When referee Paul Williams announced “pencils down” at Ellis Park on Saturday by blowing the final whistle in the Test between the Springboks and Australia, the South Africans were all smiles.
They didn’t need anyone to tell them that they had just aced a very important test in a World Cup year.
The test, of course, was to determine the depth there is in the Springbok squad.
And when coach Rassie Erasmus and his management sat down to review the performance, they too would have been all smiles.
REWARDED FOR BRAVERY: Bok coach Rassie Erasmus. Photo: Ross Setford/Reuters.
Scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies just answered the biggest question of them all; do we have a backup scrumhalf for Faf de Klerk?
Erasmus toyed with that question throughout 2018, throwing the names of Embrose Papier and Ivan van Zyl in the hat.
Unfortunately, it left him with more questions than answers and from nowhere Jantjies emerged.
Not even considered a starter at the Stormers at the start of the season, the 23-year-old from Kylemore took his chance when Jano Vermaak was once again injured.
And he’s grown from strength to strength ever since.
Having had a one-on-one conversation with him earlier this season, I was as proud as any one of his performance on Saturday.
Not just for him as a player, but for the type of person he is. Humble to the bone.
Anyway, a performance like Saturday's, on debut, is a once-in-a-lifetime event.
And if I were coach of the national team, I would be a lot more comfortable heading into the World Cup knowing that if De Klerk fails, I’ve got Jantjies.
Another area of concern not too long ago was that of inside centre.
With Damian de Allende the incumbent No.12, Andre Esterhuizen proved the hunger to succeed the man on Saturday.
But then Francois Steyn took the field, and all of a sudden looked like a man that wants to challenge De Allende for his right to don the No.12 jumper.
The way the returning veteran drew defenders onto him before offloading in the tackle to help set up Sbu Nkosi’s try was remarkable.
So often we see that specific ball dying in the midfield, with the centres not getting it away.
CENTRAL FIGURE: Versatile ace Francois Steyn. Photo: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix.
Steyn seems to understand what he needs to do and having already won a World Cup in 2007, I believe Erasmus should seriously consider not only taking him to Japan, but selecting him as part of his match 23.
It is a pity, though, that we didn’t get to see much of Dillyn Leyds.
In a match where Warrick Gelant was not as impressive as I would have liked him to be, Leyds could have shown that he belongs.
Off to the pack.
Francois Louw’s presence at the breakdown will put Duane Vermeulen under pressure when the Bok first team tackles the All Blacks this week.
With Warren Whiteley out injured and the Du Preezs, Dan and Jean-Luc, not in the picture at the moment, the emergence of Louw as a strong contender at the back of the scrum is another question that was answered.
He was a menace at the breakdown and proof that the Boks need that sort of presence, regardless of who they play.
I believe Louw’s performance will push Vermeulen to deliver his best against New Zealand on Saturday.
If he doesn’t, he should be concerned about his place in the side.
I haven’t even gotten to the depth at tighthead prop yet, where Trevor Nyakane stood strong.
But these are just a few areas in which we needed to see some decent backup.
What Saturday at Ellis Park proved is that the Springboks can field two competitive sides.
BREAKDOWN STAR: Francois Louw. Photo: Willem Loock/BackpagePix.
And no, een swaeltjie maak nie ’n somer nie, and it doesn’t mean we will win the World Cup after Saturday’s performance.
In fact, it is a work in progress and there were a number of areas that still need some serious attention.
What they would want to improve on as a squad ahead of the next game is their exit game, their lineouts and their defence.
So while the team is not yet world beaters, they have strength in numbers.
And once you have that sort of strength in numbers, the guys bubbling under will bring out the best in the guys currently in the hotseat.
Knowing that Erasmus is not afraid to start an in-form player and “rest” a player that is not performing, will go a long way in getting the best out of his players.
Now let’s see what the big guns can do against the world champs this coming weekend.