FRANCE: RUGBY UNION: South Africa rugby team trains ahead of Saturday's World Cup final against England

Record ID: 453268

  • Title: FRANCE: RUGBY UNION: South Africa rugby team trains ahead of Saturday's World Cup final against England
  • Date: 17th October 2007
  • Summary: FLYHALF BUTCH JAMES WITH REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) FLYHALF BUTCH JAMES SAYING : "It is no good beating them in the pool game and then not winning the one that counts. So yes, we've forgotten about that game and looking forward to Saturday." VARIOUS OF PLAYERS TRAINING ON PITCH (SOUNDBITE) (English) FLYHALF BUTCH JAMES SAYING "Yeah I think you don't really get to tackle your opposite number so I think it would be nice to get my hands on him (Jonny Wilkinson) but he is a great player so it's going to be tough," VARIOUS OF PLAYERS TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FLYHALF BUTCH JAMES SAYING "Yes, it's great to see him in full flight with the ball in hand and so he is a great player and we also got a wing on the other side who has not got as much ball as Bryan (Habana), JP Pietersen is also a great man to watch when he is in full flight." BRYAN HABANA INTERCEPTING A BALL DURING PRACTICE AND RUN STRAIGHT TO THE TRY-LINE HABANA SMILING AFTER SCORING TRY
  • Embargoed: 1st November 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVABWOA579CN3T2WXAUIICTY5JSU
  • Story Text: South Africa captain John Smit and his team trained at the Mimoun stadium in Noisy le Grand outside Paris on Tuesday (October 16), few days before they play England in the World Cup final on Saturday at the Stade de France.
    The team looked fit during the training, however, coach Jake White and his team are aware that England have improved substantially since the start of the World Cup when the Springboks beat them 36-0 in the group phase, and will do everything they can to become the first world champions to retain the title.
    Earlier on Tuesday, Eddie Jones an advisor to coach Jake White, said his belief in the Springboks was based on their ability to adapt to any conditions. He added they had the players to switch game plans in an instant and had a significant advantage in the outside backs with the likes of wing Bryan Habana, the tournament's leading tryscorer.
    Jones said England flyhalf Wilkinson presented an obvious danger but the South Africans would not target him, opting instead to cut down his supply.
    South Africa won the World Cup at home in 1995 and the pressure on them to win again this year is enormous.
    Even if South Africa beat England in Saturday's final, the team is likely to be broken up because of political pressure to raise the quota of coloured players in the side.
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