Are Boks ready to pick Blossoms?
Fitness will be a key factor
OHN McFarland says conditioning will be a major factor as the Springboks attempt to rollover their 2015 RWC World opposition, starting with Japan on Saturday, in Brighton, England.
McFarland, the Springboks’ Belfast-born defence coach, said the South African players would take heart from statistics that showed their conditioning had improved at a steady rate over the month-long 2015 Rugby Championship played earlier this year.
McFarland reasoned that a team in peak condition would cope better with the challenges it faces over the next few weeks.
The pace of the Japanese was a moot point at Monday’s media briefing at the Springboks’ team hotel in Eastbourne.
“It is all down to conditioning, and we (the Boks) are happy where we are now,” said McFarland.
“The guys’ fitness levels have increased dramatically.
“You see the guys are getting off the floor (ground) so much quicker and there are second efforts being made – the players feel better, they are confident, so we’re really pleased.”
McFarland said Japan, coached by Eddie Jones, would enjoy a measure of rugby intelligence from someone who had guided one team to the World Cup final (Australia), and another one to the championship (SA). Jones was a member of Jake White’s 2007 coaching staff that won in France.
“Japan definitely pose a threat with the speed of their game and it is up to us to control the pace of the game,” said McFarland.
“They’ve got some players with Super Rugby experience and they are a well-coached team.
“They are well organised by a guy who has been involved in winning a World Cup and with a team that reached a final.
“We are expecting a quick game and for them to try and take us off the pace of our game.
“We must be ready for anything.
“The test is always on game day and that never changes. The test is always on the Saturday – that never changes.”
Earlier, Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar said that the Japan-based Springboks JP Pietersen and Fourie du Preez were able to offer insights into the playing strengths of the “Brave Blossoms” after playing in their domestic leagues for the past two seasons.
– African News Agency