Boks defend home record
2005-07-21 21:38
Johannesburg - Since national coach Jake White took over the reigns, the Boks led by captain and hooker John Smit, have not lost to anyone in South Africa.
Smit said: "We do not want to lose one single match. It is a feather in our cap that we have not lost one match at home since Jake started coaching us. This is something we will defend with our lives."
He also gave the assurance that the Boks are determined to make up for the 30-12 loss to Australia in the first test for the Mandela Cup played in Sydney on July 9.
The captain said: "That match was a great disappointment.
"We were very optimistic that we could win our first away-match in a long time against Australia, but we disappointed ourselves.
"The guys have worked hard this week and I hope it pays off," said Smit, who will captain the Boks for the 18th consecutive Test.
If history is to be believed, the Boks should win. The Wallabies last beat the Springboks at Ellis Park in 1963 when they won 11-9. The last time the Aussies were successful against South Africa was in Durban in 2000 when they beat the Boks 19-18.
White, however, reminded everyone that it was not the Boks' right to win on Saturday because they were playing on home soil.
Bok team an unknown factor
"Too much is being made of home soil advantage. Matches against Australia are always very even. They win at home and we win on home soil," the coach said.
The Bok team to take on the Wallabies on Saturday is somewhat of an unknown factor after White made nine changes and one positional change to the team that lost in Sydney.
A lot is being said about the centre paring of Jean de Villiers (24) and Jacque Fourie (22). It is the first time that they will play as a centre combination, but the experienced wing Breyton Paulse said he did not think it would be a problem, because both of them were true footballers.
White said he was not worried about De Villiers and Fourie playing together for the first time.
"Both are talented rugby players. The question is when do you choose them to be the centre pairing. I could have followed a more conservative route."
"The Wallabies are sure to pose questions to these two, but they know it. But it is a fabulous opportunity for both of them," White said.