane.
I have the Springboks to win by eight points. Ordinarily I would have said 18-20 in a third Test in South Africa.
But Wales have been tenacious, tough and wonderful foes. The Boks have been indifferent and indecisive and for too much of the previous two Tests, they have just been piss poor.
The first forty in Pretoria was disgusting. The last 20 in Bloemfontein was just awful. I am referring to the Springboks.
51 000 sold out Loftus in Pretoria to watch the world champions. They did not deliver. 46 000 sold out Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein. They did not deliver.
Capetonians took note and Saturday’s series finale at the DHL Stadium is not a sell-out. It is a reaction to the insipid Springbok performances.
Yes, 45 000 will watch Saturday’s decider but it has been a stretch to get too many interested in the Springboks. It should have been closer to 55 000 making the trek to the DHL Stadium.
There is a lot of hurt among supporters about the team picked to play Wales in Bloemfontein and the comfort with which Jacques Nienaber spoke about becoming the first Springbok coach to ever lose to Wales at home.
That statement of Nienaber’s hit a nerve among South African rugby supporters.
He can never make amends for Bloemfontein. It will stay with him as much as beating the All Blacks in Brisbane will stay with him. They were two different kinds of history.
I really just want to see the real champions of the world stand up and give the South African rugby public a performance that speaks to the 2019 World Cup triumph and the 2021 series win against the British and Irish Lions.
It has been the most disappointing of fortnights watching the Springboks. Hopefully, for 80 minutes at the DHL Stadium on Saturday, those of us who can and want to be there, will feel we are watching the best team in the world – and not imposters parading as world champions.
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Defeat to Wales would reduce the Boks to fifth in the world rankings.
Victory will consolidate their top three position.
Had the Springboks secured the series, all we would be talking about was their No 1 ranking.
They surrendered that luxury in Bloemfontein a week ago but they get a chance in Cape Town, just seven days later, to make right every wrong of a week ago.
Boks by eight – and it pains me to even call a home win in single digits.
YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SATURDAY’S TEST AT DHL STADIUM IN CAPE TOWN
Scott Gibbs is backing Wales for another upset win, while @mark_keohane and @Zels77 expect the @Springboks to give Eben Etzebeth a victory in his 100th Test! pic.twitter.com/i1ZZUinLb7
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) July 15, 2022
MARK KEOHANE, ZELIM NEL & SCOTT GIBBS CALL ALL BLACKS V IRELAND AND AUSTRALIA V ENGLAND
Scott Gibbs and @mark_keohane Keohane are expecting another Ireland upset while Zelim Nel is backing the @AllBlacks to bounce back in Wellington. pic.twitter.com/MpVKqgUBbl
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) July 15, 2022
Zelim Nel and Scott Gibbs expect the Wallabies to clinch the series against England, but @mark_keohane believes that Eddie "Moans" will be having the last laugh on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/13750PvKCr
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) July 15, 2022
