De Villiers: 'Bok big guns ready to fire'
Wed, 14 May 2008 15:38
Phone fun: Bok coach Peter de Villiers
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers is 'excited' at the prospect of tackling Six Nations winners Wales in a two-match Test series next month - mainly because he believes South Africa's top players are hitting form at the right time.
Speaking exclusively to rugby365.com ahead of the announcement of his first national training squad on Saturday evening, the Bok coach was in a buoyant mood about the talent at his disposal and the form of those shaping up as his is key men.
Just over a month ago, with the South African Super 14 franchises stumbling from one defeat to another, the mood in the country was glum and predictions of a pending disaster in the international season was a regular feature in the media.
But now, with the Stormers and the Sharks on the verge of play-off qualification, the mood has lifted and predictions are that the world champions are once again ready to slay the Welsh Dragons next month.
"Some of our top players started slowly in the Super 14, but their form has improved as the tournament has progressed and I am happy with the database we have built," De Villiers told rugby365.com.
"It has confirmed to me just how much talent and strength in depth we have in this country," the new Bok coach added.
De Villiers, who has agreed to the request from the Stormers and Sharks coaches not to include their players in the Bok training squad if they make it into the Super 14 semifinals, said there are no major concerns at this early stage of his campaign.
Asked if there were any areas or positions that concerned him - ahead of the Wales series - De Villiers replied: "At this stage no position concerns me. [But] I would have liked certain players to have received more exposure in the Super 14 in the positions I am considering them in for the Springboks."
The Bok mentor was also confident that the Springboks would have enough momentum going into the international season, following the resurgence of the South African teams in recent weeks.
"I am very happy with how the South African teams have performed [in the Super 14]," he said.
"It would be easy to look at the standings and say that three of our teams have struggled, but I don't think that reflects the true picture.
"The Bulls, the Cheetahs and the Lions have all had a lot of misfortune this year and have lost a couple of squeakers at crucial times in their seasons.
"Obviously it goes without saying that I am very pleased with what I have seen from the Sharks and Stormers, both of whom I think are deserving of semifinal places."
De Villiers described the forthcoming Test series against Wales as a "massive challenge", but added that he was "very excited" ahead of the two internationals in Bloemfontein (June 7) and Pretoria (June 14).
"As Six Nations champions, and under Warren Gatland, Wales have rightly returned to the status of a world power in the game," said the former SA Under-21 coach.
"My focus is on the first Test against Wales - it is a match I am looking forward to immensely."
By Jan de Koning
