Straueli's Springboks under fire

Rudolf Straueli’s Springboks have been accused of damaging their World Cup prospects by adopting an overly physical approach to their final warm-up match.

The warning came from Falcons coach Pieter de Villiers whose team were crushed 74-0 by the South African national team in their final preparation match before flying out to Australia.

He fears that Straeuli’s team are running the risk of suffering serious injuries ahead of the World Cup which begins in little under a fortnight’s time.

De Villiers believes the Springboks need not have taken the match so seriously, describing Straeuli's team as “very stupid” for adopting a powerful approach.

He denied there was any negative intent on behalf of the Falcons in Tuesday night’s match in Springs.

“The (Bok) players on the field were very stupid. If they’re going to try to run every ball at the World Cup, they’re going to open themselves up to injuries,” said De Villiers.

“Each guy wanted to score a hat-trick on the night. They wanted to make a name and there will be a price to pay.

“If they stuck to a plan of hitting up front and running when gaps appeared, they would not have had injuries. Any game will be hard, especially at the World Cup.

“If they think they will run through people there, I don’t know what is going through their heads.”

Fly-half Louis Koen was the victim of a late shoulder charge in a match which saw the Falcons struggle to compete.

Jean de Villiers, who had joined the Springboks on Sunday as a replacement for the injured Gcobani Bobo, played only five minutes before falling badly on his shoulder. He too was ruled out of the World Cup on Wednesday evening.

To make matters worse, scrum-half Neil de Kock also left the field clutching his shoulder, while lock Selborne Boome was pulled off early and had to sport an eye patch.

In contrast, the Falcons players came off lightly.

Although coach De Villiers insists they were subject to some hostile Springbok play, his injured namesake takes a different perspective on events.

The Springbok centre accused the Falcons of deliberately playing a rough game.

“I feel they played very negatively. It was as if they intended to hurt people,” said De Villiers.

He recognised that his chances of going to the World Cup had been ruined as soon as he fell.

“I couldn’t really believe it when it happened, but immediately accepted it,” said the Western Province star.

“I was not emotional. The pain was so bad that when it happened I immediately knew.

“I have been through this before … I’m really short of words.”

Centre De Villiers has had a nasty turn of luck in the Bok jersey, with his debut in Marseille lasting just eight minutes. He was selected for the Springbok training camp, but was sent home after the Bok management felt that he needed more match practice.

He subsequently scored seven tries in six matches for Western Province in the Currie Cup before being recalled to the national squad.