Pool A

In the first World Cup edition of Bokwatch, coach Jake White talks about the upcoming games against Samoa and England, John Smit updates us on the state of his health, Fourie Du Preez and Schalk Burger look forward to the Samoa game, Danie Rossouw talks about BMT and Bok enforcer Bakkies Botha is chomping at the bit. “We will play against Samoa with the best team that we can put on the pitch,” said White.

“The team needs a lot of playing time to prepare for the match against England. The English could announce their team to face us now, we know what team they will play.

“They are the world champions so they may have received a more favourable draw than us. England play on Saturday and we play a physical team on Sunday, so the four day turnaround will be tough.”

He spoke about England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson who was injured on Tuesday and is unlikely to play against the Springboks.

“He is a very good player, one of the best in the world.

“Even if he was on the ground, I am sure Brian Ashton would name him. The way in which he returned to the team after missing 30 Tests proves what a great player he is.”

White believes the injury may be a hoax.

“I am sure they are resting him so that he is okay to play us.

“They really don’t need him against a US team that lost to Munster last week.

“I bumped into England coach Brian Ashton yesterday and he joked about the injury suffered by Jonny in training. He said that the team carried on training when Jonny sat down injured.

“In fact, nobody noticed as they see him injured so often.

“I can understand why he is being rested – in his comeback game after years of injury he was man of the match. He is that good.”

The Bok coach is not taking the game against Samoa lightly.

“Remember the 2003 World Cup when Samoa caused England problems in the pool games. Not so much the result, but the way in which they played before being dominated.

“We expect them to start against us in the same way.”

Captain John Smit reports that he is in good health and raring to go.

“It’s felt like an absolute age to get here,” said Smit.

“The last couple of weeks have been very frustrating, but the fact is that it’s been a four-year process for us to get here as a team and when we finally landed in Paris it was almost like a breath of fresh air.

“There was this huge energy and buzz around the team in the bus. The guys are just so happy to be here; the energy’s huge and if it keeps growing the boys will be flying by the 20th of October.

“The state of my health is very good. I’ve been training flat-out with the team for the last week, haven’t missed out on any of the preparations for the Samoan test and for me that’s probably the biggest confidence booster.

“I’ll feel a lot more at ease mentally once we’ve got through the Samoan game, and it’s gone well, and the team’s performed well but otherwise the hammie’s good, the body’s good and I’ve managed to get in a lot of extra training with all the sitting out so I’m pretty excited to see how I go on Sunday.

“I’m hoping to have a good 80 minutes on the weekend.

“Samoa is a great way to start the World Cup. They are a very tough physical team.

“I tell you one thing we’ve never had an easy test against those guys. We may have had some big score lines but they’re a very physical team and it being an opening game they’re going to come at us with some big hits so we’re going to have to have our wits about us and make sure that we’re well prepared,” concluded Smit.

Star scrumhalf Fourie Du Preez knows what to expect from the hard-hitting Samoans.

“I expect a hard, physical match,” said Du Preez.

“There will be some big tackles from them, so there is a possibility of injuries. But we’re not afraid.

“This match is probably a little too close to the one against England. We have a day less to recover than they have and we know the Samoans will defend with everything they’ve got.

“We just hope the injuries stay away and the guys recover quickly.

“I’ve been fortunate to play in two matches before the start of the World Cup. It was good preparation. The first half against Scotland was particularly good and it gave me a lot of confidence,” said Du Preez of his preparations.

Schalk
Schalk: 120%

Star flanker Schalk Burger agreed with Du Preez that the Samoans are always tough.

“This is a test and we have to give 120%. One does not really think about injuries.

“If it happens it simply happens. That’s the sort of game we play. I’m only looking ahead now – to start the World Cup tournament on Sunday, and to win the test.
 
“England is definitely the biggest challenge in our group. South Africa needs to finish at the top (of Pool A). If we can do that, we avoid playing New Zealand till the Final.

“Everyone needs to be working together to achieve what is laid out in the game plan,” said Burger.

Danie Rossouw offered his thoughts on what it will take to win the World Cup.

“The English team will be the biggest match for us in our group.

“Outside of the group you have to look at New Zealand and France with the home field advantage.

“Having a big match temperament and rising to the occasion is key for us,” said Rossouw.

Bakkies Botha is chomping at the bit and intent on reinforcing the fact that Victor Matfield and himself are the best second row combination in world rugby.

“Victor and I are putting in a lot of work,” said the Bok hard man.

“We want to be even better. We’re looking forward to the weekend, even to the weeks ahead. We want to play rugby at a level that the world has not seen from lock forwards.

“Many people say Victor and I are the best pair of locks in the world but we don’t see ourselves as pairs, but as a team.

“In 2003 it felt as if we were merely competing and training to get to the World Cup. This time the guys believe we can take the Cup home.

“This is the big difference I have noticed. I can see in the attitude of the guys we are here to compete and to win the Cup. That’s all it is about. And to give 100% this weekend.

“At this stage I am not even thinking of England. We first have to get over the first hurdle before we can approach the second one.

“If we play well this weekend we can only get the ball rolling. It will only get us in a positive mood for next week.”

“I expect a physical onslaught. We know they play hard; they get stuck in. We’ll be prepared for everything.

“If we do well in the set pieces the backs will get momentum. Things will go well,” concluded Botha.

After meeting the press, the Springboks headed to the northern outskirts of Paris to the township of Noisy le Grande where they trained at the Stade Alain Mimoun.

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