From the mag: Lion-hearted Springbok

Marcell Coetzee will do everything in his power to tackle the British & Irish Lions with the Springboks in 2021, writes CRAIG LEWIS in the latest SA Rugby magazine.

Coetzee found himself in a fortunate position during the period of lockdown. With European competition placed on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Springbok found a home in the South African bush with his wife Chanelle. Rugby fans can book British lions rugby Tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices.

Based at a guesthouse in Marloth Park which borders the Kruger National Park, his daily routine included morning runs in the bush and regular interactions with wildlife while some of the local community donated equipment to be used for his gym work.

When SA Rugby magazine caught up with Coetzee via a Zoom video chat in mid-May, the sounds of birdlife served as a backing track to the interview, while we were briefly interrupted by the arrival of some passing impala. For his teammates and friends back at Irish club Ulster, Coetzee also put together a few video clips of his life in lockdown, which involved some extraordinary sightings of lions.

From the mag: Lion-hearted Springbok

There was also an element of irony to those videos, considering Coetzee hopes he will be in a position to face Lions of a different variety next year when the revered British & Irish touring team heads to South Africa.

It again speaks to the fact Coetzee is a player of conviction and courage. When we last chatted to the dynamic loose forward, he opened up about overcoming serious injuries that threatened to force him into early retirement. Yet he resolutely refused to succumb to these setbacks and fought his way back into the Springbok squad, only for another injury, sustained in a World Cup warm-up game against Argentina last year to end his hopes of earning a ticket to Japan.

The 29-year-old reflects wistfully on that match, in which he received a blow to the head and an ankle injury that ultimately required surgical repair.

Yeah, that was demoralizing. It was an opportunity to show the coaches and country what I could do and how much I wanted to be in Japan. But it wasn’t meant to be; I fell awkwardly and heard my ankle snap. I didn’t want to go off the field because I’d worked so hard to get there and this simple bit of misfortune was going to end my dream.

But time heals all wounds and I quickly went from being a player to becoming a Springbok supporter. It was amazing to see them go all the way to win the World Cup. Of course, it was difficult to be so close to the squad and then to not be able to be there as a player, but I just had to tell myself to be happy as a South African and that it wasn’t about me as an individual, which is what the Springboks are all about.’

It’s this ability to view the glass half-full that has enabled Coetzee to bounce back time and time again from troublesome injuries, while the taste of Test rugby last year reignited his desire to keep pushing forward.

When the abrasive back-rower came off the bench in the Rugby Championship win over the Wallabies on 20 July 2019, it marked a return to Springbok action after a nearly four-year absence. He looks back on his recall to the national side and opportunity to pull on the green and gold jersey once again as nothing but a blessing.

I was really surprised when I got the call-up. We’d just finished our season with Ulster and had come back to South Africa for a holiday. I hadn’t heard anything from the Springboks and thought they were just backing the guys they had, which would have been understandable. The night before I was due to go back to Belfast; I got the call from Rassie Erasmus.

I was having a braai and I could barely believe it. It was phenomenal to suddenly be part of the mix again and be with mates who I’d played a lot of rugby with and against.

From the mag: Lion-hearted Springbok

Then when I saw my name in the team again and I was going to get an opportunity to play off the bench against the Wallabies, it was emotional. A year before that, I thought my rugby career might have been at an end because of the injury misfortune I’d had and I couldn’t get any rhythm going.

It just reminded me to never give up, though, and I found myself thinking about all the people who had helped me get back to that point. In that Test against Australia, I played about 15 minutes off the bench, and enjoyed every second of it and tried to make the most of the opportunity. It was surreal to experience playing for the Springboks.’

Although Coetzee’s World Cup dream was ultimately dashed, his brief experience in a rejuvenated Springbok set-up reminded him of why he had worked so hard to keep his career alive.

When I think back to that the first word that comes to mind is unity within the team coming from the outside it was amazing to see how everyone gelled with guys from different provinces and others from overseas. I hadn’t been part of the mix for a long but just felt so at ease and the set-up was so professional.

Rassie made it abundantly clear what he wanted to achieve, which was to win the Rugby Championship and World Cup. Everyone was on board, the preparation was intense and all in all, you knew exactly where you stood and where the team was going.

