Sean Fitzpatrick: Now for the world's best

John Smit didn't sail off into the sunset. Photo / Getty Images

It's the business end of the season for the All Blacks now: the Tri Nations and, more particularly, the Springboks - and I can tell you that a lot of Bok fans are hoping the All Blacks win at least one and maybe both of the two tests in New Zealand over the next two weeks.

Why? Because the Boks are clearly the best side in the world right now and many friends and rugby folk in South Africa worry that the Springboks are "doing an All Blacks" and peaking too early ahead of the World Cup. They feel a loss or losses in the next two weeks is a desirable wake-up call.

I don't know about that but I do know the Springboks scare me. They are not only a top side in good form, they have depth and, as I have noted before, depth in experience.

After the last World Cup, the veterans in the side went into the home series against the Lions with most of us - and I think they themselves - expecting to retire after that, as they'd done it all.

Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, John Smit, Juan Smith and Joe van Niekerk were all expected to sail off into the sunset.

Matfield, Botha, Smith and Smit are all back and hungry for more. If these guys, top players all, still have the desire - this time to be the first back-to-back World Cup winners - that makes the Boks dangerously motivated and staffed.

Smit's a good example. Most thought he'd retire and he spent the Super 14 shifting to prop. But then he realised that he probably wouldn't make the World Cup squad as a prop and he's been selected as a hooker with Chiliboy Ralepelle.

That tells me he is thirsty for more. If Matfield is injured, for example, they have Andries Bekker waiting in the wings - one of the best, if not the best, forwards across the last Super 14.

The Boks also have a decent injury list, just as we do. Not considered for the Tri Nations (for injury and other reasons) were players like top halfback Fourie du Preez, hooker Bismarck du Plessis, flanker Heinrich Brussow, Juan Smith, and backs like JP Pietersen, Francois Steyn, Adrian Jacobs and Odwa Ndungane.

The other observation to be made is how much the Boks have picked up their game and how much players of colour are adding to the equation now.

Only a few years ago, we were all shaking our heads and remarking on the lack of skill level in the Springboks - good, hard players at the set-piece and with kicking ability but not quite as able to play the running and supporting game.

They are now. Players like Gio Aplon and Juan de Jongh, just to mention two of an increasingly large and impressive number, have now come through the ranks to take their places on merit as deserved Springboks. They are also helping greatly the Boks' ability in creative and inventive dimensions.

It is often, when issues are raised about a team and coaching, the players who have to work on their game. The Bok players did - and they are reaping the rewards now.

Having said all that, the All Blacks are doing well. Graham Henry and co have clearly settled on a counter-attacking game plan, have selected well and have added to their depth in a way that most of us didn't think possible even a few months ago.

They have gained confidence and, as there is something like 15 tests between now and the World Cup, there is still plenty of time to blood players and cement combinations.

I note that there is very little criticism floating around New Zealand rugby fans and circles now. That's good to see and also a good omen, I think.

All of the fans, critics and media have to hold their fire a bit right now. I won't say we have to get behind the team or be cheerleaders or anything like that. That's too cheesy and corny. The All Blacks also need the country's weight of expectation to help them succeed.

But we are in a good place at the moment. This All Black team is capable of taking one or even both tests off the Boks at home. The team is on the way up and, should there be a loss or two against the Boks, that won't seem like the end of the world, as it normally would.

The scary thing is that, if the All Blacks do win one or both, they will greatly please many people in South Africa.