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Cape Town - Springbok coach Peter de Villiers is confident that the Springboks will defend their Rugby World Cup crown in New Zealand.
Click to BUY the Great moments in Currie Cup history DVD
Even though De Villiers is mindful of the threat the All Blacks and Wallabies pose, he feels his team's biggest threat could come from themselves.
"We could be our own worst enemy if we don't maintain our excitement over the tournament and if we become over-confident," de Villiers told the Rapport newspaper.
The coach feels his charges are now 80% of where he wants them to be, which could make the clash against Australia in Durban a tough task. "I predict the team might struggle against the Wallabies, as it will be their first match in a long while," said de Villiers.
But the Springbok mentor believes they will be ready by the time they meet the All Blacks in Port Elizabeth in two weeks' time, as well as the showpiece in New Zealand.
"I am 90% sure that we will come home with the cup (World Cup)," said de Villiers.
South African fans would also not have to worry about supporting another so-called "B-team" this year. De Villiers revealed that he will play his strongest team at all times during the World Cup.
"I won't even try to experiment against Namibia; it's in a game like that where you must try to build momentum."
Springbok squad for the home leg of the Tri-Nations:
Backs - Province/Club - Caps
Gio Aplon - DHL Western Province - 14
Frans Steyn - Racing Metro, France - 42
JP Pietersen - The Sharks - 36
Bryan Habana - DHL Western Province - 68
Jaque Fourie - DHL Western Province - 62
Juan de Jongh - DHL Western Province - 8
Jean de Villiers - DHL Western Province - 67
Morne Steyn - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 27
Butch James - MTN Golden Lions - 40
Ruan Pienaar - Ulster, N Ireland - 49
Fourie du Preez - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 55
Francois Hougaard - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 8
Forwards:
Pierre Spies - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 40
Jean Deysel - The Sharks - 3
Danie Rossouw - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 56
Bakkies Botha - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 72
Victor Matfield - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 105
Gerhard Mostert - Stade Francais, France - 1
John Smit (captain) - The Sharks - 104
Bismarck du Plessis - The Sharks - 36
Tendai Mtawarira - The Sharks - 26
Jannie du Plessis - The Sharks - 24
Gurthrö Steenkamp - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 31
CJ van der Linde - MTN Golden Lions - 71
Heinrich Brüssow - Toyota Free State Cheetahs - 13
Click to BUY the Great moments in Currie Cup history DVD
Even though De Villiers is mindful of the threat the All Blacks and Wallabies pose, he feels his team's biggest threat could come from themselves.
"We could be our own worst enemy if we don't maintain our excitement over the tournament and if we become over-confident," de Villiers told the Rapport newspaper.
The coach feels his charges are now 80% of where he wants them to be, which could make the clash against Australia in Durban a tough task. "I predict the team might struggle against the Wallabies, as it will be their first match in a long while," said de Villiers.
But the Springbok mentor believes they will be ready by the time they meet the All Blacks in Port Elizabeth in two weeks' time, as well as the showpiece in New Zealand.
"I am 90% sure that we will come home with the cup (World Cup)," said de Villiers.
South African fans would also not have to worry about supporting another so-called "B-team" this year. De Villiers revealed that he will play his strongest team at all times during the World Cup.
"I won't even try to experiment against Namibia; it's in a game like that where you must try to build momentum."
Springbok squad for the home leg of the Tri-Nations:
Backs - Province/Club - Caps
Gio Aplon - DHL Western Province - 14
Frans Steyn - Racing Metro, France - 42
JP Pietersen - The Sharks - 36
Bryan Habana - DHL Western Province - 68
Jaque Fourie - DHL Western Province - 62
Juan de Jongh - DHL Western Province - 8
Jean de Villiers - DHL Western Province - 67
Morne Steyn - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 27
Butch James - MTN Golden Lions - 40
Ruan Pienaar - Ulster, N Ireland - 49
Fourie du Preez - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 55
Francois Hougaard - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 8
Forwards:
Pierre Spies - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 40
Jean Deysel - The Sharks - 3
Danie Rossouw - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 56
Bakkies Botha - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 72
Victor Matfield - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 105
Gerhard Mostert - Stade Francais, France - 1
John Smit (captain) - The Sharks - 104
Bismarck du Plessis - The Sharks - 36
Tendai Mtawarira - The Sharks - 26
Jannie du Plessis - The Sharks - 24
Gurthrö Steenkamp - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 31
CJ van der Linde - MTN Golden Lions - 71
Heinrich Brüssow - Toyota Free State Cheetahs - 13
