Straeuli wants a try test

South Africa hope to continue their transformation into the great entertainers against Georgia at Aussie Stadium tomorrow.

After years of reliance on an over-physical approach, the Springboks have emerged as a major attacking force at the World Cup and amazed pundits with their expansive display in last weekend’s defeat by England.

Though Georgia, the only side in the tournament still to score a try, hardly represent the same threat, the Springboks are anxious to maintain the free-flowing style in readiness for a likely quarter-final date with the mighty All Blacks.

“We want to keep scoring tries,” said coach Rudi Straeuli.

“Most people thought we would come here, play tight 10-man rugby and just kick penalties and drop goals.

“But against England, I felt we were the most entertaining team. We have come a long way since the Tri Nations this summer and if we do end up meeting New Zealand in the quarter-finals, I am confident we can give a really good account of ourselves.

“It is important that we don’t get too far ahead of ourselves though. Georgia are quite a physical team, as Samoa will be in our final game, so we cannot afford to underestimate them.”

Straeuli has made 13 changes to his starting line-up, which includes dynamic winger Breyton Paulse.

The Stormers flyer has been kept out of international combat for almost 12 months by a persistent knee injury but with 16 tries in 39 appearances, could be a useful attacking weapon for the Springboks in the games which lie ahead.

Paulse will certainly fancy his chances of matching the hat-trick he scored on his Test debut against Italy in 1999 as he lines up against a largely part-time team that conceded 84 points to England and will have half an eye on the only winnable game of their campaign against fellow minnows Uruguay next Tuesday.

England coach Clive Woodward has tipped the ‘Lelos’ to win that game because of their superior forward power, which is probably why coach Claude Saurel has made eight changes to the team which put up a creditable showing against Samoa in midweek.

Flanker Gia Labadze could miss the remainder of the tournament with an arm injury, while team captain Ilia Zedginidze, who had a metal plate inserted into his forehead after suffering a nasty injury in the warm-up clash with Italy, is demoted to the bench.