Viljoen needs a vintage performance

13 April 2012

The South African Rugby Football Union seems to be constantly poised over the self-destruct button when it comes to coaches and the current man at the helm, Harry Viljoen, knows he is under pressure.

The button could be pressed again unless Viljoen salvages somethingfrom this European tour with a high-profile win over England at Twickenham.

South Africa promised so much when they won the World Cup in 1995, but they have delivered little since that great day in Johannesburg, when the rugby world became their oyster.

Changing the coach every other season has not helped their cause.

Stability, so vital in team sport is a word that seems to escape the South Africans' vocabulary when it comes to sticking with the man in charge.

Nick Mallet, the previous Springbok coach, actually took South Africa on a record-equalling, 17-game unbeaten run before he was 'bombed out' on a trumped up disrepute charge just when South Africa looked as though they were getting somewhere.

Viljoen has desperately tried to put his mark on this squad by expanding on the Springboks' traditional hard-nosed, no-frills approach. He has tried to add his own vision of the game which is a non-stop, almost non-kicking style where continuity is seamless.

This romantic approach has brought a few unwelcome losses, and of course, led to a far more pragmatic game plan against the big guns and England have certainly become one of those.

It is no secret that Viljoen has great admiration for what Clive Woodward has achieved with England and would like to emulate that system.

Unfortunately, without the right results, Viljoen will not be given time to implement his vision as his rugby-mad nation simply does not have the patience to allow such luxuries.

Rugby is SouthAfrica's national sport, it means everything and they expect to win, which places unbearable pressure on players and coaches alike. There is no doubt that your average Springbok player is more physical and has more skill and athleticism than most, but combine this with their self-belief, and more than a touch of arrogance, and you have a formidable opponent.

There is enormous expectancy for an England win tomorrow after beating world champions Australia and thrashing Romania last weekend. Yet, some may have forgotten South Africa also beat Australia in the Tri-nations tournament this summer.

Although they lost narrowly to France a fortnight ago they bounced back by flogging Italy last week. To write off South Africawould be foolish.

The talk all week has been of the physical nature of last season's fixture with plenty of blood spilt.

It is doubtful this clash will be much different as both sets of forwards have a point to prove and search for ascendancy. Defence has been the key message and both teams have put in overtime in their training schedule.

South Africa, famous for its great wine and great rugby players, has its sporting reputation on the line tomorrow.

The wine improves if allowed to breathe - I don't think England will allow that same technique to apply to its rugby team.

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Viljoen needs a vintage performance

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