Tri-Nations champions South Africa begin their bid to complete an historic Grand Slam against Wales in Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday in a buoyant mood.
It is 20 years since Australia became the last southern-hemisphere side to achieve the feat — beating England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland all on the one tour — but it is South Africa who are the Slam specialists.
On only six occasions has a team from the south completed a clean sweep of the Home Nations, with four of those Slams belonging to the Boks, the last way back in 1960/61.
But up until this season, more recent history — including a lacklustre 2003 World Cup campaign overshadowed by subsequent revelations of former coach Rudi Straeuli’s bizarre training methods — was threatening to overshadow the current team.
However, under new coach Jake White, South Africa are a reinvigorated outfit.
They take on a Welsh side determined to avenge June’s 53-18 Test mauling in Pretoria, but Springbok captain John Smit says his players are in no mood to lose that winning feeling.
”Confidence is the most powerful tool any team can have, and we have,” the 34-times capped hooker said at a press conference at the team hotel in Cardiff on Wednesday.
”The last two or three years haven’t been pretty for South African rugby, but Jake White has come in with a completely different approach.
”He’s given us the tools to fight the war with. We are confident, but we don’t consider ourselves favourites to complete the Grand Slam — we feel we have to improve a couple of levels to do that.”
South Africa go into this weekend’s match as overwhelming favourites.
But White said he is expecting a ”completely different” Wales team to the one that his side outclassed last time out.
”They were missing a few key players on that tour, and then Brent Cockbain had to go home because of his personal tragedy,” he said, referring to the death of the Australian-born lock’s one-year-old son, Toby.
”As well, Michael Owen had to pull out with injury, so they’re a completely different team this weekend.
”Having said that, our fullback Percy Montgomery knows how Mike Ruddock operates from their time together at Newport, and I don’t think he’ll go away from the things that work best for him.”
White said the opportunity to complete a Grand Slam was too good to pass up.
”It hasn’t been done by a South African team since 1961, and some great Springbok teams have never had the opportunity to achieve it, but we have to be realistic — this is a very young team.
”This year’s achievements have already surpassed expectations, but I’ve told the players what a great opportunity they have to write their names in the history books.”
Wales have beaten South Africa only once in 17 matches dating back to 1906. They won 29-19 at the Millennium Stadium in 1998, with legendary flyhalf Neil Jenkins kicking 19 points.
For the first time in five years, there are no Cardiff players in the Wales starting line-up.
In a worrying precedent for home fans, the last time that happened, Wales were on the end of a record 96-13 mauling at the hands of South Africa.
Wales’s four regional teams have managed just one victory from eight matches in the European Cup so far this season.
But Wales captain Gareth Thomas, now at French giants Toulouse, said: ”Everyone seems to be writing Welsh rugby off at the moment, with the provincial teams, so maybe it is good for some of the players to be out of that environment with a chance to prove people wrong.” — Sapa-AFP