Springboks: Aphelele Fassi embracing fresh challenge presented to him by Rassie Erasmus
Springboks full-back Aphelele Fassi and loosehead prop Ox Nche (inset).
Springboks full-back Aphelele Fassi is excited ahead of Saturday’s Rugby Championship encounter against the Wallabies in Johannesburg and is embracing his new challenge in the team.
Earlier this week, the world champions’ head coach Rassie Erasmus revealed that Fassi is one of South Africa’s new goal-kicking options and the 27-year-old is looking forward to tackling that responsibility head on.
“I’ve been practicing my kicking a lot, even before I joined the Boks this season, and I’m confident with the way things are going,” said Fassi, who has scored seven tries in 12 Test appearances for South Africa, including a memorable one against the Wallabies in Perth last year.
‘A matter of putting my head down and continuing to put in the work’
“So, when coach Rassie told me that I’ll also be a kicking option, it was a matter of putting my head down and continuing to put in the work.”
Speculation has been rife of late that Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt will select James O’Connor at fly-half for the clash at Ellis Park.
Fassi said it would not make a difference who Australia named in their starting line-up as South Africa are focusing on their own game.
“It won’t change the way we want to play if they select him because we know what we want to do on the field,” he said of O’Connor’s potential selection.
“He’s a good player with a good skillset, and he has played against us before, so for us it is all about doing things the Springbok way.”
Fassi and loosehead prop Ox Nche are expecting a physical encounter but feel it is imperative that the Boks stick to their structures in order to make a winning start to the Rugby Championship.
Nche praised the Wallabies for the way they raised their standard of play in their last two matches against the British and Irish Lions and is expecting a tight tussle this weekend.
“We saw in their last two Tests against the British and Irish Lions how they started to gel and improve, while they are also developing good combinations with players who have been playing together for a while, so they will definitely be up for the game,” he said.
“Their set-pieces have also improved, and they have a solid pack, so we are expecting them to challenge us in the scrums and lineouts.
‘They’ll be fired up and keen to try to make their presence felt’
“We have no doubt they will be fired up and keen to try to make their presence felt in the areas of the game they are strong at.”
Fassi echoed those sentiments and revealed that the Boks have been preparing well for Saturday’s eagerly anticipated Test.
“We know it’s going to be a physical game, and with the backs they have, we are also expecting an expansive game,” he added.
“That said, just as they have their plans, we have ours, and we know what we have to do no matter what they throw at us because it’s important for us to play our brand of rugby.”
Nche revealed the Boks are expecting tough challenges from all the sides as they defend their Rugby Championship title. “We are a year older as some say, but so are the other teams, and they have gained that experience as well.
“If one looks at how the opposition teams have performed this year, both Argentina and Australia beat the British and Irish Lions, so it will be a challenging competition for all the teams.
“But in terms of trying to defend our title, we are certainly going to do everything we can to achieve that.”
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