Beware of Boks full of praise

Springboks rugby coach Jake Smith is a smart cookie.
Immediately after his side's clear-cut win over the Wallabies in Johannesberg last weekend Smith declared the AB's as favourites for the Tri-Nations series which kicks off this weekend.
Rather than centre on his own new look team's achievement of making the much vaunted Aussies look second rate, Smith talked about how well the All Blacks went in blitzing the Lions, and how the Tri Nations draw favoured the NZers.
On the first point he made no mention, of course, that the Lions were a huge flop, that most of the leading rugby nations would probably have disposed off them with similar disdain.
And, on the second, he was aiming to give the impression that by having the bye this weekend the AB's would come into their first Tri Nations game against the Springboks in Cape Town the following weekend in better shape through being a fresh state.
A state somewhat different to the Boks who would have spent the previous three weekends battling the Wallabies
"I think the draw favours the All Blacks quite heavily," White said. "The Lions series boosted their confidence, they are sure about their selections and by the time they arrive here they will be the most rested and freshest of the two teams."
I suspect, however, that White privately thinks somewhat differently about the draw.
Indeed he will be banking on the good amount of high pressure rugby played by his team leading into their first-up against the AB's being a plus, and a big one at that.
By then their combinations at both back and forward will be well and truly oiled and if, as seems possible, they beat the Wallabies again this weekend they will be absolutely brimming with confidence.
And then, of course, there is the home ground advantage, something which always seems more important in South Africa than anywhere else.
Where the AB's could have the edge though is in having quality players in key positions.
From what we have seen courtesy of television South Africa does not have a lock capable of matching Chris Jack in the lineouts, a loosie with the constructiveness or vision of Ritchie McCaw, a first-five with the all-round qualities of Dan Carter or a winger with the try scoring potential of any of the three players up for selection in that role for the AB's
Have them firing on all cylinders and we just might sneak in, mightn't we?