Boks' defensive wall looking better
And while the naysayers, pessimists and defeatists will claim the subsequent opposition – Samoa and Scotland – are not real contenders, the Springboks believe they have made real progress in key areas.
Bok coach Heyneke Meyer, speaking to the media ahead of his team's final pool match with the United States on Wednesday, admitted they will have to rewrite history if they are to realise their dream of lifting the Webb Ellis Cup on October 31.
Every World Cup-winning team – including South Africa in 1995 and 2007 – have gone through the tournament unbeaten.
And the loss of Japan in their opening match means that they have to go a new route.
It also resulted in a tweak of the tactics – which less flash and more substance to their game.
Meyer's charges get one final chance to iron out the kinks in their game – against the US Eagles on Wednesday.
Meyer remains wary of any opposition, especially after what happened to his team in the opening round against Japan.
"You have to stay humble and respect every single opponent," Meyer said of the Eagles, adding: "They are a world class team and difficult to play against."
Then there is his team's short turnaround – just four days between the win over Scotland and the Eagles clash, who had a 10-day break.
The coach said that is why I opted for continuity in selecting a team very close to his first-choice XV.
With players in key positions – such as No.8, scrumhalf, flyhalf and inside centre – not having had much time as a combination, the coach is using this last pool game to build momentum ahead of the play-offs.
"It is just the third game Handré' [Pollard] will play with Fourie [du Preez]," Meyer said, adding: "They haven't played together in the past.
"It is important to have some continuity, especially on defence.
"I wasn't happy with out defence in the first game [the loss to japan] and even in the [Rugby] Championship – when we scored enough points, but let too many in."
In the 32-34 loss to Japan the Boks let in three tries. In the subsequent victories against Samoa (46-6) and Scotland (34-16), the only try was an intercept score.
It was a similar scenario in the Rugby Championships.
In the 20-24 loss to the Wallabies the Boks were outscored by three tries to two, in the 20-27 loss to New Zealand the try count was also three-two and in the 25-37 loss to Argentina it was four-three in favour of the Pumas.
In the return fixture against the Pumas, a 26-12 triumph by the Boks, the try-count was two-nil in favour of SA.
"In last few games [of the World Cup], slowly but surely, our defence has improved."
Meyer has also taken inspiration from the first sub four-minute mile, as the Boks look to become the first team to win a third World Cup title.
Springbok fans thought their team's chances nosedived after a stunning 32-34 defeat to Japan.
Meyer, however, cited running a mile in under four minutes, once thought to be impossible until Britain's Roger Bannister clocked three minutes 59.4 seconds in 1954, as an example of a once staggering feat that was now commonplace.
"We don't look past this game," Meyer said of Wednesday's final pool encounter with the Yanks.
"That's been our problem, where we couldn't build game on game. One thing about South Africans, if we don't pitch up and are not physical, then we are beatable.
"But there are so many examples of comebacks that people said can't happen.
"They said the mile would never be run in under four minutes; now everybody does it.
"I believe everything is possible, and the guys know this is," added Meyer, criticised heavily after the Japan match.
"But we know we have to get through this game.
"People say things to be nice, but we really respect the US. They've shown they're very difficult to play against, very physical, a lot of big, strong forwards and great runners in midfield."
Meyer repeated the team mantra that "every single game is actually a final."
Meyer has made just two, injury-enforced changes, to the team that beat Scotland.
Lwazi Mvovo replaces wing JP Pietersen, while prop Frans Malherbe comes in for Jannie du Plessis. Pietersen and du Plessis have knee injuries.
Morné Steyn – who has fallen behind Handré Pollard and Pat Lambie in South Africa's flyhalf pecking order – could be involved off the bench.
The 31-year-old played the last of his 59 Tests against Australia in September last year but Meyer said the renowned goal-kicker's attitude had been exemplary.
"Morné's probably what all South Africans and Springboks should be," he said. "He's here to serve and the thing that hasn't been nice for him is that youngsters have been playing ahead of him.
"He's done everything, been a World Cup winner (as a 2007 squad member), beat the British and Irish Lions on his own." Steyn's last-minute penalty gave the Springboks a series-clinching win in the second Test in 2009.
"I never had to keep him positive. He's been an example to everyone, helping other guys with their kicking."
@rugby365com & AFP
