South African rugby warrior Joost van der Westhuizen has warned the team’s World Cup rivals that the passionate Springboks have everything it takes to win the trophy.
Although unfancied by bookmakers and ranked number six by the International Rugby Board ahead of the tournament, Van der Westhuizen declared, ”we can definitely win the World Cup.”
”We’ve got the players, we’ve got the coach, we’ve got the captain, we’ve got everything – except we’re outsiders,” Van der Westhuizen said.
”A lot of teams are saying they can beat us in this World Cup. It’s going to be very interesting to see who it’s going to be.”
Van der Westhuizen is the South Africans’ most capped player with 85 appearances in a career which kicked off in 1993. He was part of the 1995 World Cup winning team and, despite an inconsistent few seasons marked by injuries, coach Rudi Straeuli considers him a crucial leader in this inexperienced squad of ”baby
Boks”.
”I don’t think it’s about experience,” said Van der Westhuizen.
”It’s about the future and the present. I need to be on top form for this World Cup and that’s where I’m going to be. We’ve worked on some of my style of play. We’ve worked on my kicking, some of my passes, my speed.”
Van der Westhuizen said the young Springbok players did not need to hear his advice.
”The way we train, the way that we play and do things together shows them we can do it here,” he said.
”Besides doing it for ourselves and our country we wanted to show we’re a country that can do things together. That’s why they call us the Rainbow Nation. We want to show through our play what South Africans can do.”
It was remarkable achievement for Van der Westhuizen to be selected for this World Cup, admitting he felt his international career was over early in 2002 when he missed the Springbok squad for the first time in 10 seasons.
”I thought that was the end and I thought I’m just going to enjoy playing (provincial rugby),” he said. ”And I did enjoy it and we won the Currie Cup and I thoroughly enjoyed the Super 12 this year.”
His old bones were creaking but he found he still had the drive to win back his place in the squad.
”I had a lot of rehabilitation to get here,” he said. ”Two hours a day on my knee, working with the function of it because I don’t have ligaments there. It was a lot of discipline and hard work because of the passion of the game.”
Now he feels ready to tackle a pool which includes the crunch match against England as well as games against Uruguay, Samoa and Georgia.
”I told the guys at training, I’m like a little diesel engine waiting to get on the field,” said Van der Westhuizen.
South African hooker Dale Santon, who had his second day of rest on Wednesday after suffering a groin strain, remains the only doubtful member of the 30-man squad.
He will be examined on Thursday but a team spokesperson said the injury was not believed to be serious. – Sapa-AP