THE WORLD RANKING slide was a dramatic one. Not quite as dramatic as the manner of their defeat to Japan in Brighton on Saturday obviously, but it’s a decent illustration of the immediate hammer blow to South Africa’s national psyche.
From third in the world, South Africa rode the chute down to sixth this week.
Head coach Heyneke Meyer has at least been able to take eight of the losing side out of the firing line when they attempt to get their tournament back on track.
One of the men parachuted into the starting line-up – one that closer resembles a strongest Springbok XV – is the powerful centre Damian De Allende. The 23-year-old can’t have had too many experiences when he felt as powerless as he was when sitting in the stands in Brighton, watching the unthinkable unfold.
“The guys on the field are giving 100% and doing their best. It was tough to watch but hopefully we will bounce back – It could be a wake-up call. It could be a good thing,” De Allende said today.
‘Got it all out’
As for the 23 who were caught up in the whirlwind of Eddie Jones’ attacking ambition, the centre was close at hand to see the mental toll it took, but says they were eventually able to put it behind them.
“It took three days. The boys really got over it yesterday in training. It was still a bit dull on Monday because everyone knew we had let down ourselves and the country. It was quite tough.”
“Yesterday was a lot better than Monday. We spoke about it and got it all out. Hopefully it will pay off this weekend.”
At some point, De Allende will be joined on the field by Saracens hooker Schalk Brits, who is named among the replacements at the expense of Bismarck Du Plessis. As a more experienced head around the squad, Brits’ insistence on shutting out the opinions of camp outsiders is likely a more telling insight into the mood of the Springboks. The siege mentality is in full effect and Samoa may just have to take the brunt of that on Saturday.
“It’s been quite vicious,” Brits says of the criticism from home. “This weekend we can put a lot of things right with our performance, not say too much but do things on the pitch.
“Everyone has been getting on the bandwagon. We have seen all the cartoons, sketches, jokes and pictures. Come Saturday we need to put all that behind us and do what we have done for the last 10 years.”
“I really haven’t played against (Samoa) before but I’ve done a lot of looking and analysing them as a team and individuals. They have some big individuals, are quick and can play rugby.”
South Africa ordinarily bring a daunting level of physicality to Test matches, and the words of Brits and De Allende give a warning that the Pacific islanders can expect an extra level of aggression from Meyer’s embattled squad.
“They are massive human beings,” says the centre, “we have to go on the field and front up and leave nothing out there.”
Brits adds: “We have got to focus on what we do and what we do well. We can’t wait to turn last weekend’s defeat (against Japan) into an opportunity to show what we can do and what we want to do.”
