Boks ready for any eventuality against Wales

Springbok No 8 Jasper Wiese and hooker Bongi Mbonambi said the team were ready to adapt to anything that Wales may throw at them in the opening Test of the Castle Lager Incoming Series at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, and that they believed in their systems and the coaches’ plans.

Both players expected a fierce onslaught from the never-say-die Welsh outfit, and said it was a matter of sticking to their structures and giving their all on the day, and hopefully the result will take care of itself.

With a lot of competition in the loose trio with the likes of the uncapped Elrigh Louw, the hard-working Deon Fourie, Vodacom United Rugby Championship Player of the Season Evan Roos, utility forward Kwagga Smith, and the injured Duane Vermeulen also in the running in the coming months, Wiese said no player could rest on their laurels.

“With the quality players that are here there is big competition for places and a lot of it too, so I just want to do my best for the team and hopefully the results take care of themselves,” said Wiese.

“I watched the Vodacom United Rugby Championship and Evan and Elrigh were really excellent. 

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“The competition for the places among the loose forwards is so high, if you don’t perform someone could easily take your spot. Kwagga has been doing well in Japan as well, so one has to keep on working hard to stay here.”

Asked what he expected from the Welsh loose forwards, as they prepare to announce their team after midday on Thursday, Wiese said: “Tommy Reffell is a great player. I play with him at the Leicester Tigers. He brings physicality in the tackle and at the breakdowns as well.

“Taulupe Faletau is also an excellent player, who has loads of experience and who has been in the Wales set up for a while, so we have to be well prepared for their loose forwards and anything that they bring.”

After being named as the Man of the Match in the Premiership Rugby final two weekends ago, Wiese said while it was a special award, he hoped he could build on that form in the green and gold.

“Hopefully I can take that form going into the season and having over 50 000 people cheering for us helps as well,” said Wiese.

"So as a team we would really like to take the opportunity this weekend and each do what we can do for the team.”

Mbonambi was equally excited to reunite with his team-mates in the green and gold in front of a capacity crowd at "Fortress Loftus" and said the pack and his fellow front-rowers were ready to give everything they could to put the team on the front foot.

“It has been a while since we have played together and the guys have been training hard and doing their best for their franchises and clubs in the last few months,” said Mbonambi.

“The coaches have derived a proper plan on what they would like us to do in the match, so as players we just have to focus on our processes and systems and take things day by day.”

When quizzed on whether the coaches would rotate the front rows at halftime, as they have done in the past, Mbonambi said: “It’s up to the coaches how to use the front rows and what combinations to use.

“We have a great starting pack and an equally great one on the bench and every player ensures that they put in the effort, so we will go out there and give it our best.”