RUGBY-CHAMPIONSHIP/SOUTH AFRICA-NEW ZEALAND PREVIEW Springboks ready to meet All Black challenge - South Africa's Burger

Record ID: 149513

  • Title: RUGBY-CHAMPIONSHIP/SOUTH AFRICA-NEW ZEALAND PREVIEW Springboks ready to meet All Black challenge - South Africa's Burger
  • Date: 24th July 2015
  • Summary: NEW ZEALAND FLY-HALF LIMA SOPOAGA STRETCHING BARRETT STRETCHING SOPOAGA KICKING THROUGH GOALPOSTS ALL BLACKS OFFICIALS LOOKING ON
  • Embargoed: 8th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAAZTRYM528Z3GHA3XZHQKQNLSG
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: South Africa captain Schalk Burger believes a win over New Zealand at Ellis Park on Saturday (July 25) could provide them with vital momentum going into the World Cup in England.
    The Springboks must win to stay in contention for this year's shortened Rugby Championship, but can also make a big show of their credentials ahead of the global showpiece tournament starting on Sept. 18.
    After Saturday they have home and away tests against Argentina before they travel to England where they are on a collision course with the All Blacks in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
    Burger says his team are reading to face the world's best team in a mouth-watering tie.
    "I don't think there's added pressure because it's the World Cup year," he told reporters on Friday (July 24).
    "I think every test match there's pressure, and every test match where's there's one versus two in the world, South Africa versus All Blacks, it's a great occasion. And for us it's just to live up to that challenge, the All Blacks, the haka is about them laying down the challenge for us, and you know our job is not to let them down, we've got to accept the challenge, bring to the table what we've got as the Springboks."
    The 32-year-old, captaining the team for the first time after injuries to Jean de Villiers and Victor Matfield, says his side must focus on their own performance and not buy into the hype around the world champions.
    South Africa are looking to bounce back from their 24-20 defeat to Australia last time ouir, that saw them throw away a 13 point lead.
    "We want to get a good result, I mean it's important, but besides that, the way we play it's going to be quite important. I think last week (against Australia) after 60 minutes, we were up 20 points to 7 and we just couldn't close up the game. So I think in World Cups as well we might get of to a good start, we might be under pressure and it's hard to close up a game. So this weekend I think you know if you look at the history between the two teams, it's going to be a tight fixture, so hopefully for us we going to have composure and find a way how to close out the game," said Burger.
    Bok coach Heyneke Meyer sprung a surprise when he handed a first test cap in four years to flank Heinrich Brussouw alongside fellow openside loose-forward Francois Louw. Burger thinks it is a combination that can work well.
    The World Cup takes place from Sept. 18 to Oct. 31, where South Africa have been drawn in Pool B, alongside Japan, Samoa, Scotland and the United States.
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