Which French team will turn up?

White aims for new benchmark

Springbok coach Jake White is on the brink of setting a new benchmark in South African rugby – the longest unbeaten home run. If the Boks beat France at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday it will be the 14th consecutive match at home the Boks have not lost.

Ironically the one blotch on that great record is a draw against France last year, the very same team that could prevent them from setting the new record.

The Boks equalled their longest unbeaten streak at home (13 matches) under Jake White, when they beat Scotland last week. The previous unbeaten run was from June 1994 to August '96 (all 13 victories) and included a 10-match winning streak by the late Kitch Christie – and of course the winning of the 1995 World Cup.

White, well aware that he could overtake that proud record and the great personality involved in achieving the previous mark, said he was humbled to be able to set benchmarks that are measured against those set by Christie.

"He was such a great personality and to achieve this is a humbling experience," White said.

But he also knows that the record will not come by itself.

They will come up against one of the most talented and also most unpredictable sides in world rugby. They face Six Nations champions France.

And White is not paying any attention to those who suggest the French may be underdone at Newlands on Saturday – despite the fact that their only game since their Six Nations triumph in March was against Romania last week.

"France on any day could beat the best," White said. "It all depends which French side arrives at the stadium.

"Whether they're tired [from lots of rugby] or not tired [rusty from not having play] is irrelevant.

"We all know the French psyche. If they get there and they all want to play then you're going to end up having to defend [a lot]," the Bok mentor added.

By Jan de Koning