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PARIS - Former champions South Africa will look to hammer home their credentials as potential 2007 winners by beating two-time quarter-finalists Samoa at the Parc des Princes tonight in their World Cup opener.
South Africa, the 1995 champions, with coach Jake White at the helm have built themselves into one of the few teams capable of stopping the All Blacks.
It is a far cry from the humiliating spectacle of 2003 where they only reached the last eight.
That bitter experience certainly left a mark on the veterans of that campaign.
"We have spent four years waiting for this. It has been a long time coming," said hooker and captain Jon Smit, who will lead the Springboks for a record 43rd time on Sunday.
For outstanding lock Victor Matfield this squad are capable of going all the way having matured dramatically from four years ago.
"We often lost close matches but since then we have had a lot of wins both in the national side and in Super 14 (he captained the Bulls to victory over the Sharks in this year's competition).
"Now the guys know how to manage and win matches.
"That is very important because there are six teams who can beat each other, no matter who in every match.
"It is imperative to come out victorious in this type of match. That comes with experience, but also with confidence."
Even though Samoa may not seem the toughest task to tackle - especially given the 'Boks have a record of five wins out of five against them scoring 257 points against just 58 - White has assembled the most experienced line-up with 609 caps between them.
Numbered among them is dashing fullback Percy Montgomery - who missed the 2003 debacle - and venerable prop Os du Randt, the only surviving member of the 1995 squad.
White, who will be guiding the Boks for the 47th time despite threatening to resign over claims of political interference, said that there were two reasons for playing his strongest side.
"The team needs a lot of playing time to prepare for the match against England (the decisive pool match in Paris on September 14)," he said.
However White was neither underestimating the Samoans, who the South Africans beat in the pool stage in 2003.
"Remember the 2003 World Cup when Samoa caused England problems in the pool games," said White. "Not so much the result (England won 35-22) but the way in which they played before being dominated. We expect them to start against us in the same way."
Smit said it was the best possible opposition to get the tournament underway.
"Samoa is a great way to start the World Cup," said Smit. "They are a very tough physical team."
Samoa, with 35-year-old veteran Brian Lima starting on the bench in what is his fifth World Cup, do have some powerful attacking options themselves but would probably love to have coach Michael Jones playing for them.
The All Black legend, who played 55 times for New Zealand and was part of the 1987 World Cup-winning team, stepped up from assistant coach to the senior post after John Boe left after the last World Cup.
He acknowledges that they face a stiff task but equally he is sure his team - whose star turn is rampaging winger Alesana Tuilagi - will not shame themselves.
"I've always maintained that we're not here to make up the numbers," said Jones.
"From my perspective as coach, we have got a lot of talent in the team and those players have to put their bodies on the line for their country.
"We may not possess the resources and money top teams like England and South Africa have but we've got a team of players who are ready to die for their country."
- AFP
