The Springboks take on France tonight in Toulouse in what will be a massive challenge for the number 1 ranked team in the world. They're a side that knows how to win under pressure though, as their record of late shows. A tribute to the winners is a little overdue, so here it is, as a nice preview for tonight's match.
This year, the current World Champions beat the British & Irish Lions, won the IRB World Series Sevens title, won the Tri Nations, and their Bulls won the Super 14. It's fair to say that 2009 has so far been very much the year of the Bok.
Being at the top isn't easy though, as there's only one direction you can go. Despite the Lions coming pretty close to knocking them off the top spot, the Springboks managed to hold them off and went into the Tri Nations on a high.
Some of the Springbok tactics were disagreed with by many, but they got the job done and a number of players stood up when it mattered, cementing their positions in the side.
Tonight in France, the core of that team will take on Les Bleus, hoping to pick up their first win there since 1997, when they beat them 52-10. On the three occasions since then, it's been the home team that's come out trumps.
The Springboks will be without Jean De Villiers and Francois Steyn, who are now playing their rugby abroad, and are also missing Juan Smith and Pierre Spies due to injury.
After the embarrassment with the Dirt Trackers losing to Leicester a week ago, the Springboks will be looking to make things right tonight, as they hope to reproduce some of the form that took them to lifting the Tri Nations trophy only a few months ago.
Time:
04:37
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