Strauss confident ahead of third Ireland Test
Springbok Captain Adriaan Strauss cut a relaxed figure on Friday morning ahead of his third Test in charge against Ireland at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
He admitted that the pressure remained on his charges to turn in a comprehensive 80-minute performance, but is confident that the 'new' Bok team are starting to gel as a unit.
There is all to play for this weekend, with not only the Test Series on the line, but also Springbok pride.
The Bok skipper says he still adopts a 'week by week' approach and the disappointment of Newlands as well as the elation and relief of Ellis Park are now well behind them, with the sole focus being on Saturday's Test in PE.
He highlighted the role that the senior players and leadership core play around him, particularly in the winner-takes-all predicament which the Boks find themselves in and admits those individuals make his job as a captain a lot easier.
But by the same token, he said he thrived under pressure and personally enjoyed testing himself as a leader in what he terms the "weak and challenging" moments on the field.
Without looking for an escape clause or an excuse, he went to great lengths to emphasise coach Allister Coetzee's theory that Rome wasn't built in a day and it would be grossly inaccurate to think they were anywhere near to being a 'well moulded' side.