Japan not just there to be bulldozed

EASTBOURNE: It obviously should not be taken literally that South Africa “can’t win” in Saturday’s World Cup opener against Japan but metaphorically speaking, veteran scrumhalf Fourie du Preez says this could turn out to be the case.

The Boks have never played the Brave Blossoms before and are expected to annihilate the Pacific Island team but Du Preez, who has played four years of club rugby in Japan, is insistent that it is not going to be as easy as South Africans fans think and that the 100point score-line some envisage is not going to happen.

If there is not an avalanche of points in a lop-sided game, the Boks will criticised, the Japanese not praised.

“Schalk (Burger) and I know their game inside out and we are not underestimating them,” Du Preez said. “Japan are tough competitors and well coached by Eddie Jones, who we have worked with at the Boks (in 2007). Eddie had a major impact on my game. He is one of the best in the business.”

“It is going to be a very fast game, they are the best in world at getting from ruck to ruck. They are very fast at it,” Du Preez said.

“The perception is that we are just going to bulldoze over them. When South Africans go to Japan they find that you don’t just run over anybody, you get gang tackled and knocked over at the ankles. They are masters of the “chop tackle”, hitting you around the ankles. They have some Pacific Island boys that are very physical. It is a different battle and if you not 100 percent ready for them you going to struggle, even if you are expected to win.”