Even though I was unable to go to the World Cup, I was confident the Boks were capable of winning it,’ Coetzee says. ‘They had all the hunger and motivation, and a really strong squad of players and leadership. I just knew that if the group stuck together and built momentum, they would be a real force. Ultimately they showed their character and resilience to go all the way after losing to the All Blacks in the first game and I couldn’t have been prouder.’

From the mag: Lion-hearted Springbok

Even while the World Cup was on the go, Coetzee returned to action for Ulster and remained on standby for the Springboks should there have been an injury in the loose trio. Yet, while undergoing his post-operation rehabilitation, there was also time for some valuable introspection.

After missing out on the World Cup, I sat down and did some soul-searching, having accepted that door had closed. So when I thought about my goals and the next big thing to chase, the Lions tour immediately sprung to mind. It remains my goal to make it into the Bok squad for that series.

The Lions tour South Africa only every 12 years, so I’ve set out my plans to achieve that next goal. The priority was just to get back to my club team and ensure I continued performing well, and then everything should fall in place. Putting the World Cup disappointment behind me, I realize there are other things to achieve and there is time to take the small steps towards the long-term goal of that Lions series. It is something that helps keep me motivated.’

Another curveball has been thrown by the unprecedented lockdown that left the game in uncharted territory. But with the opportunity to once again reflect, and this time in the serenity of the bush, Coetzee as ever maintains a positive outlook.

I’m fortunate we have acres of land here, so I’ve been able to keep quite fit and active. It’s been interesting when I’m on a run and come across a giraffe or a baboon is looking at you from the trees, but it’s been so enjoyable to be in the bush he chuckles. ‘There is a lot of uncertainty, of course, but the only option is to try to remain as professional as possible and make the best of a very difficult situation.’

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Manu Tuilagi agreed to rumble with Lions if not Tigers

Leicester focuses one of six players allowed to discover another group after dismissing changed agreement terms from a club gazing into a £5 million dark gap brought about by the COVID emergency. Rugby fans can book British lions rugby Tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices.

Manu Tuilagi is expected to still be eligible for British & Irish Lions selection if he packs his bags and moves overseas. A scenario considered unthinkable pre-pandemic now appears inevitable after the wrecking ball center failed to agree amended contract terms with Leicester and was stood down by the cash-strapped club.

Manu Tuilagi agreed to rumble with Lions if not Tigers

Quitting the Premiership would cost Tuilagi his England place as the RFU policy is to only select players from within the English game.

But the Lions have no such restriction, as Leigh Halfpenny found in 2017 when picked for the New Zealand tour despite playing for Toulon. Before that Toulouse wing, Gareth Thomas not only made the 2005 tour but captained the Lions in two of the three Tests.

In the first instance Tuilagi, 29, has been stood down for a week by Tigers, who revealed last night that 31 staff had been made redundant as a result of a crisis which has already cost the club £5 million and could rise to £10m if they are not back playing in front of fans before next year.

Chief executive Andrea Pinchen name-checked the pay rebels as Tuilagi, Greg Bateman, Telusa Veainu, Noel Reid, and Kyle Eastmond. Jordan Taufua is thought also to be on the list. 

“The vast majority of players fully support our recovery plans,” said Pinchen. “But everyone’s situation is difficult. Some extensions were offered and the financials didn’t tally. They wanted more money than we could afford to pay.”

Barring a U-turn, therefore, Tuilagi is set to leave the club, though finding another could be a problem. Sources in France told Mirror Sport that the top clubs have already allocated their budgets and some are even renegotiating salary reductions.

Manu Tuilagi agreed to rumble with Lions if not Tigers

In contrast to the financial turmoil at Welford Road, East Midland neighbors Northampton announced they had reached an agreement with their entire playing squad, coaching, and commercial staff to take a 12-month salary reduction.

Saints chief executive Mark Darbon said: “We are incredibly grateful to all our employees for recognizing the gravity of our situation and coming together to support the club.”

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The players the Springboks simply cannot be without for the British & Irish Lions tour

In the two-year run-up to the Springboks’ World Cup victory, the side perfected and mastered a high-risk, high-energy defensive system under Rassie Erasmus and defence coach Jacques Nienaber.

Precariously placed heading into South Africa’s away game in Wellington back in 2018, Rassie Erasmus claimed he was under pressure and would quit if they lost, citing his record of never losing three matches in a row as a reason.

