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Bok preparations the best yet - Smit |
 Skipper John Smit said the Springboks have never been as prepared for a Tri-Nations test as they are heading into the match against New Zealand on Saturday
The Boks will be taking on the All Blacks without Morné Steyn, whose boot won the recent test series against the British and Irish Lions for South Africa.
Bok coach Peter de Villiers on Tuesday made it clear that Ruan Pienaar will for now be seen as the backline general responsible for helping South Africa to win the Tri-Nations for the first time since 2004.
"It was very difficult to choose between two such quality players. It could depend on injuries (whether the Boks will rotate Pienaar and Steyn). In rugby one cannot plan too far ahead, " said De Villiers.
He also made it clear that he didn't give his team instructions to only focus all their attention on the All Blacks flyhalf Stephen Donald on Saturday.
“We will never target only one player. We play according to tactics. If it succeeds, we could put them under pressure.”
Apart from Pienaar, De Villiers has called on all his other heavyweights who were not in the Bok starting team for the third test against the British and Irish Lions.
The inclusion of JP Pietersen, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Pierre Spies and Bakkies Botha instead of Jongi Nokwe, Wynand Olivier, Odwa Ndungane, Ryan Kankowski and Johann Muller respectively, should strengthen the starting team considerably.
Smit said: "We haven't won the Tri-Nations trophy for a while. I think we have chosen a strong team that is good enough to compete properly this year. The three tough tests against the Lions have ensured that our preparations this year have been the best yet for the Tri-Nations".
De Villiers said Adrian Jacobs's groin injury was a big setback. "But then Jaque and Jean de Villiers could bring the spark to the midfield that we need. I am looking forward to seeing their combination in action."
It will be the job of especially the Bok centres to prevent the team's defence system from letting any tries slip through on Saturday.
"Although we [in the third test against the British and Irish Lions] gave away tries, there is nothing wrong with our defence," said the Bok coach.
Source: supersport.co.za
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