Boks in tune for Tonga

September 20th, 2007

Bob Skinstad’s Boks are desperate to lose the ’second-string’ tag.

The decision to include the squad’s most experienced players on the bench means the Bok squad to play Tonga cannot be called second stringers.

Bok coach Jake White said he had to ensure continuity and momentum in the selections and the message to the younger Boks and to Tonga, through the selection of the senior players, was that this match was as important as the one against England.

The build-up has been less intense but given Tonga’s tournament form they pose a greater threat than England, who were all hype and nothing else.

“Tonga have played two and won two. They are eyeing a quarter-final, so if we took the approach that the game was already won we could find ourselves in trouble,” White told Keo.co.za. “I am comfortable with the attitude of our guys. The starting XV have an opportunity to keep the pressure on those guys who played against England and as a coaching staff we have the comfort that we can call on the most experienced bench in the history of our game.”

White said he would only use the likes of John Smit and Victor Matfield out of necessity, but confirmed Percy Montgomery would take the field, even if it was just for a couple of minutes.

“This is the game in which he breaks the record and becomes South Africa’s most capped test Springbok. He will also be the first ever Bok test player to reach 90 tests and I think it’s an incredible achievement,” said White. “Monty knows he will be going on, so it also becomes a special game for every player to be involved in. I look at guys like Bakkies Botha and Bob Skinstad, who will be playing their 40th tests. To appreciate just how many Monty has played you double the 40 and you’re still short of 90.

“I emphasise this point with the younger players, who are in their first season of test rugby. When they feel it is becoming a bit of chore they only need to look at Monty, whose professional is outstanding. If he can motivate himself for No 90 there surely shouldn’t be an issue with the 21 year-old getting up for a World Cup game, no matter how secondary some people may see it.”

White said the smaller nations had shown in this World Cup that they’ve grown an extra arm and a leg.

“They certainly have put in a bigger effort. You just look at Georgia against Ireland and Romania against Italy and Canada against Wales as some examples of how the second tier nations have pushed those Six Nations regulars. Tonga, at a World Cup, is tougher than playing Tonga in a one-off international in South Africa. We know they’ll be physical and motivated, but we’ve picked a squad with the capability of winning well.”

Bob Skinstad, given the captaincy, said the Boks were motivated by how they could perform as a team and not by the colour of the opposition strip.

“We’re at a World Cup and there’s a purpose in this squad to set standards, both from a team perspective and individually. To ensure we meet those standards has to be our motivation,” said Skinstad. “There are fine players in this team and I’m very privileged to be given the captaincy.”

By keo | www.keo.co.za