Islanders laud 'physical' Boks

The Pacific Islanders are awaiting a massive forward assault from the Springboks when the two teams meet in Gosford, Australia, in a historic Test match on Saturday.

The Islanders are well known for their physical approach to the game, but in the Boks the combined Pacific Island team will face a side renowned for their forward power and hard-nosed style of play.

And the majority of the team, made up of players from Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, have not met the Boks before. Only the Samoans have faced up to the South Africans in recent times, and they were hammered 60-10 in the World Cup last year.

Islanders coach John Boe was in charge of Samoa at the time and he, more than most, knows where the strengths of the Boks lie. In the RWC the Boks snuffed out the Samoan challenge up front and destroyed any chance the Pacific Island team had of using their dangerous backline.

"They [Springboks] have a tradition of huge forwards, physical players, a tall lineout, a big scrum, good set pieces and we would expect nothing less in this Test match," said Boe.

"It's a huge challenge for our forwards and hopefully they will be up for it."

"Manu Samoa did so well against England at the World Cup - as we have done so well against Australia and New Zealand on this tour - and then we got to South Africa last year and wow, they just smashed us," said Boe.

"So we know what to expect if we are not careful. The danger is that could happen again and we certainly don't want that.

"I honestly haven't had a great look at South Africa and we won't - one of the biggest dangers for teams like ourselves is lack of self belief and if you spend too much time looking at the opposition they start to build up in your mind."

Islanders captain Inoke Afeaki, who has refused to apologise for his team's hard-line style of play following criticism after their inaugural Test against the Wallabies, was also full of praise for the Boks.

"It's an honour to meet them and we have a huge respect for them. Those who are playing them for the first time will have some nervous jitters about the legendary size of the South Africans and how brutal they are in mauls and rucks," said Afeaki. 

"But once you are in amongst it you realise that they are just other men and they tire like any other people and it's just a battle of the head - who can survive the longest."

"They have got the potential to be a very great team but there has been something missing and when they find that thing they will be back to their very best - we just hope they don't find it this weekend!"