Boks hoping for fast start to '06

'We know how important a win is first-up'

Jake White's Springboks are hoping to begin their centenary season with a victory against Frank Hadden's combative Scotland unit in Durban on Saturday. White, however, knows that his team faces a stiff challenge.

"Scotland were our first opponents back in 1906 when Paul Roos' team played against them," said White from Durban on Friday afternoon. "So, not only were they the Springboks' first-ever opponents, but they will be our first opponents 100 years later. It's a great opportunity for both teams and it goes without saying that we'd like to start our year with a victory."

Added White: "[But] we know how important a win is first-up. I've said it all week, our win over the World XV was just that - a win and it was great for those youngsters out there to experience a Springbok victory."

But the Scots - under the tutelage of Hadden after an ill-fated tenure under Australian Matt Williams - will not be pushovers, having recorded Six Nations wins over France and England earlier this year.

"Nobody gave Scotland a chance of beating France; I was there, so I can speak as an informed spectator," said White.

"Even the cab drivers were backing France to run away with it... But yet they ended up beating France and England in one year and not many teams can say they've done that. [But] I imagine part of their team talk will centre around their performances against southern hemisphere teams, it's something they'd want to improve on."

And part of their team talk will also surely centre around the massive Bok pack, boosted this week by the return of regular skipper and hooker John Smit, veteran loosehead prop Os du Randt, line-out ace Victor Matfield and all-action flankers Schalk Burger and Juan Smith.

"I'm sure they'll see our pack as part of our strength," admitted White, "especially with all those players coming back. I imagine they'll have a go at us up front, but also look to get their backs into the game, as they've done this season."

And when asked where his team could improve, after last week's debacle that was the World XV clash, White replied: "It's difficult to please everyone. If we score a long-range try then the defence was too weak, if one guy makes an 80-metre run with the ball on his nose, then he should've passed. Sometimes I don't understand what people want to see."

Well Jake, let's make it simple for you - we want to see total dominance up front, good decision-making from your halfbacks (given their constant supply of quality ball) and Jean de Villiers putting the likes of Fourie, Paulse and Snyman into space.

That will equate into a pretty comfortable win and get the media off your back.

"The media overreacted after last week and that didn't help," said White. "If we'd lost what would everyone had said then? Believe me that game did those youngsters the world of good. It wasn't a Test match, but we've developed a whole lot of new players, who enjoyed a great experience."

By Howard Kahn