Viljoen dismisses Henry hype
November 22, 2000

Wales coach Graham Henry has made the Springboks the favourites to win Sunday's clash in Cardiff, but Harry Viljoen isn't buying any of his pre-match hype.

Henry said: "The Springboks are one of the top sides in the world - we will go in as definite underdogs and hope to give them a decent game.

"We have a sniff, an outside sniff and we'll be giving it heaps. They have been one of the best teams in the world for years and years and that hasn't changed. We have played them 13 times and won once - it's plain to see why we are underdogs."

But the Springbok coach's response was: "Graham Henry making opponents favourites is the normal thing - I believe the last time we played against Wales we lost, so I don't know the reasons he is making us favourites.

"The Welsh are very passionate when they play at the Millennium Stadium, so there is no reason to make us favourites. We are building a foundation for the future."

Viljoen admitted the Boks were under pressure to record a victory each time they take the field, with their supporters holding unrealistic expectations.

"To a lot of people in South Africa, rugby is everything and they expect us to win, but I don't think they have adapted to the fact that the northern nations have played a lot of catch-up in the last year or two. They have done a lot of homework and their rugby has improved.

"We realise what has happened - as a coach, a management and as a team - but I'm not sure that the people at home realise that. They still have their expectations of the Boks."

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