Jake and Bob put Aussies in their place

Jake White was mobbed by rabid Australian journalists as the Bok coach touched down in Sydney with his Springbok ‘B’ team in tow. However, he was quick to put them in their place.

“All of a sudden the Australian media have become selectors of South Africa. You guys have been calling us a B team, that’s also how you described Wales and if I remember correctly you scored after the hooter to beat them.

“I’m amazed that the Australian media have made such a big hype about SA bringing their B team and leaving all their best players at home. The more you guys do it the better it is going to be for me because you are motivating these players every single time you ask those questions

“You guys want a good game from us and you will get it. The squad you see are almost all capped Springboks and each one is fit, fresh and raring to go. The players who are not here are struggling with injuries and/or severe fatigue.

“We have huge respect for Australia’s sportsmen. You guys have won two Rugby World Cups, an incredible achievement, and we have noted how you managed players in the build-up to the 1999 World Cup, when John Eales and Tim Horan did not play Super 12 rugby.

He went on to question the resting of Lote Tuqiri by the Wallabies during the Wales series earlier this year.

“The reason Tuqiri was rested on a speed program during the Wales series, does that devalue the Welsh Test series, or does it mean that Tuqiri needs to be ready for the World Cup?

“It’s ironic that the team that has rested the most players in a World Cup is the first to cry foul. Well, if they think they can thrash this Springbok team, let’s see how good they are.

“We have some of our top players out due to different injuries. For example, Fourie du Preez is out, Bryan Habana is out of action, our captain John Smit is injured, Pierre Spies is injured, Gurthro Steenkamp is injured, Juan Smith is injured as is Butch James … so you see, we didn’t even field our best team against New Zealand at home due to injuries.

“We have not won in New Zealand since 1997, in Australia since 1998 – now why would you want to risk history repeating itself and injuring your top players in the process?

“After losing your first home game the Tri-Nations tournament loses it’s value in a World Cup year.

“I believe there are about 10 World Cup places up for grabs and I believe Bob Skinstad will be honoured to lead this team as they’ll be presented with an opportunity to prove themselves.

“I think anyone that understands it would say that it would be ludicrous to come here with players that are carrying injuries, so we brought our best possible team that can make us proud in the next two weekends.

“It’s not a question of bringing a second-string side, it’s a case of bringing a team I think that can still play for World Cup places and there’s a lot of Test caps in the squad.

“To call them second-raters when there’s only three new caps who probably won’t be involved in the match-22 is probably a little bit difficult.”

Bob Skinstad spoke about the great motivation that the Australian media and administrators were providing the Springboks.

“I have just seen a busload of excited players … these guys have been rewarded for their great performances, and I can’t wait to lead this team as I believe they have something to offer.
 
“As an international sportsman you shouldn’t need any motivation but it certainly helps. Some of our management have had to stay at home and one of those guys is our team psychologist and we haven’t needed to bring him along on this trip because everybody else is motivating us.

“At a team talk this morning I told the guys we have a couple of goals and objectives. One of them, as always, is to have fun and the other one is to maintain our reputation and to keep our momentum intact.

“You could see the determination by the look on the guys’ faces. You’ve got 26 guys fighting for ten spots. You certainly don’t need to gee these guys up but, yes, it does make my job a lot easier.

“The tight five is close to that which played against England last year and there isn’t a loose forward who hasn’t played test rugby.

“To call us a B side is an insult, but insult us all you want because we’re here, we’ve got rugby to play, and that’s our job.”