The Springboks’ mauling of Australia in Pretoria was a great performance, and there is no shame in South African supporters celebrating it, according to MARK KEOHANE.
The world champions made an excellent start to the 2023 season by thrashing the Wallabies 43-12 at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, but now refocus on the high-flying All Blacks in a Rugby Championship clash in Auckland this weekend.
Writing on his blog keo.co.za, Keohane argues that it has been some time since the Boks have kicked off a Test calendar year as emphatically as their six-tries-to-two victory over the Aussies, and basking in the result “isn’t a crime”.
“South Africans generally don’t know how to lose and in many cases don’t know how to win. It is either a rant or a rave, and equally many don’t know how to just sit back, smile and enjoy what they’ve just seen,” he writes.
KEO: It is okay to applaud a golden Springboks performance
“The naysayers were quick to take to social media in condemning the Wallabies for being hopeless. You are only as good as the opposition allows and I don’t think enough are giving the Boks credit for how well they played.
“It is not a crime to celebrate a great performance. Live in the moment Bok fans. Enjoy it.
“A very different Bok team will play the All Blacks on Saturday and the challenge will be far more demanding than it was at Loftus, given it is the All Blacks and it is an away Test.
“The All Blacks will provide another examination of the squad depth on Saturday, but for me there isn’t an international team currently that has the numbers in quality among their forwards and backs as South Africa.
“Embrace the good times and the special wins.”
Photo: @Springboks/Twitter