Mike Greenaway: Bok locks talk the talk on 'simple' art

At the Springbok press conference in the sunny seaside resort town of Umhlanga Rocks, the verbal performances of the veteran lock pairing of Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha epitomised why the Boks are going to be so difficult for the All Blacks to beat in Durban tomorrow.

The artful Matfield spoke of lineout strategy and the nuances of working out the opposition's throws; Botha, his partner in more than 50 tests and who knows how many matches for the Bulls, spoke of bludgeoning the opposition into submission.

In short, we had the balance between brain and brawn in this Springbok side well articulated by two of the world's leading forwards.

Matfield orchestrated four lineout steals for the Boks in Bloemfontein last week while Botha spearheaded a physical charge that had the Kiwis on the back foot in the first half especially.

Interestingly, it has been intimated by Kiwi conspiracy theorists that the Boks used nefarious means to obtain the All Blacks' lineout calls (spying at a training session) last week, and this was put to Matfield by a television reporter, much to his bemusement.

"Yes, we had a fair idea of what they would do in their lineouts," he said. "It was easy and I take it as a nice compliment that someone thinks we had to steal the calls. But the explanation is that we studied their last three games and worked it out. It is as simple as that. I don't know why we would need to go out and spy when we can just watch the TV."

Matfield is known to be one of rugby's more cerebral characters (despite being a forward) and he is renowned for the hours he puts into analysing the opposition.

The pressure will indeed be on the All Black lineout and while they will obviously look to change a few things, Matfield says that he will be trying to anticipate the variations.

"Ultimately, they have two options on our ball. Firstly, they can try and put us under pressure by competing on our throw, although they then open themselves up for us to drive if they don't win the ball. Or they say 'let's give them the lineout and stop the drive'. I am not sure which option they will go with this week."

Matfield was careful to add that the Boks did not have an arrogant point of view on the lineouts.

"Not at all. In this game a lot can happen in one week. Your strong point can quickly become your weak point, depending on which team does its homework best."

Speaking of weak points, Botha does not have many when it comes to taking the fight to the opposition and, as usual, he had already built up a head of steam by Thursday.

He does have a sense of humour, though, and he blushed ever so slightly when asked if it was indeed him who greeted All Black substitute prop Owen Franks with the comic words "Hello, Fatty" when he came on in Bloemfontein, when the world would have expected something a heck of a lot more vulgar.

"The physical stuff is my bread and butter," Botha said, getting back to his script. "And it does not get tougher when you are up against that black jersey. It is a cliche that South Africans are born to play the All Blacks, but it is true and for me, after nine years, there remains nothing more stirring that facing the haka. The passion those guys put into it can either intimidate you or raise your battle lust, and I know what it does for me ...

"We would be fools if we did not anticipate that the All Blacks will be a very different kettle of fish this week. They do not like losing, for one thing, and they will be much better prepared in many ways. Mostly, they will have done good analysis of us."

Matfield and Botha, the rapier and the broadsword, were asked what impact the predicted rain will have on the match.

Matfield said that the Boks had the exceptional kicking game to adapt and that would counter the experience the All Blacks have of playing in the rain.

Botha? "Rain? I am not sure I would notice," he smiled.

"There is plenty of cover in the rucks."

Mike Greenaway is a rugby writer for the Natal Mercury in Durban