SA A ‘excited’ to play in Orlando

PRETORIA: For Springbok and South Africa A wing, Lwazi Mvovo, stepping onto the turf at Orlando Stadium tonight to face the French Barbarians will be like going deep into enemy territory.

But for tonight and tonight only, Mvovo will call Orlando Stadium home and along with his SA A teammates, will be looking at securing a 2-0 series whitewash over their French counterparts.

A passionate Kaizer Chiefs fan, Mvovo, has embraced South African rugby’s venture of playing a rugby match in the township which also happens to be the home of Orlando Pirates, Chiefs’ arch rivals.

However, Mvovo will put aside all his personal feelings, especially on the football front, and will look to put in another match-winning performance in rugby’s biggest jaunt to Soweto since the 2010 Super Rugby final between the Bulls and Stormers.

Along with fellow Springboks Lionel Mapoe, Francois Venter, Trevor Nyakane, Jano Vermaak and Handre Pollard, Mvovo says the team will be looking at landing the fatal blow against a stubborn French team in the same way they did at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban last weekend.

“I am a Kaizer Chiefs fan but I am looking forward to playing here,” said Mvovo.

“Everyone is excited in the same way they were about last week when we made history in being the first team to play rugby at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. This week will be no different and the team will be going out to express themselves. All of the guys haven’t played here before, but we are very excited and looking forward to the game.”

SA A head coach Johan Ackermann echoed Mvovo’s words in seeking a step up in performance from his troops and with an additional week together as a side, Ackermann says they should be better than they were last week.

With the benefit of another week together, Ackermann believes that his team will be better with their structure both on attack and defence.

“The reality is that most of the players had gone three weeks without any contact and match sharpness. I do believe we were a bit soft in our ball collision and carries, but that comes with match fitness.

“But out of a structure point of view and preparing the team, the extra three days was helpful. This week Monday was one of our better trainings and we got things going as opposed to last week where we did a lot of planning and explaining to players what it is we want from them,” said Ackermann.