“Today, we can feel it,” says Erasmus

The Springboks woke up in Japan for a 12^th morning today, but felt the Rugby World Cup atmosphere for the first time properly, Rassie Erasmus, director of rugby at SA Rugby told the team’s ‘arrival’ press conference in Kagoshima on Friday lunchtime.

 

“This morning when we got up you could feel the change,” said Erasmus.

 

“We were on Rugby World Cup buses rather than City of Kagoshima buses, the liaison officers were wearing Rugby World Cup shirts, we had accreditation round our necks to get into the training ground so you could definitely feel a shift in atmosphere.

 

“I think the whole of Japan woke up this morning to the knowledge that the World Cup was here and I’m sure that all of the other teams will be feeling what we’re feeling.”

 

The Springboks transfer from their training base in the south east corner of Japan on Saturday to Tokyo where they will be greeted at an official welcome ceremony in Urayusu City.

 

It will mark the beginning of the next stage – match week against New Zealand – in a carefully mapped campaign by Springbok management.

 

“We have been together for 11, 12 weeks now, basically away from home most of the time, and we have certainly got closer as a team,” said Erasmus.

 

“We have achieved a lot of the objectives we set in coming early to Japan.

 

“The first was to get to know the country and the people and how things operate here and to be comfortable in the country and we’ve achieved that.

 

“The second one was to get some match time against good opposition, which was Japan, and we achieved that.

 

“And then obviously the third one was to get the guys used to the climatic conditions, not just the heat, but the humidity, both in match and in training time and we’ve done that.”

 

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi said: “I think it was a great call for us to come early and it has been a great privilege.

 

“We know how to handle the conditions now and the fact that our training has been very hard means it will stand us in good stead. The benefits will come through later in the games.

 

“I’ve also enjoyed the City, I visited the volcano and it was pretty amazing to see it erupt while we were there, and the people have been so welcoming in the way they have looked after us; they always want to help; they are very welcoming and always ready to help us.”

 

Erasmus added: “Something that has stood out for me – and I don’t think I’ve seen this anywhere else – is the people of the host nation wearing the jersey of the visiting team – the Springbok badge.

 

“I think that’s been amazing to see the Japanese people wearing the Springbok jersey. I think that shows a lot of respect and I think we can learn a lot from that.

 

“It makes us proud to see that and I think you can be proud of how you have supported the World Cup and adopting teams that are visiting here and making them feel at home.”

Is seker n moontlikheid. Ek sien dit amper soos die bye storie.. na n bye is mens nie so skerp nie.. mens oor oefen miskien ens.

Rugby mense en joernaliste sal altyd maar iets soek om te kla, die ref, die vervoer, die verbly, te veel oefen, te min oefen, te min tyd saam mekaar, maar nou kla hulle oor te veel tyd saam mekaar. Dit is een van die dinge wat ek altyd gehoor het is noodsaaklik vir n span, en hoekom dit moeilik is vir internasionale spanne om te perform as n eenheid soos bv n SR span. So as van die spelers kla daaroor, is julle reg en moes hulle nooit op die vliegtuid gewees het nie. Kan net dink dit is van die grootkop spelers soos Eben en Lood wat sulke dinge sal kwyt raak.

Ek kan nie regtig onthou nie maar ek dink dit was een van die hakers

Leeubok wrote: hier en daar 'n niggle is gaan die spelers gatvol vir mekaar raak.

I'm getting very excited for the RWC.

Ek het nou die dag vir die Durban July World Sports Betting gebruik. Seker maar net omdat hulle die Leeus sponsor het ek hulle gebruik. Website op die foon werk nie baie great nie..

Today, I can feel it.