|
Jake: Tour already a 'win-win'
23/11/2006 08:09 - (SA)
London - South Africa coach Jake White has insisted the tour of Ireland and England can already be classed as a "win-win" for the Springboks even though they've yet to enjoy a victory.
White's team complete the Test leg of a trip marking the centenary of the Springboks' first tour of the British Isles with Saturday's second match against England at Twickenham.
Last weekend an inexperienced Springbok side came tantalisingly close to beating the world champions for the first time in seven attempts only to lose 23-21 having been 12 points ahead early in the second-half.
That result came after their tour-opening record 32-15 loss to Ireland in Dublin, a defeat that led to renewed calls from within South African rugby for White, who oversaw a run of five straight defeats earlier this year, to quit.
But the Springboks have travelled without several of their first-choice players, White prevailing in his view they need a break in the run-up to next year's World Cup in France.
And last weekend's result, the first of four fixtures between England and the Springboks before they meet in a World Cup pool match, has strengthened White's belief that his team can win the one that matters most.
"The most important thing we believe is that we can win," said White.
"This time last week, after we played so poorly against Ireland, we were a bit nervous of what to expect at Twickenham. But we lost that Test as opposed to getting beat.
And having seen the likes of teenage back Francois Steyn enjoy a stellar start to their Test career, White insisted: "What we've achieved by getting the next tier of players out here has been a win-win for everybody."
White knows better than most that South Africa's fanatical supporters expect, because of the team's history, and demand success.
"Had we played all those players who are now carrying niggling injuries and are going to be used by their franchises from January 6 (for the Super 14 competition), it would be very difficult for us to expect them to carry on playing rugby from October now to September next year for the World Cup.
"But at the same time there's a bigger picture and that's the World Cup.
"The public will never accept that Test results don't matter. We live in a rugby nation and Test results do matter. We've just got to get it right."
However, while refusing to yield on his overall strategy, White said he was prepared to be flexible when it came to selection.
For example, with back-rows Jacques Cronje and Pierre Spies sustaining tour-ending knee injuries at Twickenham last Saturday, White has handed a Test debut to Springbok Sevens skipper Kabamba Floors.
The quick, ball-handling Cheetahs openside, player of the year in this year's provincial Currie Cup tournament in South Africa, was a late addition to the squad, only arriving in England on Monday, having had his Test claims steadfastly denied by White on the grounds he lacks physical presence.
|
Rugby
