'Beware the French Honiball' warns Barry
Springbok No.12 eyes up French No.10
Recalled Springbok inside centre De Wet Barry believes new French flyhalf Damien Traille has similar traits to former Bok No.10 Henry Honiball – a key man during South Africa's fantastic 17-match winning streak in 1997/98.
Honiball, nicknamed 'Lem' (the Afrikaans word for blade) for his punishing defence and straight running, played 35 Tests for the Boks between 1993 and '99.
Quite a big inside back for his era (1,90 metres tall and weighing 84.8 kilograms), Honiball is almost as tall as Traille (1,93 metres), who tips the scales at just under 100 kilograms.
"He's a big physical guy, like Henry Honiball," agreed Barry. "They'll use him to take the ball up, but he's also got a big boot, which I'm sure they'll also utilise."
France coach Bernard Laporte named Biarritz star Traille at No.10 ahead of Saracens playmaker Thomas Castaignède, who started at flyhalf during last weekend's 62-14 romp over Romania in Bucharest in the enforced absence of regular first-choice Frédéric Michalak and other options Benjamin Boyet and Nicolas Laharrague.
"Traille gives them a different dimension at No.10, he's nothing like Michalak, who's more of a fleet-footed player," continued Barry in conversation with rugby365.com.
"We'll obviously need to keep an eye on him as he'll attack the line."
Traille has Toulouse stars Yannick Jauzion and Florian Fritz on his outside should he come unstuck against Barry and co. in the Bok midfield on Saturday, but the Bok No.12 is quick to point out that matches are still won up front, first and foremost.
"It's an old adage, but that's how it is. France are a well-balanced team – their forwards are aggressive and their backs have flair," said Barry.
Barry, who has won 38 Test caps, is set to make his sixth appearance against France, having last started a Test for the Boks in last year's Tri-Nations finale against the All Blacks in Dunedin.
"I guess some of the injuries have helped me, but it's always nice being back," he said.
"You tend to appreciate it even more when you've been out for a while, but it's an awesome opportunity for me to show the coach what I've got."
By Howard Kahn
