South Africa - The Springboks

Four years ago, South African rugby was in turmoil and its performances at the World Cup signalled a new low for a national team whose proud heritage had become a millstone for the 2003 incumbents of the famous green and gold shirt.

Then coach Rudi Straeuli had presided over an alarming slump in fortunes, so much so that one of the super powers of world rugby had been reduced in stature to such an extent that it went into the tournament in Australia with its chances of ultimate success dismissed by all and sundry.

And the doubters were proved right.

Memories of the performance against England at Twickenham in 2002 still weighed heavily on the players and their fanatical following in the build-up to RWC 2003.

The Springboks went into that game determined to wreak maximum damage in a physical sense on their opponents but such a limited game plan was swiftly exposed by the home side whose superiority was such that they eventually prevailed 53-3.

Few could believe that a fall from grace could be so swift and so devastating.

The Springboks had won the World Cup at their first attempt on home soil in 1995 and went agonisingly close to another final four years later, only to be pipped by eventual champions Australia after an epic last-four battle which went to extra-time.

So, Straeuli's class of 2003 was meant to deliver for a nation which believes that the Webb Ellis Trophy is rightfully its for the taking every four years.

The Springboks arrived in Australia in considerable turmoil having been subjected to a military style pre-tournament boot camp, called Kamp Staaldraad, before leaving South Africa.

Pictures were subsequently published showing naked and shivering players crouched in a water-filled pit having been left there for hours on end, so it was little wonder that morale was in short supply.

The tournament itself proved just as much of a debacle as the Boks were comprehensively outplayed by eventual champion England in the pool stages and then surrendered meekly to New Zealand in the quarter-finals. Humiliation both on and off the pitch was complete and a total overhaul was required.

Much has indeed changed in the intervening years and South Africa will arrive in France for this year's Rugby World Cup in relatively fine fettle, with coach Jake White taking much of the credit for the progress that has been made.

White succeeded Straeuli in the aftermath of the 2003 World Cup debacle and swiftly set about implementing changes designed to put the Springboks back at the pinnacle of world rugby and, largely, he has succeeded in doing so.

Under his tutelage the Boks have certainly played with pride and he has brought through a crop of youngsters who may once again be ready to rule the world.

The likes of flanker Schalk Burger and winger Bryan Habana are recognised as the best practitioners of their positions in the game, and the Springboks pack is once again among the most feared on the international stage.

White is renowned for his fierce loyalty to his players, although he has been accused of favouritism by his detractors.

The coach has also had several run-ins with those who govern South African rugby to the extent that on more than one occasion his job has appeared under threat.

Despite a genial demeanour, White is a tough cookie whose simple dictum is: 'While I'm in charge, things are going to be done my way'.

South African rugby - both domestically and internationally - has been riven with discord for decades and less than a year ago factions from within the Bulls - the most powerful province in South African rugby - were calling for White's head on a plate after a disappointing European tour.

White, to his credit, stood firm, in effect adopting a 'back me or sack me' stance, and it paid off as the dissenting voices were quelled.

South Africa has certainly started World Cup year with a bang, having dismantled an under-strength England 58-10 in its first Test of 2007 in Bloemfontein and wrapping up the series in equally emphatic fashion in Pretoria.

Bearing in mind that the Boks will meet the same opposition in the pool stages of this year's tournament, those results certainly lay down a marker for when battle is resumed in Paris, although it must be taken into account that the England team later this year will bear little resemblance to the one which embarked on such an ill-advised trip without so many of its top stars.

Providing South Africa beats England in the pool stages it should have a relatively untroubled route to the latter stages of the World Cup with opponents in the last eight likely to be Wales and hosts France the probable semi-final opponents.

Should the Boks overcome those anticipated hurdles then a repeat of the 1995 final against New Zealand would prove a mouth-watering finale to the competition.

White, however, knows he is in a win-or-bust situation. Failure to wrest the Webb Ellis Trophy back into South African hands would almost certainly bring about a swift end to his tenure as national coach, with Rassie Erasmus - already a member of White's technical team and a man who represented the Springboks with distinction - heavily tipped as his successor.

Ever the pragmatist, though, White is focusing solely on the task ahead, knowing full well that a World Cup victory will earn him a permanent place in South African rugby's hall of fame.

In stark contrast, failure to deliver the ultimate prize on the biggest rugby stage of all, as Straeuli found to his cost, will be greeted with hostility and derision back home.

For the players and coach the pressure is building inexorably. And this time they simply cannot afford to implode.