Boks can match All Blacks - Whiteley

Warren Whiteley during the South Africa training session at Paul Roos Markotter Stadium, Stellenbosch on 2 June 2016 ©Luigi Bennett/BackpagePix

Warren Whiteley during the South Africa training session at Paul Roos Markotter Stadium, Stellenbosch on 2 June 2016 ©Luigi Bennett/BackpagePix

Published Jun 3, 2016

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Warren Whiteley is absolutely thrilled to be with the Springboks but the camp in Stellenbosch this week must have been tough on him, as he is constantly reminded of what he gave up to be there.

A few weeks ago, Whiteley gave up on his Olympic dreams to concentrate on playing for the Lions and the Boks, rather than fight for a place in the South African Sevens squad for the sporting showpiece in Rio de Janeiro in August.

The Boks stayed at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport – the Blitzbokke’s HQ – this week in preparation for their Test against Ireland at Newlands next Saturday. The names and logos of the Sevens side are emblazoned everywhere, while some of their star players were also in training.

“It was an extremely difficult decision, probably the toughest decision in my career,” Whiteley said yesterday. “I spoke on numerous occasions to SA Sevens coach Neil Powell about it. It’s still difficult when I think about it, because it wasn’t that I didn’t want to play for the Blitzboks at the Olympics. I just couldn’t do both at the same time.

“Because of the role that I play at my provincial union (as captain of the Lions), I felt that I would be turning my back on the team and my teammates that I have been fighting for – and with – for such a long time.

“It would have been a selfish decision to go to the Olympics, but I can’t tell you that I don’t want to go to Rio because I would be lying. I wanted to be part of something special with an amazing group of players and a great culture at the Blitzboks, but the timing just isn’t right.”

While his decision is admirable, Whiteley may not feature for the Boks in their upcoming three Tests, as Duane Vermeulen arrives in the Mother City on Sunday.

Vermeulen is one of the best No 8s in the world and likely to start against the Irish. Whiteley is not even assured of a spot on the bench, as coach Allister Coetzee may pick a player who can fill all three back-row positions.

Whiteley, though, isn’t worried about who starts and who doesn’t. He just loves the vibe in the side. “There isn’t a lot of thought about who will play and who won’t play at this stage,” he said. “There is just excitement about being in the squad, and about the style of rugby we want to play.

“We believe we have the right mix of players who will all take their opportunity if it comes. This past week has been about getting the detail down, but also about picking up training intensity.”

Still, Whiteley has been one of the form loose forwards in Super Rugby, and was even touted as a possible Bok captain after what he has achieved with the Lions this year.

He has also been one of the more consistent players in a Lions side who are playing a great brand of rugby – and winning.

Coetzee wants the Boks to play a similar kind of a game, one which the All Blacks have successfully implemented for a long time.

And Whiteley believes there is no reason why the Boks can’t follow their lead.

“It took the Lions time to develop that game and from a Springbok perspective, we don’t want to move far from the aspects that have made Bok rugby strong – set-piece superiority, physical contact and dominating the contact zone,” the 28-year-old said.

“But we also have players with fantastic skills and talent. We need to utilise those skills, and the secret is getting the balance between the two approaches right.

“I totally believe that we have the players to match New Zealand. You just have to go to a school rugby game in SA, even from Under-13, and you can see those skills.

“What you need to have is the correct mindset and to believe in what you’re doing. That’s what we did at the Lions, and that’s what is beginning to happen at the Boks. You have to be able to play with freedom, but you can’t be scared to make mistakes.” - Cape Times

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