Failure if Boks don't win 2-0
Wow, what got into South African rugby writer's Mark Keohane's breakfast the other morning?
He came away from the breakfast bar with more than just a little snap, crackle and pop.
Nothing gets the blood flowing in rugby more than an All Blacks-Springboks contest. We all know that. Long may it continue. But Keohane has got into it boots and all.
In a column referenced on sarugbymag.co.za, Keohane appears to have vented some long-contained spleen on New Zealand and the All Blacks.
It will be nothing less than 'a fortnight of failure' if the Springboks can't win both Tests against the All Blacks, he said.
The All Blacks are ripe for the picking, he said.
And just in case you are wondering why he delivers some wonderful motivation for the All Blacks.
"The Springboks must play the mediocrity of those who currently wear the famed All Blacks jersey and not be seduced by the historical magic of a black jersey that has dominated world rugby throughout the ages," he said.
While Richie McCaw's double World Cup winners were close to being immortals of the game, the team that will arrive in South Africa on Saturday were imposters, coached by 'the biggest imposter of them all.’ They are 'mere mortals who continue to make the wrong kind of history every time they lose', he said.
To make his point a little more forcefully, he said Wales had the toughest job in the respective July series contests against the Southern Hemisphere sides, while Ireland had the easiest because they were only playing New Zealand, and they were not seduced by who they played.
"As good as the Irish played, this is the worst coached and selected All Blacks match-day squad I have reported on since the game turned professional in 1996. They are imposters of the Mighty McCaw World Champion Class of 2011-2015.
"By all accounts, the Boks should comfortably beat the All Blacks in both Tests at altitude in SA. Some very strong All Blacks sides have come to SA before and lost to questionable Springbok sides.
"This year, one of the poorest All Black teams in a long time will be flying to SA off the back of a home series loss to Ireland to face a world champion Springbok side which has just won their home series."
And just in case that wasn't enough to remind you of the challenge ahead, how about this for good measure?
"Springbok rugby is in the strongest space it's ever been, in terms of quality of depth and the systematic blending of experience and youth.
"Eighteen months out from the World Cup, the same players that guided the Springboks to glory have the chance to make an emphatic statement against New Zealand, and remind the rugby world that they are the best individuals in their positions."
As Brad Thorn used to say, 'Get that into ya'.
You can't help feeling that South Africans won't be happy until they have gone one better than the All Blacks by winning three consecutive World Cups.
But winning two consecutively is the first challenge, and as New Zealanders know well, peaking between World Cups can be an issue.
The challenge has been laid, and yet another fascinating All Blacks-Springboks series lies ahead.
But, 'a fortnight of failure' if they can't win both…now that's pressure for the home side.