While base jumpers did their thing in the background, the Boks earned themselves a narrow victory in their first test of the season, managing a respectable 34 – 31 against Wales, not bad if you take into account that we were away (at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff) and had a less than spectacular team, with many key players resting after the Super 14.

The match had strange guest stars, like an a 100-member Welsh choir and a billy goat too! I reckon Wales is a pretty strange place! Anyways, skipper John Smit was unimpressed, calling the win “ordinary”, but I skeem if you take into account the youth of some of the players and the fact that there was little time to prepare, he’s maybe being a bit harsh.

Truth be told things did look very bad in the first quarter, where Wales managed a 16 – 3 lead, no thanks to Smit himself, whose long pass was intercepted by Welsh centre James Wood, allowing them to forge further ahead. But our bokke fought back, taking control, and the Welsh responded by losing their form completely, allowing us to eventually take the lead.

Daniel Roussouw was a definite man of the match, and Dewald Potgieter, who received the ball from Roussow to score the game’s second try, was also on point throughout. Newcomer Juan de Jongh proved he’s ready to bring it for the bokke, by managing a great and relaxed try.

Whatever Smit has to say, a win is a win and I think it’s a pretty lekker start to the season despite a swak start to the match. Let’s see if we can continue to klap it when we face France this coming weekend at Newlands. A bit of a shocker is that Frans Steyn has been dropped from the squad. We will have to wait and see if this is a good decision…