Mike Greenaway, writing in The New Zealand Herald, believes that the balance of the Springbok pack could take them all the way in this year's Tri-Nations.
“The favourable draw - three home matches in which to build up a head of steam before hitting Perth, Brisbane and Hamilton - is one of the reasons the bookies are tipping the Boks to add to their titles of 2004 and 1998.
“There is the more tangible evidence of a match 22 boasting 14 players who did duty in the Rugby World Cup final, while the new arrivals certainly add value - players such as Beast Mtawarira, Pierre Spies, Morne Steyn, Ryan Kankowski and Heinrich Brussow.
“The latter gives the Springbok pack much better balance, even though he is replacing a player of the stature of the suspended Schalk Burger, the 2004 IRB Player of the year.
“In recent years it would have been sacrilege to suggest a Bok pack would be better off for Burger's absence, but this year it has proved to be a fact because in Brussow the Boks at last have a semblance of a Richie McCaw, George Smith or Phil Waugh.”
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