No lamb here: Imanol Harinordoquy is not about to be butchered
It's been over three years since France last faced South Africa, a June Test in Cape Town the French won a convincing 36-26.
It was one of those French rugby days when passes stuck, the adventure was there, and there was nothing the Boks could do.
But as number eight Imanol Harinordoquy pointed out on Monday, that was a South African team with its focus firmly on things a little further ahead, and fielding a team still comparatively in its infancy. The teams have gone in different directions since then, with the Boks kicking on to win the World Cup a year and a half later and the French going stale under Bernard Laporte before an ignominious exit.
When the World Champions come to Toulouse this Friday it will be almost the reverse situation: a settled and vastly experienced Bok team going to the home of a green-looking French side - in some areas anyway.
According to Harinordoquy, this Bok team also brings something else, a facet of personality no other team in the world possesses: nastiness.
"South Africa are world champions, they are the best team in the world but they also are the nastiest and most physical team in the world. A team that is always trying to hurt," said Biarritz's talisman on Monday.
"Of course, they play inside the rules, they don't stamp on you or knee you because now if you do that it's a yellow card or even a red card.
"Our sport is changing but the fundamentals are the same. A rugby game, and particularly a game against the Springboks, is above all a fight between two packs of forwards."
Earlier in the day, Lucien Mias, who was captain of the first French team to win on African soil, said that this Bok team had "decided once and for all to be the butcher rather than the lamb."
Harinordoquy concurred - with one tiny reservation.
"Yes, you could say they are butchers but I can assure you we are not going to be the lambs on Friday," he quipped before letting loose a giant laugh.
"They don't play a very sophisticated game but they always try to break their opponents defence, they are very strong on the tackle, and in the rucks, their line-out is superb and they are hefty in the physical duels.
"We beat them last time we met but it was in 2006 (36-26 in Cape Town) and they were rebuilding their team. Friday's test will be another story, winning the World Cup has given them a lot of confidence and they can hammer any team in the world," he added.
"To match them, we'll have to be very strong on the fundamentals of the game, do simple things but do them well even if sometimes it's the most difficult. I'm sure we can do it but we'll have to be at our best and play with a lot of solidarity."
Comments
Neef says...
I don't understand this upstart.
The Boks don't play any different (apart from the obvious gap in talent and class) than any team, be it club, province or cheese-and-wine in South Africa.
Having played there for some years in school, varsity and cheese-and-wine teams, I have learned that if the opponent stick to the rules, there is nothing to worry about from those Saffers, except dealing with their often superior strength and physicality.
However, you dare pull something underhanded and dirty, the gloves come off and they WILL make you se the error of your ways.
I recall using a bit of an elbow and some tugging on my opposite number, when after tackling me into the ground and smearing my face in the grass, he said "We ARE going to have a NICE game from now on, aren't we?"
So I just wonder what this cock had tried on the field for him to have such an "unfortunate" nasty experience?
Ha-ha-ha. Nasty players wil get nasty done onto them!!!
Posted 19:57 10th November 2009
KiwiRooster says...
What a great guy Imanol, it's good to see him back at his best with Biarritz Olympique. Combined with Dusautoir (our new captain as consistent as ever for both club and country) and Picamole (a real gem at 8 for Stade Toulousain), les Bleus have the potential for upsetting the Boks. Watch out the new pair of centres David (Toulouse) and Mermoz (Perpignan) for their first selection together. It should be explosive. My only surprise came from the selection of Traille at fullback. He is a great centre with a great boot but he is no fullback nor half back. I hope Marc Lievremont does not make the same mistake as his predecessor Laporte by playing the card of polyvalence at all cost. At the time, we were lacking consistent specialists at every position, but it is no longer the case. At fullback, I see no one else but Medard (Toulouse) -in spite of his recent dip in form - and Porical (Perpignan) who will have to wait a little bit longer for his first selection. Pity Ducalcon (prop) and Burban (flanker) were forced to leave the group due to injuries. Ducalcon is a modern prop very similar to Fabien Barcella with lots of speed and power. Burban is very physical in a Schalk Burger sort of way. I hope we will see them for the Six Nations. And most of all: I hope we will see Benjamin Fall on the pitch. I dubbed this 20 yo winger as the "French Lote Tuqiri" (minus the various scandals). He is fast, agile, powerful and has excellent vision. The road to New Zealand is long but we are definitely on the right path. Allez les Bleus!
Posted 00:27 10th November 2009