Boks determined to beat Wales

2007-11-23 21:11

Cardiff - South Africa may be on tour right now but World Cup winner Bakkies Botha says that's where any resemblance between the Springboks and holiday-makers ends as they prepare for Saturday's match against Wales at the Millennium Stadium.

Many pundits have wondered how a South Africa side, most of whom haven't played any competitive rugby since beating England in last month's World Cup final, can be in the right frame of mind for what will be their last Test match of a memorable year.

But Blue Bulls lock Botha said the doubters misunderstood the South African mentality.

Jake White's final Test as Bok coach

"We are not here for a holiday. We're here to win a Test match and end the year on a high. We've talked about the Test against Wales from the time we won the World Cup.

"That is the culture of South African rugby."

Botha is one of nine players who began the 15-6 World Cup final win who will start this Saturday - Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Francois Steyn, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, CJ van der Linde and captain John Smit are the others.

The game will be Jake White's final Test as Springbok coach.

White, who this time last year survived a vote of no confidence and who has come under repeated political criticism for not including more players of colour in the side, is stepping down after four turbulent years in charge.

His success in leading the Springboks to the Webb Ellis Trophy has meant White has been linked with several high-profile jobs, including positions with both Wales and England.

But Wales, having sacked coach Gareth Jenkins following the team's dramatic World Cup exit against Fiji, where a win would have secured a quarter-final against South Africa, chose former Ireland and Wasps boss Warren Gatland.

'Timing was a bit pushed'

Gatland, however, who has recently been helping revive Waikato in his native New Zealand, doesn't take over until next week, with Nigel Davies, the caretaker coach, in charge of Wales for Saturday's match.

White though said he was never truly in the running for the Wales post.

"The timing for me was probably a bit pushed in that we had just finished a World Cup campaign.

"There was a lot of talk about would I consider the Welsh job, but at the time, probably the worst thing I could have done was jump into another coaching job without taking my time.

"As it has worked out, Wales are very happy they've got a guy like Warren Gatland who added huge amounts of value to Wasps and Waikato."

Natal Sharks No 8 Ryan Kankowski is the only new cap in a South Africa side missing World Cup stars Percy Montgomery, Butch James, Fourie du Preez and Victor Matfield, but White said professional pride would ensure South Africa didn't let their standards drop.

White said: "You can't, just because we won the World Cup, take one Test match at the end of a year as being any less important than had we started the year against Wales.

'They are passionate'

"We analysed Wales probably more than anyone else, because we were convinced we were going to play them in the World Cup quarter-finals.

"The reality for us is we are not expecting anything different from what Wales usually do. They are really passionate and emotional and they give you whatever they've got."

South Africa, who have lost just one of their 19 previous Tests with Wales, a 29-19 reverse in Cardiff in 1999, conclude their tour with a non-cap international against the Barbarians at Twickenham next weekend.

- AFP