The South African Independent's Mike Greenaway offers his recipe for success at the Rugby World Cup.
"1 DEFENCE, DEFENCE, DEFENCE
"History shows that successful World Cup campaigns have been built on organised and totally committed tackling. In this regard the Springboks made a highly positive move in employing Stormers defence coach, Jacques Nienaber. The defence was excellent against the All Blacks in Port Elizabeth and will get better the longer he works with the players.
"...4 CREATE THE RIGHT HEADSPACE
"In 1987, All Blacks coach Brian Lochore billeted his players on farms during the tournament “to take them back to the land and traditional Kiwi values”. In 1995, the Boks were propelled to victory by the rainbow nation. In 2011, Peter de Villiers correctly says that the challenge for the Boks is to “maintain our excitement over the tournament”.
"...9 TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED
"There is no such thing as pacing yourself in a quarter-final with an eye on the semis. Ask the All Blacks. Each game, Pool or otherwise, has to be treated as a final. That is what tournaments are about. Seven games in seven weeks, each treated with the same respect, is how you have to approach it. The Boks are too experienced to make this mistake."
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