Bok captain hopes for fast start
SPRINGBOK captain Fourie du Preez is hoping his side make a fast start against the USA in their Rugby World Cup Pool B clash at the Olympic Stadium in London today.
SPRINGBOK captain Fourie du Preez is hoping his side make a fast start against the USA in their final World Cup Pool B clash at the Olympic Stadium today to avoid an anxiety-ridden final quarter.
The Boks have only had a fourday turnaround between matches and coach Heyneke Meyer has selected 13 of the players who started Saturday’s 34-16 win over Scotland in Newcastle. There are some tired and sore bodies going into the clash.
A fast start and a healthy lead by halftime would be ideal, to avoid the possibility of a dogfight with depleted energy reserves. Du Preez is aware of the situation.
“In any game a good start is important, but especially in this game,” he said. “If we don’t get the start we want we will have to adapt. We were under pressure at a stage against Scotland and we came back well and pulled through.
“If the same happens against the USA, we will have to be up for it and if the bench has to come on and win the game, then it has to happen. Obviously, we’d like it to be comfortable by halftime, but if we have to play until the 81st minute to win the game then we will.”
The USA have made 12 changes to their team that lost to Scotland in their last outing, suggesting that they are focusing on their final pool match against Japan on Sunday for a victory.
But even so, the Boks have been impressed by the USA and will not be lulled into a false sense of superiority and complacency as they were against Japan in week one when they fell to a 34-32 defeat.
“I can’t comment on their team selection, but we won’t be taking any side lightly,” Du Preez said.
“We have been under immense pressure since losing to Japan, but nothing has changed because if we lose against the USA, we’re out of the World Cup. “The pressure is still there. “We’re still in desperation mode and only once the job is done against the USA can we relax for a couple of days.”
Attack coach Johan van Graan added: “I’ve been impressed by the USA’s defence. They rush up fast off the line, which poses different challenges. If you look at what they’ve done in the World Cup they have defended well, but we have to adapt to it.
“A week in rugby is a long time and you have to adapt to new challenges all the time.
“After losing in the first round, it became even simpler for us — we have to win every game to get into the quarterfinals. Against the USA, we have to win by one point or more to reach the last eight.”
Although the Boks have shown a steep improvement in their play since the defeat to Japan they are still in search of perfection. And with a virtually full-strength team taking the field today, they will have the chance to continue to grow.
“We have to improve in all areas of our game,” Van Graan said. “We won’t look back to last week, but rather focus on our processes and execution looking forward.
“We had 100% lineout against Japan and Samoa and only lost one against Scotland, while we had a free kick against us for another and never had the chance to throw the ball in,” he said.
“To lose one lineout in three games is one too many and we will try and improve on that.”