KEY POINTS:
Transport yourself back to the dark days of 1981 and once there, try to imagine a day in the future when a black man was the anchor - no the superstar - of the Springboks scrum.
These are not my words. They are those of a South African
friend who is as fanatical about rugby as he is about the winds of change, those of true integration, blowing through his country and the footy there.
It's always difficult writing about another country which you have never even visited.
I tried it recently with China, wishing that there had been more revealing coverage of the true country out of the Olympics rather than the stereotypes that were put across by the western media. That column actually upset a couple of Chinese people, although I can't figure out why.
South Africa is better known to us, so time for another try.
There was a moment during the Springboks stupendous win over Australia on Sunday morning that was heartwarming way beyond sport.
As the rookie wing of colour Jongi Nokwe scored one of his four tries, he kept running towards the crowd and was high-fived by a jubilant white supporter.
We know enough about South Africa to know that some people must still hold resentment about the apartheid years and/or are still adversely affected by it in some way. There will also still be white folk who are inherently racist just as there were many "liberals" who opposed the old regime.
This palm-slapping moment from the test was one of overwhelming hope, especially as rugby was once the icon of the white people's racist supremacy. Perhaps by now, though, we should merely accept that bridges have been mended, that genuine unification has taken place despite the well-reported problems.
It was another player, though, who dominated this test.
The Zimbabwe-born Springbok prop Tendai "The Beast" Mtawarira has made a stunning test entrance this season.
For those who saw the Jo'burg annihilation, have you ever seen a prop play a better test match? For those who didn't, see if you can get hold of a tape, to use the old parlance.
The man was on fire.
So was his team. Coach Peter de Villiers is safe for now, and only time will tell if this is a good or bad thing for Springbok supporters. De Villiers' promise of a new, expansive game burst gloriously on to the world stage in Johannesburg but it might have been overly assisted by an unmotivated, tired, below-par Australian side struggling on the high ground. That magnificent high-sided stadium is a graveyard for any visitors not in top shape.
There was still nothing overly subtle about South Africa's massive victory, just raw power overwhelming an Australian team whose holes were finally exposed in a devastating way. Australia is still four or five world class players away from being a consistently good side. Once South Africa had damaged Australia's defence, they were on the mark in hitting the weak defensive spots.
And they were led by the Beast and his cult following.
Props aren't usually the fellas who get the turnstiles clicking over, but Mtawarira breaks this rule. He is a true personality, who brings cries of "Beast" from the home crowds whenever he gets the ball.
His scrum work is way more than adequate. Around the field, he's a remarkable dynamo.
Heavyweight charges, slamming tackles, burrowing in at the breakdown, a la Richie McCaw - Mtawarira does it all.
He is a matchwinner and a crowd pleaser. South Africa knew it would find brilliant backs of colour, but Mtawarira has taken charge in a place where some old rules still applied.
As for his nickname, it is here to stay. The official Super 14 guide doesn't even bother giving his first name. As enticing as the nickname is, it doesn't do him justice in a way. "Beast" implies something primal and ugly. Yet Mtawarira is a Rolls-Royce prop, with power and finesse.
The term Beast is almost condescending, a throwback to how the game used to be played during an era that South Africa would prefer not to remember.
Mtawarira may turn out to be one of those rare players who redefine a position. It's as if Steve McDowall has morphed with Carl Hayman. And, if my friend is right, Mtawarira is another important cog in South African society's wheels of change.
* Pat Lam and the Blues will play down Auckland's awful form this year. The Blues are a different deal, they will cry, and Lam is about to relinquish his job as the provincial coach. But the shocker against Counties Manukau, the Canterbury disaster, and the weekend's loss to a struggling Waikato side in a near-empty Hamilton stadium has put a major dent in Lam's stocks. The Blues would have wanted him to take charge with all guns blazing, rather than appearing to have lost his magic touch. It raises major questions about whether Lam and the players are still on the same page. If Auckland's season goes pear shaped under Shane Howarth, it means the new Blues assistant coach is tainted as well. It's not panic stations yet. But the Blues bosses - in charge of a franchise with a tatty coaching history - should be worried and you can bet that behind closed doors, they are. And if they ain't, I certainly am as a supporter of Lam's Blues appointment.
* And further still ... something seriously good is going on in Wellington rugby. They are playing with power, flair and authority. So put Jamie Joseph's name in your hat as a coach on the rise.
* Football's Wellington Phoenix have made a worrying start to the season, winless after three rounds. There is no solace when coach Ricki Herbert brings on Vaughan Coveny, nearly 37 years old, to try to change the course of a game against classy Adelaide. This is the season where the supporters will be looking for signs that the club is on the right track. The honeymoon period is over. It means the pressure will wind up on Herbert, and the worry there is that it will impact on his vital work as the All Whites coach. Allowing the national coach to take charge of a club side can seem like a good idea at the time, but the appeal tends to wane when reality strikes as the New Zealand Rugby League has found at least once. Stay tuned.
