Boks bolstered by superb conditioning: McFarland
John McFarland says conditioning will be a major factor as the Springboks attempt to rollover their 2015 RWC World opposition, starting with Japan on Saturday, in Brighton, England.
The Springboks’ Belfast-born defence coach McFarland said the South African players will take heart from statistics that show their conditioning has improved at a steady rate over the month-long 2015 Rugby Championship, which was played earlier this year.
McFarland reasoned that a team in peak condition will cope better with the challenges it faces over the next few weeks. The pace of the Japanese was a moot point at Monday’s media briefing at the Springboks’ team hotel in Eastbourne.
McFarland commented on the state of the Boks' defensive system at the moment...
Here is what McFarland said they expect from Japan...
Earlier, Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar said that the Japan-based Springboks JP Pietersen and Fourie du Preez were able to offer insights into the playing strengths of the ‘Brave Blossoms’ after playing in their domestic leagues for the past two seasons