What the players said (Forwards)
Duane Vermeulen:
“I think this is the fittest I’ve been in quite some time, I’ve not really had a pre-season like this for a while. I’m very confident and happy with how I am, and there are still a couple of weeks to go before we leave for the World Cup. I should be able to start taking contact on the field from next week and then it should hopefully be downhill from there. It obviously was a serious injury, but all the medical guys are happy. At the time we discussed managing the injury, I wish I’d actually just gone in to have surgery because then I may have been ready a bit sooner than I am. It was a difficult time, especially when I was told I needed to do the surgery, but it’s all worked out well in the end. I’m hungry, I want to hit the pitch running, I want to take contact, tackle guys, carry the ball. I’m so keen to get back into action. It’s never nice being sidelined, and I’m so excited to be over that.”
Schalk Burger:
“When I returned to rugby, making it to this World Cup was the big goal, but to be here is surreal. It’s a great privilege to be involved in another World Cup, but now the big work starts. We want to perform on the world stage, we won it back in 2007 and there is no greater feeling. It doesn’t really feel like my fourth World Cup, but obviously going into a big tournament like this, I’ve experienced the good and the bad over the years, and hopefully those experiences will all stand me in good stead. This is going to be a very special experience, in 2003 I was just a youngster coming out all guns blazing. Now I’m in a different phase of life with a young family. I’ve obviously gone through quite a bit, but I think I’m probably a better rugby player for it. What I may lack in what I had in the physical aspects, I think I’ve probably gained in wisdom and skill set. I think the plan at the beginning of the year was to do the utility job, and I did it at the Stormers as well, so while I’ve been starting at No 8 recently, Duane has recovered, so wherever they find a spot for me I’ll be happy.”
Siya Kolisi:
“I don’t think you can ever expect to be in the final squad considering how many top quality players there are, particularly in the loose forward department. So it was tough, I had to work hard and fight hard, especially after last season. I had to dig deep to get out of that hole I was in. I’ve worked really hard to get here, and it’s just such an honour and a privilege. It was a tough journey, but that just makes it so much more special. All I want to do is work hard and focus on my game, I can’t put extra pressure on myself, I’m just grateful to be here. This is the ultimate goal, but it’s only the beginning to make the squad, now we need to go and perform at the tournament, and really push ourselves to the limit. As players, we know what we are here to do and we have a common goal. We’re a tight family, and now that the squad is finalised, we can focus fully on the World Cup and that first game against Japan. Hopefully the whole country will get behind us.”