Boks expect tough test
Joost van der Westhuizen has warned South Africa to expect a “very physical game” when the Springboks launch their World Cup campaign against Uruguay tomorrow night.
The scrum-half, temporary skipper with Corne Krige resting a slight hamstring injury, insists that Uruguay will not be taken lightly.
But it is a classic contest between the haves and have nots – South Africa, with all their heavy artillery, opposing a team that does not even have a proper scrummaging machine to work on back in South America.
South Africa should cruise to victory in preparation for tomorrow week’s Pool C showdown with England, even though they are blooding two new caps in centre Jaque Fourie and flanker Danie Rossouw.
“We are going to expect a different game from them – a very physical game,” insisted van der Westhuizen, who will retire at the end of this year.
“For me, I always said that I wanted to end my career like I started it – and that is to enjoy it.
“The best way to enjoy it is to live your dream, and I am so happy to get another opportunity to play for the Boks.”
Springboks coach Rudolf Straeuli, meanwhile, has played down fears that Krige could miss the England game.
“It is not a very serious injury,” Straeuli said. “We had a run, and he took an inside pass from the fly-half and he felt cramp in his hamstring.
“We pulled him off and we put him in ice. He has seen the physio and he will be ready for next week. If this was a bigger game, then Corne might well have played.”
Uruguay field several survivors from the side beaten 39-3 by South Africa four years ago, including their entire front-row of Rodrigo Sanchez, Diego Lamelas and Pablo Lemoine.
But ‘Los Teros’ have suffered five successive defeats since beating Paraguay 53-7 in April, and they face a Herculean task stopping the Springboks’ possession at source.
“Back in Uruguay, we have 30 players who have accumulated 20 days of holiday, but the players needed 30 days off to play in the World Cup,” said Uruguay manager Daniel Herrera Vidiella.
“Some of them at their jobs, the employers, were not happy, but we don’t have a problem yet.”
Work commitments though, mean Uruguay will go into their opening game without main goalkicker Juan Ramon Menchaca.
“We are aware that he is an important player, but he came six days late because of his work,” said Uruguay coach Diego Ormaechea.
“There is a great time difference between Australia and Uruguay, and we prefer to play those who have been training since the squad arrived and had time to settle.”
