The Wallabies have called on one of South Africa’s best known goalkickers to help improve their technique before the Pretoria Test on Saturday.

Braam van Straaten, who played 21 Tests for the Springboks and is best known for kicking South Africa to victory over the All Blacks in Johannesburg in 2000 with seven goals, has spent the week with the Wallabies.

At the team’s first training session in Cape Town on Monday, Van Straaten was called in near the end of the practice to oversee the techniques of the Australian kickers, including James O’Connor, Matt Giteau and Quade Cooper.

Then, on the team’s day off on Tuesday, the kickers spent 2½ hours at a nearby ground with van Straaten finetuning their run-ups, kicking styles and follow-throughs. Such enthusiasm from the players has delighted team management, which had grown accustomed to squad members being more eager to avoid work and instead go sightseeing on their days off.

However, the pursuit of victory over the Springboks and the boosting of their chances to be part of next year’s World Cup campaign has prompted a high level of enthusiasm among the touring squad.

This has also been evident in the team’s eagerness to become the fittest team in international rugby. That asset will be crucial against the Springboks over the next fortnight, as South Africa’s lack of conditioning has been evident in recent Tests, where they have fallen off the pace in the final minutes of matches.

The Wallabies do not have to be reminded that NZ scored twice in the final three minutes of last weekend’s Test to pass the Boks and win.

from RugbyHeaven