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Sydney - Springbok captain John Smit believes that New Zealand, Australia and South Africa have an advantage going into the World Cup.
Talking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Smit said he believed the three teams topping the IRB rankings would be better prepared for the World Cup.
"We've got an opportunity to play four games, which in itself are against the best teams in the world, so you'll pretty much know exactly where you are once the Tri Nations is done," Smit said.
"I'm pretty sure it's the same for New Zealand and Australia - the three of us find it pretty difficult to find friendly people to play against.
"No-one really wants to play friendlies against us. I don't think they find us very friendly."
Smit, the captain of the reigning World Champion Springboks, who extends his record as the most capped Test captain of all time against the Wallabies, said he believed the Tri-Nations was crucial to the World Cup build up, despite the absence of 21 of the top Springboks.
"That's why we're here. We don't really have the opportunity this year because of the congestion for any warm-up games to find your feet and get combinations going," he said.
"There's four games before a World Cup and the last one's played two weeks before our first World Cup game and I think there's a Bledisloe Cup a week before that for them (Australia and New Zealand).”
"So it's important to get some kind of momentum, some confidence, and make sure that the combinations you're playing are functioning.”
Talking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Smit said he believed the three teams topping the IRB rankings would be better prepared for the World Cup.
"We've got an opportunity to play four games, which in itself are against the best teams in the world, so you'll pretty much know exactly where you are once the Tri Nations is done," Smit said.
"I'm pretty sure it's the same for New Zealand and Australia - the three of us find it pretty difficult to find friendly people to play against.
"No-one really wants to play friendlies against us. I don't think they find us very friendly."
Smit, the captain of the reigning World Champion Springboks, who extends his record as the most capped Test captain of all time against the Wallabies, said he believed the Tri-Nations was crucial to the World Cup build up, despite the absence of 21 of the top Springboks.
"That's why we're here. We don't really have the opportunity this year because of the congestion for any warm-up games to find your feet and get combinations going," he said.
"There's four games before a World Cup and the last one's played two weeks before our first World Cup game and I think there's a Bledisloe Cup a week before that for them (Australia and New Zealand).”
"So it's important to get some kind of momentum, some confidence, and make sure that the combinations you're playing are functioning.”
