Tri-Nations

Div: Boks can be the best

2009-09-02 07:47
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Peter de Villiers (File)
Brisbane - Despite four straight losses, the Wallabies reckon there is nothing wrong with their game plan.

But they may still be tempted to re-write it after the Springboks issued a chilling warning ahead of their Tri-Nations rugby clash at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

While the Wallabies are confident of closing the gap on the world champions following their tight 32-25 loss last weekend at Perth, Springboks coach Peter de Villiers claimed it was "frightening" how good his side could become.

"You never know when you are at the top (of your game). Man-made norms and competitions can make you sit back and rest on your laurels," de Villiers said.

"I know this team can go much, much higher. And I know there is also much more talent in the (South African) rugby cattle.

"Now we're at the point where we can trust each other, we can work on the small little things that can make them so much better.

"It's frightening to know, (considering) the amount of mistakes (made) on a weekend when you have played so well, the amount of mistakes they made and how good they can be (if) clinical in their execution.

"So yes, we trust each other, we know where we can be and we know where we want to be but we're not taking anything for granted."

After surprisingly surviving the axe wielded by Wallabies coach Robbie Deans for this weekend's game, winger Lachlan Turner did not have to be told that Australia needed to produce against the Boks.

However, Turner said history showed just how quickly a team could turn things around.

Indeed Australia are a prime example of how a team can morph into world beaters.

The Wallabies suffered a record 61-22 to the Springboks at Pretoria in 1997 - two years later they were holding aloft the World Cup trophy.

"I don't think there is anything wrong with our gameplan," Turner said at Brisbane on Wednesday.

"The fact that we have been close the entire series (shows that).

"We've got the gameplan to really wrestle games away from the opposition (but) as a unit we've got to concentrate for the whole 80 minutes - once we do that we will be hard to stop.

"One game can really change the momentum of a side.

"We are very aware of that. Once we develop that winning momentum we will be pretty hard to beat."

Turner added: "This is our last Test match in Australia (in the Tri Nations series) - we really want to finish off on a winning note."

The wobbly Wallabies received surprise support from Springboks skipper John Smit.

"The Wallabies are copping a rough time in the media - unfairly so I'd say," he said.

"We've all been there.

"I've been in a (2006) side that lost five Tests in a row, let alone four (by the Wallabies).

"You guys (in the media) treated us as a laughing stock. A year later we won the World Cup.

"Things can change in a very short period."

 

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