Boks will 'come out firing'
Springbok flyhalf Butch James has targeted a fast start as the best way for his team to assert themselves on the Wallabies in their Tri-Nations clash at Kings Park in Durban this weekend.
The Springboks are expected to name an experienced side for the big showdown but there have been doubts cast over whether the bulk of the side, who have been out of action for the last few weeks, will be able to match the intensity of the Australians.
The physical Bok pivot is expected to line up alongside a lot of the players that tasted World Cup success with him in France in 2007 and he said that it should not take them long to get back into the swing of things.
“It’s (usually) not too difficult (for me to switch on after not playing for a while), but I think the weekend will take five or so minutes,” said James.
“We’re hoping for a good start and hopefully that five minutes is in the warm-up so we can come out firing from the kick-off. But hopefully it won’t be an issue for the guys,” he added.
James said that the side is smarting from the hidings they received at the hands of their Tri-Nations rivals on the away leg, despite the fact that most of the senior players were not in Australasia.
He said: “Even though a lot of us weren’t there, we were still playing as the Springboks and obviously we’re not proud or happy with how the away leg went. We want to make it right from the youngest guy to the coach.
“I don’t think it’s just the senior guys (that need to stand up), the whole squad have been talking about it, the youngsters everyone,” James pointed out.
James will win his 41st cap if selected to play on Saturday at his old stomping ground in Durban and the 32-year-old said that representing his country is still the ultimate.
He commented: “I think it gets more special the older you get and the more you start realising that you are not going to be here four years down the line. You almost take it like it’s your last time here.
“Every time you get together with the team it gets more and more special. I think you take it for granted when you’re a youngster and in the team for the first time,” explained James.
