KEY POINTS:
To win the World Cup, a team has to think it can. It then has to transfer this into a series of meaningful actions that grows belief.
While there will be up to eight so-called contenders who will be trying to convince themselves that they can win the tournament as we head towards the quarter-final phase, the reality is just two teams know they can win it: New Zealand and South Africa.
Like the All Blacks, South Africa has won the World Cup just once before, in 1995. So why are they so sure of their candidacy this time?
There are three key reasons why the Springboks believe.
The first is historical.
Not only do the Springboks have the nucleus of the 2002 Jake White-coached Under-21 outfit that beat a New Zealand side containing five of the current World Cup All Blacks (including Daniel Carter) in the final of that year's age-grade World Cup, but the players have also enjoyed considerable success since.
This includes the 2004 Tri-Nations title and, of course, the South African success this year in the Super 14, where the All Black conditioning window opened the door to an all-South African final and a breakthrough South African success in that competition.
Fast forward to now, and White has at his disposal a mature side which boasts considerable confidence, based on its track record of success and on its playing depth, which is unquestion-ably superior to its predecessors.
This is also an event that the Boks have been building steadily towards and waiting for.
Not only would a World Cup success be the culmination of a number of careers - most notably for skipper John Smit, lineout king Victor Matfield and White himself - the Springboks also believe it is their destiny, and that has always been a powerful motivator for wearers of the green jersey.
In 1995, the Springboks won the tournament against the odds on the back of some bloody-minded defence.
The current edition is a far more complete side, which is the second reason why they are such a threat.
Although South African teams have always boasted great physical prowess and mental resoluteness, White's unit has added mental agility to that package.
Not only can they adapt better to changing circumstances in the contest, they are more multi-faceted in the way they play, and have all of the key on-field positions catered for.
The Springboks are well served at tighthead, in the loose, in the halves, in goal kicking and in the back three where, in winger Bryan Habana, they have an x-factor player who can break any game open.
While first five-eighths Butch James will receive the most scrutiny come the hour, he may have enough class around him not to be exposed.
For me, two players stand out as symbolic: both of the all-round threat the Springboks pose, but also the quality of White's side.
Halfback Fourie du Preez and first five-eighths Francois Steyn both have enormous natural talent, but also the mental agility to think on their feet that has often eluded many of their predecessors.
As players, they have broken the Springbok mould in terms of being the complete package in their respective positions.
The final aspect of the Springboks that makes them such a major contender is the team's leadership.
In White and Smit, South Africa have a coach and captain totally in sync who have done the miles together, enjoying much success.
Not only is Smit a respected leader, and clearly influential among his troops on the field, he has also shown an ability to keep his emotions in check under the strongest of pressure, and keep those around him calm.
