JJ Harmse

It was far easier than it looked, I believe, but where does the Springboks' victory over the Wallabies really leave the team?

Does this prove what the players and coaching staff have been saying all along, that they still have the game and the goods to beat any opposition? Or does it show the decline of Wallaby rugby under the guidance of Robbie Deans?

Remember, the Aussies last won on the highveld in 1963 and hardly ever in South Africa in the last decade or so. Even the media corps in the Loftus press box on Saturday had the Boks winning by margins between 10 and 20 points.

Was this a case of damned if you do and damned if you don’t? Of course it wasn't. This was a very significant victory in many aspects.

It again showed that we have found a remarkable new young star in Francois Hougaard. Not in a very long time I have seen a player who has taken to Test match rugby so seamlessly.

It also showed that combinations in certain areas work better than individual performances. The midfield is a classic example, where money can’t buy the understanding between Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie.

I believe Wynand Olivier had a very strong Super 14, but his combination with Fourie did not do justice to either. It is true that they had to suffer from Ricky Januarie's pedantic service during the overseas leg of the Tri-Nations and the current midfield benefits from a snappy Hougaard, but the current combination looks so comfortable.

The same applies to the loose forward trio.

Juan Smith is clearly the gel that brings out the best in Pierre Spies and Schalk Burger. Spies was average overseas and Burger played very well, but in isolation. Suddenly, with Smith back, the unit works again.

Spies is back scoring tries and Burger totally outplayed David Pocock.

It also showed that Peter de Villiers does not always speak nonsense with regards to Frans Steyn.

I believe Steyn was hung out to dry by De Villiers and his selectors and it was easy to see why. He was clearly out of touch and off the pace, exactly the reasons why De Villiers indicated he did not want to use him in the Tri-Nations.

Why did he bring him back then? I still don’t know, but maybe Steyn will come back on the weekend with a strong show. But what would that prove anyway?

We all know what we have in Steyn and the trick will be to get him right for September and October 2011. Looking at the way he has been handled by the Boks, don’t hold your breath, but hopefully some lessons have been learned in the last couple of weeks.

Another significant issue was the replacement of John Smit. It happened and then? The world did not come crashing down. The Boks did not fall apart. And again, Chiliboy Ralepelle made some telling contributions.

And then, there is the Bryan Habana issue. If ever Lady Luck deserted someone, go and have a look at the Frans Steyn try again. There was Habana, ready to receive the scoring pass from Morné Steyn and break Joost van der Westhuizen’s Test try record.

But no, somehow he missed the pass and Steyn snapped it up and score.

I find it strange that De Villiers admits how difficult it is to go and tell players like Gio Aplon, Juan de Jongh and Olivier that they have been dropped “without them having done anything wrong’, but it seems that he can’t tell Habana he will be dropped because he has done nothing right!

So what to expect on the weekend?

Place your bets on another Springbok win. The Wallabies are headless chickens at the moment and only managed their Brisbane win because of an incompetent Irish referee and some appalling decisions at the breakdown.

Their two most creative players, Will Genia and Quade Cooper, are scared stiff at Test match level and their pack just has too many players that will not come close to any other international team.

Genia and Cooper will come good in time, no doubt, but for now they play without confidence.

Talking about confidence, do yourselves a favour and go to the stadium a bit earlier this weekend to catch the Under-19 and Under-21 games as well.

There is some fantastic rugby being played by some very talented players. And the leagues are so, so competitive with almost all matches finishing with both teams still able to win it.

It certainly speaks volumes of the talent we have available.

Read JJ every Sunday in Rapport.

Disclaimer: Sport24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on Sport24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sport24.