The Boks kick off their Tri-Nations campaign this weekend when they take on Australia in Sydney.

Playing the Aussies away is a challenge on its own but the Boks have other factors to worry about ahead of this match.

The Wallabies recently got a lot of flack from the media and fans following their loss to Samoa for what is being labeled as a “complacent performance”. They know that thrashing the Springboks would be a great way of redeeming themselves.

 

Will Genia and Quade Cooper will start as the halfback pair, both have been consistently on form this season and they are probably still beaming from their Super Rugby victory. They’ve been playing together all season, whereas our Ruan Pienaar and Morne Steyn are like estranged cousins. Advantage Australia.

 

The obvious fact is that apart from a few names we are taking an inexperienced squad to Australia. Most players have a few caps to their name and the squad looks like an Invitational XV. There are Bulls, Sharks, Stormers etc thrown around the field, some exciting players but I fail to spot any real combinations.

 

Is it all that bad?

 

No. As Bokke supporters we’ve been too reliant on the 2007 World Cup winning squad, we’re attached to them like Smeagol and the ring (My precious). It’s about time we looked towards the future and this Tri Nations is a great opportunity for us to see what lies ahead.

 

Alistair Hargreaves has been named as a late inclusion to the Bok starting 15 to replace the injured Johan Muller and I’m predicting that him and his partner Flip van der Merwe will have a tough time against Simmons and Horwill, who also happen to play for the Reds. So what?

 

The picture looks gloomy, but it’s the perfect setting for one of those famous goosebump-inducing Bok wins, the kind I’ve read about in books. I’m 100% behind the future amaBhokobhoko legends. I hope the boys will be allowed freedom to play and to express themselves as the new Bok generation. We have nothing to lose and so much to gain – and that is probably the only weapon we have at our disposal.

 

Shosholoza Bokke!