NEW ZEALAND: RUGBY UNION - Confident Springboks expect physical Samoans but insists New Zealand's All Blacks are the team setting the pace at the Rugby World Cup

Record ID: 455548

  • Title: NEW ZEALAND: RUGBY UNION - Confident Springboks expect physical Samoans but insists New Zealand's All Blacks are the team setting the pace at the Rugby World Cup
  • Date: 30th September 2011
  • Summary: AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND (SEPTEMBER 29, 2011) (REUTERS) SOUTH AFRICA TEAM SEATED FOR TEAM PHOTOGRAPH PAN ACROSS TEAM POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPH SOUTH AFRICA WINGER BRYAN HABANA (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA WINGER BRYAN HABANA SAYING: "That first 20 minutes against Samoa in 2007 was some of the toughest test match rugby I have ever played so it is pretty tough and I think tomorrow is going to be no different. The structure that Samoa have come into with so many of their players playing in the European leagues has made them a much improved side to what they were in 2007. They are going to lay down a big challenge to us, not only physically but also in their structure. We're going to have make sure we're playing to the best of our ability if we want to have any success." TEAM TRAINING IN PROGRESS MATCH DAY CAPTAIN VICTOR MATFIELD DURING TRAINING TEAM TRAINING IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA ASSISTANT COACH GARY GOLD SAYING: "We're really happy only conceding 19 points in the group. No other team in the World Cup has conceded less points than us, all be that through penalties or by tries. So again, after three games, that's a good start to the competition but we've got a long way to go still, or hopefully we do." PLAYERS STRETCHING DURING TRAINING ASSISTANT COACH GARY GOLD WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA ASSISTANT COACH GARY GOLD SAYING: "I think it's become personal now from our own point of view. That we want to keep our defensive record the best in the competition." PLAYERS RUNNING COACH PETER DE VILLIERS ON TELEPHONE IN STANDS PLAYERS STRETCHING HABANA STRETCHING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA WINGER BRYAN HABANA SAYING: "There's always going to be favourites in a tournament and I think the All Blacks have definitely laid down a marker over the last couple of weeks and even prior to the tournament. But like I say, we can take each game we play in. We only looking forward to the game against Samoa tomorrow. I think if you look further than that game we might end up falling because tomorrow's a knockout game cause if we end up losing, there might not be no quarter-final for us to play. So we can't focus on the big goal, and that is winning the World Cup, we can only focus on Samoa and turn all our energy onto that. But like I say, New Zealand have definitely laid down a marker in that they're tournament favourites and the rest of the world are probably following at the moment." SQUAD CAPTAIN JOHN SMIT WALKING TO STRETCHING SESSION SMIT STRETCHING
  • Embargoed: 15th October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: New Zealand, New Zealand
  • Country: New Zealand
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA87JM2TITU7K2XXSXKZWI4GJD3
  • Story Text: Bryan Habana is convinced the Springboks have a team capable of retaining the World Cup, but the winger is expecting a huge physical battle against Samoa as South Africa battles for a place in the last eight on Friday (September 30).
    The prolific winger scored four tries when the sides met at the last World Cup in 2007 but his memories of the 59-7 victory at the Parc de Princes in Paris are not all fond.
    "That first 20 minutes against Samoa in 2007 was some of the toughest test match rugby I have ever played so it is pretty tough and I think tomorrow is going to be no different," Habana told reporters at the team's hotel.
    "The structure that Samoa have come into with so many of their players playing in the European leagues has made them a much improved side to what they were in 2007.
    "They are going to lay down a big challenge to us, not only physically but also in their structure. We're going to have make sure we're playing to the best of our ability if we want to have any success."
    South Africa, however, is one of the best structured sides in the world and its tight defence has given up just 19 points and one try in their three victories so far in the competition.
    "I think it's become personal now with the guys, we want to keep our defensive record the best in the competition," said assistant coach Gary Gold.
    Just two points from a draw against the Samoans in Albany on Friday would be enough to secure the Springboks a place in the quarter-finals and keep them on track to become the first team to retain the Webb Ellis Trophy.
    Habana, who scored his 39th test try in the win over Namibia last week, said within the Springboks team there was definitely a belief that they can go on and win the World Cup.
    "There's always going to be favourites in a tournament and I think the All Blacks have definitely laid down a marker over the last couple of weeks.
    "But we can only focus on the game against Samoa because it's a knockout game for us tomorrow and if we look further forward, we might end up falling and there'll be no quarter-final for us to play."
    Samoa, who have never beaten South Africa in six previous attempts, need a victory against the Springboks and a win or draw for their fellow Pacific islanders Fiji against Wales on Sunday (October 2) to reach the quarter-finals for a third time.
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