The barbed questions are flying at South Africa’s Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle.
Record breaking scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen, hemmed in by a dozen English tape recorders, is on the sharp end of the British interrogators before the Boer War: England’s Group C decider against South Africa on Saturday.
He’s the most capped player, the highest ever try scorer, he’s survived seven Bok coaches, he’s 32 and he’s on the rack.
He has to tell us how, after the horror of the 53-3 defeat at Twickenham last November and a traumatic year since, he can really expect a Bok victory on Saturday.
Without hesitation, Joost responds: “What convinces me is the feeling in my heart. And the feeling I get from the guys around me.
“I can put it in short: I know the truth.”
The truth of course, is highly debatable when it comes to the South Africans. Joost insists there is no trouble in the camp; former press officer Mark Keohane says he resignd because of racism and internal bickering.
Joost says the other Bulls players in the camp call him “Kappie” as an affectionbate term, others suggest this undermines captain Corne Krige.
Joost is having none of it. He says: “The day that I finish playing, I’ll be proud to be a Springbok. I won’t be one of those ex-players who has a go at the team.
“Just to be part of Springbok history is great. To be part of South African history is important, Nelson Mandela is the spirit of the country. He has done so much.”
And he means it, this elder statesman from the Afrikaner heartlands who has refused the lure of a move to Europe time and again.
“It hurts when you hear stories about us. But we use it as motivation.”
He understands perfectly the impact of defeat against the old enemy. Unlike his captain and his coach, he doesn’t pretend New Zealand are the real rivals. He knows England’s scalp is the most important of all.
“The South African public won’t accept defeat against England. Neither will the players. We’re not even thinking of losing.
“It’s going to be a tough one. I don’t draw strength from winning the quarter final in 1999. Not at all. The game has changed so much.
“What drives me on is the pride of playing for South Africa. I always say, the better the opposition, the better we play.”
And as the tape recorders withdraw, one final barbed question: When will you call it a day?
“I have no plans to retire. I’m focussing.”