Gary Botha was defiant that a squad system – and not just fifteen players – would win South African the World Cup.
Botha, starting for the Boks against Tonga on Saturday, has reason to be annoyed, frustrated and despondent. He was an original pick in the Boks World Cup squad, but in recent weeks has seen late edition Bismarck du Plessis stride past him as the second choice hooker.
Botha, however, was anything but angry when Jake White confirmed the match 22 to play in Lens at the weekend.
The Bulls and Bok hooker said if he was a selfish bloke it would have had an impact, but this World Cup was about winning it for South Africa, regardless of who was in the match 22.
“You have to be mature about these things. The alternative is I could be at home reading about what is going on here. Every guy wants to start in every game at this World Cup but that’s just not going to happen,” said Botha. “The coach has been up front about our role and about what he expects from us in every game. I’ve been given a responsibility in this game and if I am called upon at any stage of the competition then I’ll be ready.
“We all have personal ambitions, but this is not a World Cup about individualism; it is about doing what is best for the team and fitting in wherever the coach needs you to play a role. I am prepared to do that and I don’t question the selection. If that’s what the coach believes will win us the World Cup then I back it 100 percent. Should we win the World Cup – which I believe we will – I, along with 29 other guys, will get a medal. This tournament can only be won if guys are thinking about what’s important for the team and not what makes them individually feel better.”
Botha’s squad ethic was in evidence at the Bok media session on Tuesday when the players all spoke unanimously about the need to sustain the momentum after the 36-0 win against England.
“Obviously the scoreline is important against Tonga, but if we get the quality of performance we have spoken about then the scoreline looks after itself. We have worked on things, especially among the forwards, and I am sure they will come good,” said Botha.
Bob Skinstad was named captained of a Bok team loaded with Super 14-winning champions the Bulls and Botha said the presence of provincial teammates did make it easier to gel on Saturday.
“It does help that Bakkies is a regular teammate and when I spent a season with the Sharks I got to know Albert (van den Berg) well, but we’ve spoken about the challenge as a team and we need to improve on what was achieved against Connacht in the build up to the World Cup. We kept them tryless, but we know that as a team we under-performed. This is a fantastic chance to give the selectors something to think about,” said Botha, who is one of 11 changes to the starting XV that humiliated England 36-0.
(Bakkies) Botha, Danie Rossouw, Wikus van Heerden and JP Pietersen start their successive tournament game, while John Smit, BJ Botha, Victor Matfield, Juan Smith, Frans Steyn, Bryan Habana and Percy Montgomery give Whtie an insurance policy should the starting XV stumble in the opening 40.
Montgomery will also become the most capped test Springbok against Tonga, having reached his 50th cap against Italy as a wing replacement. On Saturday he will become the first Bok to ever play 90 tests.
When asked if Montgomery would get a run, White responded: “It is not a question of ‘if’’; he definitely will play get on the field. On Saturday he will become the most capped test Springbok and he is the most deserving to get there. He has been an unbelievable servant to Bok test rugby and this will be a special moment for him and South African rugby.”
By Keo www.keo.co.za
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