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Scrumhalf Francois Hougaard and centre Wynand Olivier were in confident mood at a Springbok media briefing at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth this afternoon. Looking ahead to Saturday’s third and final test against England, Hougaard said that if the Boks did the basics properly, there was no reason for them not to whitewash the series 3-nil. He felt it was also a wonderful opportunity for the likes of Stormers fullback Joe Pietersen to possibly get a run when coach Heyneke Meyer names his team tomorrow.
Olivier is relishing the prospect of playing in the centres alongside his Captain Jean de Villiers. He said he and Hougaard would also keep lending encouragement to their Blue Bulls team mate Morne Steyn who has been a bit out of sorts with his kicking. Both Olivier and Hougaard agreed that the reception they got at their first practice session at Grey High School yesterday was nothing short of remarkable. Some 5000 people turned up to watch and get autographs. Hougaard said it felt like they were playing a match and that it was something he’d never experienced before at practice. Olivier said some people may regard Port Elizabeth as a ‘small town’ but the interest being shown by the public augurs well for a packed Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
