FOR the first time since the Springboks settled in Durban for their World Cup preparations\u201a they were partially greeted by conditions they could be dealing with in the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n
While it was humid\u201a it was not as warm. It rained in the morning and it was windy. For Siya Kolisi\u201a these are conditions he is accustomed to as Port Elizabeth is notorious for whipping up four seasons in a day.<\/p>\n
Cape Town\u201a where he plays for the Stormers\u201a probably has the closest conditions South Africa can replicate in terms of a Northern Hemisphere winter.<\/p>\n
It makes Durban as the Boks\u2019 city of choice a rather puzzling decision\u201a but the wisdom of that decision will be tested later this month.<\/p>\n
Kolisi is less concerned with where they train than how hard it has been to make the World Cup squad\u201a such is the depth of talent at loose-forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can never expect to be in the final squad\u201a especially with the quality of the loose-forwards we have in the country\u201a\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had to work and fight hard\u201a especially after (injury) last year\u201a when I had to dig deep and get out of the hole I was in. It has been a tough journey and it means so much to me\u201a especially after the injuries I had.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even after the Cosatu debacle\u201a the Bok transformation storm has refused to dissipate\u201a which ratchets up the pressure on Heyneke Meyer\u2019s men to come back with the William Webb-Ellis trophy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen everything else was happening\u201a we knew it has nothing to do with us. We knew what we needed to do and we all have the same goal. If a person has a problem with another person\u201a we ensure that is sorted out here together.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re a tight family and we\u2019ve been focusing on ourselves. It\u2019s much better and easier now that we know who is going\u201a\u201d Kolisi said.<\/p>\n
Kolisi is aware of what they need to do to achieve that goal and harked back to the basic need of playing towards something to make their moment worthwhile.<\/p>\n
\u201cRepresenting the Springboks at a World Cup is one of the reasons why we play rugby. Just making the squad is only the beginning. We now need to go and fight for the World Cup if we want to win it. It\u2019s going to be tough and the coach is pushing us to limits we haven\u2019t been to before. Honestly\u201a the whole group will do anything to win the trophy\u201a\u201d said Kolisi.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you go to a World Cup\u201a you have to forget about a team\u2019s past because every game is a final. You have to win every game to win the World Cup but we\u2019ve inculcated the habit of forgetting about the previous game.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve taken lessons from the defeats and we know we need to play 80 if not 90 minutes of rugby in each game.\u201d \u2013 The Times<\/p>\n
Source: RDM News Wire.<\/p>\n