Wales to step up a gear against Boks
A week ago the Welsh rugby team, in the eyes of most South African fans, was not considered to be worth much more than two bob. But times have changed.
Colin Charvis's team gave the Springboks such a shake-up in the first half-hour of the first Test in Bloemfontein that we now know the Welshmen are not just here to make up the numbers. At the very least, they are worthy opponents.
We know Charvis himself is a No 8 in the typically rugged traditions of the Welsh valleys. That he leads a pack that had the South Africans virtually on their knees for the first 30 minutes. That this initial dominance up front forced AJ Venter and Warren Britz into a largely defensive role for almost three-quarters of the match.
We know, too, that the halfback pairing is nifty and Stephen Jones is a flyhalf with touches of the great pivots of the past - the makings of a Cliff Morgan or a Phil Bennett. The centres are solid and wings Rhys Williams and Craig Morgan are pacy and elusive.
What's more, New Zealand coach Steve Hansen now knows what he is up against and can be expected to urge his charges to step their game up a gear for Saturday's second and final Test against the Boks at a wet Newlands.
However, the Springboks likewise should be able to improve on a no-better-than-average performance in Bloemfontein. Coach Rudolf Straeuli has rung the changes - and at least three of these should bring about an improvement.
Two are in the pack and Quinton Davids' inclusion in the second row in place of Victor Matfield should bring about an instant toughening of the pack's mettle in the front five.
Encouraged by former Bok coach Harry Viljoen, Matfield seems to view his job as a "strike runner", hanging out wide among the backs and giving very little effort outside the lineouts to the tight phases.
The Sharks' Warren Britz is unfortunate to have to compete for a place against specialist fetcher Corne Krige. He had little support in the rucks and mauls from the rest of the pack at Free State Stadium, even though he was often first there. He probably felt, as do most players making a debut at international level, that his chance came and went in a flash. He shouldn't despair: his chance may come again.
Ricardo Loubscher's injury has brought young Brent Russell to the fore - and although in a position somewhat foreign to him, it is a gamble by Straeuli that was well worth the taking. In his pocket-sized stature and also style of play and flair, he so resembles England's Jason Robinson that there would seem every chance of the blond bullet producing the same sort of pizzazz - even in the wet!
He and Andre Pretorius could always swop places if problems occur, and there's always Werner Greeff on the bench. Coupled with Stormers partner Marius Joubert, De Wet Barry will bring more durability to the midfield.
Bob Skinstad remains as captain and, while Straeuli may later change his mind, it is better this way. The continuity ought to make for a more settled performance.