Krige urges Bok discipline

Springboks skipper Corne Krige tonight insisted that discipline is a priority for South Africa as they began preparations to face fierce World Cup rivals England.

Next Saturday’s Subiaco Oval showdown should decide the outcome of Pool C, sending the winners into a probable quarter-final against Wales – and losers lunging head-long towards New Zealand.

The stakes could hardly be higher, while memories are also still fresh from South Africa’s violent approach to their Twickenham clash against England last November.

Springboks lock Jannes Labuschagne was sent off for a reckless late challenge on England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, and there were several other unsavoury incidents as South Africa crashed in record-breaking 53-3 fashion.

Krige hardly helped matters last week when he described England’s Martin Johnson as the dirtiest captain in world rugby, but he insists that foul play is not on the agenda for him or his team-mates.

“When you play for the Springboks, every Test match is a life and death matter,” he said.

“Every Test match for me is about just keeping the players calm and making them understand that it is fire in the heart and ice in the brain.

“Rugby is a contact sport, where it is contested between the four lines, and that’s where it should stay. Once you get off the field, you should have a beer together and be friends – that’s what rugby is all about.

“The World Cup has already seen some dirty play, and not from our team. It is important in every Test match that you don’t give away penalties, especially not with a sharp-shooter like Jonny Wilkinson around.

“Discipline is very high up on our list. We started working on it following our tour at the end of last year.

“A count was kept on the players, who were in contention for the South African squad, right through the Super 12 competition. It really is something that the coaches and management have been working on, and habitual criminals have been spoken to.”

Springboks manager Gideon Sam revealed that a scale of financial penalties was already in place for transgressors.

“We want players to be conscious on the field that dirty play is not acceptable to the management,” he said.

“These are internal matters, but there is a gentlemen’s agreement in place, and players would get a financial penalty.”

South Africa are determined to let their rugby do the talking against England, but the Springboks are fully aware that it is more than three years since they last defeated Clive Woodward’s men.

“We are not here to get involved with a war of words with any of the teams. We want to play our best rugby on the field, and that’s it,” Sam added.

“We don’t want to stand here and say ’it is this kind of war or that kind of war.’ It’s 15 players against 15 on the field.”

Krige, who is expected to be fully fit following a hamstring problem that sidelined him for the 72-6 victory over Uruguay, accepts that the spotlight will be on his players.

“The people back home always expect a lot from us, and if we do win on Saturday, then it will be a big thing for them,” he said.

“Everyone is waiting for this game to decide whether they are going to jump on and support us, or just say ’told you it was going to happen’ in the case of a defeat.”

Like England, South Africa have some injury concerns, notably centre Jaque Fourie, wing Thinus Delport and replacement fly-half Derick Hougaard, while flanker Hendro Scholtz is currently ill with bronchitis. Only Scholtz is rated doubtful for next weekend.

Springboks coach Rudolf Straeuli watched England’s 84-6 demolition of Georgia on Sunday, and was impressed with what he saw.

“I thought it was a very good performance by England, especially given Georgia’s tenacity and the weather conditions. To score 84 points and not concede a try is possibly why they are rated the number one team at the moment,” Straeuli said.

“At the end of the day, in order to beat England, we need to score one more point than them. But they are the top side at the moment, and it is going to be a big task for us as underdogs.”