Their defence gave up 34 points in a wild and thrilling narrow victory, but it was that aggressive defensive system that came through to pressure Damian McKenzie into dropping the ball on the very last play to seal the win.  Rugby fans can book British lions rugby Tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices.

The players the Springboks simply cannot be without for the British & Irish Lions tour

It wasn’t perfect, but it worked when it mattered.

In the return match in Pretoria, a dominant showing had the All Blacks completely powerless for the first time in a long time, with the visitors tryless for the first 54 minutes.

At 30-13 after an hour’s play, a serious warning light was flashing.

Not since before 2015, the World Cup had an All Black side been so thoroughly outclassed and out of answers. The reigning world champions and pioneers of try-scoring rugby were flummoxed, down heavily in a test match for the first time since 2012 at Twickenham.

Even the loss the year prior at home to the Lions with 14-men on the park had the All Blacks leading heading into the last quarter of the game.

A calamitous last twenty minutes by the Springboks handed the game away and the first 60-minutes of the game was quickly forgotten.

It shouldn’t have been, as it was the first real sign that the Springboks were in the process of developing the world’s best defence.

The players the Springboks simply cannot be without for the British & Irish Lions tour

The Springboks continued to tinker and made changes to find the best formula.

Lukhanyo Am became the starting centre and Jesse Kriel became the finisher. Two starting quality centres, 1a and 1b, used in tandem to bring endless amounts of pressure.

With Am going off after 50 minutes, a fresh Kriel could come on and charge of the line for the remainder of the game, continuing the suffocating pressure needed to stop the ball ever getting to the edge.

For this system to work, it requires supremely conditioned athletes on the fringes.

Having one tank of fuel for each half meant that the energy would never dip out wide with one centre replaced by the other.

This means that Jesse Kriel is as important to the Springboks’ defence as Lukhanyo Am. The likelihood either one of them could keep up the consistent intensity by themselves for the full 80 is unknown.

Certainly, they would aspire to, but it would be a superhuman effort to do so.

The issue ahead of the Lions tour is the Japan Top League is not the ideal preparation for the physicality of test rugby, where Jesse Kriel currently is playing.

With only a handful of teams at a Super Rugby level, there isn’t consistent competition every week.

At 26-years-old, he is certainly not done in the test arena, but a question mark resides over whether Rassie Erasmus will pick Springboks out of the Japanese competition.

The players the Springboks simply cannot be without for the British & Irish Lions tour

Erasmus says Europe is comparable to Test rugby, but the Top League is not.

Outside centre options in South Africa not named Lukhanyo Am are lacking.

The Bulls last used Tongan-international Nafi Tuitavake. Ruhan Nel of the Stormers is a career Sevens player. Graduate South African under-20 prospect Mannie Rass of the Lions is promising but rather unproven as yet.

Jesse Kriel coming back to South Africa or finding a club in Europe is just what the Springboks need, otherwise Nienaber’s defensive system will suffer, with Am required to play high-intensity defence for eighty minutes.

The end of year tour in 2018 also gave Rassie Erasmus a taste of life without Faf de Klerk.

They beat Scotland narrowly and lost to Wales and England. The halfback options didn’t light the world on fire until Herschel Jantjies burst onto the scene in 2019 to become the reserve halfback.

As good as Jantjies has shown so far, there just isn’t another halfback in World Rugby that can do what de Klerk does in defence and a Springbok side starting Jantjies would be vastly different.

De Klerk can handle any winger one-on-one, shut down overlaps even when outnumbered, and his defensive spatial coverage across the pitch is second to none. His GPS numbers must be off the charts.

He knows when to shoot up and take space, when to commit to the tackle and when to hold off. He plays as an edge defender, a sweeper and a front line defender in the middle all in one.

Not to mention his physicality in contact; no other halfback comes close except perhaps Antoine DuPont.

His role in the defence is the glue that holds it together, often the last man in the chain to prevent the opposition from breaking away. And he does this time and time against the odds.

Without him, the entire defensive system risks falling apart and the Lions’ chances of winning in South Africa dramatically increase.

Then there’s Cheslin Kolbe.

Kolbe has the most dangerous feet in the world. But that’s not the only reason why he became the first choice right winger under Erasmus.

Much like Am and Kriel’s ability to make the right decision when jamming in, Kolbe’s edge defence is spectacular. His reads and decisions are consistently excellent, and his tackle completion percentage is high.

