It is clear that SARU is using window dressing to appease Springbok supporters. The next instalment of a “review” with PDV is most likely to add more frustration and disillusionment to loyal Springbok supporters.

It is hardly necessary to remind anyone about the farcical manner in which previous such “reviews” have been handled. Not once has any of these previous reviews led to any public declaration of solution or change.

There is no honesty left in SARU, they have made it clear that they will provide us with all the window dressing required, without the salad, and shame on them for believing it is working.

To add to this farce, Super Sport is losing all credibility as an objective broadcaster in a manner I can only describe as comical. The way they address or discuss any issues are usually handled by way of ignoring it as if it either doesn’t exist or will go away. Last week during Boots and All, it was very clear they were not permitted to discuss real issues. The manner in which Darren Scott sweet talked Oregan Hoskins and Peter de Villiers reminded me of a Q & A session you would have with an obstinate teenager who would refuse to tell you where they hid their cigarettes and would walk out if you asked any difficult direct questions.

The common response from SARU is “we will review it”, and PDV is “everything is on track”

I therefore have to assume that nothing will change and most of the concerns we have regarding Springbok rugby are unlikely to be addressed.

So the question which begs to be asked is: Can we succeed from now and onto the RWC in spite of the incompetence and denial that SARU and their cohorts have shown? There is a Grand Slam tour in the offing for the Springboks in November and then a home and away Tri Nation series before the World Cup. So there are 8 Tests in all before the world Cup with a possible of 640 minutes of rugby.

We also have the remainder of the Currie Cup and the contracted Springboks will be available for the Semi finals and Finals, a possible 160 minutes of rugby.

Then on to the Super 15 which equates to 16 round robin matches and a possible 3 matches during the finals, a possible 1280 – 1520 minutes of rugby.

That means with a possible total of 2080 – 2320 minutes of rugby until the rugby world Cup, there is an awful amount of rugby before then.

Taking into consideration the amount of rugby some of the stalwarts of the springboks have played this year alone, it might come down to individuals looking after themselves rather than hoping for some “managed care” by SARU.

We all know experience is key to winning a World Cup, and there is no doubt that there is plenty of that in the current Springbok squad.

These are the players who are either contracted or have recently been playing for the Springboks.

Gurthrö Steenkamp, BJ Botha, Beast Mtawarira, Jannie du Plessis, CJ v d Linde, John Smit, Bandise Maku, Chilliboy Ralapelle, Bismarck du Plessis, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Andries Bekker, Flip v d Merwe, Danie Rossouw, Allistair Hargreaves, Schalk Burger, Heinrich Brussouw, Dewald Potgieter, Francois Louw, Juan Smith, Pierre Spies, Ryan Kankowski,  Fourie du Preez, Ricky Januarie, Francois Hougaardt, Morné Steyn, Butch James, Adi Jacobs, Jaque Fourie, Wynand Olivier, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen, Gio Aplon, Bjorn Basson, Jongi Nokwe, Zane Kirchner and Frans Steyn.

Assuming the same principal of selection in 2007, the most likely candidates for World Cup duty are:

Props: Gurthrö Steenkamp, Beast Mtawarira, Jannie du Plessis and BJ Botha.

Hookers: John Smit, Bismarck du Plessis (unless he decides on Chiliboy Ralapele)

Locks: Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw and Andries Bekker.

Loose Forwards: Schalk Burger, Heinrich Brüssow, Juan Smit, Dewald Potgieter, Pierre Spies and Ryan Kankowski.

Scrumhalves: Fourie du Preez, Francois Hougaardt (unless he selects Ricky Januarie)

Flyhalves: Morné Steyn, Butch James

Centers: Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Juan de Jongh and Adi Jacobs (he won’t take Wynand Olivier)

Wings: Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen, Gio Aplon, Jongi Nokwe (no space for Bjorn Basson)

Fullbacks: Frans Steyn and Zane Kirchner.

There is a good mixture of experience and young talent in this squad, and perhaps the only compliment I would give PDV is that he has exposed some exciting new talent in his tenure. There are however a few selections he may make that will not go down well with the rugby public, and those are Ricky Januarie and Adi Jacobs, and there will be some positions we will feel are weak such as Tight head prop, backup for Morné Steyn and Fullback.

I was watching a rerun of the 2007 World Cup match last week, and the one significant difference I  saw during that match was the absolute focus and intensity in the eyes of the players, the way they were focused and lining up their opposing numbers and the ferocity in the tackles and breakdowns. As much as we have been disappointed by the lack of intensity during this Tri Nations, there were moments where the Springboks did actually play winning rugby. We know for a fact that they will not play the All Black style of rugby, but then again the Rugby World Cup is’nt won by helter-skelter play eiether, it is rather won by retention of ball, field position and deliberate, focused defence. Points come from penalty kicks and drop goals, with the odd try mainly from opposition mistakes and counter attack.

In this the Springboks are masters, and the All Blacks with all their class and flair will have to make the mind shift of playing finals rugby, something they have yet to adapt to.

Our pool matches should not be an issue, Wales would like to believe they can compete with us, but let’s be honest, 1 win out of 24 and dumping a 13 point lead against a half baked Springbok team in June does not suggest we should be worried.

Ireland is our most likely Quarter-final opponent, and they may have had the better of us at home, but as yet have not registered a win against us in the Southern Hemisphere. Their team is also showing a decline as many of their older players (and I include Brian O’Driscoll) seem to have gone past their best.

New Zealand our biggest foe and most likely opponent for the Semi-final will be the toughest challenge we’ll face in New Zealand, but even though it seems as if everything is in their favour, I have a sneaky suspicion that two factors may just be their downfall.

Fistly there will be an enormous amount of pressure on the coaching staff and players, because they need to win this trophy at home and they have the chokers tag sitting on their shoulders and they need to revenge 1995. Their second biggest problem is their pride and tradition of wanting to play running rugby, and in this lies our advantage, we know what is coming, we know how they will play, we know exactly how they infringe on the boundary of the law at breakdowns, and on top of that even though they won’t admit it, they will be over confident.

What everyone and his dog used as a reason for the Springbok’s poor performances in the last year is an outdated game plan, but therein lies our biggest advantage. Our players know they were below par, they know there was no focus and intensity, there were many issues in the media that had taken away from their preparation, and above all there are some big name players who has not taken part in our campaigns this year, who will make a tremendous impact on our team.  Fourie du Preez, the world’s best scrum half, Heinrich Brüssow, Bakkies Botha (the “enforcer”), Juan Smith on our away leg, and last but not least, the form of Bryan Habana, John Smit, Victor Matfield and many more.

So I believe there is life in those old bones yet, a South African has a short attention span, don’t ask him to perform just because you want him to, tell him HIS Rugby World Cup trophy is up for grabs, and all he has to do is win 7 matches from 9 September 2011 to 23 October 2011.

This is when we will all once again see the infamous description of the South African mentality, of sheer bloody minded determination.