'Shocked' Joost to skipper Boks

JOHANNESBURG --Blue Bulls scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen admitted yesterday to being "shocked'' following coach Nick Mallett's announcement that he would take over the captaincy for South Africa's home Tri-Nations matches and the Rugby World Cup this year.

"It came as more than a shock than a surprise,'' Van der Westhuizen told Sapa.

"It's a huge challenge, especially as it's going to be very difficult to fill Gary Teichmann's boots.''

Van der Westhuizen, 28, admitted that it will be difficult to pick up the side for the Tri-Nations match against New Zealand at Minolta Loftus on August 7 in the wake of their heavy tour defeats to the All Blacks and Australia.

"I think it will be tough, but definitely not insurmountable. I've overcome bigger challenges.''

Van der Westhuizen, who spent a long time on the sidelines following an injury to knee ligaments in South Africa's 13-7 defeat to England at Twickenham in December last year, felt he had overcome the injury physically and psychologically.

"I am wearing a guard, but I think I've proved with my performances in the Currie Cup that I've overcome the injury. I just have to build on my progress so far.

"If you worry about your knee all the time you are going to hurt it, and I think the national cause is far more important than one knee.''

Van der Westhuizen, capped in 50 Tests for South Africa and the country's record Test try-scorer with 25, acknow-ledged that it was a big step up from the Currie Cup to international rugby, but said: "The pattern we employ at the Blue Bulls is much pacier than that of other Currie Cup sides. Right now I would prefer to play a Test because I like playing the game that way''

Mallett also brought back other experienced campaigners such as Natal tighthead prop Adrian Garvey, Blue Bulls flanker Ruben Kruger, Natal hooker Chris Rossouw, Western Province number eight Bobby Skinstad, Natal flyhalf Henry Honiball, Blue Bulls centre Andre Snyman and Free State centre Brendan Venter to the squad for the match.

"I think the experience will benefit us a lot,'' Van der Westhuizen said.

"Right now we need guys who can lead from the front, who don't hold back. Nick tried a system of experimentation and it didn't work and I think that's why he opted to bring back the experienced guys.''

Van der Westhuizen, who was South Africa's vice-captain last year, will become the fourth player to captain the Springboks this year following on Teichmann and stand-ins Corne Krige and Johan Erasmus.

He is the eighth Springbok captain since South Africa's return from isolation in 1992.

The others were Naas Botha, Tiaan Strauss, Francois Pienaar, Adriaan Richter, Teichmann, Krige and Erasmus. -- Sapa