Bongi assures on his fitness

SPRINGBOK hooker Bongi Mbonambi says he’s feeling “100%” after leaving the field during their World Cup quarter-final win against Japan at the weekend.

The Boks play Wales in the semi-finals on Sunday.

Mbonambi said yesterday that he suffered a tight hamstring and it wasn’t an injury concern, although the medical team treated it just to be safe.

“It was just my hamstring that was feeling a bit tight, from the cramps obviously. They made a medical call not to risk it and carry on. But at the moment, I am feeling 100%.”

The South Africans aced their lineout against Japan, something Mbonambi attributed to the forwards all knowing their roles.

“It comes down to us being all aligned and everybody knowing what the plan is. You have guys like Lood (De Jager), Eben (Etzebeth), RG (Snyman) and Franco Mostert taking ownership of the line-out.

“Our job as hookers is just to get a good relationship with the jumpers, and knowing you are an international hooker in the Springbok jersey you have to lift your standards and keep them up there.”

Springbok assistant coach Matt Proudfoot credited head coach Rassie Erasmus for “what he’s brought to the Bok camp”.

“The fact is that Rassie has come on board with a very specific plan – to play to the South African strengths. When you get alignment in the team, and understand the plan and their roles, you can be very powerful.”

Proudfoot also said there had been a mindset shift in the group and Erasmus has “empowered” the team to play “the South African way”. “That has been the big change – the mindset that Rassie has created… to empower everybody to take ownership of their roles.”