South Africa’s number two right-wing, Sbu Nkosi, was beaten multiple times by Wales in the opening twenty minutes of the World Cup semi-final, caught out in no man’s land as the Welsh continually raided the left-hand channel.

The players the Springboks simply cannot be without for the British & Irish Lions tour

Wales’ one try of the match came through Josh Adams with centre Jonathan Davies gifting him the last pass off a scrum play. Nkosi was out of sync with Am on the blitz, arriving too late to shut down the play.

If Davies is lining up for the Lions next year, the Welsh centre will be licking his lips if he sees Nkosi out wide.

Whilst the Springbok pack is vitally important to their set-piece and physicality in close, what keeps the opposition score suppressed is the work of the Springbok centres/wings and halfback out wide in Neinaber’s system.

The Lions rolled out a successful width attack around the Sexton/Farrell axis in New Zealand in 2017. If they bring a similar plan, it puts these three guys under the microscope who have been critical to making the Springboks a historically great defensive side.

A Springbok side minus De Klerk, Kolbe or either Am or Kriel would be a very enticing opponent for Warren Gatland.

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Man City vs Real Madrid Champions League venue plan in serious doubt after the change of UK travel rules

The last 16 ties were being considered for a switch to Portugal but new restrictions have thrown Uefa plans into confusion

Uefa’s proposal to stage the second leg of Manchester City’s Champions League tie with Real Madrid in Lisbon has been thrown into doubt.

Changes to the UK’s Covid-19 rules on travellers arriving here from abroad have removed one obstacle to the second leg being held in Manchester and created difficulty in holding it in Portugal.

And the new changes could also put City at a distinct disadvantage in the next Premier League season if they reach the final of the competition.

Man City vs Real Madrid Champions League venue plan in serious doubt after the change of UK travel rules

Uefa have already decided to stage the competition from the quarter-finals onwards entirely in Portugal, in a World Cup-style format tournament.

And they were leaning towards also playing the four outstanding last 16 ties due to be played on August 7 and 8 – in Portugal.

That would have meant that City, who leads 2-1 from the first leg at the Bernabeu, would lose home advantage for the return, but could, bizarrely, still be eliminated on the away goals rule even though Lisbon is 1,100 miles closer to their home stadium than it is to Manchester.

The rationale in that proposal was that, at the time, the UK was insisting that all travellers from overseas would have to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival – which would mean playing the match would not be possible.

They also considered the fact that playing all of the games in one country would mean that teams would avoid flying all over Europe, which isn’t a great idea during a pandemic.

But the first of those two reasons have been removed by the lifting of restrictions on travellers from Spain, which means Real would be able to come to Manchester, play the game and return home the following day, as normal.

The change in restrictions also means that anyone travelling to Portugal has to self-isolate for 14 days on returning to this country.

So if City goes to Lisbon for the second leg, on August 7 or 8, flying back to Manchester the next day would make them unable to return to Portugal for the rest of the tournament, if they get through to the quarter-finals.

That means, if they beat real over two legs, they would have to stay in Portugal for a week until the tournament gets underway.

Manager Pep Guardiola would prefer to play the game in Manchester, but the idea of a week of training and acclimatisation in Portugal if City progress would not be unappealing.

But the problem is then postponed, as City would still be forced to self-isolate after returning to Manchester.

If they reached the Champions League final, on August 23, and flew home the next day, they would have to self-isolate in Manchester for a fortnight.

Man City vs Real Madrid Champions League venue plan in serious doubt after the change of UK travel rules

That would take them to within five days of the start of the new Premier League season on September 12.

The city could rightly argue that such arrangements would put them at a real disadvantage, as they would be unable to train together until days before the new campaign.

Uefa have delayed the decision on venues for the remaining last 16 games until the effects of the pandemic, and the various rules in European countries, became clearer.

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From the mag: On your Marx

A new role with the Springboks and a challenging stint in Japan has pushed Malcolm Marx in a new direction, writes JON CARDINELLI in the latest SA Rugby magazine.

Malcolm Marx was the best player in South Africa in 2017. He was, without question, the best hooker in Test rugby. And yet, as a regular feature in a struggling Springbok team, he was some way from realizing his full potential.

The 2018 and 2019 seasons forced Marx and many of the so-called first-choice players in the Bok set-up to cultivate a more combative mindset. There was more competition at hooker and Rassie Erasmus went on to pick Bongi Mbonambi for the decisive 2019 Rugby Championship clash against Argentina.  

