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Springboks claim Tri Nations favouritism
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If the Springboks don't win the Tri Nations their season will be a failure says leading South African commentator Mark Keohane.
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Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Sportal.co.nz
If the Springboks don't win the Tri Nations their season will be a failure says leading South African commentator Mark Keohane.
Writing in his column in Business Day, Keohane said the Springboks had to be the red-hot favourites for the series.
The Springboks, on evidence of performances in the June internationals he rated the South Africans as 10 points better than the All Blacks and close to 15 better than the Wallabies.
Keohane was critical of All Blacks' coach Graham Henry's inability to pick the same starting XV in successive during his eight year tenure.
Henry "clearly can't make up his mind about what constitutes New Zealand's best team and that could explain the bizarre selections in the 2007 World Cup quarter-final defeat against France," he said.
While South Africa had struggled to beat the All Blacks at home, that barrier had been broken, Keohane claimed and anything was now possible for a settled, and talented, South African side.
"It is not arrogance to expect this team to win, but it would be an insult to their pedigree if there were not a winning expectation," he said.
That said, South Africa's third choice in locks and loose forwards was still better than most of what represented New Zealand and Australia, Keohane said.
"Sam Whitelock has a big future in the second row, but there is nothing to counter Victor Matfield and Andries Bekker, while Bakkies Botha and Danis Rossouw on a bad day are better than Brad Thorn on a good day," he said.
Meanwhile, Italy coach, and former Springboks coach Nick Mallett said the lack of fear over travelling to Australasia would be crucial.
He said on Keo.co.za, "This is a side who've won a World Cup, a Lions tour, and the Tri Nations last year by winning five out of six Tests.
"But the difference in this Bok side is that they're so confident. They're used to winning in Australia and New Zealand, and expect to do it."
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