Springbok coach Jake White on Tuesday used the Border Bulldogs to fine-tune his team ahead of Saturday’s rugby Test against Uruguay.
The practice session at the Absa Stadium was watched by an appreciative crowd of young and old, with many fans able to secure autographs from the Springboks after the session.
Explaining the reason for using the Bulldogs, White said the problem with training against his own reserve players is that they know all the moves.
”For that reason, we are often not sure whether specific moves are workable or not.
”Secondly, we also have two relatively inexperienced wingers in Tonderai Chavangha and Bryan Habana who will have benefited defensively.”
Following the hour-long contact session against the Bulldogs — the Springboks were wearing protective gear — the respective packs and backlines separated, with the Bok forwards contesting the lineouts and the Bok backs trying to counter the Bulldogs backline moves.
White emphasised the Boks are working hard at speeding up possession at the points of breakdown and rucks, and presenting the ball more efficiently for the scrumhalf.
”When you have scrumhalves of the calibre of Fourie du Preez and Enrico Januarie, who are quick clearers, they must be used more effectively,” he said.
A noticeable absentee from the training session was towering lock Bakkies Botha.
”Following the injury to Victor [Matfield], we decided to give Bakkies a break as a precautionary move,” explained White.
The Boks will stage another training session on Wednesday between 9am and 11am at the NU1 field in Mdantsane before staging a media session at the team hotel at 12.30pm.
On Thursday morning, there will be a gym session followed by a late afternoon ”walk through” exercise at the Absa Stadium, which will be closed to the press and public.
However, there will be a signing session with non-Test players at the Hemingways hotel between 5.30pm and 6.30pm on Thursday. — Sapa