Lions in SA
Zane ecstatic about selection
2009-07-02 22:12
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Ready for Bok debut (Gallo)
JJ Harmse Pretoria – On Monday Zane Kirchner was training with the Blue Bulls for a friendly match against Border when his phone rang.
It was the Bok scrumhalf, Fourie du Preez, who asked the 25-year-old fullback to immediately call the national coach, Peter de Villiers.
"I called him. The coach then asked me what I was busy doing and how quickly I could get to Montecasino (the Bok team hotel). I asked him how soon I needed to be there and he said as soon as possible," Kirchner said on Thursday with a big smile.
"I jumped in the car. I didn't even shower but then sat in traffic." Kirchner later in the day had a gym session with the Boks and trained with them the next morning.
"It was relatively easy to fit in; I know many of the guys. They helped me to relax and explained things to me like the running lines. I heard then that I would play on Saturday (in the third Test against the British and the Irish Lions).
Kirchner immediately called his mom. "My mom (Jane) was in tears. A while later my sister also called to ask if I was telling the truth."
Kirchner's initial exclusion from the squad had left several rugby experts and fans disappointed.
"I then said to myself to just continue working hard, that my time would come. It didn’t matter if it took weeks or six months. I just wanted to be in the Bok squad. I am now very happy because I’m here."
A round of golf with team-mates Bryan Habana and Adi Jacobs on Wednesday helped to calm his nerves before the big game at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday.
Also helping his confidence will be the fact that he played last Tuesday for the Emerging Boks against the Lions in Cape Town.
"Although it isn't exactly the same guys, I still respect them. But I'm not going to focus on them; I have to concentrate on my own game. It is the same in rugby and in life. You make mistakes, but you have to choose which you are going to do: to let the mistake rule you or do you let it go. You have to get up as quickly as possible after falling down."