Bokwatch 02 – News from the Bok training camp

In day two of the Ou Grote Bokwatch, Bismarck replaces Spies in the Springbok squad, Andre Pretorius sheds some light on his injury problems, Jean de Villiers is giving it a full go and Frans Steyn talks about his selection and the current state of his game.

Sharks hooker Bismarck du Plessis has been called up to the Springbok World Cup squad as a replacement for injured loose forward Pierre Spies. Spies was forced to withdraw from the Bok squad after it was discovered that he had clots on his lungs.

It was a surprise that another hooker was called up instead of one of loose forwards Pedrie Wannenburg or Jacques Cronje, especially considering the injury problems of Bob Skinstad (ribs) and Wikus van Heerden (knee).

Du Plessis had only just returned to the Currie Cup last week, putting in a storming performance and scoring two tries for the Sharks. He will be the understudy to Bok captain John Smit and second-in-line hooker Gary Botha during the World Cup.

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Meanwhile, Springbok flyhalf André Pretorius revealed that he will be ready to take his place in the Bok side for the upcoming World Cup. He has been out of action since the conclusion of the Super14 season with a buttock injury.

He left on Sunday to consult with German homeopathic specialist Muller Wohlfhart after his injury left South African doctors scratching their heads.

The injury-prone flyhalf appeared frustrated with the slow pace of his recovery.

“I’m very happy to be part of the World Cup group, but with the injury it’s not going too well,” he said.

“It’s improving, but at a very slow pace. It has been difficult, because I couldn’t really do any running. It also is a problem when it comes to kicking practice, I couldn’t do that either.

“I have been cycling and swimming, so it’s a matter of getting running-fit when I start training.

“I am very positive that I will recover in time. When I get back from Germany, I am going to be ready to train hard.
 
“It is something you always work towards. You first work towards getting into the Bok squad and then you work to get yourself into the squad that goes to the World Cup.

“That is one thing of this team, that makes this team the success it is, the spirit among the players. I haven’t done much training, but they have worked very hard and it will reap rewards later.

“The pool games set you up for the rest of the tournament and determines which route you take through the play-offs… the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

“They are just as important as any other game in the World Cup and that is why you don’t look at those games any differently.

“We will cross those bridges when we get there and we certainly won’t look too far ahead,” concluded Pretorius

Jean de Villiers revealed his concern that he might miss this year’s World Cup if there is a repeat of the misfortune he suffered on the eve of the 2003 tournament.

De Villiers was injured in the final warm-up match before the last World Cup and was forced to withdraw from the squad.
 
“I think it is starting to resurface, the more it becomes a reality that I am part of the World Cup squad.
 
“I was in that situation, that I was on my way to the World Cup, and then got injured. That is still a reality, I can still get injured before I go to the World Cup.

“However, I feel that you must go in with the mindset that you are going to give 100 per cent for every moment that you are with this World Cup group, appreciate every moment that you are part of it and give it your best shot… what will happen, will happen. You can’t hold back, because that is when the accidents happen – you must give it a full go.

“I am happy with my game at the moment, but as soon as our individual roles in this team have been more clearly defined we will be able to work hard on that and then implement those in the warm-up games.
 
“It is something I’m looking forward to and I am happy with where I am at this stage,” said the Bok centre.

Francois Steyn will be the youngest member of the Springbok team at this year’s World Cup. He talked about his selection and the current state of his game.

“I’m just very happy, but the work really starts now for me,” said Steyn.

“Sometimes I’m happy with my game and sometimes not, but for me it is just about giving it your best shot. Even when things don’t go according to plan, then you know you have at least tried – as long as you give it your best shot.

“There are lots of things I can work on, those missed conversion kicks, things like that. It is the basics that you have to do properly at this level – small mistakes can cost you the game.

“It works like that – one day you are on top of the world and the next down in the dumps. However, it is important that you bounce back from those setbacks.
 
“If you start playing at this level, you have to be able to handle the pressure, the criticism and all that. You can’t get here and start working on the mental aspects of the game, because then it is too late. You have to go through the levels and the processes that make you strong before you get here,” he concluded.