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

Record ID: 453269

  • Title: FRANCE: RUGBY UNION: South Africa rugby team trains ahead of Saturday's World Cup final against England
  • Date: 17th October 2007
  • Summary: FLANKER SCHALK BURGER ARRIVING FOR INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) SCHALK BURGER ASKED HOW CLOSE IS THE TEAM MEMBERS TO EACH OTHER AND SAYING : "Yes, a lot of us has come through H group rugby under 21 where he (Jake White) coached us and obviously the last four years we've been pretty close together with Jake. But look, I think everything is coming down to Saturday you know, and the last four years would be a bit of a waste if you go and loose in a final on Saturday. I think we've done all the hard work and now we've got a final to prepare for and hopefully we can play some good rugby on Saturday." PRACTICING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SCHALK BURGER ASKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 1995 WC AND THIS ONE AND SAYING : "Yes, I think it's a totally different area in South African rugby, in 1995 we were just re-admitted as playing international rugby and that was sort of a way to prove that we can play on this level and win the world cup. Through political times it was different back then now we are settled we've been together, so totally different now we are totally a totally different bunch of blocks, so look in a rugby sense it's going to be exactly the same what 1995 meant, We are playing a World Cup final and hopefully we can win it." WS OF PLAYERS ON PITCH
  • Embargoed: 1st November 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVACDDHIQ7WEP2GVGBDQ716QG27H
  • 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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