Against the odds

Springbok write-off should motivate titlists

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Thursday October 14, 1999 07:53 PM

The 1995 Champion Springboks relish their position as "underdogs" in this year's Rugby World Cup. AP

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) -- The downgrading of 1995 World Cup champion South Africa to third-favorite at the '99 tournament could be the perfect motivation for the Springboks.

"Some pundits have been suggesting we won't even reach the semifinals," said assistant coach Alan Solomons. "But that will only act as a spur to us."

The South Africans, in Scotland preparing for Sunday's opener against the Pool A host and Five Nations champions, have been on a slide since last season but have been bolstered by the recent return of key players from injury.

"It has been a difficult year for us because we have had a litany of injuries but we are not turning up on Sunday thinking everything will be OK because it is the World Cup," Solomons said.

"We have worked hard in training camp and we will be ready."

The Springboks open their Cup defense against the Scots at Murrayfield and then face tournament rookies Spain and Uruguay in other preliminary games.

The 'Boks won the last head-to-head 35-10 in Edinburgh in November and went on to defeat Ireland next game for a world-record equaling 17 successive tests victories.

At that stage, South Africa was the unanimous favorite to become the first team to retain the World Cup.

But its winning run ended in a 13-7 loss to England in December, which triggered a four-test losing stretch including a 29-19 defeat to Wales and Tri-Nations losses to New Zealand and Australia.

World Cup favorite status was subsequently conferred on Tri-Nations champion New Zealand, losing finalists in '95, with Australia considered the next-best bet.

And South Africa dropped to equal-third favorite with England.

But Solomon said pre-tournament ratings wouldn't count when the Springboks hit form.

"Spending three weeks in camp together was critical for us and confidence is quite high now," he said. "New Zealand have already shown how quickly form can be turned around and we are quite positive about this competition."

"Sunday's game is hugely important because it will shape where we will play the rest of our matches.

"But it will be tough because Scotland are Five Nations champions."

A loss against Scotland could pit the Springboks, via a play-off, into a quarterfinals clash against New Zealand, which is a match Solomon thinks could be saved for later in the tournament.

 

Related information
Stories
Skinstad denies Springbok rift New stadium, rain cause consternation Multiracial Springboks head for World Cup
Multimedia
Visit Multimedia Central for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.