Australian rugby captain George Gregan can expect some antagonistic treatment from his opposite number — rookie halfback Ricky Januarie — in Saturday’s Test match at the former Olympic stadium.
The 23-year-old Januarie, a surprise selection for the South Africans this year after missing the entire Super 12 season, aims to do what top number nine’s do well: be annoying.
”You’ve got to be cheeky, you’ve got to stand up against players,” said Januarie, who has played just two Tests for South Africa.
”I want to upset George Gregan and [flyhalf] Stephen Larkham,” he said.
”I won’t do that the whole game. I’ll do it once, stop and do it again. I’ll do it when [they are] not expecting it.”
Januarie, a former Springbok under-21 star, said he’s learned much from Gregan, a 108-Test veteran.
”He’s someone who’s like a role model to me,” said Januarie.
”I love the way he plays. I am playing against one of the best scrumhalfs in the world [and] it is going to be a huge thrill for me.”
Meanwhile, Wallaby coach Eddie Jones says his side needs to show more discipline on defence. Australia beat France 37-31 last weekend, but let in four tries.
”Sometimes when you loosen up your attack you loosen up your defence and that’s something we’ve got to be conscious about — that we still need to have that rigidity and discipline in terms of defence,” Jones said.
Jones brushed aside a reported spat with rival coach Jake White, mostly centered around allegations of illegal scrummaging tactics by the Wallabies.
”Jake has carried on like Sideshow Bob this week but we are good mates — we get on well — there is no acid there at all,” Jones said, referring to the former sidekick of The Simpsons’, Krusty the Clown.
South African players on Saturday will wear the number ”46664” on the sleeves of their uniforms, in honour of former South African president Nelson Mandela’s campaign against HIV/Aids.
The number was Mandela’s prisoner number during his 27 years in South African detention — the 466 refers to Mandela being the 466th prisoner in 1964.
More than 65 000 tickets have been sold for the match, the first of four between the teams in the next six weeks.
The sides will meet again in Johannesburg for the second match of the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate on July 23, then play in Pretoria on July 30 in a Tri-Nations game. The fourth match, also in the Tri-Nations series, is scheduled for August 20 in Perth, Australia. – Sapa-AP