When South Africa began the 2006 Tri-Nations they succumbed to a humiliating 49-0 defeat to Australia in Brisbane. Three months later they beat the same team 24-16 at Ellis Park. In between, the press, the public and his own employer vilified the coach.

South Africa’s overcrowded cricket season begins this week with three one-day internationals against Zimbabwe. This hastily arranged series is the result of last month’s enforced early departure from Sri Lanka. It is principally notable for the lack of thought that has gone into the logistics of what is, admittedly, a very short tour.

The curtain comes down on a difficult international season for the Springboks at Ellis Park on Saturday. In 2005 the Boks won three of their four Tri-Nations encounters and could actually claim to have had a better competition than in 2004, when they won it. This time around, though, Jake White’s team has been relegated to the ”also-rans” column.

If there is a silver lining to last week’s 45-26 defeat by the All Blacks it is that Springbok coach Jake White has recognised the need for a total overhaul. This week’s line-up to play New Zealand near Rustenburg contains five changes and a positional switch. If you wanted to be hypercritical you might argue that White has not been severe enough in his pruning.

Jake White and the Springboks have had three weeks to reflect. They lost their last Tri-Nations game against Australia by two points, a 47-point improvement on the previous meeting between the two sides. A week earlier they had been competitive against the All Blacks before being fairly comprehensively beaten.

The Currie Cup begins in earnest this weekend, with all bar the Lions and Bulls having played seven matches, with seven more to come before the semifinals and final. At the halfway mark the five major metropolitan provinces lead the way with Griquas providing a potential fly in the ointment and the Valke and Pumas making up the numbers.

A training venue changed two hours prior to arrival, self-inflicted wounds in practice and an Australian journalist comparing a press conference to a Marx Brothers movie. Ho hum. Just another week in the life of the Springboks on tour. This week the circus rolls into Sydney, writes Andy Capostagno.

Coaching at international level used to be relatively straightforward. You cut your teeth in club rugby, moved up to provincial level, developed your style and, when the big phone call arrived, used that style with the national side. In South Africa there used to be a codicil: you couldn’t coach the Springboks unless you had been one yourself.

One coach makes eight changes and confidently expects to win, the other makes five changes and hopes not to lose by too many. There will come a time when Graham Henry’s attempt to introduce the squad system at international level will come a cropper, but this Saturday is not that moment.