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Auckland – The Springbok team for Saturday’s first Tri-Nations Test at Eden Park against the All Blacks will only be named on Thursday.
This decision probably has as much to do with the psychological warfare between the world’s two top rugby nations as it has to do with a “leg injury” to Bakkies Botha and a problem with Danie Rossouw’s hip.
“I’d like to give the players a chance to get into their stride and recover from the long flight before I name the team,” Springbok coach Peter de Villiers said shortly after his arrival with the most senior members of his squad.
“Bakkies is struggling with his leg and we have a problem with Danie, so I will now only name the side on Thursday.”
There is also much that can be read in what De Villiers did not say.
His remark about him and All Black coach Graham Henry – that both have big mouths and sometimes say the wrong things – has predictably been lapped up by the local media.
All Black assistant coach Steve Hansen said in his reaction that De Villiers’s mouth was upside down, whatever that may mean.
It points to the pressure the home team is experiencing to win the first Test and start their Tri-Nations campaign on a winning note.
De Villiers also admits that Saturday’s Test can be the big one in the series.
“We’re not looking beyond the first one. We hope to win the competition, but it’s one at a time for us.”
He was not at all worried that the team would only be training twice this week or that the players might be exhausted after a journey of almost 20 hours.
“You’re as tired as you feel. I have full confidence in the medical team and what they will do for the players’ recovery. And if a Test against the All Blacks in New Zealand can’t get your adrenaline pumping, then I really don’t know what will,” said De Villiers.
He is convinced that the team will already be focused on the training field by Tuesday.
“The guys realise that the Test is around the corner. The concentration will be there. That is the character of this team,” said De Villiers.
He knows that the team won’t scrum away from the challenge posed by the All Blacks.
“It will be tough, it’s always like that. There is a lot of mutual respect among the teams, but with the World Cup around the corner there is a point to be made.
“Success in the next two weeks will give us a lot of confidence with an eye to 2011. There is a lot more at stake than just the score.”
Auckland – The Springbok team for Saturday’s first Tri-Nations Test at Eden Park against the All Blacks will only be named on Thursday.
This decision probably has as much to do with the psychological warfare between the world’s two top rugby nations as it has to do with a “leg injury” to Bakkies Botha and a problem with Danie Rossouw’s hip.
“I’d like to give the players a chance to get into their stride and recover from the long flight before I name the team,” Springbok coach Peter de Villiers said shortly after his arrival with the most senior members of his squad.
“Bakkies is struggling with his leg and we have a problem with Danie, so I will now only name the side on Thursday.”
There is also much that can be read in what De Villiers did not say.
His remark about him and All Black coach Graham Henry – that both have big mouths and sometimes say the wrong things – has predictably been lapped up by the local media.
All Black assistant coach Steve Hansen said in his reaction that De Villiers’s mouth was upside down, whatever that may mean.
It points to the pressure the home team is experiencing to win the first Test and start their Tri-Nations campaign on a winning note.
De Villiers also admits that Saturday’s Test can be the big one in the series.
“We’re not looking beyond the first one. We hope to win the competition, but it’s one at a time for us.”
He was not at all worried that the team would only be training twice this week or that the players might be exhausted after a journey of almost 20 hours.
“You’re as tired as you feel. I have full confidence in the medical team and what they will do for the players’ recovery. And if a Test against the All Blacks in New Zealand can’t get your adrenaline pumping, then I really don’t know what will,” said De Villiers.
He is convinced that the team will already be focused on the training field by Tuesday.
“The guys realise that the Test is around the corner. The concentration will be there. That is the character of this team,” said De Villiers.
He knows that the team won’t scrum away from the challenge posed by the All Blacks.
“It will be tough, it’s always like that. There is a lot of mutual respect among the teams, but with the World Cup around the corner there is a point to be made.
“Success in the next two weeks will give us a lot of confidence with an eye to 2011. There is a lot more at stake than just the score.”
