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Sydney - There has not been so much focus on the Springbok front row in Australia for a long time, but then again the Springboks have never started a Tri-Nations Test here with two uncapped props.
And that without an official scrum consultant.
On Saturday, however, it will be the case. The world's most experienced Test hooker, John Smit, will pack down between Dean Greyling and Werner Kruger, but he believes that the two props could definitely expect special attention from the Wallabies.
Yet, he immediately gave them a vote of confidence.
"Any newcomer will be targeted by opponents and more so if you are a front-row forward. Dean and Werner will be nervous, but did very well in the Super Rugby tournament, so I can't see how things will be different now. In fact, I'm quite excited about what they will bring to the team," said Smit.
"Fortunately the advice for front-rankers is very simple. You just tell them: forward!"
Smit nevertheless believes that the senior players in the team (8 in the starting team have played 10 or more Tests) will determine whether the props (and the other newcomer at No 8, Ashley Johnson) will remember the Test fondly.
"Our senior guys have a responsibility towards the debutantes to set the standard. Our goal is to win the Test and every guy will have to do his bit for that to happen. The senior guys need to set the example," said Smit.
The captain last played for the Boks in September and can't wait to get on the park.
"I am very excited about the chance to play for the Boks again. We prepared well and are looking forward to the weekend. The Tri-Nations in its abbreviated format will help because you are up against the two best teams in the world and it's the ideal time to see where you're at and ensure that you are ready for the World Cup in New Zealand."
However, it's doubtful whether Smit could be more enthusiastic than Greyling at this point.
"I am very excited because the scrumming sessions are really going well. The back five are really launching us into the scrum and I think we could deliver a very good performance.
"Werner and I know one another well and we have the world's most experienced hooker between us. I will have to ask the doctor for sleeping pills, otherwise I will wake up at 3am and want to scrum," Greyling joked.
Meanwhile, Springbok coach Peter de Villiers moved away from the scrum theme to talk about the Wallabies' brilliant halfback pairing of Will Genia and Quade Cooper.
"Cooper and Genia are very good, especially on the front foot and when they get a lot of possession. We will therefore have to cut the supply line," said de Villiers.
"It's difficult to plan against Quade because he is very unpredictable. The trick will therefore be to ensure we have more possession than them. We will have to keep the ball for long periods. The weather will also determine the approach by the teams."
Teams:
Springboks: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Danie Rossouw, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Johann Muller, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 John Smit, 1 Dean Greyling
Substitutes: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Adrian Jacobs, 22 Patrick Lambie
Wallabies: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 James Horwill, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu
Substitutes: 16 Saia Faingaa, 17 Pek Cowan, 18 Nathan Sharpe, 19 Matt Hodgson, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Anthony Faingaa
Sydney - There has not been so much focus on the Springbok front row in Australia for a long time, but then again the Springboks have never started a Tri-Nations Test here with two uncapped props.
And that without an official scrum consultant.
On Saturday, however, it will be the case. The world's most experienced Test hooker, John Smit, will pack down between Dean Greyling and Werner Kruger, but he believes that the two props could definitely expect special attention from the Wallabies.
Yet, he immediately gave them a vote of confidence.
"Any newcomer will be targeted by opponents and more so if you are a front-row forward. Dean and Werner will be nervous, but did very well in the Super Rugby tournament, so I can't see how things will be different now. In fact, I'm quite excited about what they will bring to the team," said Smit.
"Fortunately the advice for front-rankers is very simple. You just tell them: forward!"
Smit nevertheless believes that the senior players in the team (8 in the starting team have played 10 or more Tests) will determine whether the props (and the other newcomer at No 8, Ashley Johnson) will remember the Test fondly.
"Our senior guys have a responsibility towards the debutantes to set the standard. Our goal is to win the Test and every guy will have to do his bit for that to happen. The senior guys need to set the example," said Smit.
The captain last played for the Boks in September and can't wait to get on the park.
"I am very excited about the chance to play for the Boks again. We prepared well and are looking forward to the weekend. The Tri-Nations in its abbreviated format will help because you are up against the two best teams in the world and it's the ideal time to see where you're at and ensure that you are ready for the World Cup in New Zealand."
However, it's doubtful whether Smit could be more enthusiastic than Greyling at this point.
"I am very excited because the scrumming sessions are really going well. The back five are really launching us into the scrum and I think we could deliver a very good performance.
"Werner and I know one another well and we have the world's most experienced hooker between us. I will have to ask the doctor for sleeping pills, otherwise I will wake up at 3am and want to scrum," Greyling joked.
Meanwhile, Springbok coach Peter de Villiers moved away from the scrum theme to talk about the Wallabies' brilliant halfback pairing of Will Genia and Quade Cooper.
"Cooper and Genia are very good, especially on the front foot and when they get a lot of possession. We will therefore have to cut the supply line," said de Villiers.
"It's difficult to plan against Quade because he is very unpredictable. The trick will therefore be to ensure we have more possession than them. We will have to keep the ball for long periods. The weather will also determine the approach by the teams."
Teams:
Springboks: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Danie Rossouw, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Johann Muller, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 John Smit, 1 Dean Greyling
Substitutes: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Adrian Jacobs, 22 Patrick Lambie
Wallabies: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 James Horwill, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu
Substitutes: 16 Saia Faingaa, 17 Pek Cowan, 18 Nathan Sharpe, 19 Matt Hodgson, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Anthony Faingaa
