The Springboks Are the World Champions!

The first test between the World Champion Springboks and the British and Irish Lions will take place in Durban on Saturday.

Just how will it unfold? Many have their opinions, none more vocal than Nick Cain and his article "British and Irish Lions have nothing to fear from South Africa".

Firstly I would like to reply by saying, the Springboks are the World Champions! Get over it Nick. Just because we didn't play the All Blacks or Australians doesn't make it any less of an achievement. To say that England were more deserving of their victory in 2003 is a load of baloney! We beat everyone we had to, when we had to. We demolished England in the pool game! Whilst we may have taken our foot off the accelerator from the quarter final, we played winning rugby, and got the job done.

To say South Africa doesn't deserve their World Champion status because we didn't win the tri-nations last year is ludicrous! We had a new team, new coach and a new competition. England fell away after their World Cup victory in 2003, what then? Why doesn't the same logic apply and Nick believe they were undeserving of their title?

The concern revolving around Ruan Pienaar and the Bok team is our problem. We will deal with it and put out the side we want on Saturday. You just worry about your own side. It's an attempt to unsettle the Springboks, talk up the British and Irish Lions, and make the Northern Hemisphere feel better about themselves. Well face the fact. The Springboks are the World Champions, and they will demolish the Lions on Saturday. Maybe then you'll give them some credit...or maybe you'll need to wait until we win the second test and win the series!