Springbok captain John Smit said the coming Tri-Nations tour will be taken serious and not used solely as  a yardstick and building block for the World Cup in 15 months time.

“If we want to go there with the focus on next year we’ll miss the plot. We want to go there and focus on things we’ve built up over the last few tests.

If we can put those together away from home and come away with a result, then we can say afterwards whether we can use that as building block for next year’s World Cup,” was his response after the comprehensive win of 55-11 over Italy in East London on Saturday.

Coach Peter de Villiers also warned about becoming overconfident after four good Test wins against Wales, France and Italy (twice). The 41-13 thrashing of Six Nations champions France by Argentina on Saturday, however, was probably an indication that not too much should be read into the Boks’ 42-17 win at Newlands just more than two weeks ago.

De Villiers, who was really satisfied with the second Test performance against Italy this past weekend, said after the announcement of the 28-man Tri-Nations squad for the two Tests against the All Blacks and one against the Wallabies that he regarded it as a strong side.

But he had a proviso for success: “We can be successful if we keep our feet on the ground.”

He also shied away from using performances this year as an indicator for the World Cup when asked whether the so-called Grand Slam tour at the end of the year will not affect the planning and preparations for the World Cup.

De Villiers said that he did not regard it as a Grand Slam tour. “It only becomes a Grand Slam tour when you win all four Tests – and we dearly want to win all our games.”

The tour, he said was “just another opportunity for us to prepare for the World Cup.”

The Boks were impressive, and especially the forwards were outstanding on Saturday, and it has become obvious that seven of last year’s stars who are either injured or not available for personal reasons, will battle to make it back into the Test fold.

Players like Francois Louw, in particular, a revitalised Gurthro Steenkamp, Dewald Potgieter, Gio Aplon and Chiliboy Ralepelle have impressed – and after the previous weekend’s struggling performance against Italy the message is clear: there is depth, and only the best performances will be awarded.

It’s become a live by the sword, die by the sword situation, said De Villiers. “Look at some of our more senior players. The players are now so competitive, they just cannot afford to get injured or go home for a week.

“It’s going to be tough (to get back in the team), but the door will never be closed on anyone. But yes, it’s going to be tough.”

The return of Tendai (Beast) Mtawarira after acquiring South African citizenship has seen him go right back into the squad after missing all four of this year’s Test matches.

“He was identified two years back as someone who could add to the value of South African rugby. It came as a great plus when we heard he is available again. It leaves us in a great position where we can choose between two great loosehead props. Once again, it’s a brilliant position to be in,” said De Villiers.

Mtawarira’s inclusion means that there are five props in the squad, and with the two hookers, they make up seven of the 16 forwards touring to Australasia.

Source- News 24