Malcolm Marx

On the eve of the World Cup playoffs, Erasmus insisted that Mbonambi and Marx were not rivals and that both had a key role to play across a contest of 80 minutes. Those words proved prophetic, as Mbonambi made a set-piece statement in the early stages of the World Cup final while Marx subsequently delivered a telling performance at the breakdown and in open play to shatter the English resistance.

Most will remember the final for Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi’s slick interaction for the first try in the second half. It was Marx, however, who made a telling pass earlier in the movement to create the space for Mapimpi to break down the left-hand touchline.

More than six months have passed since the Boks won the World Cup in Japan. Marx still prefers to celebrate the collective performance in the decider rather than his contributions.

‘Unfortunately, Bongi had to leave the field early due to a concussion,’ he says. ‘But as you know there was a big focus on the team rather than individuals and all of us on the bench had to be ready to step up and fill the void. We all had a great understanding of what was required regarding the game plan, and it was great to see how it all worked out.

‘It’s been a dream of mine to play at a World Cup since I watched the Boks win it in 2007. I’m so grateful when I think that only a select few are chosen to represent the Springboks. Even fewer, of course, have played in a World Cup final and won the tournament.’

South Africa rugby

Marx joined the Shining Arcs in Japan on a short-term deal after the 2019 World Cup. He was, until recently, based in Urayasu, on the outskirts of Tokyo, where the Boks stayed ahead of the clashes against New Zealand and England.

To say that 2020 has been a challenging year for the 25-year-old would be an understatement. His time in the Top League was cut short when authorities suspended the tournament due to the Covid-19 outbreak. In late March, Marx as well as several other South African players and coaches were left stranded at the airport when Japan tightened its restrictions on international travel. Some Japan-based players, like Duane Vermeulen and Jesse Kriel, secured a last-minute flight home via Ethiopia. The rest of the contingent, however, was left to wonder when they would see their families again.

When SA Rugby magazine first spoke to Marx in early April, he was positive the situation would improve and that the stranded group would be back in South Africa by mid-April. Unfortunately, Marx and his countrymen were able to make their way back home only 32 days later.

‘We knew that the only way we were going to get back was via a repatriation flight. It took some time to organize,’ the Bok hooker says. ’There were quite a few South Africans in Japan who were looking to get home, apart from the coaches and players like myself. It was pretty exciting for us all when we finally boarded the flight and realized we were on our way home. I got back on 6 May and spent a few days at a hotel in quarantine. The following week, I was tested and then sent home.

It feels great to be back in my own country again. I realize we’re still in lockdown, but it’s great to know my friends and family are close by.

Marx had planned to finish the season in Japan and rejoin the Lions in June. The Covid-19 crisis has hit the local franchises hard, however, and some have been forced to make some difficult decisions regarding the release of top personnel.

And so it was, shortly after returning to South Africa, it was confirmed Marx’s six-year association with the Lions had come to an end. The Bok hooker and three other Lions players bid farewell to the Johannesburg-based side as a 21-day contractual exit window closed in mid-May. By the end of May, Marx had yet to confirm his next move, although sources suggested that he could head back to Japan.

What we know for certain is that Marx will continue to push for a spot in the Bok team. Like most of the players who won the World Cup, he wants to feature in the series against the British & Irish Lions in 2021.

British & Irish Lions rugby

‘It’s not like I view that World Cup victory as the end,’ he says. ‘I have to keep working and know that there will always be a different challenge. We don’t know when the season will resume, or when we will get together to train again. In the meantime, we’ve got to make the most of it and stay positive.

‘The Lions series is a goal I’ve set for myself,’ he adds. ‘I realize that I’ll need to tick a few boxes along the way. I’ll need to perform at the club level and earn the right to represent the Boks again. I’ll never take that for granted. If I get the chance, I’ll have to show why I deserve it every single game.’

WORLD CUP REWIND

Apart from keeping himself fit during the lockdown, Malcolm Marx took in some of the classic games that were shown on TV in the absence of live rugby. While it’s been six months since the Boks won the World Cup in Japan, none of the players have grown tired of watching that final against England in Yokohama.

‘I was following a few things on social media while I was in Japan, but obviously, I didn’t have access to the channels in South Africa,’ Marx says. ‘My girlfriend watched that final recently [with commentary from the coaches and players] and said it was quite emotional.

