?We?re the champions!? cried out Trevor Immelman on Twitter on Saturday afternoon; not quite yet, perhaps, but across the country, people were downing Klipdrift?s finest out of the bottle, and celebrating that most uncommon of rugby spectacles: the stroll to Tri-Nations victory on foreign soil.

Yes, it was in the largely South African village of Perth, and yes, a late Wallaby flurry brought them to within a score of a tie, but it was still a comprehensive victory in the away leg of a competition we?re generally happy to make the top three of. The collective national headache of Sunday morning was well deserved...

Nothing moulds the South African spirit like sport, and rugby?s hold has held firm since 1995, the dark Straueli days offsetting those when the Springboks have had us all floating. At the moment, we?re firmly in the latter of those: unbeaten in the Tri-Nations, triumphant against the Lions, and possessed of a team that?s making honest claim to the mantle of one of South Africa?s greatest. Two more victories, and the class of 2009 will stand alongside Nick Mallett?s team of a decade ago as the best we?ve seen since returning to polite sporting company ? and one of the best ever.

It?s not merely a win overseas that has granted this team such acclaim, although the rarity of overseas victories in the Tri-Nations does make it one to savour. More consequential is the nature of a display that flew in the face of bitter accusations of boring rugby and one-dimensional play (led by Graham Henry, who?ll be scanning the vacancies columns by the end of September). Morne Steyn did more than simply kick the Bulls to Super 14 victory, and while he had a quiet afternoon out in Perth, he spread the ball eagerly to a backline that showed there?s more to the Springboks than a mastery of the kicking game. Yes, we do it better than anyone else, but that?s not all we can do.

And so Bryan Habana, part of the supporting cast for the home games, became a two-try hero (to the delight of Western Province fans), and the first 40 minutes produced quick, flowing rugby of the sort Test rugby is supposed to frown upon. And not hopeful, happy-go-lucky sevens rugby, ball flung about in romantic pursuit of an expansive game; no, this was a tactical appreciation of the opposition?s midfield frailty and inexperienced line-up, and a considered decision to take advantage of it.

That decision is central to according platitudes to the Springboks: most sides would have picked up on the Wallabies? potential vulnerability, but how many would have switched from such a successful approach ? and made the switch quite so smoothly? It speaks of a team vested not just of confidence, but also a determination to improve, two qualities the Australians will happily vouch for after their loss at Subiaco.

That means that this weekend will see a similar desire, and the Springboks will spend an industrious week looking to improve yet further, and seal the victory ? and there are areas where work can be done. Bryce Lawrence?s interpretation of the front row, rugby?s Bermuda Triangle, raised eyebrows, but didn?t hide the fact that the Wallabies dominated the scrums, and John Smit and The Beast will be this week?s hardest workers (does Smit really need to worked into the ground over 80 minutes, given the presence of the technically astute Jannie du Plessis on the bench?). And while it?s always a complex art form, managing the substitution process still isn?t South Africa?s strongest suit.

But the simple fact remains that we awoke this morning as rugby?s number one nation, unbeaten in the Tri-Nations, and blessed with as fine a leader as any rugby team has ever seen, and a coach who has proved himself an astute manager, and shrewder reader of the game than many initially gave him credit for. There is little that this team cannot do, it would appear; in a week?s time, Immelman?s comment should prove correct, and the 2009 Springboks will be one step closer to greatness.

  • The Absa Currie Cup might not have had quite the same glamour as the Test match, but a Saturday afternoon of upsets was a healthy one for the local game. Province playing measured, functional, forward driven rugby might not look familiar, but it?s working (certainly more so than Rory Kockott?s forlorn attempt to grow a beard), and much as world cricket needs a strong West Indies, so local rugby needs a competitive Lions side, shades of which emerged in the win over the Bulls. Good as it is, this Springbok side has a number of players who?ll see 2011 at the latest; the array of talent in Durban and Johannesburg on Saturday is cause for even more rugby cheer.

  • Contact Dan at dan@metropolis.co.za