Adnaan Mohamed
Pretoria - Wallaby captain Rocky Elsom believes that Victor Matfield playing in his 100th test match on home turf will serve as tremendous motivation for the Springboks in Saturdays Tri- Nations clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
I have no doubt that Victor Matfield playing in his 100th test match at his home ground will motivate the Boks. Elsom said after the Wallaby captains practice on Friday.
"Victor has served his country well and it will definitely serve as great motivation for them. But I don't think the guys will be intimidated to play against a full house with 30 000 fans wearing Victor Matfield masks. The Boks have a great record here and they obviously enjoy playing here. It probably does more for them than it does for us," he said.
The last time the Wallabies won a test match on the Highveld was in 1963 and according to the big flanker his side will go all out for a victory.
"The boys are in a really good frame of mind. Our time in Cape Town went really well and the guys are really motivated and looking forward to the game. We knew it is going to be a physically demanding test match. We did all the hard work at sea level this week, so we decided to lighten up at the end of the week. In the Super 14 we did not have the luxury of taking that option," he explained.
The Wallaby captain believes the Boks will again come out with all guns blazing like they did last week against the All Blacks and the return of players like Juan Smith, Frans Steyn and Jaque Fourie will strengthen the Boks even further.
If anything they probably came out too hard because at the end of the game they ran out of steam. But there is no doubt that every time you play against South Africa, you are up against it, he said.
"Juan Smith last week had an absolute cracker of a game and it is not surprising that he was brought back. Jaque Fourie has been one of the top centres in the world for a few years now and he will definitely add value to the midfield. The inclusion of Frans Steyn will also add a new dimension to their backs," he added.
The Wallabies were last in action three week ago when they lost 20-10 against the All Blacks in Christchurch. Elsom says they will have to wait and see whether the break would have done them any good.
Pretoria - Wallaby captain Rocky Elsom believes that Victor Matfield playing in his 100th test match on home turf will serve as tremendous motivation for the Springboks in Saturdays Tri- Nations clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
I have no doubt that Victor Matfield playing in his 100th test match at his home ground will motivate the Boks. Elsom said after the Wallaby captains practice on Friday.
"Victor has served his country well and it will definitely serve as great motivation for them. But I don't think the guys will be intimidated to play against a full house with 30 000 fans wearing Victor Matfield masks. The Boks have a great record here and they obviously enjoy playing here. It probably does more for them than it does for us," he said.
The last time the Wallabies won a test match on the Highveld was in 1963 and according to the big flanker his side will go all out for a victory.
"The boys are in a really good frame of mind. Our time in Cape Town went really well and the guys are really motivated and looking forward to the game. We knew it is going to be a physically demanding test match. We did all the hard work at sea level this week, so we decided to lighten up at the end of the week. In the Super 14 we did not have the luxury of taking that option," he explained.
The Wallaby captain believes the Boks will again come out with all guns blazing like they did last week against the All Blacks and the return of players like Juan Smith, Frans Steyn and Jaque Fourie will strengthen the Boks even further.
If anything they probably came out too hard because at the end of the game they ran out of steam. But there is no doubt that every time you play against South Africa, you are up against it, he said.
"Juan Smith last week had an absolute cracker of a game and it is not surprising that he was brought back. Jaque Fourie has been one of the top centres in the world for a few years now and he will definitely add value to the midfield. The inclusion of Frans Steyn will also add a new dimension to their backs," he added.
The Wallabies were last in action three week ago when they lost 20-10 against the All Blacks in Christchurch. Elsom says they will have to wait and see whether the break would have done them any good.