The Boks were surrounded and running out of ammunition. Then, just when it looked as if Wales would overrun them, on came the cavalry and the ending was a happy one.

If that sounds like a cowboy movie, there were some real cowboys in the coach's box.

Where is the creativity in this Springbok side? Who is the attack coach? Do they even have one?

Which cowboy decided John Smit should go to the World Cup?

The one little bit of creativity from this Springbok team looked to have been forged in the Bulls foundry. Francois Hougaard running into the gap for Fourie du Preez's pass was similar to a move between the two against the Stormers last year in Soweto. Hougaard's try saved the world champions just as they were at the mercy of the Welsh juggernaut.

It wasn't meant to end this way for Wales. Before this World Cup they had spent some time in cryotherapy chambers at minus 140C in Poland. It was meant to toughen them up for the last 10 minutes against an ageing Springbok side. If they could stay within a single score of the Boks going into the last 10 minutes, they could win it. Instead, they led and they lost it.

That Wales did not win when it seemed clear they deserved to was because Peter de Villiers sent on Bismarck du Plessis and Willem Alberts. In part, it was a correction by the coach because both should have started.

The coach will surely not make the mistake again?

Alberts delivered muscle, urgency and momentum to the forwards. He replaced Pierre Spies, who had been anonymous, and brought with him a sense of direction that was lacking among most of the Bok front eight, apart from Danie Rossouw, who was outstanding.

Until the appearance of Bismarck and Alberts, even Heinrich Brussouw struggled to flourish. In the last 10 minutes of the game, the Free Stater was monumental because he was suddenly in good company.

Whatever their faults, these Boks do know how to finish.

This was their most dangerous hurdle of the first round at the Rugby World Cup; Fiji and Samoa will be cakewalks after yesterday's baking test in the Cake Tin.

All that the Boks now need to worry about is their wounded. And it could be a major headache.

If Victor Matfield is to join Bakkies Botha on the sidelines, then this Bok campaign is in danger of sinking.

Jean de Villiers, another casualty, can be adequately replaced, but not Matfield - especially not if Botha is out of the tournament, as we suspect.

All these injuries makes you wonder what the Springboks got up to at their "rehabilitation" camp in Rustenburg during the closing stages of the Tri-Nations.

After yesterday's final whistle, it did not seem there had been much rehabilitating achieved.

Now that the Boks have lived to fight another day, the coach will quickly need to assess the next obstacle. Fiji should not present much of a problem. Their lineout was a shambles against Namibia and their defence looks shaky.

This could be the chance for De Villiers to try out Pat Lambie at flyhalf - and achieve some longed-for creativity at the back.

What must be crystal clear now is that the coach can no longer avoid using two certain starters: Bismarck du Plessis and Alberts.