'Terrier Trio' hunt Wallabies

2005-07-21 21:39

Hennie Brandt

Johannesburg - The so-called "Terrier Trio" of South African rugby are ready and waiting to give Australia the run around at Ellis Park on Saturday.

They are flyhalf Andre Pretorius and the centre pairing Jean de Villiers (inside) and Jaque Fourie (outside) who are as eager as terriers before the hunt.

Pretorius last played for the Springboks in 2003, while this will be Fourie's first match in the Boks' midfield since the Rugby World Cup tournament in Australia in 2003.

De Villiers has been a regular in the Bok side and excelled at wing. He boasts 11 tries in 12 Tests.

The three are not afraid of playing against Wallaby stars such as Stephen Larkham, Matt Giteau and Stirling Mortlock and they see their opponents as a challenge.

When asked how it felt to be in the Bok team again, Pretorius said: "Fantastic. This is something I have worked for. I did not think the reward for my hard work would be so sweet."

The fact that he will be wearing the green and gold at his home field gives him more self-confidence.

"If I could have written the script for my return, it would not have been any different," Pretorius said.

Asked how he felt about playing with a new and untried centre pairing, Pretorius said: "I played with Jean in Marseille (against France) in 2002 before he was injured. (De Villiers, who played outside centre against France that day, left the field in the 7th minute with a serious knee injury).

Communicate well on the field

"I am pleased I am getting the opportunity to play with Mossie (Fourie) because we played Super 12 rugby together.

"We communicate well on the field and Jean's communication skills are also excellent. I am looking forward to find out how the combination will work," Pretorius said. He will have his provincial team-mate Enrico Januarie at his side.

Pretorius knows exactly what national coach Jake White expects from him on Saturday. One thing he will definitely not do is to try to run with the ball under pressure in his own in-goal area.

"The coach told me that if I started running in my own in-goal area, he would not drop me, but punch me!"

Pretorius has no doubt that the Wallabies will put pressure on the defence of the new Bok combination of 10,11 and 12. A strong runner such as Mortlock at outside centre is a potential danger.

This is a challenge Fourie, who is also big and strong, is relishing.

Fourie said: "Mortlock is a good player - physical and strong. I am really not worried about him and do not consider him a threat. I am just as big as he is.

"We have a good backline and can frighten the Wallabies. We must take the game to them and see how long they can defend," Fourie said.

He is thankful for the opportunity to play centre for the Boks again.

"This is the position I would really like to be in. It is not unusual and I enjoy it. You are close to the action when you play centre and you are closer to the ball. You have to be able to take quick decisions because things happen quickly at centre," Fourie said.

- Beeld