THE progress of the Springbok team’s evolution under coach Heyneke Meyer will come in for its sternest examination when they clash with the world champion All Blacks in the Rugby Championships decider at Ellis Park today.
Captain Jean de Villiers was in no doubt yesterday that it was time for the Springboks to deliver a performance of fist thumping authority and show just how far they’ve come.
They’ve huffed and puffed but it was now time to bring the house down.
“I think to be successful we have to execute well and put up a performance maybe like the first 20 minutes last week and do that for 80 minutes. This is not a Mickey Mouse team we are up against.”
Set piece excellence and a judicious kicking game will be their focus, but first their powers of re-organisation may be tested with centre JJ Engelbrecht on the doubtful list.
Injury to Engelbrecht means the focus could shift squarely on the shoulders of the green horn Jan Serfontein.
“He’ll be ready,” assured De Villiers.
This match has been much anticipated since the Boks’ defeat at Eden Park. The sheer weight of expectation is not lost on De Villiers.
“We realise our responsibility on the field. That we need to perform there. We also realise our responsibility off the field to give hope to the whole of South Africa. To unite this country as this team has done before.”
Boks ready to conquer
Captain Jean de Villiers was in no doubt yesterday that it was time for the Springboks to deliver a performance of fist thumping authority and show just how far they’ve come.
They’ve huffed and puffed but it was now time to bring the house down.
“I think to be successful we have to execute well and put up a performance maybe like the first 20 minutes last week and do that for 80 minutes. This is not a Mickey Mouse team we are up against.”
Set piece excellence and a judicious kicking game will be their focus, but first their powers of re-organisation may be tested with centre JJ Engelbrecht on the doubtful list.
Injury to Engelbrecht means the focus could shift squarely on the shoulders of the green horn Jan Serfontein.
“He’ll be ready,” assured De Villiers.
This match has been much anticipated since the Boks’ defeat at Eden Park. The sheer weight of expectation is not lost on De Villiers.
“We realise our responsibility on the field. That we need to perform there. We also realise our responsibility off the field to give hope to the whole of South Africa. To unite this country as this team has done before.”
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