‘I’ll never forget the memories we made at that tournament. It’s hard to put the feelings into words. Everything fell into place. We worked incredibly hard and the planning was excellent.’

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Consensus as Lions tour South Africa to proceed as originally scheduled

The highly-anticipated British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa is set to go ahead as originally scheduled in July and August next year.

In an exclusive from Telegraph Sport, it’s reported that official confirmation is expected next week, while ticket and travel packages for the highly-anticipated tour will soon go on sale.

Despite an uncertain time and talks that the tour could be pushed back to later in 2021 amid plans for a global season to be restructured for greater alignment between the southern and northern hemisphere, it now appears the Lions tour will go on as originally planned.

Over 30,000 rugby-mad supporters are expected to travel to South Africa for what is said to be the most lucrative rugby competition outside of the World Cup.

We had to make a call on this now as we were running out of time one source told The Telegraph. People need to move on tickets, flights and hotel bookings and it is so important to South Africa to have certainty now given the financial importance of the tour to them at a time when we are all struggling with the impact of Covid-19.

Consensus as Lions tour South Africa to proceed as originally scheduled

DATE	FIXTURE	LOCATION	STADIUM
Saturday 3 July 2021	Stormers v British & Irish Lions	Cape Town	Cape Town Stadium
Wednesday 7 July 2021	South Africa ‘Invitational’ v British & Irish Lions	Port Elizabeth	Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Saturday 10 July 2021	Sharks v British & Irish Lions	Durban	Kings Park
Wednesday 14 July 2021	South Africa ‘A’ v British & Irish Lions	Mbombela	Mbombela Stadium
Saturday 17 July 2021	Vodacom Bulls v British & Irish Lions	Pretoria	Loftus Versfeld
Saturday 24 July 2021	South Africa v British & Irish Lions	Joburg	FNB Stadium
Saturday 31 July 2021	South Africa v British & Irish Lions	Cape Town	Cape Town Stadium
Saturday 7 August 2021	South Africa v British & Irish Lions	Joburg	Emirates Airline Park

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Francois Louw: English will have a point to prove in Lions tour

Former Springbok flank Francois Louw says England’s players will want to prove a point during the British & Irish Lions tour in 2021.

Louw who recently retired from professional rugby after his contract with Bath expired was speaking on the SA Rugby podcast, reflecting on his 14-year career which ultimately culminated in the Springboks’ World Cup win in 2019.

The Springbok’s next big mission will be facing the British & Irish Lions in the three-Test series when they tour South Africa in 2021.

Francois Louw: English will have a point to prove in Lions tour

Having spent the last decade in Bath, Louw has a good knowledge of the British and Irish culture and said that the England players, in particular, will have a point to prove after the events at the World Cup.

I think it is an exciting prospect for a British or Irish player Louw explained. Obviously to represent your country is huge, it’s a pinnacle. But then over here there’s that little extra stick of making the Lions squad in which you are part of the best of the best. You are good enough to play for your country, but you are also good enough to play for a team that’s made up of a collective of countries and you are the best of that group.

So, it is a level up. It’s a big motivation for the guys over here. They all want to be involved in that. They all want to be selected to play a Test match with the Lions shirt on.

Francois Louw: English will have a point to prove in Lions tour

I am sure they will be relishing the opportunity to play in South Africa. A big bulk of the team is made up of English players and with us having beaten England in the final, I think they will have a point to prove.

Those players become different when they have that lion shirt on. They are a good outfit and have always been. It’s a tough tour for them; they play a lot of midweek games. To have it in South Africa is exciting for the guys over here. Especially for the fans, everyone is talking about it. I believe it is going to provide an awesome spectacle.

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The 35-year-old took part in three World Cups between 2011 and 2019 and opened up about what ultimately got the Springboks over the line in the latter tournament.

To line up and compare the three tournaments and look at the differences, is quite difficult, said Louw.

In 2010, we had two teams in the Vodacom Super Rugby final, yet New Zealand ended up winning the 2011 World Cup how does that work? It goes against what you think the momentum really should have been.

Francois Louw: English will have a point to prove in Lions tour

Looking at last year, what stood out for me was the process of alignment that Rassie Erasmus had instilled in us. There was a complete and utter belief that we could do this, albeit that we lost the opening Test against NZ.

The hope and belief determination, and attitude towards preparation were unwavering. That played a massive role in our victory in Japan.

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