Embarrassed Springboks start to believe they can lift title

LONDON — In Rugby World Cup history, no team has ever lost one of its pool matches and then gone on to lift the Webb Ellis Trophy.

But following the way the Springboks have bounced back from their opening 32-34 shock loss to Japan to record two victories on the trot, coach Heyneke Meyer is starting to feel his men could make history this time.

Using the example of English runner Roger Bannister, who became the first man to run the mile under four minutes, Meyer mused at a news conference on Monday to announce his team for tonight’s Pool B match with the United States: “There are so many examples of comebacks throughout the world that people said can’t happen. They said the mile would never be run in under four minutes; now everybody does it.

“I’m a very, very positive person. I believe everything is possible, and I’ve been in situations where I’ve lost every single game and come back and won trophies. The guys know it’s possible. A lot of these guys have done it before.”

Yet, since the first Rugby World Cup in 1987, no team has accomplished that very feat. England came closest in 2007 when they were thrashed by the Springboks in the group stages but bounced back to reach the final, only to again find the South Africans too strong.

However, after the seismic shock of the Japan defeat, the vigour of the Springboks’ response, with two emphatic victories over Samoa (46-10) and Scotland (34-16), has raised the prospect that the two-time world champs could go one step further than Phil Vickery’s England in Paris eight years ago. South Africa are currently top of their pool with a bonus point in hand.

Still, Meyer is understandably keen not to get too ahead of himself.

Every game for the Springboks is a World Cup final, he says, which is why, despite the debilitating four-day turnaround, he has plumped to stick with 13 of the very strong starting 15 that beat Scotland on Saturday for the physical challenge of the USA Eagles. The only changes in the Springboks line-up have been made to protect minor injuries to winger JP Pietersen and prop Jannie du Plessis.

“We don’t look past this game ... You have to stay humble and respect every single opponent,” said Meyer. “USA have shown they are a world-class team. They’re very difficult to play against, very physical, a lot of big, strong forwards and great runners in midfield. Because it’s a short turnaround (from the Scotland game), there’s not much time to train and prepare, so why not go with some sort of continuity, but also with some fresh guys on the bench.” RUGBY WORLD CUP

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Tonight: Pool B - South Africa v USA (11.30pm)

Tomorrow: Pool C - Namibia v Georgia (2.45am)