If you wanted to play devil’s advocate it might be argued that South Africa’s triumph in this year’s Tri-Nations was more than a little fortuitous and that, since each of the three teams won their home games and lost away, it was merely treading water.

What would a Springbok team announcement be without controversy? Since the end of isolation all that has really changed is the greater focus upon representivity. In 2004, the public is bemused by the inclusion of Boland wing Jongi Nokwe in Jake White’s squad of 33. In 1992, it was Botha Rossouw, a back-row forward from Western Transvaal.

It is a simple enough statement of fact to say that the Blue Bulls are the best provincial rugby team in South Africa. Whatever happens in this weekend’s final at Loftus, nothing will alter that fact. And to prove that it is a long way from being a flash in the pan, Heyneke Meyer’s team stands on the threshold of a third successive final victory.

The best Currie Cup competition of the new millennium has reached the semifinal stage. It’s worth stressing the quality of the rugby, since next year SA Rugby has committed to return to a 14-team structure from the current eight. That will mean many more one-sided contests than has been the case this year, but probably little change in the make-up of the semifinalists.

In South Africa it always used to be the case that when the north was strong the Springboks were strong. For north read Northern Transvaal, now officially (as opposed to affectionately) known as the Blue Bulls. The Bulls are heading for their third Currie Cup in a row and the Springboks are the Tri-Nations champions. QED.

It took nearly a year, but Brian van Rooyen has finally delivered on his promise to shake South African rugby to its foundations. This week he buried both the South African Rugby Football Union (Sarfu) and SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd and replaced them with one structure, to be known simply as SA Rugby.

When less than 1% of your public has met you, but everyone has an opinion about you, it might be said that you have made it. Here in South Africa we know better. That Schalk Burger? Long hair, good attitude, gives away too many penalties, Jake White likes him. Luke Watson? Short hair, good attitude, gives away too many penalties, Jake White doesn’t like him.

The Springboks are the Tri-Nations champions and all’s right with the world. But with two months left in the domestic season, the horse-trading for players has begun. National coach Jake White wants his Springboks used sparingly in the Currie Cup, while the sweet sound of opening chequebooks is tempting players to migrate.

While Jake White busies himself growing back some hair, he has earned the right to carve this motto above his dressing room mirror: “I told you so”. The Springbok coach has earned instant celebrity status by guiding his team to the Tri-Nations trophy merely by keeping his own counsel and backing his own judgement.

Right now Springbok coach Jake White is probably cursing the vagaries of a fixture list that has taken the deciding match of the 2004 Tri-Nations to Durban. That is because in 1998 — the only time South Africa won the tournament — the conclusive contest was at Ellis Park.