What next for Springboks?

After winning everything they could in recent times one would ask where to next for these Springboks?

They have set the standard exceptionally high and anything less than a win in the future will be disappointing for their followers. They do however have room for improvement and this is good news as questions have been raised over whether or not they have peaked to soon before the World Cup.

A major area that needs work is the scrum. Although good enough it is not outstanding and just imagine if the Boks had "the best scrum in the world" added to their arsenal. John Smit and co. need to do some work in this department to make sure that their technique is spot on!

Two other exciting challenges is to find able replacements for Jean de Villiers and Frans Steyn as the pair head off overseas. At inside centre, de Villiers is in a class of his own and to replace him in the Bok side will take some doing. Jacobs and Olivier are great Super 14 players but haven't been in the same class as de Villiers on the international stage. They have lots of work to do if they want to gain the same repertoire as de Villiers. This might sound like a long shot, but I'd keep an eye out for Bradley Barrit. He may yet return to South Africa and make a big claim for the No.12 Bok jumper.

Frans Steyn has matured into the fullback position this season and is the best candidate for the role. As he is still young and full of talent, he would be my bet for the No.15 jersey in 2011. In the interim however we need someone to come in and keep the momentum going. Allowing Pienaar to settle in a position might be an answer but when Steyn returns what do you do with Ruan? Zane Kirchner is also knocking on the door but has to add a lot more to his game to make any real statement.

With the trophies safely in the cabinet, PdV still has his work cut out. It will be an interesting end of year tour as we might unearth another Frans Steyn or Bryan Habana when blooding some new personnel.

The days are now here when it's exciting being a Springbok supporter, savour them!

The "X-Pat"

The world has truly become a global village with worldwide travel easier than it has ever been! There are numbers of foreigners living in almost every single country in the world.

While a few have chosen to change their allegiance to their adopted country, many have kept to their roots and support their country in it's endeavours. In sport we see a lot of support for touring teams and not everyone is a travelling spectator. In fact many are living in the home country but still support their country of origin.

Living in London, in Rugby there is plenty of support for the All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks even though they have travelled hemispheres. Personally, second to actually being at the game, I watched the Rugby World Cup 2007 Final in England (on telly of course). The pride and emotion you get as you proudly parade in your team's colours is unexplainable. I am not the only 'X-Pat' to have experienced this, many others from other countries have experienced the same.

I recently received an email with a picture from a close friend now living in Australia who watched the Tri Nations game between Australia and South Africa in Brisbane. It was a game in which the Boks played terrible rugby and deservedly lost. Here's what he said...

'Hey buddy wow that game was sh1t! but entertaining at the least, i got soo much shit from the "wannabies" after that game haha but i just mentioned the ashes and they shut it.Otherwise working hard and staying out of trouble, I'm going to visit Sydney at the end of the month so should be good.cheers cheers'

Being an ex-pat has it's advantages and disadvantages, but as you can tell from the excitement in his email it has more advantages. To all the 'X-Pats' out there, have fun!