Captain's profile: Eric Basson

 

With his school taking the big derby game against local rivals Hoerskool Middelburg for the last five years, Basson knows what it takes to emerge victorious on Saturday.

 

He leads a full-strength side coming off a resounding 48-15 win over Pietersburg, and is adamant that they will not get carried away with the hype of the occasion.

 

"Saturday’s team is the best team, with a lot of experience. We are happy that a few of our first choice players are back from injury and we are ready for a good match.

 

"It is just another game.  We will have to work just as hard and play just as hard as in any other game," he said.

 

The imposing No.8 who stands at 1.8m tall and 102 kg hopes to one day become a cattle and crop farmer, but right now he is focused on beating his schools' old foes this weekend.

 

Despite a few losses this season, Basson is confident his side has what it taes to extend their dominance over their local rivals.

 

"We’ve had our ups and downs, but currently I believe we are on the right track heading for big things," he said.

 

The HTS Middelburg skipper expects Hoerskool Middelburg to send the ball wide and use their speedy backline to expose his team's defence.

 

"I think that they will try to capitalize on their strength, which is the back line players, trying to get the ball, cut to the wings," he explained.

 

Basson does not see himself as more important than any of the other players in the team, and sees the captaincy as just another job to perform on the pitch.

 

"I’m just one of the players.  It doesn’t make me better than any of my team mates.  It’s just one more task that I have to perform.

 

"I would like to believe that I am a strong ball carrier, and a good leader on and off the field," he said.