Once more into the breach for the Boks

By Kevin McCallum

John Smit's voice was husky, scratchy and gruff on Friday morning but the Springbok captain said it was the best he'd felt compared to the last three gruelling weeks as he prepares to lead his men against Australia at Newlands on Saturday in South Africa's third Vodacom Tri-Nations match of the season.

Smit's voice was also, as always, calm as he spoke of the different challenge the Wallabies will offer the Springboks, seeking to rein in those who would already write up South Africa as the 2009 Tri-Nations.

It was far too soon, he said, with four matches remaining, three of those in Australia and New Zealand, and with the other two of the Sanzar alliance with two more matches against each other yet to play.

"Everyone outside of our team has put our name on that cup already," said Smit. "We haven't really done anything yet except for the norm.

"It's expected that you have to win your home games. We're far from saying anything about the series yet. The real winning of a Tri-Nations is how you travel."

South Africa were so-so travellers last year, winning for the first time ever in Dunedin and pushing Australia and New Zealand hard in Wellington and Perth. Brad Thorn's spear tackle of Smit in Wellington and wasted opportunities at the Subiaco Oval put paid to their chances there.

The 19-0 loss to the All Blacks at Newlands still rankles, though, and with New Zealand now bested at home, beating the Wallabies is the next big challenge. The Wallabies have said this week they want to "front up" to the physical challenge of the Springboks, which may be a smokescreen.

"There's always a lot of talk, and probably more talk than normal before the Australia and English Test matches," said Smit. "What we can expect is a tough Test match that can go either way. Whether it is something they are worried about up front or being able to front up, I don't know. I think they will be able to front up in all areas."

Despite inexperience in certain areas, the Wallabies have the playing personnel to do just that, but it revolves around the experience of their captain, Stirling Mortlock, and George Smith, whose dreadlocks were once prized as souvenirs by the Springboks.

"They have stalwarts in all areas. We were talking about George Smith, who has played over 100 games, the other day and we can't remember in those 100 games when he had a bad game.

"The same can be said for Stirling Mortlock, the experienced campaigner out wide, and outside those two guys are formidable campaigners as well. Man for man, they are up for beating any team. They will be up for a combined effort from them to win it."

South African Super 14 teams seem to struggle more against the Australian teams, something Smit puts down to their preparation.

"They have different strengths. From a Sharks point of view I can't remember when we last beat the Waratahs. It was probably in 2000 when we beat every other team except the Waratahs. They have good players, they prepare well, they dissect South African rugby a little better than most. They have ideas on how to play us and play around us. They engineer their preparation a little better."