After a score of injuries, Danie Rossouw must probably think that the gods are conspiring against him to prevent him from reaching absolute rugby greatness.

This week, fate threw out the bait of a 50th test cap starting in place of the suspended Botha, against the Springboks‘ greatest rivals on their home soil. No sooner had Rossouw been telling the media about how delighted he was with the way things had fallen into place for his milestone, than he picked up a calf injury in training on Tuesday afternoon which now puts his place in doubt for Saturday’s test in Wellington.

Fortunately, it is not a calf tear but merely a strain, and the Springbok medical staff are working furiously on Rossouw to ensure he can front up against an All Blacks side that outmuscled them last weekend.

Rossouw was first chosen for the Springboks in 2001 by Harry Viljoen, but was injured the day before they left on tour and had to wait another two years before finally making his debut in the 2003 World Cup. It was only in the 2007 World Cup, though, that Rossouw really came of age, showing his versatility by playing eighthman.

The 32-year-old admits he should have reached 50 caps a lot sooner and partially blames himself for not working harder when he was younger.

“I should have reached 50 caps earlier, but it’s also partly my own fault. Sometimes I have not been in the best shape physically or mentally, and then you get dropped. There was also one tour where I got injured the day before we flew out.

“But I always said I wanted to play 50 tests and I’m very happy with the way it’s worked out and I’m not on the bench. I could not have picked it better myself, I’m thankful for another chance and my 50th test will be a big milestone, one of the biggest games of my life,” Rossouw said before the fates began working their mischief against him yet again.

The immensely loyal Blue Bull is in the team to counter the physicality of the likes of Brad Thorn and Rossouw’s physical presence seemingly comes without the threat of the moments of madness that have plagued Botha’s career.

“Brad Thorn is a world-class lock so I must be at my best. He was at his best last week, he is a great player and I have a lot of respect for him, he also has a lot of experience,” Rossouw said of his counterpart in the black number four jersey.

Rossouw is adamant, however, that the All Blacks will not enjoy the same physical dominance they surprisingly had over the Springboks last weekend in Auckland.

“Mentally we have to pitch up this time and be right physically. We will definitely stand up and give as good as we get this time.

“It was frustrating to sit on the sideline last week, even though you know the guys on the field are doing their best. But the All Blacks dominated us, they were more physical, especially in the tackles.

“If they get momentum like they did last week and we miss first-time tackles and gaps start to open, then the All Blacks become very dangerous,” Rossouw said.

The 1.97m utility forward will also have an important role in the lineouts and he was confident the Kiwis would not enjoy the same dominance in that set-piece either.

“Victor Matfield is the best lineout lock in the world, but every now and then the opposition will target him. But I’m sure he will rise to the occasion this weekend. He will be making plans and he always does enough homework to be prepared.”

While Rossouw faces an anxious wait before his richly deserved milestone, there was bad news for tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis on Wednesday, with the news that his calf strain is serious enough to mean he will play no more part in the away leg of the Tri-Nations. Du Plessis left Wellington in the morning, with Bulls lock Flip van der Merwe heading in the opposite direction after being called up as lock cover.

The Springboks have been training at Porirua Park, a heavy, slow field that does put strain on the calves. All Blacks coach Graham Henry has also expressed concern at the dampness of the training fields in Wellington saying a number of his players had also complained of tight calves.

Source: supersport.co.za

Tags: all blacks, danie rossouw, Springboks