Wallabies confident of beating Springboks on their turf
After losing two successive matches against All Blacks in the Tri-Nation Rugby series, Wallabies are confident of returning to winning ways as they take on under-pressure Springboks. Wallabies will now be flying to South Africa to play their next fixture scheduled on 28th August. Wallabies are currently second in the Tri-Nations series’ ranking after grabbing only a single win while All Blacks are on the top with an unbeaten record and have 19 points.
Wallabies’ fly-half Quade Cooper will be making his comeback to international rugby after missing out the previous matches against All Blacks. The New Zealand-born Cooper faced debar from Wallabies’ last two matches after a two-weeks ban was imposed on him for his dangerous tackle against the Springboks in Tri-Nations series’ opening match. Cooper is clearly frustrated on not being able to help his team-mates during their drubbing against Tasmanian neighbours. Talking about his absence from the team, Cooper said, “It's been very hard to sit on the sidelines especially when you get beaten by your most fierce opposition. It seems to be just one game that always gets away from me - the All Blacks.”
Cooper is relishing the challenge posed by the All Blacks and is hopeful for finishing the Tri-Nations series on a high note. He looks to steer his team towards its first victory since 1963 at Loftus versfeld in Pretoria. Cooper said, “We've got two tough games in South Africa, either we can look at them and think we haven't won in Pretoria in 60 years, or we can overcome that and make a new challenge.”
On the other hand, Springboks’ coach Peter De Villiers has employed Western Province’s defence coach Jacques Nienaber as his assistant in order to curb the defensive problems of his team. Springboks will be facing All Blacks in a must-win match at National Stadium, Soweto on 21st August. All Blacks will be coming into this match unbeaten whereas springboks have until now failed to grind even a single victory in the series. Nienaber’s main responsibility will be to come out with a coherent defensive strategy in order to stop opposition’s onslaughts. Springboks until now have received 10 tries in their first 3 games. Nienaber will be hoping to improve their such dismal record. He was Stormers’ defence coach during this year’s Super 14 in which they displayed their best defensive record leaking just 18 tries in 15 matches.
Commenting on Nienaber’s inclusion, De Villiers said, “The players have had a break to reflect on the disappointments of the tour and they understand what is needed to turn things around. We have identified the areas that need improvement and will be focusing on these in the build up to the first Test.” Additionally, Frans Steyn has been recalled in the Springboks’ squad. He will be joining the likes of Cheetahs flanker’s Juan Smith , Heinrich Brüssow , Sharks winger’s JP Pietersen and Sharks hooker’s Bismarck du Plessis for training camp in Johannesburg.
Meanwhile, the South African Rugby Union (SARU) has announced that Port Elizabeth's famous Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will host the All-Blacks for a Tri-Nations Test in 2011. All Blacks will be playing for the first time in 41 years at this stadium. Commenting on it, SARU president Oregan Hoskins said, “There is a hunger for top flight rugby in the region while SARU also has a long-standing commitment to assist in fulfilling this hunger.”
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