Boks Out to Change Luck With France

TWELVE years of bad luck against France at home coupled with the motivation of building on a fantastic international season will drive the Springboks to emulate their stunning 52-10 victory against France in 1997 when the teams meet in Toulouse tonight.

The clash is the first of three Tests on the Springboks' European tour.

A win today will not only ensure that the class of 2009 is remembered as a special bunch of players, it will provide the confidence they need to pull through the tour unbeaten.

A victory, however, will rely heavily on the Springboks' ability to assert their authority against the highly rated French pack -- a battle which is expected to influence the outcome of the match directly.

With Springbok captain John Smit having plied his trade in France for six months after the 2007 Rugby World Cup and the decision by Bok coach Peter de Villiers to draft in his namesake, former French prop Pieter de Villiers, early this week to bolster their scrum, the visitors should have a good idea of what to expect today.

The effect of the team decision to touch down in France only two days before the game, however, remains to be seen.

That said, memories of lifting the Webb Ellis trophy in France in 2007 could overcome the limited time the Boks had to familiarise themselves with European winter conditions.

Smit emphasised the desire to use this game to as a another chance to prove how talented his team is, but the home team will be out to prove that despite being fifth on the world rankings they could be as good as the world champions.

Both teams displayed respect for each other's abilities this week and singled out the scrums and lineouts as the main areas going into the game.

Springbok loosehead prop Tendai Mtawarira and Smit, in particular, will be put to the test when they go head-to-head with the highly rated Nicolas Mas and Fabien Barcella respectively.

"One of their biggest weapons is their well-balanced pack," said Smit. "They have experience and power in the scrum and get good line-out ball. It will be one of our toughest Test matches this year."

De Villiers echoed his sentiments and said: "France is one of the teams we respect and I expect them to come out with all guns blazing.

"They are a very good side, especially the pack. They're very physical and there are some hard- running backs."

Springbok assistant coach Gary Gold, however, also noted the big French backs and the team's impressive off-loading as threats going into the clash.

Smit paid little attention to France's 12-year unbeaten run against the Boks on their home turf and said what differentiated the current squad from those that came off second best in the past few years was their vast experience.

"Our improvement this year will be based solely on the experience we have gained in the last four years," said Smit. "But we know we cannot rock up in Toulouse and expect to win. This is a good French team, so we will be up against it."

French captain and flank Thierry Dusautoir, meanwhile, warned his team to be intelligent in their approach to the game, particularly with regards to their kicking -- an area the Boks have mastered this season with the Bulls halfback pairing of Morne Steyn and scrumhalf Fourie du Preez dictating proceedings and speedy wings Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen very effective at following up the kicks.

"We'll have to know how to use our kicking game and impose our pace, that will be a few keys (to victory)," said Dusautoir.

Scrumhalf Julien Dupuy emphasised the mental approach going into the clash and advised his team to show no fear.

"You can't go out there scared and showing them too much respect," said Dupuy. "On the contrary, we'll have to go out there and play, and play very well."

Springbok team:

Zane Kirchner; JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Adi Jacobs, Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Ryan Kankowski, Schalk Burger, Heinrich Brussow; Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha; John Smit (capt), Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira.

Reserves: Adriaan Strauss, Wian du Preez, CJ van der Linde, Andries Bekker, Danie Rossouw, Ruan Pienaar, Wynand Olivier.

For full details on (GETY) GETY. (GETY) has Short Term PowerRatings at TradingMarkets. Details on (GETY) Short Term PowerRatings is available at This Link.