Are the Boks mentally tough enough to win again?

Their performance on Saturday surely will be the true indicator of how far they have come as a team in that aspect. Mission accomplished for this overseas leg as far as I am concerned as it relates to the overall championship title - especially with another bonus point win and the points difference advantage firmly in hand - we are definitely in the driver's seat. It would be sweet to win in Eden Park though and this team has the ability to do that.

So proud to see the guys who had been maligned step up and vindicate themselves and their selection. Louw, Alberts, Kirchener, Pienaar, even sub Kruger who played a crucial role in the JDV try.

 Who knows, it certainly is possible,  but a loss now won't be a desaster. The sooner we get the NZ monkey off our backs, the better. No better time than this weekend.  GO BOKKE! !!

 Another question: Are the Bok fans mentally tough enough to win again?

Or: Are the Bok fans mentally tough enough to accept a loss to NZ and still keep the faith?

I don't think their quite there yet, but Saturday was a big step towards it. This coming Saturday will really show us how big that step was. Winning or losing may not show that, because they are playing the AB's at Eden park. How they play, how they handle certain situations, and how they respond to the AB's will show us how big of step forward they have taken. If they continue to grow like this they are looking good for 2015.

Moz, I wouldnt use the word secure. That gives me shivers just reading it. Nothing is "secure" in this competition until you have the cup in your hands. NZL have broken SA hearts time and time again in SA so I hope you didn't just jinx us ;-)

SA just need to prepare for each game like their backs are against the wall. I believe we can win this weekend, I just hope the Boks do too. People thought it was ludicrous when Meyer said he is seriously targetting 2 from 2 in Australasia and I was one that thought "You are being ridiculous Meyer. We are playing at the two stadiums where we do the worst!" Maybe he knew something we didn't. Just maybe its our year!

Meyer said somewhere (I cant find the post) that the Boks need to start well. He can usually tell in the first 20 mins what Bok team has pitched up and if we are clinical and dominant in the first 20, he knows we are in good hands for the further 60. Lets hope we get that dominance in the first 20! Some big scrums, big collisions and field position. With a fair ref and NZL's constant "pushing of boundaries," the score will take care of itself.

Come on the Bokke!!

As an AB supporter, I'd have been more worried if the ABs had walloped Argentina and the Boks had played poorly against OZ. An average game from the ABs will have given them the motivation to improve immensely this weekend if they are going to beat the Boks.

RWCs have shown it is very hard for any team to pull out top performances 2 games running, witness the poor games from the Boks in Mendoza two years running after good performances in SA.

For this reason, I think it will be very tough for the Boks to get that level of commitment again in only 7 days and especially with the Eden Park hoodoo hanging over their heads. A good start from the Boks is essential...an early 7 pointer is what's required to give them the belief because they will know that the ABs will never give up trying for 80 mins.  If it's a dry track then the ABs will attempt to run the Bok forwards all over the park so if the Boks aren't in front going into the last 20, then it will be a tall order for them to win. 

Either way, it should be an epic battle with only a few points in it. The ABs may rue not going for the bonus point against Argentina at the end of the RC!

pressure i think is squarely on the AB's, they must surely recognize it's going to be awfully hard to beat the Boks at home on the highveldt and further pressure in that they've never faced a very physical and confident Bok side like the one they're going to face over the weekend.