Golden era for silverware-laden South Africa

World Cup winners, Tri-Nations Champions, Sevens Champions, Super 14 Champions - is anyone else playing this game at the moment?

South Africa's ascendancy of the world stage, in all forms of the game, was completed in Hamilton yesterday with a typical Springbok performance based on forward power and a mighty kicking game.

No carping, no criticising: the 'Boks turned around a poor performance in Brisbane last weekend to give New Zealand, Tri-Nations champ-ions every year since 2005, a lesson in how to eradicate errors and sustain pressure.

Beyond dispute, South Africa are the No 1 rugby nation in the world at this time. But maybe a word of warning is appropriate here - New Zealand were the best in the world around this time in 2006 and 2007. Yet they still couldn't close out the deal by taking the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
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This was a comprehensive, all-round performance which deserved to see the Springboks survive a thrilling late All Black rally. Indeed, if Daniel CarterDaniel Carter's injury time cross kick had been a fraction shorter, New Zealand had two players out wide unmarked to catch it and cross the line from five metres for the winning score. But that would have been daylight robbery.

The better team won in Hamilton, there was no disputing that. South Africa made fewer errors and took full advantage of a shocking New Zealand lineout in the first 40 minutes. The All Blacks lost their first four throw-ins and were 12-1 behind on lineout stats by the break. No team can suffer such lineout calamities and expect to win.

Yet the All Blacks very nearly snatched it once they cut out the mistakes and managed some continuity in their play after half-time - 22-9 behind at one stage and 22-12 down at the interval, New Zealand were rocked by Jean de Villiers's 52nd minute intercept try.

But thereafter, the tiring visitors had to dig deep to hold out against a spirited New Zealand side which rallied with great heart and spirit.

If anyone epitomised the South African courage, determination and naked desire to land another great trophy, it was skipper John Smit.

Bloodied from early on when he was accidentally head-butted by Schalk BurgerSchalk Burger in a hammering collision, Smit gave his all in the set scrums, where he has been controversially exposed in recent weeks, and played a full part in the loose.

He carried the ball well, made some great tackles, competed vigorously at the breakdowns and helped bring a slightly better scrummaging performance from the Springbok pack. Again, at times, it was under heavy pressure, but overall there was more solidity than before.

In the lineouts, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha and their lifters were magnificent. And behind them, Fourie du Preez had another fine game; darting, alert and agile besides scoring a try for the second time in three games. Du Preez's quality is of the highest class.

Jean de Villiers marked perhaps his final Test appearance, certainly for a couple of years, with a typically shrewd piece of poaching for his try.

Then there was the siege-gun kicking of Frans Steyn, who landed penalty goals from 61, 59 and 52 metres respectively. Not to be out-done, Morne Steyn added two penalties, a drop goal and two conversions.

There was a purring assurance, a rich vein of quality running right through this South African side.

They have looked so much more of a danger since they have tried to get the ball through the hands of their backs. If ever a side was equipped to play a complete, 15-man game, it is this one. Sure, their kicking game is superb, but now it isn't their only attacking weapon.

Most teams win a major trophy at some point, but only the very best wipe the floor with the whole world and land just about every trophy going. This team has now done that - and they fully deserve it.