Prepare for Boer War Two. Werner Greef, the South African full-back has warned England to expect the full treatment next Saturday.
”Every team plays dirty on the field. If you can’t handle it, get out. There’s going to be physicality. That’s rugby,” he said.
Greef, yellow carded for a stiff-arm tackle when the Springboks disgraced themselves at Twickenham last November, insists England don’t scare him.
He fixed me with battle-hardened eyes and said: ”I’ve never been scared by anybody or anything. The only person I’m scared of is my mum. She’s taught me that if you look danger in the face, you’ll prevail. Otherwise you’ll never get up.”
Strong stuff. The lad is clearly suffering from the stress of meeting the world’s No 1 ranked side after yesterday’s opening 72-6 drubbing of Uruguay at the Subiaco Oval.
The rest of the rugby world can recall every detail of the Springboks record 53-3 defeat last year. And Greef, who scored South Africa’s 12th and final try yesterday, conceded a penalty try for his high tackle on Phil Christophers on a day when the Boks had one man sent off and their reputation ruined.
That was his last Test before a severe ankle ligament injury but Greef insists: ”I have no memories of that game at all. I’m just happy to be here at the World Cup and very privileged. It’s a huge honour to represent your country. Not every player gets that opportunity.”
But surely that 50-point defeat still rankles? Greef, who has suffered several family tragedies including the death of his sister, grunts: ”You put these things behind you. If you’re living in the past, you’ve got hassles. The future is in your own hands. We’ve got to put the 53-3 game behind us.”
But surely Greef doesn’t really think the Boks, bottom of the Tri-Nations table this season and nearly beaten by Argentina, have a serious chance of lifting the Webb-Ellis trophy again?
”Remember, the South African side which won the World Cup in 1995 nearly lost to two of our own provincial sides in the build up to the 1995 tournament.
”We’re in much better shape than they were. The team going into the world as favourites never wins.”
It’s hard to say where we stand at the moment. Everybody has a different point of view. Officially we’re number five in the world but I rate us the number one, that’s what really matters.
”We’ve got the squad, the team. We can win it.”
No England player would dare to be so bold. I tell Greef that. He grins for the first time: ”If you don’t think positive, how do you expect to have positive results?”
Greef and the rest of the Bok squad in their Fremantle fortress seem surprisingly upbeat given recent events, including a race row and a string of injuries.
Greef explains: ”The World Cup is the top of every rugby player’s career. It’s the ultimate.
”I was staring in the face of not playing.”
Now, after ten Tests, he will be the last line of defence against England on Saturday despite not playing for nearly a year before this tournament.
He says: ”I don’t think the coach’s faith puts any pressure on me. I’m just thankful he kept me in his plans.
”I’m a utility back, it doesn’t matter where I play. Obviously I’m a full back, but I’m happy to play fly-half or wing or anywhere.”
So is he South Africa’s answer to our own South African-born utility back Mike Catt?
Greef laughs. They don’t rate Cattie over there. He says: ”I don’t want to be called the Mike Catt of the South Africa side, not after the All Blacks did to him in the 1995 semi-final!”
He rate Jason Robinson though. Can he catch England’s Billy Whizz? ”I’d catch Jason Robinson over 50m, anything less than that he might be okay.”
Greef has an answer to everything. A top class tennis player and hurdler, he managed to become a scratch golfer in three years.
He says: ”I’ve been working five days a week with the SA Sports Science Institute. It’s a blessing in disguise, my body is rested I feel strong.
”But if the injuries get too bad, I’ll give up rugby. I want to try tennis and golf after this. If you’re determined, you’ve got your goals fixed up, no problems. You can do anything.”
Hopefully next Saturday will persuade Greef a future in rugby is limited.