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Wallaby backs rate Nokwe

Wednesday 20th August 2008

Drew Mitchell: Ready for whoever the Boks throw at him

South Africa will miss Bryan Habana in the Tri-Nations clash against Australia on Saturday, but Wallaby backs Lote Tuqiri and Drew Mitchell have a healthy respect for new Springbok flyer Jongi Nokwe.

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers on Tuesday presented Nokwe with an opportunity to build on his impressive Test debut against Argentina by selecting him to replace the injured Habana for this weekend's match in Durban.

"Bryan is world-class but the South Africans have a remarkable ability to produce speedy wings," Tuqiri told a media gathering on Tuesday.

"I did not watch the match between the Springboks and Argentina and I did not see Jongi's try, but I played against him in the Super 14.

"He is one of those players coming through."

Mitchell, who looks likely to replace the injured Adam Ashley-Cooper at full-back for the Wallabies on Saturday, echoed Tuqiri's assessment on the Springboks' new speed machine.

"I've seen a little bit of him [Nokwe] through the Super 14," said Mitchell.

"He's a quick, elusive type of player, the same sort of mould as Bryan Habana.

"Habana is obviously a world class player, but they [the Springboks] have got plenty of class players right across the field.

"We certainly don't hold him [Habana] above anyone else in the side, nor dictate our gameplan around him, so the Boks certainly don't lose too much without him.

"Everyone who's in their squad I'm sure will be eager, and have that enthusiasm to go out there and prove to the selectors and the coaches that they can do the job as well."

Saturday's Tri-Nations Test is shaping as the battle of the expansionists with new coaches, new gameplans and new rules all set to be on show on Durban's Absa Stadium.

While Robbie Deans has emphasised attacking instinct since he became Wallabies coach in June, the Springboks' new man De Villiers declared this week he would persevere with his side's newfound width and hot potato ball-play despite mixed results.

That wasn't how the Springboks won last year's Rugby World Cup, but the arrival of the experimental law variations (ELVs) has changed the landscape and South Africa are in desperate need of bonus points if they're to pull off an unlikely Tri-Nations series win.

Mitchell believes this weekend's Durban clash will involve all of the new ingredients.

"They [the Springboks] have been playing an attacking expansive type of game, and I think they'll keep going with that," Mitchell said.

"It is up to us to make sure we are on our game with our defensive policies and that sort of thing.

"If there is any opportunity for turnovers or things like that, we can hopefully sting them back.

"With these new ELVs, it certainly creates a lot more opportunity at full-back in terms of counter-attack and turn-over ball and getting your hands on the ball as much as you can.

"Certainly late in the halves, when the bigger guys are getting fatigued there is some scope there to try and get involved and get a few mismatches."

With the Australia management set to announce the Wallabies' line-up on Thursday, Mitchell has been running at both wing and full-back at practice in the likely event of gaining a starting XV call-up.

"This week I've been training at both wing and full-back. I'm giving myself every opportunity to prepare in case I do get that call-up," said Mitchell.

"Obviously with Coopie [Ashley-Cooper] out there's an opportunity at full-back - if it's me who gets the job I'll be very excited."

Mitchell also can't wait to play at Absa Stadium, a Test venue that has favoured the Wallabies over the years.

"We certainly enjoy playing there [in Durban]," said Mitchell.

"It's a great stadium - it's built right on top of you and it's a great atmosphere.

"The guys really enjoy being out there so if we can get out there and start well and silence the crowd, things hopefully won't go so bad for us."