Boks ready to rumble

2008-08-15 14:49

Cape Town - The hype surrounding Percy Montgomery's 100th Test, which is a huge talking point wherever one goes in Cape Town, will not be a distraction for the Springboks in Saturday's must-win Tri-Nations Test against the All Blacks at Newlands.

The Boks are primed for the occasion and ready to go.

"We've covered all bases," said Springbok coach Peter de Villiers in Friday. "We've done our tactical and technical preparation and on our work in training. It's now up to the team to express that on the field." He said Montgomery's milestone was a great thing for South Africa.

"It's amazing that he could keep his passion for 100 Tests like the other 800 Springboks do it for every Test they play. He is a true professional and an inspiration to the whole team."

Forward coach Gary Gold was confident that the Springbok scrum would be good enough to counter the All Blacks - and especially that Tendai Mtawarira would withstand the pressure from the experienced Greg Somerville.

"I have lots of confidence in "Beast". It's a big game for him, he's realising a dream to play against the All Blacks," Gold said.

Gold said he was looking forward to the battle between the "experienced and well-balanced" lock pairing of the All Blacks and the pair from South Africa, captain Victor Matfield and the inexperienced Andries Bekker.

"Andries has grown tremendously in the past year as far as physicality goes, and we have good balance there as well," Gold feels.

The return of scrumhalf Fourie du Preez would give the Springboks a greater tactical option. That could be interpreted from backline coach Dick Muir's observation that "Fourie is perhaps better at the kicking game than Ricky Januarie."

Although the Boks have played it close to their chest, it's certain they will not run the ball as frequently as they did in especially the first meeting with the All Blacks in Wellington, won by the home side. Muir was nevertheless pleased that the weather forecast for Saturday indicated a dry field. "If it rains, we'll obviously adapt our strategy," he added.

The Springboks were to have their captain's run at Newlands on Friday afternoon after the All Blacks had theirs in the morning.

- SAPA