Springbok captain Warren Whiteley has promised that his team will give a professional performance during the dead rubber test match against France at Ellis Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Boks are leading the series 2-0 after impressive wins in Pretoria and Durban‚ and Whiteley said they won’t take the foot off the pedal despite the fact that they have already won the series.
“For us this is an individual game‚ as a Springbok team we need to perform to the best of our abilities and that is our only goal. We want to keep on improving and that is one of the important factors of this game‚” said Whiteley adding that it is important for the Springboks to win the series 3-0.
“It is very important that we win but we know it is not going to be easy by any means. If you look at the past two tests it was a hell of a fight.
“There were moments in those Test matches where we had to show character and we did that. This week will be another opportunity for us because the French are not going to rest on their laurels and be rolled over.
“They have come here to play and definitely they will want a better performance this weekend. They won’t lack motivation for the match because they are playing for their country.”
Saturday’s Test will be Whiteley’s third match as skipper of the Boks and he said it will be even more special in front of his home crowd.
“It will be special‚ a huge honour and massive privilege but I have a job to do and that’s what’s important.
“We do feel that we are heading in the right direction as a group and we have also made great steps off the field‚ which is crucial. We are also keeping our feet on the ground because there is a lot to work on and improve.
“Confidence is growing within the group‚ we are getting to know each other even better and there is continuity.
“The guys are more familiar with what we want to achieve‚ what the processes are and what the gameplan is.
“There are some challenges that we will have to overcome as the days and weeks go by but we are evolving and hungry to keep improving and this week is another opportunity for us.”
By Friday afternoon‚ more 50 000 tickets had already been sold and Whiteley said it was pleasing to see people are behind his team.
“It’s unbelievable. We are grateful as players to see that the country is behind us.
“Ellis Park is an amazing play to play rugby and coming close to a full house it will be an unbelievable atmosphere‚” he said.
- TimesLIVE
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