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White not surprised at Boks

Cape Town - 2007 RWC winning coach, Jake White has aired his views on the Springboks win against Fiji in their latest step in their quest to be the first team to retain the Webb Ellis Cup.

The blog was posted on South African rugby blog website, RugbyXV in which White commends the Boks for a much improved performance than in their opening Pool D clash against Wales.

However, he pointed out that the result was hardly surprising seeing that the Fiji side the Boks played this time around were nowhere near to the team which gave them a big surprise and almost upset them in 2007.

 “It's not the 2007 Fijian side, they're ranked 15th in the world and nearly didn't go to the World Cup because of in-fighting and politics. Anyone who has watched Fiji in the Pacific Nations Cup would know they'd be weak, especially their first phases. That was emphasised when we pushed them off the ball, while they placed no pressure on us at the lineout,” White wrote before alluding that Fiji were not wholly focussed on the Bok match and were targeting the match against Samoa instead.

White dismissed suggestions that he may have opted to play a weakened side against Namibia, who he thinks is a sure victory no matter who wears the green and gold.

“Peter de Villiers has to do it the way he wants. He's said he'd play his strongest side throughout from the beginning of the home-leg of the Tri-Nations, so it will be interesting to see what he does. With two pool games left and the play-offs, Peter has to package it the best way he can. No matter who we play against Namibia, we'll beat them.”

Australia’s loss to Ireland has put the Wallabies in South Africa’s path to the final, should the Boks go on to top Pool D and the Wallabies qualify for the quarter-finals as the runners-up in Pool C, but White says this is what he expects from a tournament of this nature.

“Everyone says we're now playing Australia, but Saturday taught us you can't assume anything. New Zealand could go the other side if they lose to France, Fiji could beat Wales and we could lose to Samoa. Anything can happen. You must just play who's put in front of you that particular week, not worry about anything else.”

* Click HERE for the latest RWC odds on BET.CO.ZA

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